Videos German Shepherd Breed Information
Alternative names-
Deutscher Schaferhund,
Schaferhund,
Alsatian
Country of origin -
Germany
Classification and breed standards
FCI:|Group
1 Section 1 #166|Stds
AKC:|Herding|Stds
ANKC:|Group 5
(Working Dogs)|Stds
CKC:|Group
7 - Herding Dogs|Stds
KC
(UK):|Pastoral|Stds
NZKC:|Working|Stds
UKC:|Herding
Dog|Stds
The German Shepherd Dog, also known as the
Alsatian (in France and the UK),
Schafer (in other parts of Europe) and by the
acronym GSD or simply German
Shepherd, is a breed of dog
originally bred for herding sheep. Today, based on 2006 American
Kennel Club statistics, German Shepherd Dogs are the third most
popular breed in the United States
with 43,575 registrations. [1] They can also be found working as
guide dogs for the blind, police work, guarding, search and rescue, therapy and in the military. Despite their suitability for such
work, German Shepherds can also make loyal and loving pets inside
the home. They enjoy being around people and other animals,
although socialization is critical for young puppies in order to
prevent aggressive and dangerous behavior as an adult. German
Shepherds are well-suited to obedience, with advanced and
prestigious titles available to test both the handler and dog in
various schutzhund trials.
1. Quick Facts
German
Shepherd Quick Facts
Weight: | 77-85 pounds (35-40kg.) |
Height: | 24-26 inches (60-65cm.) |
Coat: | Three varieties: rough-coated, long rough-coated, and
long-haired
Activity level: | High
Learning rate: | Extraordinarily high
Temperament: | Direct, fearless, eager, alert, bold, cheerful,
obedient, eager to learn, loyal, courageous, calmly confident,
serious, protective
Guard dog ability: | Very high
Watch-dog ability: | Very high
Litter size: | ?
Life span: | ~13 years
2. Name
The proper English name for the breed is German Shepherd
Dog (a literal translation from the German Deutscher
Schaferhund) but they are usually informally referred to as
GSDs or as "German Shepherds". In addition, the
sobriquet police dog is used
in many countries where the GSD is the predominant or exclusive
breed used by the police force.
Anti-German sentiment
was still high in the wake of World War
I (1914 - 1918), and change of German-oriented names in the UK
- including that of the Royal Family - were common at the time when
a few dogs were taken to Britain and the United States. In 1919,
the English Kennel Club gave the
breed a separate register. Since
it was feared that the name German Shepherd Dog could be
an impediment, the name Alsatian wolf dog was introduced,
from Alsace, a traditionally
German-speaking French area on the west bank of the Rhine which had been annexed by the German Empire in 1870 but restored to
France in 1918. The 'wolf dog' part was dropped shortly
thereafter for fear of causing undue criticism of the breed. This
name is still occasionally used in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and the Commonwealth. Only in 1977 did
the British Kennel Club authorize the breed to be known again as
the German Shepherd Dog [2] .
In the United States, the breed was originally known as the
'German sheep dog' by the AKC despite its breed club calling it the 'German
shepherd dog.' Initial requests to change the name were denied.
[3] Part of the problem with calling the dog 'sheep dog' is
that in Germany there is a separate breed whose name translates as
'German sheep dog.' In the fall of 1917, the name was
changed to 'Shepherd dog' due to WW1
anti-German sentiments. [4] The breed club also did this, calling
themselves the Shepherd Dog Club of America. It wasn't until
1931 that 'German' was once again added back on and
accepted by the AKC, finally giving the breed the proper
translation of its German name. [5]
In Germany, northern and eastern Europe the breed is still most
commonly known by the original name Schafer.
3. History
The German Shepherd breed was invented by "Captain Max" von Stephanitz
in 1899. His first German Shepherd, named Horand von Grafrath, is
the genetic basis for the German Shepherd as we know it today.
The German Shepherd was originally conceived as a sheep-herding
dog, hence its name. Throughout the years, the specific working
drives of tracking, obedience, and protection have been
intentionally highlighted in the breed by selective breeding, making German
Shepherds very well-suited for active working environments.
4. Characteristics
German Shepherds are highly intelligent and agile dogs, with a
strong work drive. They are often deployed in various roles such as
police, guarding, search and rescue, therapy, service-dog, and in the military applications.
German Shepherds are sparingly bred, by the efforts of a great
few, for work function ("working line") as was originally
intended by the breed inventor Max von Stephanitz. Most often they
are bred to conform to breed appearance standards
("conformation line"). Though Max von Stephanitz
distinctly stated, "Our shepherd dog is a service dog, and he
must only be bred as a service dog. He must only be judged as a
service dog. With service dogs, suitability ranks higher than
beauty."
He is also quoted as saying, "The most striking features of
the correctly bred German Shepherd are firmness of nerves,
attentiveness, unshockability, tractability, watchfulness,
reliability and incorruptibility together with courage, tenacity
and hardness." Max particularly pleads to champions of the
breed to, "Take this trouble for me: Make sure my shepherd dog
remains a working dog, for I have struggled all my life long for
that aim."
Conformation line dogs are bred to proper physical appearance
primarily and minimal working instincts (herding, prey drive, etc.)
They are specifically bred to conform to the published breed
standards for appearance, and health. Because they are bred for
Conformation line dogs are often found as pets, in breeder
environments, and in competition. Due to the nature of the
Conformation ring, traits are lost to the breed decreasing its
truest character and taking the "GSD" further from its
original purpose.
Working line German Shepherds are typically excluded from the
show ring as most don't conform to the highest levels of the
breed standard for physical appearance. These dogs are bred to have
an enduring work drive, and unwavering obedience. Of critical
importance is the dog's ability to distinguish what constitutes
a threat and what does not constitute a threat. Dogs that cannot
make that distinction are eliminated from police and military
programs. Extremely well-suited for police and military work, these
dogs are also suitable as pets for home environments, though for
owners should be familiar with their dog's abilities and needs.
Working line dogs are employed in many police departments and
government organizations such as the ATF,
the U.S. Marshals,
and Customs.
4. 1. Physical appearance
Exact standards for the breed vary by country and organization,
but the following criteria are generally part of the
definition.
The German Shepherd Dog is a large and strong dog, typically
between 75 and 110lbs, but have been known to reach 130lbs. The
height for males is typically 24-26in.(60-65cm); for females it is
22-24in. (55-60cm). The fur is a double-coat
(under coat and outer coat). While some organizations accept
long-haired German Shepherds, short-haired dogs are typically (and
historically) preferred.
There are many color variations. For conformation-line dogs, the
most common ones are black-and-tan and black-and-red. Combinations
containing very light hues such as cream are typically considered
faulty. All-black is usually, but not always, accepted. A white German Shepherd is
automatically disqualified from entering the show ring.
Working-line dogs are typically sable, black-and-tan or
black-and-brown.
There are several different color-marking patterns. For
conformation-line dogs, the "saddle" marking is probably
the most well-known. This consists of a large black patch on the
upper and mid back, extending partway down the dog's sides. The
"sable" marking, which consists of one color with
randomly-sized and -shaped patches or swaths of different-colored
hair mixed in, is typical for working-line dogs. Some sable-pattern
dogs have three colors in their coat; this is called agouti. The other popular marking is called
"bi-color", and consists of a dog that is all one color
(typically black) save for differently-colored paws and lower legs,
and sometimes a swath on the belly.
German Shepherds are easily identifiable by their large head,
ears which stand straight up, and sleek and low back end. They also
have a distinctive gait, as well as other breed-specific
features.
Disqualifications for conformation-line dogs include white
nails, a nose which isn't all-black, a muzzle which isn't
predominantly black, non-erect ears, and very light-toned eyes.
4. 2. Temperament
The breed has a personality marked by direct, fearless
willingness to protect what it considers its "den" (i.e.
house, car, and property in a home situation) and "pack"
(i.e. human family in a home situation). It is poised, but when the
occasion demands, eager and alert; both fit and willing to serve in
its capacity as a companion, watchdog, guide dog for people who are
blind, herding dog, or guardian, whichever the circumstances may
demand.
Proper socialization as a puppy is one of the two key factors
which determines what a dog's temperament will be as an adult.
Genetics is the other. They go hand-in-hand; a dog with certain
genetics cannot be trained to be stable and friendly, and by the
same token the genetics most fit for training are meaningless if
the dog is not well-socialized as a puppy. The "ideal"
German Shepherd should be alert and fearless in defense of its den
and pack, but loving and non-aggressive within the home
environment.
4. 3. Health
As is common of many large breeds, German Shepherds are
susceptible to elbow and hip dysplasia. So-called "ethical
breeders" work very hard to breed these traits out of their
dogs, so that the dog may enjoy a pain-free life and stay suited
for work situations. These breeders typically require that their
puppies' hips and elbows be x-rayed, and the x-rays approved
and certified by the OFA when the puppy is
fully-grown (age 2), in order for the puppy to be allowed to be
bred.
Other health problems sometimes occurring in the breed are
von Willebrand's
disease, skin allergies and canine degenerative
myelopathy. German Shepherds, like all large bodied dogs, are
also prone to bloat. They have an average lifespan of 10-12 years.
5. Titling/competitions
There are many prestigious titles available for German
Shepherds, covering everything from conformation to herding
abilities. Schutzhund trials were
invented for evaluation German Shepherds, and measure the dogs'
abilities in the areas of protection, tracking, and obedience. Most
world-class conformation dogs are titled to the 2nd or 3rd (which
is the highest) level of Schutzhund before they're bred.
6. Breed lines
There are typically four recognized breed lines.
The American lines are recognized by AKC and the UKC, and they have a noticeably
different appearance from the international conformation-line
(German line) German Shepherds. The most obvious
difference is the sloping back and "collapsed" hips,
which is a disqualification for dogs in international competitions.
This has led to the creation of the Shiloh Shepherd in the United States,
which was originally a line of German shepherd whose breeder did
not favor that feature in the American lines and wanted to preserve
the way the breed originally looked. [6]
The Eastern European lines make up the majority
of working-line dogs today. Czech dogs are
often prized for working applications. These dogs are considerably
more powerful in build and have a straight back.
In the former East Germany, German
Shepherds adhere more closely to the old pre-war standard, marked
by a straighter back, a longer and denser coat, and a darker color.
There are current attempts to preserve this distinct line and raise
it to the status of an officially recognized breed (East German Shepherd Dog). These
are known as the DDR lines.
6. 1. Variant sizes and coats
Some groups or breeders have focused on variants of the breed
that are not recognized by most kennel clubs as standard show German Shepherds. White Shepherds or
Berger Blanc Suisse are
recognized as a separate breed.
6. 1. 1. White coat
The recessive gene for white coat hair was fixed in the German
Shepherd Dog breed DNA by the late 19th and early 20th century
German breeding program that extensively used "color
coated" dogs that carried a recessive gene for "white
coats." The maternal grandfather of Horand von Grafrath, the first entry
"SZ 1" in the SV Stud Book, was a white-coat German
shepherding dog named Greif von Sparwasser. White was designated a
disqualifying conformation fault by the SV (German Shepherd Club of
Germany) in the 1933 and by the German Shepherd Dog Club of America
(GSDCA) and the German Shepherd Dog Club of Canada (GSDCC)in the
mid-1960's.
6. 1. 2. Long-haired coat
Dogs with the long-haired coat variation look somewhat like the
Tervuren type
of Belgian Shepherd Dog. The
long hair gene is recessive. Popular myth holds that long-haired
GSDs (sometimes called "fuzzies") are more affectionate,
but there is little evidence for this beyond owner impressions.
Long coats can come in two variations, both with an undercoat and
without. Without the undercoat they have very little weather
protection, but those longhairs with it fair as well as their
shorthaired companions, just with longer hair on the outside.
Kennel club treatment of long-haired German Shepherds varies. It
is considered a fault under American Kennel Club and FCI
(Fédération Cynologique Internationale, i.e. International Canine
Federation) standards. Under other standards, such as Germany [7]
and the United Kingdom, [8] long-haired German Shepherds are
actively bred, registered, and shown, and specialized long-haired
breeders exist. There is also a variation known as
'long-stock-haired German Shephard'; stock hair isn't
registered directly as a fault and such dogs are able to
participate.
6. 1. 3. Giant shepherd & Shiloh Shepherd
The Shiloh Shepherd was bred
by Tina M. Barber of Shiloh Shepherds Kennel; it resembles other
German shepherd lines without a sloping back. Initially the
breed's stock consisted only of German shepherds that did not
have much of a sloping back, and as a result, it was only
considered a distinct line of German shepherd for a time. However,
the line was later infused with an Alaskan malamute to achieve the build
desired by breeders.
The King Shepherd is a larger
variation of the German Shepherd but is not accepted in the AKC
ring. When shepherds are bred this large, their size prevents them
from fitting the AKC's breed standard description of
"Size, Proportion, Substance". [9] [10]
7. Scent-work
The German Shepherd dog is one of the most widely-used breeds in
a wide variety of scent-work roles. These include search and rescue, cadaver searching, narcotics detection, explosives detection, accelerant detection, and mine detection
dog, amongst others.
8. Appearances in films and on television
* Rin-Tin-Tin, a German Shepherd
dog, was considered to be one of Hollywood's top stars during
the 1920's and 30's. At the peak of his career, Rin-Tin-Tin
received as many as 10,000 fan letters a week. [11]
* In a 1972 film version of Jack London's book, The Call of the Wild, which starred
Charlton Heston.
* The Littlest Hobo was a
live-action popular television series in the 1980's airing on
CTV in Canada. It featured
a German Shepherd that travelled from place to place, performing
some good deed, and then moving on.
* Koton, a German Shepherd, stars as
Jerry Lee, a police dog, in the 1989 movie K-9.
* From 1994 to 2005, the Austrian
television show Kommissar Rex,
(English Inspector Rex) featured a resourceful German
Shepherd police dog.
* The manga Ginga Nagareboshi
Gin and its sequel, Ginga
Densetsu Weed have many German Shepherd characters, including
the very popular black-and-white Shepherd, Jerome, and Gin's
right-hand dog, John.
* In the 2000 film, The Cell, the
antagonist of the film, a serial killer, owns an unusual, albino
colored German Shepherd named Valentine, played by a dog named
Tim.
* In the 2007 film, I Am
Legend, a female German Shepherd named Abbey plays Sam (short
for 'Samantha'), the companion of main character Robert
Neville (played by Will Smith).
Copyright (c) 2008 Kitt Killion Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
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