How does the FCI officially distinguish the long-haired German Shepherd coat type from the standard medium-coated variety in its classification?
Answer
By classifying the long-haired type as variety ‘b,’ distinguishing it from variety ‘a’
Coat type introduces a nuance in international classification systems. The FCI recognizes that the long-haired variation exists, though the gene responsible for it is recessive. Instead of disqualifying or heavily penalizing it across the board, the FCI formally accepts it as a distinct variety, denoted as variety ‘b,’ separating it from the standard, shorter-coated dogs classified under variety ‘a.’ This acknowledges the presence of both coat types while allowing registries to manage them separately if necessary.
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