The German Shepherd is an AKC registered dog breed. The following article reviews the breed.
German Shepherds first started being developed in the late 19th century by a man named Max von Stephanitz. Stephanitz is still today credited as having fathered the entire German Shepherd breed. An admirer of the German sheep dog of the time, he chose to breed selectively to procure his most desired traits and weed out those that were unnecessary or undesirable. Stephanitz bred his dogs for years, creating the founding root of the German Shepherd breed and eventually become the dog we know today.
When the German Shepherd was brought over to the United States, the breeders in America changed up the bloodlines of the breed by mating it with other types of dog. It is still up for debate whether these breeders aided or damaged the development of the German Shepherd, as American breeders were working towards a show-quality dog while the original German Shepherd was intended primarily for work.
German Shepherds in the United States have coats that are on the shorter side of medium, usually brown and black, tan and black, or cream and black, but not uncommonly producing an all white or all black variety. The truly German variety of the breed has a longer coat which is occasionally (but rarely) seen in the U.S.
German Shepherds were initially developed by Stephanitz as a working breed. To this day, even with the American cross breeding, German Shepherds excel in the work force as hunters, farm dogs, service dogs, narcotics dogs, and law enforcement dogs. German Shepherds are an exceedingly agile, strong, and athletic breed, with a very malleable temperament. They can be trained to work as aggressive guard dogs or be gentle helpers on the farm.
In their native country, the breeding of the Shepherd dogs is so meticulously monitored that a registered shepherd must have had both its sire and damn Shutzhund certified, which means that they have been evaluated for temperament and ability by professionals.
Shutzhund certification pays no mind to the size, coat, or general appearance of the dog, which is vastly different from the American variety of canine judging.
The primary visible difference between true Shepherd dogs and American German Shepherds, besides the length of their coat, is the lack of sloped hips. True German Shepherds have hips level with their shoulders, as the original breed was intended to. American German Shepherd dogs have a distinct slope at the back of the torso into the hips. Sloped hips are argued over by many international breed enthusiasts, being the desired trait for showmanship in America, but also leading to an earlier onset and more significant risk of hip dysplasia.
Whether you are choosing to acquire an American German Shepherd or seeking out a true German Shepherd, you must research your breeder thoroughly. Because of the popularity of this breed and its potential for strength, there are many unethical breeders out there who are trying to turn a quick profit by mating irresponsibly. With proper research, either variety of German Shepherd can provide you with a loyal worker or a loving family pet.
This article is part of a German Shepherd collection on GreatDogSite. GreatDogSite features tons of information on dogs!
Click Here to Learn How to Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy!
German Shepherd Amazon products you should keep an eye on:
Pangea Brands TSTE-PET-GER 2-Slice Pet Emblazing Toaster, German ShepherdPangea Brands is now offering a toaster that emblazons your favorite dog breed right onto your bread, its the best way to wake up …
Schleich Female German ShepherdFemale German Shepherd. Size: 90mm (L) x 40mm (W) x 70mm (H). The Schleich ranges of hand painted animals are perfect for enjoyabl…
The Art of Raising a German Shepherd PuppyA new puppy is always a cute bundle of joy for kids and adults alike. Nevertheless, a German Shepherd or an Alsatian pup imparts a…
German Shepherd eBay auctions you should keep an eye on:
[wprebay kw=”german+shepherd” num=”39″ ebcat=”-1″]
[wprebay kw=”german+shepherd” num=”40″ ebcat=”-1″]
[wprebay kw=”german+shepherd” num=”41″ ebcat=”-1″]
Click here for more German Shepherd info.
Related German Shepherd Articles
The Czech Shepherd
The Czech “German” Shepherd working line is not your traditional German Shepherd. Although they certainly still have the typical face and stance, they are generally smaller (with some exceptions of course) and have a wider variation in coat and color. They contrast most with the typical American show lines and the general idea of how […]
German Shepherd Nutritional Needs
A German Shepherd is a strong, athletic breed and their energetic nature means that need a diet that is packed with nutrients. Being carnivores, they need higher protein content in their diet to keep them healthy. The recommended protein content is 22% with a certain amount of fat that will keep your German Shepherd loving […]
What the Heck is a Gerberian Shepsky?
Quite frankly, I've never heard that one before. Sure, we all kinds of doodle and -oodle and -poo designer breeds, and I've even heard of some -inu and quite a few -eagle breeds as well. Though, actually they are not breeds per se, but “hybrids”. That is – until they start breeding true after a certain […]
German shepherd training ? Stop german shepherd puppy chewing
by TaranRampersad The German Shepherd is an AKC registered dog breed. The following article reviews the breed. If you're trying to stop german shepherd puppy chewing, you must first recognize that biting is a very pure and expected habits in a german shepherd puppy. They will chew on points, either because they are bored or […]
