German Shepherd

The German Shepherd is the most widespread working dog in the world, but thanks to its friendly and curious behavior, it fits perfectly like a family dog.

History

The ancestors of the German Shepherd probably already lived in Germany in the 7th century. They had a fairly wide range of tasks. Although their main task was to supervise the flock of sheep, at the same time they were to guard and protect the property of the shepherds.
However, the history of the German Shepherd, as we know it today, officially began only at the end of the 19th century. In 1871, the Prussian court driver Max von Stephanitz, who is today considered the founder of this breed, began targeted breeding of these versatile dogs.

Hector von Linksrhein or Horand von Grafrath

Stephanitz achieved notable success with a male named "Hector von Linksrhein", whom he renamed "Horand von Grafrath" after the purchase in 1898. Horand was the first dog to be entered in the book of the newly formed "Association for German Shepherds". Stephanitz put all his efforts into him and his brother called "Luchs von Sparwasser". Horand von Grafrath and Luchs von Sparwasser, as well as the female "Mari von Grafrath" are today considered the parents of the German Shepherd. Most German Shepherds can be linked to their genetic lineage.

Symbol of "German virtue"

The goal of Stephanitz breeding was clearly defined. He wanted to breed a versatile working dog and had precise ideas about the nature and performance characteristics of the German Shepherd. Virtues such as courage, loyalty, obedience, endurance and robustness have made the German Shepherd world famous and in many countries one of the most popular breeds in services such as police and military. During the First and Second World Wars, these traits were stylized into "German virtues". The German Shepherd became a symbol of the National Socialist movement. In light of the anti-German resistance abroad, the British Kennel Club changed the name of the breed to “Alsatian Wolf Dog” or later “Alsatian Dog” to bypass the “German” attribute. It was not until 1977 that the name was changed.

Nevertheless, the German Shepherd was a popular war dog, not only on the German side but was also sought after on the Allied front. However, he unfortunately gained his voice mainly through his work in concentration camps and as a faithful companion of Adolf Hitler. Numerous photos of Nazi propaganda show Hitler with his German shepherd, "Blondi". Despite this instrumentalization and strong decimation during World War II, the breed managed to prevail after the war and soon became one of the most desirable working breeds in the world. With the conversion of many breeds into family dogs and the German Shepherd as such has become increasingly popular.

Characteristics

No other purebred dog can be used for as many purposes as the German Shepherd. It was originally bred for a shepherd dog, which supervised and looked after the sheep. Today, the German Shepherd is used as a working dog and guard dog in the police, army and at the borders, as a rescue and therapy dog, in avalanche searches and as a guide dog for the blind. The German Shepherd is not the leading working dog breed only in its country of origin Germany, but also around the world.

Safe, solid and reliable

No man or machine can replace a brave, hardy and reliable dog at work. His demeanor, resilience and self-confidence are legendary. Thanks to his great intelligence, his ability to learn and his immense willingness to work, he accepts new challenges with lightning speed and is therefore suitable for almost any task intended for him. In addition, the German Shepherd is very associated with humans. He is always loyal to the owner. Above all, it is a combination of robustness, leadership, reliability and lightness, which makes the German Shepherd so popular and destined for a variety of applications.

A family dog?

His loyalty and reliability to people makes the German Shepherd a popular family dog. In fact, this dog - provided he is well-behaved and busy with various tasks - is an excellent partner and companion who is suitable for living together in the family. Well-socialized shepherds love children very much and tolerate other pets well. A prerequisite for the life of a family dog, however, is that the active dog is placed under sufficient physical and mental challenges. Dogs, with which he does not deal enough and whose urge to move and will to work are not taken into account enough, will develop bad habits, which are in principle completely foreign to this breed. They become nervous and overly cautious and find it difficult to control themselves in everyday life. Physically and mentally busy shepherds are, on the other hand, an enrichment to every family: a partner in the game,

Look

With a shoulder height of 60 to 65 cm in males and 55 to 60 cm in females, the German Shepherd belongs to medium and large breeds. His well-proportioned body reflects his working dog’s life. He is strong and muscular, and always acts athletic and agile. Any tendency to clumsiness is ruled out. It has a wide and strong gait, which shows immense endurance.
The wedge-shaped head, which is in line with the body, ends with a straight bridge of the nose and always a black muzzle. He frightens his enemies with his bite of 42 teeth. His erect and forward-sloping ears as well as his dark and slightly slanted eyes give the German Shepherd a constantly awake and wary expression.

Fur and color variants

For a long time, the FCI breeding standard, in which the German Shepherd was listed under number 166 in the group of shepherds, allowed only dogs with short, firm hair. The coat should be firm to the touch and reinforced with undercoat, which protects the dog from snow, rain and cold.
It was not until 2008 that the long-haired type of German Shepherd was adopted by the FCI standard. The long, soft upper coat, which does not lie firmly in this variant, creates accumulations of hair on the ears, legs and tail. It is adorned with a characteristic mane on the neck. The colors of short-haired, but also long-haired fur are black with brown, yellow or light gray patterns, only black or gray or gray with brown patterns.

White shepherds

Although white German Shepherds occasionally appear in litters, the FCI standard has not officially accepted white since 1933. In 1968, the "Shepherd Dog of America" ​​association, which is responsible for the standards of the "American Kennel Club", joined this opinion. The only exception today is the Canadian Kennel Club, which still accepts white shepherds in its pedigree book. Since 2011, the FCI has listed the White Shepherd as a stand-alone breed called the “Berger Blanc Suisse” (White Swiss Shepherd). However, white German Shepherds must not breed with Swiss dogs and must not be registered as such.