At the 2024 AGM, members of the GSD League of Great Britain voted to approve the establishment of a National Körung Accreditation Scheme which will commence in 2025. The scheme will be administered on behalf of the GSDL by the British Regional Group. This will follow the rules of the SV Körung system and will be recognised internationally for breeding (show) and performance events.

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What is a Körung?

The SV controls breeding of German Shepherds in Germany and the Körung system is the way in which each dog is approved as suitable for breeding. They must achieve certain minimum standards in health tests, confirmation, stamina and working tests  in order to be eligible to enter a Körung examination. During the examination, they will undergo a courage and protection test and a gunshot test.  If they pass both of these, the assessor (Körmeister) will asses their confirmation, including measuring height, depth, circumference of the chest and weight and will produce a detailed description of the dog and may make recommendations for breeding. There are also minimum requirements fo dentition and males must have both testicles. The Körmeister may then issue a Körung which lasts for two years. After the two years, the dog is submitted again for a Körung test and, if it passes, gains Körung for lifetime (Lebenzeit). A dog may be bred from once without Körung and the puppies will be issued with a registration which indicates one or both parents do not have Körung. To breed a second time the dog must have a Körung and the puppies will be issued with full registration (pink papers). In practice it is rare for breeders to breed from dogs without Körung.

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What is a National Körung Scheme?

Outside of Germany, WUSV member clubs are able to set up their own Körung schemes. They can appoint Körmeister and award Körung qualifications to dogs which meet the criteria that they set. The awards required to be eligible for the Körung i.e. show grade, AD test (stamina) and IGP qualification, which can be issued by judges approved by the WUSV member club. If the rules set by the WUSV member club, mirror those of the SV, the Körung will be recognised for all events which require it such as shows and the Universal Sieger competition. It is possible to gain a VA grading with a National Körung in any country including Germany. The only restriction in reality is that a dog is not eligible to be entered on the German (SV) stud book with a National Körung, for this all qualifications must be achieved physically in Germany.

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What are the rules for the National Körung System?

In order for the Körung to be recognised internationally, it must follow the rules for the SV Körung scheme. Therefor in order to enter a Korung , all dogs must have the following:

• SV DNA

• SV A Stamp hips and elbows

• Completion of an SV character assessment

• A show grade of at least 'Good' under a GSDL approved judge

• A working qualification of at least IGP1. alternatively a Breed Disposition Test (commonly known as ZAP) pass. 

• An AD pass (20km cycle ride test)

During the Körung event, the dog must pass a courage and protection test (the same as you will see at Sieger shows) and a gunshot test. Finally the Körmeister will record the physical confirmation aspects of the dog and decide whether the dog merits a Körung pass - this is an endorsement that the dog has met all of the internationally recognised criteria for breeding.

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Will the National Körung Scheme be used to restrict breeding in the UK?

Registration of puppies in the UK is currently governed by the Kennel Club and there is no credible alternative to this in terms of public recognition and resourses to administer it. The GSD League of GB has no plans to set up an alternative registration scheme. 

The National Körung will therefore, be a recognition of UK dogs which have attained a qualification recognised internationally as a dog suitable to be bred from. The GSD League of GB will keep a register of such qualified dogs available for public inspection.

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Will all dogs shown at Regional Events in the UK require a National Körung

There is no intention to remove the Adult class from the UK Regional shows as it is recognised that the UK does not have the infra structure to facilitate all dogs attaining IGP even if they are capable of it. Entry into the Adult Classes will not require a National Körung.

The intention is to make a Körung qualification more accessible to UK breeders and owners because they can achieve the qualification criteria under the GSDL approved judges and the Körung under GSDL approved Körmester. This reduces cost for the clubs holding qualifying events and ultimately breeders and owners. This will allow more breeder/owners to aim for and achieve entry into the working class at Regional Events and the British Sieger.

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Who will be the GSDL approved Körmeisters?

The GSD rules for the scheme specify that GSDL approved Körmeisters must hold the status of GSDL approved SV Special International breed judge and must have in depth experience of the courage and protection test. Currently the GSDL approved Körmeisters are Heather Macdonald and Shirley Hutchinson.

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When will the National Körung Scheme begin?

The scheme will start in 2025 with the intention of covering the whole of the UK and subsequent information will be published on this, the GSDL Website and Social Media pages.