German Shepherd

The German Shepherd Dog is a relatively new breed that was developed in the 1890’s by a German cavalry officer named Max von Stephanitz, who made it his goal to develop the ideal herding dog. He admired the intelligence, strength and ability of the sheepdogs native to Germany, but believed that none was the perfect working dog.

In 1899 at a dog show, von Stephanitz encountered a selectively-bred dog named Hektor Linksrhein. Von Stephanitz was impressed by both its temperament and appearance and decided to purchase the dog. He renamed it Horand von Grafrath, declared it to be the first German Shepherd Dog, and it became the first dog to be added to the Society for the German Shepherd Dog’s breed register.

Von Stephanitz co-founded the world’s first club devoted to GSDs and spent 35 years promoting and refining the breed. Horand became the standard for breeding programs, which used selective cross-breeding to establish certain traits in the breed and which resulted in the development of the modern German Shepherd.

GSDs became popular in the United States in the early 1900’s, thanks in part to the adventures of canine movie stars Rin-Tin-Tin and Strongheart.

Interestingly, after World War I, some believed the word “German” in its name would harm the breed’s popularity. As a result, the breed was renamed by the UK Kennel club as the “Alsatian Wolf Dog”, referring to the area of Alsace-Lorraine on the border of France and Germany. Many other international kennel clubs adopted the name, and eventually “wolf dog” was dropped from the name. “Alsatian” remained the official breed name until 1977, when dog enthusiasts campaigned to have the breed registered once again as “German Shepherd”.

Today, the breed that was developed to be the ideal sheep herder is the preferred dog for police and military units the world over and is generally considered dogkind’s finest all-purpose worker.

German Shepherds are highly active dogs who love strenuous activity and need to be taken for a strenuous walk or run at least once a day. They also love to chase and play catch, so playing with a ball or Frisbee is a great activity for them.

Highly intelligent, German Shepherds also need plenty of mental stimulation. Incorporating training sessions into each excursion or training them to help around the house so they can have a service roll within the family home will be very beneficial. Participating in canine activities such as agility, herding, tracking, and dock diving provides excellent physical and mental exercise and is fun and rewarding for both dog and owner.

This breed can make the ideal family dog when given enough physical and mental exercise. On the other hand, a lack of activity or mental challenges can lead to them becoming restless, frustrated and destructive.

Early socialisation and puppy training classes are vital, and continuing obedience training will help ensure that the German Shepherd will grow to be an adaptable and well-mannered adult. Consistency and positive, reward-based training by a firm, fair and assertive owner are critical for successful training.

The German Shepherd has a medium-length, double coat comprising a dense, harsh and close-lying outer coat with a softer undercoat. that is easy to maintain, usually requiring a quick brush every few days or so to help remove loose hairs.

They do shed more profusely once or twice a year, when it might be a good idea to keep the vacuum nearby. Daily brushing is the only way to prevent a build-up of fur all over the house.

They only need an occasional bath.