A brief insight into the development of the breed
The German Shepherd breed appeared late at the end of the 19th century in Germany and they were first exhibited at a show in Hanover in 1882. They were not like German Shepherds as we know them today though being rough coated, short tailed and rather resembling mongrels. The German Shepherd Dog as we now know it didn't really appear until after the Second World War.
The breed was actually created by the cross breeding of working sheep dogs from rural Germany by an ex cavalry officer called Max von Stephanitz whose aim was to create a working dog for herding which could trot for long periods.
A breed standard was drawn up and the first breed show took place in 1899 following which the GSD became firmly established across Germany. In 1906 the first dogs were exported to the USA .
Since then, the breed has grown enormously in popularity and is now one of the most popular pedigree breeds in the UK as a pet as well as being the favourite working breed for many forces, especially the police. They are widely used for security purposes because of their strong protective instincts.
Many people in the UK still call these dogs Alsatians which may partly be due to the fact that when they were first bred, the Alsace region of France was part of Germany where these dogs were very popular. In part it may also be due to the first and second world wars that the name Alsatian stuck as the word 'German' had a negative connotation. I still get people who think that Alsatians are the traditional short coat black and tan dogs and that German Shepherds are the long coated dogs that have become popular.
GSD's make wonderful family pets and will protect family and home.
These dogs are highly intelligent and will show undying devotion to their master but they are dogs that need company and stimulation to be at their best. It is however, important to remember that this is a working breed and that they do have certain characteristics that some people might find difficult to live with. The German Shepherd should be steady, loyal, self assured, courageous and willing and should not be nervous over aggressive or shy. Nervous aggression is something that we are now seeing more often as a result of bad breeding. It is sad but there has always been indiscriminate breeding of German Shepherds right from the start, which has lead to problems with temperament and health.
If you would like to make a donation to help the rescue, please click on the link below.
FAQs
The German Shepherd Dog is a breed of large-sized dog that originated in Germany in 1899. As part of the Herding Group, German Shepherds are working dogs developed originally for herding and guarding sheep.
How did the German Shepherd originate? ›
What two breeds make a German Shepherd? ›
He would purposely breed Horand von Grafrath to combine the positive breed characteristics of the Thuringian Shepherd breed (which was von Grafrath's original breed category) with the Wurtemberg Shepherd, to create the German Shepherd breed.
What is the ancestor of the German Shepherd? ›
Horand was medium-sized dog who not only possessed the physical qualities Stephanitz was looking for but also possessed a strong mental soundness. Horand is the main ancestor of the modern GSD. Some people wonder why the breed is called a German Shepherd Dog and not just a German Shepherd.
Who was the first person to own a German Shepherd? ›
This dog, Hektor Linksrhein, was purchased by von Stephanitz, renamed Horand von Grafrath, and became the first registered German Shepherd Dog.
What are German Shepherds descendants of? ›
German Shepherds share 99.9% of their DNA with wolves and are said to be descendants of the grey wolves.
What dog gets mistaken for German Shepherd? ›
But not everybody is quite as well acquainted with the Belgian Malinois. In fact, their similar coloring and heritage as herding breeds might lead some people to mistake the Belgian Malinois for the German Shepherd Dog.
What did the original German Shepherd look like? ›
The German Shepherd breed appeared late at the end of the 19th century in Germany and they were first exhibited at a show in Hanover in 1882. They were not like German Shepherds as we know them today though being rough coated, short tailed and rather resembling mongrels.
What is the smartest dog? ›
What Makes This Breed Smart: A remarkable capacity to quickly learn new words and commands. The border collie tops the list of smartest dogs, and it's no wonder. A border collie named Chaser gained fame in the early 2000s for learning the meaning of over 1,000 proper nouns.
How smart is a German Shepherd? ›
A German shepherd dog is exceptionally obedient, highly instinctual, and learns tricks just as quickly as he sprints. Their intelligence is an inherited genetic trait passed down through generations. And according to a survey of dog trainers, German shepherds are the third smartest dog breed in the pack.
The original color of this working dog is black and tan, and they represent the most common color for German Shepherds. In addition, they make up around 63% of all GSDs registered with the AKC (American Kennel Club). You've probably seen this color in movies, on television shows, and even walking down the street.
Who is the most famous German Shepherd? ›
Strongheart the German Shepherd was one of the earliest canine film stars and was followed by Rin Tin Tin, who is now acclaimed as being the most famous German Shepherd. Both have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. German Shepherds were used in the popular Canadian series The Littlest Hobo.
What is the purpose of a German Shepherd? ›
In addition to police and military work, the intelligence and calmness of the German Shepherd Dog has allowed the breed to be trained as seeing eye dogs, medical assistance dogs, and therapy dogs.
Is A German Shepherd A dog or a wolf? ›
In a battle between a German Shepherd and a wolf, the wolf would likely win. Wolves are larger, stronger, and faster than German Shepherds. They also have a natural instinct for hunting and killing.
Was the first German Shepherd part wolf? ›
The first GSD (Horand) was a quarter wolf, along with other 3 wolfdogs that were also involved in the breed. They are usually, not unpredictable because they are (clearly) a lot of generations away from the wolf. German Shepherds look like wolves because they are direct descendants of wolfdogs.
Who is the oldest dog breed? ›
1. Saluki. The Saluki is often cited as one of the oldest dog breeds in existence, with historical evidence pointing to its presence as far back as 7000 BC. Revered in ancient Egypt, Salukis were believed to be the royal dogs of pharaohs, often depicted in Egyptian art.
What is the oldest German dog breed? ›
Records from as early as 1585 may indicate the existence of Leonberger-type dogs; documents dating from 1601 held by the Metternich family describe similar dogs used to deter the theft of livestock. Either way, no doubt exists that Essig named and registered the breed first.
