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The German Shepherd Dog (GSD), (Template:Lang-de) is a breed of large-sized dog which originates from Germany. German Shepherds are a fairly new breed of dog, with their origins only dating back to 1899. A member of the herding group, shepherds are working dogs developed originally for herding sheep. They are strong, intelligent and obedient dogs which sees them often employed in Police and military roles, in forces around the world. They are popular as pets and guard dogs because of their loyal and protective nature.

Their popularity has seen multiple references to the breed in popular culture. The performing dog Rin Tin Tin is credited with being the world's most famous German Shepherd Dog.

History

Origins

The original idea of the breed dates back to 1891, when the Phylax Society was formed with the intention of standardising German dog breeds. The society disbanded in 1894 and was superseded by the Society for the German Shepherd Dog (Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde), founded in 1899. The chairman of the society was Max von Stephanitz, the man now credited with being the creator of the breed. The first known German Shepherd Dog was Horand von Grafrath, which von Stephanitz purchased at a market after being impressed by the dog's intelligence. Grafrath was later used as the basis for all future Society breeding programs.

Popularity

The English Kennel Club first accepted registrations for the breed in 1919. Originally 54 dogs were registered, this number inflated to over 8000 in 1926. German Shepherds are currently the third most popular breed in America.

Name

After World War I there was belief that the popularity of the breed would diminish given the anti-German sentiment of the era. The breed was officially renamed to "Alsatian Wolf Dog", this name remained until 1977 when the British Kennel Club allowed Alsatians to be registered as German Shepherds.

The modern breed

The modern German Shepherd is criticised for straying away from von Stephanitz's original ideology for the breed. It is believed that careless breeding has promoted disease and other defects. Under the breeding programs, overseen by von Stephanitz, defects were quickly bred out, however in modern times without regulation on breeding, genetic problems such as colour-paling, monorchidism, weakness of temperament and missing teeth are common.

Description

Appearance

German Shepherds are a large-breed dog which are generally between 23 and 25 centimetres (9.1 and 9.8 in) at the withers and weigh between 65 and 88 pounds (29 and 40 kg). The ideal height is 25 centimetres (9.8 in), according to Kennel Club standards. They have a domed forehead, a long square-cut muzzle and a black nose. The jaws are strong, with a scissor-like bite. The eyes are medium-sized and brown with a lively, intelligent and self-assured look. The ears are large and stand erect, open at the front and parallel, they are often pulled back during movement. They have a long neck, which is raised when excited and lowered when moving at a fast pace. The tail is bushy and reaches to the hock.

Colour

German Shepherds can be multiple colours, the most common of which are the tan and black and red and black (shown) varieties. Both varieties have black masks and saddles. Rarer variations include the sable, all-Black, all-White, liver and blue varieties. The all-Black variety is mostly acceptable; however, the blue and liver are considered to be serious faults and the all-White is grounds for instant disqualification in some standards. This is because the white coat is more visible, making the dog a poor guard dog, and is harder to see in conditions such as snow.

Coat

German Shepherds sport a double coat. The outer coat, which is shed all year round, is close and dense with a thick undercoat. The coat is accepted in two variants; medium and long. The long-hair gene is recessive, making the long-hair variety rarer. Treatment of the long-hair variation differs across standards; they are accepted under the German and UK Kennel Clubs but are considered a fault in the American Kennel Club.

Intelligence

Shepherds were specifically bred for their intelligence, a trait they are now renowned for. They are considered to be the third most intelligent breed of dog, behind Border Collies and Poodles. In the book The Intelligence of Dogs, author Stanley Coren ranked the breed third for intelligence. He found that they had the ability to learn simple tasks after only five repetitions and obeyed the first command given 95% of the time. This trait makes the breed desirable as Police, guard and rescue dogs.

Variations

There are two prominent variations of German Shepherds, neither of which are accepted by the American, UK or German Kennel Clubs. The variations are unofficially named King Shepherd and East German (or "DDR") Shepherd Dog.

East German Shepherd

The East Shepherd Dog (also DDR Shepherd Dog) originated in the German Democratic Republic. The breed was never entirely different and was not recognised by the German Shepherd Breeding Association (Schäferhundverein). The breeds no longer exists but some modern dogs may be able to be traced back to DDR bloodlines. The last East German Shepherd Dog show was held in 1989.

King Shepherd

King Shepherds are a crossbreed between German Shepherds, Alaskan Malamutes, and Great Pyrenees. The breed was created by American breeders David Turkheimer and Shelley Watts-Cross, with the intention of creating a very large and strong breed of dog, free of the genetic ailments that affect German Shepherds. King Shepherds can grow to be twice as big as German Shepherds.

Temperament

German Shepherds are highly active dogs, fearless but not hostile and are often described in breed standards as self-assured and never shy. The breed is marked by a willingness to learn and an eagerness to have a purpose. Shepherds can become over-protective of their family and territory, especially if not socialised correctly. Due to their loyal nature Shepherds bond well with children they know. While typically approachable, Shepherds do not become immediate friends with strangers. German Shepherds are highly obedient and not easily distracted, but due to their self-strong will must be trained by a firm hand.

Health

The average lifespan of a German Shepherd is 11-12 years, which is normal for a dog of their size.

Many of the German Shepherds common ailments are a result of required inbreeding early in the breed's creation. One such common issue is hip and elbow dysplasia which can lead to the dog experiencing pain in later life, lameness and can cause arthritis. Due to the large and open nature of their ears, Shepherds are also prone to ear infections.

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.

Use as working dogs

German shepherds are a very popular selection for use as working dogs. They are especially well known for their police work, being used by the police for tracking criminals, patrolling troubled areas, and detection and holding of suspects. Additionally thousands of German Shepherds have been utilised by the military. Usually trained for scout duty, they are used to warn soldiers to the presence of enemies or of booby traps or other hazards.

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. Utilised for this work because of their keen sense of smell and their ability to work regardless of distractions.

In popular culture

German Shepherds have featured in a range of media. Strongheart the German Shepherd was one of the earliest canine film starts and was followed by Rin Tin Tin, who is now acclaimed as being the most famous German Shepherd, both are credited with stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. German Shepherds have played central parts in a number of recent films, including The Hills Have Eyes and I am Legend. Blondi, Adolf Hitler's German Shepherd, has been featured in a number of documentaries and films about the dictator, such as Downfall. Batman's dog Ace the Bat-Hound appeared in the Batman comic books, post-1964.

Notes

a. Named after the German-French border, Alsace-Lorraine

b. The first standard of the German Shepherd Dog Society, written by von Stephanitz said "A pleasing appearance is desirable, but it can not put the dog's working ability into question ... German Shepherd breeding is working dog breeding, or it is not German Shepherd breeding"

References

1. ^ "German Shepherd - The Ultimate Service Dog". German Culture. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
2. ^ Coren, Stanley. The Intelligence of Dogs: A Guide To The Thoughts, Emotions, And Inner Lives Of Our Canine Companions. p. 134. ISBN 0553374524.
3. Rice, Dan. Training Your German Shepherd Dog. p. 8. ISBN 0764108522.
4. ^ Choron, Sandra (2005). Planet Dog: A Doglopedia. Houghton Mifflin Books. p. 40. ISBN 0618517529.
5. ^ "History of the Breed". German Shepherds.com. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
6. Willis, Malcolm. The German Shepherd Dog: A Genetic History. Maxwell Macmillan International. p. 5. ISBN 0876051751. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |origdate= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
7. "AKC Dog Registration Statistics". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
8. Forst, Rory. "A History of the German Shepherd Dog". German Shepherd Dog Helpline. Retrieved 2008-07-15. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
9. Conan, Michel. The German Shepherd Handbook. p. 43. ISBN 0764113321.
10. "The History of the German Shepherd Dog". German Shepherd Dog Club Queensland. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
11. ^ "German Shepherd Dog (Alsatian) Breed Standard". The Kennel Club (UK). Retrieved 2008-07-15.
12. "USA German Shepherd Dog Standard". United Schutzhund Clubs of America. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
13. ^ "German Shepherd Dog Breed Standard". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
14. Stowe, Holly. "German Shepherd Dog FAQ - "Why is a white GSD disqualified from the show ring in many clubs?"". Retrieved 2008-07-15.
15. "Rasse-Lexikon Deutscher Schäferhund" (in German). Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
16. von Stephanitz, Max (1994). The German Shepherd Dog in Word and Picture. Hoflin Publishing Ltd. p. 12. ISBN 9789993280057. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
17. "Ranks 1 to 10 - Brightest Dogs". Petrix. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
18. "The Top 10 Smartest Dog Breeds In The World". Pet Meds Online. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
19. "About the Breed". White Paws: German Shepherd Rescue. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
20. ^ "East German Shepherd Dog Central". East German Shepherd Dog Central. Retrieved 2008-07-19. ... the "DDR German Shepherd Dog" is a historical relic of a bygone time and place, and it no longer exists today ...
21. "American King Shepherd Club". American King Shepherd Club Inc. Retrieved 2008-07-19. ... breed is classified as a breed which does not have AKC recognition ... that make the King different from the AKC Standard of the German Shepherd ...
22. "1989 DDR Sieger Show". East German Shepherd Central. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
23. "King Shepherd". Dog Breed Info. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
24. "AKSC FAQ". American King Shepherd Club. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
25. "King Shepherd FAQ". King Shepherd.com. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
26. "Breed Standard - German Shepherd". New Zealand Kennel Club. Retrieved 2008-07-19. While the dog should be approachable and friendly, he does not make immediate friendships with strangers.
27. Cree, John. Training the Alsatian, the Obedient Companion or Working Partner. Pelham. p. 120-121. ISBN 0720709938.
28. Dr. Kelly M. Cassidy. "Breed Data Summary". Retrieved 2008-07-19.
29. Dr. Kelly M. Cassidy. "Weight and Lifespan". Retrieved 2008-07-19.
30. Willis, Malcolm (1976). The German Shepherd Dog: Its History, Development and Genetics. K and R Books. ISBN 0903264153.
31. "German Shepherd Dog Health Problems". Dog Biz. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
32. "German Shepherd Health Problems". Bodeus. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
33. ^ Strickland, Winifred Gibson (1998). The German Shepherd Today. Howell Book House. pp. pp. 17-28. ISBN 0-87605-154-9. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
34. Harder, Aimee. "GSD vs. WGSD - It's not a black or white issue!". White German Shepherd Dog Club of America. Retrieved 2008-07-20.

External links

• Template:Dmoz

• Dog breeds
• Herding dogs
• Dog breeds originating in Europe
• Dog breeds originating in Germany