The History and Evolution of the German Shepherd
The German Shepherd breed is a favorite “working” animal, used primarily in police and military work. German Shepherds are also skilled trackers and guard dogs because of their exceptional intellect, speed, and strength. Through years of selection and breeding, the German Shepherd of today has become the model canine fitted to serve and protect.
Origins of the German Shepherd
In the 1850s in Germany, there was a need for a canine which could guard and protect livestock from predators. When the first dogs were selected by shepherds for this purpose, they found that not all dogs were well-suited for the task. Some displayed the proper attributes while others did not. As dogs were bred, their traits varied from one region of the country to the other. To further develop dogs with the desired traits a method of standardization was born.
Creating the Proficient Canine
Creating the standard breed of the German Shepherd fell into the hands of Captain Max Von Stephanitz. After seeing an intelligent “wolf-like” animal at a dog show, he had an epiphany. Stephanitz set out to make a standard German Shepherd breed. He purchased his first animal, Horund, a beautiful canine that first caught his eye at the dog show. This dog was the first German Shepherd in the Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde, a society founded by Stephanitz to create spectacular and perfected breeds.
Recognition World Wide
It wasn’t until after WWI that the breed gained international recognition, especially popular in the U.S. Soldiers raved about the canine and cinema portrayed the German Shepherd, Strongheart and Rin Tin Tin, on the silver screen. Unfortunately, due to poor selection, the German Shepherd fell out of popularity in the 1920s in the U.S.
Popularity in the U.S. increased once more in the 30s after Sieger Pteffer von Bern, a prize German Shepherd, became a winner in the Kennel Clubs at the time. Afterward, the breed again decreased in popularity because of negative feelings for Germany after WWII. Around this time, the U.K. renamed the German Sheppard the “Alaskan Wolf Dog” in order to defuse the negative reputation.
A Return to the Spotlight
In 1993, the German Shepherd was considered the 3rd most popular dog in the U.S. By 2009, the German Shepherd was the 2nd most popular breed. Despite its growing popularity, this canine lost many of its standard characteristics. Due to poor breeding, the animal suffered defects such as hip dysplasia, faded colors, and weak temperament, among other things throughout their history. However, you can still see the positive attributes of the German Shepherd in many of the modern breeds.
The German Shepherd of today is a magnificent animal weighing between 40 and 90 lbs. They stand at an average of 25 inches tall and come in a variety of colors, including tan and black with a black mask. Their colorings can resemble a saddle or cover the entire body.
The German Shepherd has what is referred to as a double coat, with the outer coat shedding year-round. There are two basic varieties of this breed today: short and long coat, with the long coat considered a negative trait in the U.S. Kennel club.
An Intelligent and Beloved Animal
The German Shepherd is currently ranked 3rd in intelligence, coming in behind the Poodle and the Border Collie. This animal can learn tasks in only 5 repetitions of teaching. They also respond quickly, around 90% of the time. They are active, curious and they seem to be excited to have an overall purpose assigned to them.
While there may be some negative characteristics of the German Shepherd, the valuable traits outweigh any imperfections. In fact, most defects derive simply from uneducated breeding techniques. While the German Shepherd is a champion guard dog and scout, they can also be a superior pet and lovable companion. Consider yourself lucky if have a companion like this.