The German Shepherd Dog

The Breed

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History

Captain Max Von Stephanitz The German Shepherd Dog (GSD) has a relatively short history. Dogs used for herding sheep, protection, and hunting have been purposely bread for these traits for centuries. It was not until the early part of the 20th century that the GSD began to be recognized as a distinctive breed.

Captain Max Von Stephanitz is accredited with almost single handedly developing the breed. As a farmer, Von Stephanitz had been searching for a better sheep herding dog. He felt that larger dogs would be better suited for this job because they would provide better protection from predators. High intelligence was also a requirement for this job. The challenge was to find that balance.

In 1899while visiting a show, Von Stephanitz saw a dog that impressed him so much that he purchased the dog. That dog was called Hektor Linksrhein, but was later renamed Horand Grafeth (pictured below). This dog was the foundation for what would become known today as the German Shepherd Dog.

Horand Grafeth It was soon found that the same qualities that made the GSD such a great sheepdog, made the breed well suited for other services. This concept was proven to be true when the GSD was used by the German military and later by the U.S. and U.K. militaries for numerous jobs. The GSD continues to be used by militaries even today.

After the war, it was thought that the breed's popularity would be hindered if the word "German" was part of its the breed's name, therefore it was renamed, "Alsatian Wolf Dog" after the German-French border area of Alsace-Lorraine. The "Wolf Dog" part of the name was later dropped for fear it would prejudice the breed. These name changes were initiated by the English Kennel Club, which first gave the breed a separate register in 1919. Most other countries, including the U.S. however, continued to call the breed, "The German Shepherd Dog". In 1977, the English Kennel Club changed the breed name back to "German Shepherd Dog."

The breed's intelligence, loyalty, and courage have resulted in it being used in many areas of service such as; law enforcement, search and rescue, security, and as guide dogs for the blind. The GSD remains one of the most popular breeds of dog in the world.

For more on the history of the GSD, click on any of the following links.

History of the German Shepherd Dog
American Kennel Club - German Shepherd Dog History
German Shepherd Dog - A Short History

Characteristics

Appearance
America's Dog If the appearance of theGSD were to be summed up in one word, "Pride" would perhaps suite the description as well as any other. Just by looking into the face of this dog, a person gets the perception of alertness, intelligence, courage, and nobility. His appearance is not deceiving. The GSD is all he appears to be.

GSD profile appearence The German Shepherd Dog is a medium sized muscular dog. The body is slightly longer than tall. The height at maturity for males is 24 to 26 inches and 22 to 24 inches for females. The dog's profile is such that the body angles slightly down from front to back. The tail is low-set and normally reaches the hock which is carried in a slight curve like a saber.

The coat is of medium length with the heavier portions being around the neck and the lighter portion being on the head.

Common color combinations are; black and tan, black and sable, and solid black. The dominate color of the head is black. Solid white GSD's are considered a separate breed for showing purposes.

For a more detailed description of the breed's appearance, click here.

Intelligence

Rank	Breed
1	Border Collie
2	Poodle
3	German Shepherd
4	Golden Retriever
5	Doberman Pinscher
6	Shetland Sheepdog
7	Labrador Retriever
8	Papillon
9	Rottweiler
10	Australian Cattle

The GSD is one of the most intelligent breeds of dog. If fact this breed ranks 3rd in intelligence according to the American Kennel Club (AKC). The GSD is easily trainable and in the category of being able to understand new commands within 5 repetitions and obeys first commands 95% of the time or better. Because of his intelligence he may become bored if not provided with adequate physical and mental stimulation. This boredom may manifest itself in behaviors such as digging, barking, and chewing. This is one reason that anyone considering owning a GSD should be willing to devote a sufficient amount of time to spend with him. Whether the dog is to be a pet or to be placed in special service such as police work or search and rescue, it is best that training begin early. In any case, obedience training is recommended. Many breeders offer various types of training. There are also plenty of books available on training the GSD. It would be a shame for a dog of such intelligence to receive no training at all.

Temperament
Gentle GSD One of the things that make the GSD such a desirable breed is it's ability to be just what it needs to be at any particular time. He can be gentle, playful, and friendly so as not to be a danger to friends and family, yet it can rise to the occasion and be a fierce defender of the home in a split second. The same dog that the police may have used to wrestle a criminal to the ground in the morning may also be at an elementary school that same afternoon being petted by children.

Defensive GSD The general nature of the GSD is that he is very loyal and friendly to family and familiar people, yet very leery of strangers. As an adult, he makes friends slowly. Females tend to be ore pack protective, while males are more territorial. Training has much to do with temperament. It is important to socialize the dog while he is just a pup. Introduce to him at that time, those people that you would like him to be on good terms with. The GSD tends to get very attached to the family and may even suffer from detachment anxiety if removed from the family for an extended amount of time. These dogs strive for and need attention. They are eager to please and show affection to those he knows as friends.

Although the GSD is a natural guard dog, further training in this area will yield more specific and desirable traits in this area. As with any training, it should begin when he is just a pup. For more on the GSD as a guard dog, click here.

Diseases
There are certain genetic tendencies for every breed to develop particular health problems. It is beneficial for the dog owner to know what particular disease their dog is prone to get so that the signs may be recognized and treatment can begin. The following is a list of the more common diseases of the GSD.

Eye problems: cataract (blindness, cloudy eyes) and progressive retinal atrophy (blindness without cloudy eyes); diagnosed with ophthalmologic exam

Epilepsy: congenital seizure disorder; severity varies; usually controllable but requires lifetime treatment

Megaesophagus: enlargement and loss of function of the esophagus; can be primary or secondary to other underlying disease; signs include regurgitation (looks like vomiting but there is no abdominal heaving), weight loss, pneumonia; diagnosed with x-rays; treatment depends on severity and underlying cause

Musculoskeletal diseases: hip dysplasia (laxity of hip joints leading to pain and lameness of hind limbs, varying degrees of severity and treatment); osteochondrosis dessicans (deformity of the cartilage on joint surfaces, lameness and pain of shoulder and knee are the most common signs, surgical treatment possible); elbow dysplasia (combination of one or more developmental abnormalities of the elbow, pain and lameness in the front limbs are the clinical signs, sometimes surgical repair if possible); all diseases diagnosed with an orthopedic exam and x-rays

Osteosarcoma: cancer of the bone; usually middle aged to older dogs; signs of pain and lameness of forelimb or hindlimb; diagnosed with x-rays and bone biopsy; treatment is limb amputation and chemotherapy

Pancreatic insufficiency: inability of the pancreas to release digestive enzymes; signs are weight loss and diarrhea; enzyme supplementation is the treatment (lifelong treatment required)

Pannus: swelling, blood vessels, and pigment seen on the cornea due to inflammation; diagnosed with ophthalmologic exam; lifelong treatment and sometimes surgery required

Perianal fistula: ulcers and draining sores around anus; difficulty defecating and malodorous anal discharge; treatment is difficult - medical treatment is attempted first, and then surgical treatment if unsuccessful

Persistent right aortic arch: congenital heart defect; causes megaesophagus (see above); surgical repair necessary

Skin diseases: autoimmune disease, seen as crusting and sloughing of skin on nose and mouth; allergies, seen as seasonal licking and scratching

Subaortic stenosis: congenital heart defect; varying degrees of severity; signs seen if first few weeks to months include: murmurs, difficulty breathing, fainting

For more information on these and other diseases which are particularly common to the GSD, click here.

Services

This section discusses some of the services for which the GSD is commonly used. Basically, if it can be done by a dog, the GSD can do it and most likely do it well. The breeds intelligence, loyalty, eagerness to please, versatile temperament., courage, strength and agility make the GSD ideal for a wide range of services. Some of the services for which the GSD is commonly used are:

Pet

Security

Law enforcement

Search and rescue

Guide Dog

Pet
GSD a pet The GSD loves human contact and companionship. These dogs bond tightly to family. Whether its a game of fetch or defending the family, the GSD is ready and willing. The GSD is an energetic breed and needs plenty of room and lots of exercise. He loves long walks with his master, as well as playing games, yet he is sensitive to his master's mood and can be content just laying by his side.

By bringing a GSD into your home, you are making an addition to your family. Soon your house and all your property will be under his special care. Owning a GSD does require a measure of time devoted to his care. They have exercise and grooming requirements as well asa need for just plain human love and contact. If you do not have any time to dedicate for the care and companionship of this dog, then this is not the breed for you.

Security
Security can mean simply guarding a residence from thieves or it can mean patrolling the boarder separating two nations. No matter what type of security is required, the GSD is well suited for the job. The dog's nature is to guard and to protect those things he loves and what he perceives to be his or his master's territory and property. When the GSD receives training specifically for security applications, the end result is the epitome of a great guard or security dog. There are varying degrees of security training depending on the need. For example, a dog trained to be a personal protector or used in police work may be trained to attack on a given command even if there does not seem to be any apparent danger. The dog may also be trained to attack at the sight of a gun or a knife, or certain aggressive movements such as a drawn back fist.

Many breeders, breed their dogs especially for security purposes and offer training as an additional service. Like all training, guard dog training should begin very early, usually immediately following obedience training. Keep in mind that even if you do not choose to give your dog security training, he will still most likely fulfill this role to a degree just due to his protective nature.

Law Enforcement
The GSD is probably the most often used dog in law enforcement. In fact the term "Police Dog" is often used as an alternate name for the German Shepherd Dog. In service to law enforcement, the GSD is used for such tasks as crowd control, locating and apprehending suspects, and drug searches. Some of the training for law enforcement is very similar or even the same as for security training. Other areas of law enforcement however, such as in conducting drug searches require specialized training.

To view a web site with more detailed information on the training required for various security and law enforcement services, click here.

Search and Rescue
GSD, Search and Rescue Dogs working in Search and Rescue may be used to locate any of the following:

Children lost in the wilderness, parks or hidden in shrubbery around houses

Elderly persons and/or alzheimers patients who may have wandered away from homes or hospitals

Hikers and hunters lost in the woods

Victims of avalanche. earthquakes, floods, explosions and/or bombs, fires, aircraft crashes, tornadoes as well as other disasters

Evidence of crime and the bodies of homicide victims

The GSD has proven himself in all these areas. For more information about search and rescue dogs click here and here.

Guide Dogs
GSD used as guide dags Guide Dogs, sometimes referred to as "Seeing Eye Dogs" are dogs which are trained to assist blind people. The GSD was the first dog ever trained for this job. While several breeds are now used for this service, the GSD remains among the most desirable. The training for guide dogs is very specialized and is usually done by schools specially dedicated for the training of guide dogs. In addition to specialized training for the dog, great attention and care also goes into matching up the person to the right dog. Therefore acquiring a guide dog is not as simple as acquiring a dog for a pet or for use as a guard dog. For more information on guide dogs click on any of the following links:

Guide Dogs of America
German Shepherds: Able Assistants
Eye Dog Foundation for the Blind

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