Study on German Shepherd Dog Skull

German Shepherd Dog Skull - Morphometric Study


A morphometric study has been carried out at Istanbul University, Veterinary Faculty, Department of Anatomy, Turkey on the skull of the German Shepherd Dog. Skulls of 33 GSD puppies between the age group of 45 days and 105 days had been researched on. Breeders who breed for look, often times tend to set a goal for large heads. It is one of the most important criterion in determining the specimens that are close to the standard. Understanding and evaluating the indices and ratios of the skulls are best way to define the structural types.

Two groups had been formed in order to carry out the research work.

• Group 1 included German Shepherd puppies between 45 days and 60 days. 
• Group 2 included German Shepherd puppies between 61 days and 105 days.

Group 1 (GSD pups between 45 days and 60 days)

Research work had been carried out with detailed measurements of the skulls of German Shepherd puppies between 45 days and 60 days. The measurements obtained were as follows:

• a skull weight of 36.95 g 
• a skull length of 113.96 mm 
• a maximum zygomatic width of 66.52 mm 
• a cranial length of 71.31 mm 
• a maximum neurocranium width of 52.11 mm 
• a viscerocranial length of 50.28 mm 
• a skull index of 58.43 
• a cranial index of 73.24 
• a facial index of 133.13 
• a cranial volume of 55.38 ml

German shepherd Dog Skull - Ventral Section

Group 2 (GSD pups between 61 days and 105 days)

Research work had been carried out with detailed measurements of the skulls of German Shepherd puppies between 61 days and 105 days. The measurements obtained were as follows:

• a skull weight of 61.17 g 
• a skull length of 143.38 mm 
• a maximum zygomatic width of 73.54 mm 
• a cranial length of 83.38 mm 
• a maximum neurocranium width of 53.70 mm 
• a viscerocranial length of 68.64 mm 
• a skull index of 51.44 
• a cranial index of 64.57 
• a facial index of 107.96 
• a cranial volume of 75.75 ml

German shepherd Dog Skull - Lateral Section

Researchers in charge of the project calculated the correlation coefficients in order to determine the likely relationship, that could have existed, between the indices and the other parameters. It was determined that all the measurements increased with the increase in age of the dogs. This was not the end of the research! Most interestingly, with the increase in age the indices decreased, and an insignificant positive correlation between cranial volume and skull weight had been discovered. The research carried out by the Veterinary Faculty of Istanbul University has been of high significance when it comes to considering the German Shepherd Dog types and for advanced study for breeders.

Researchers suggested that for German shepherd dogs of dolichocephalic type (i.e. a dog with a long narrow skull, and having a cephalic index of under 75), it should be agreed that, with the increase in age of the puppy, the farther the values are from the mean value, the higher the chance of defect of a puppy will be. The outcome of the study is also very important for the vets to investigate the correlation between certain very significant health issues, for instance, nasal cancer risk and the skull shape.

A true type GSD skull should be mesocephalic form (medium proportionate structure) which is in between dolichocephalic (long skull - breadth less than 75% of length) and brachycephalic (very broad and short skull - breadth almost 80% of length) types.

True type GSD skull should be mesocephalic form

Further research work had been carried out in order to find the closeness of the German Shepherd Dog skull and that of the other hounds and wolf. The German Shepherd Dog breed has earned a great deal of a repute as a highly potent guard dog, with a fierce bite. Even then the muzzle and teeth of GSD breed had been found relatively weaker compared to the African hunting dog and the wolf.

Related information

Described below is the desirable head type for German Shepherd according to the current SV/FCI breed standard No.166 23.12.2010/EN:


​The GSD head should be desirably wedge-shaped, and proportionate to the size of the body. A true type GSD head should not be too elongated and moderately broad between the ears. The head should not be plumpy of roundish in shape. The front and side profile of the forehead should be very slightly arched. The middle furrow (if present ion the forehead) should be only very subtle and slight.  The ratio from the cranial region to the facial region is 50 % to 50 %. The width of the cranial region should be more or less equal to the cranial length. Seen from the top the cranial region should tapers evenly towards the nasal bridge with gradually sloping, not sharply depicted stop in the wedge-shaped facial region (foreface) of the head. The jaws (both upper & lower) should be exhibit a powerful structure. The nasal dorsum is straight. The nasal dorsum should not have any dip or bulge. The lips should be well dark pigmented and should be taut and closed well.


Result of the research:

The mean values and Standard Deviations of the angle measurements of each group were determined. The values of variability‐with‐age were noted. For a detailed understanding click here