The German Shepherd is one of the most recognized dog breeds in the world. It is a relatively new breed that was developed from European herding and farm dogs in the late 19th century by Captain Max Von Stephanitz, a cavalry officer. On April 22, 1899, Von Stephanitz and others formed the “Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunds (SV) in Germany”. This roughly translates to “The German Shepherd Dog Club of Germany”.
This small group of men started a record book and the first recorded German Shepherd was Harand v Grafrath. They also devised the breed standards based on the proposals of Von Stephanitz and others.
German Shepherds are large breed dogs that stand 22 to 26 inches tall at the withers and weigh between 22 and 40 kilograms (49 to 88 pounds). They are well muscled and should be longer than they are tall giving them a slightly elongated shape.
GSDs have flat backs, bushy, low-hanging tails, muscular legs and chests, and short, round feet. Its forehead is domed and its snout is long and square cut. Their jaws are very strong with a scissor bite. Their ears are large and erect, open to the front and parallel. They also have a long neck that when excited they raise it up but when they move at a fast pace they lower it.
German Shepherds can come in a variety of colors; the most common are the black and tan varieties and the red and black varieties. Overall, the GSD has a very commanding look.
GSDs have a very strong protective instinct and love to be around their family. This may sound like a very good thing, but they can become overprotective as adults causing some unforeseen problems. Being as wary as they are of strangers, socialization at a young age is a must for this large breed.
The German Shepherd was bred more for intelligence than appearance, which is why today’s GSDs are alert, fearless, obedient and very eager to learn. When properly raised, they have a very calm and stable temperament which makes them very good candidates for many areas of service work.
They are used in law enforcement, military, search and rescue, herding, etc. They have helped us in many ways. The only way German Shepherds have helped people and really touched many is by serving as guide dogs. A German shepherd named Buddy was the first guide dog. A young man from the United States named Morris Frank traveled to Switzerland in April 1928 and worked with Buddy and Buddy’s trainer, Dorothy Harrison Eustis. The rest is history.
German Shepherds are prone to various bone and joint problems, including hip dysplasia, as well as a blood disease called Von Willebrand. Like other large dogs, they are also prone to bloat. They can also be prone to chronic eczema, epilepsy, flea allergies, and digestive problems. Poorly bred dogs can have even more health problems. So do your homework if you are going to buy one of these dogs.
In fact, when buying any purebred dog, do your homework on the breed and find out as much as you can about the breeder.
