German Shepherd dog
The German Shepherd (German: Deutscher Schäferhund) is a large breed of German dog breeds (German: Deutsche Hunderassen). Because of their strength, intelligence and abilities in obedience training they are often employed in police and military roles everywhere in the world, as well as being popular pets, taking first place among the pedigree dogs in the world. Many top German army commanders and leaders, e.g. Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff as well as Adolf Hitler (→ Blondi) and Heinrich Himmler, owned German Shepherd dogs.
Contents
Appearance
.jpg)
The dog is large, sporty and bright, it can often be seen at dog parks or on long hikes in the forest. The Schäferhund is docile and has a strong character. It has a shoulder height of 55-65 cm and a weight of 22 to 43+ kg. Basically, the German Shepherd was not bred for hunting. However, due to his docile nature, you can certainly teach him the basics of hunting. The dogs are also ideally suited for training as working or protection dogs, rescue dogs or tracking dogs. An adult German Shepherd needs a lot of exercise. The better the dog is exercised, the more balanced it is.
The term “Old German Shepherd” (German: Altdeutscher Schäferhund) is not a separate breed, but rather refers to the long-haired German Shepherd. You can recognize it by its longer fur, which is particularly dense between the ears and the shoulder area of the dog and resembles a lion's mane. There is also the white German Shepherd. It cannot be listed as a German Shepherd because the color white is not integrated into the German Shepherd breed name.
There is now a separate breed for the white specimens: the White Swiss Shepherd Dog. Last but not least, there is the Belgian Shepherd. It is similar in nature to the German Shepherd, but is an independent breed. It comes in four subtypes, so-called varieties, all of which have quite individual appearances. There is the “Groenendael” with black fur, the reddish-brown “Tervueren”, the yellow-brown “Malinois” and the rough-haired “Laekenois”.
History
- The name shepherd refers to the breeds original purpose of herding and protecting sheep. Used by German forces in World War I, the breed gained recognition for its loyalty and strength after returning allied soldiers extolled the virtues of the dog. They gained further recognition once they began to feature in television shows and movies such as 'Rin Tin Tin'. After World War II, their popularity declined due to anti-German sentiment, however they gradually rose in popularity again in later years. These canines have been a part of video games such as Call of Duty: World at War where they can be called in as attack dogs, as well as being featured as loyal guard dogs in games such as Fable III. [...] Furthermore, despite their almost ubiquitously violent nature within games, German Shepherd's are in fact one of the safest and most sociable breeds of dog when properly trained. Indeed, Call of Duty: World at War made almost no attempt to impart the dog's ability to bond with children.[1]
By the end of the 19th century, various breeds of herding dogs had developed in Europe. However, these dogs were not only used to guard the herds, but also to protect belongings. Today's German Shepherd comes primarily from these breeds, especially from Württemberg and Thuringia. The founder of the German Shepherd breed was Rittmeister Max Emil Friederich von Stephanitz. He was born on 30 December 1864 in Dresden and belonged to an aristocratic German family. Because of his family's social position, he pursued a career as an officer. During a maneuver he observed shepherds at work with their dogs. He was overwhelmed by the communication between humans and animals, so dogs became his life's purpose.
On 15 January 1898, he bought the then three-year-old dog "Hektor von Linksrhein" from the breeder Karl Sparwasser from Frankfurt for 200 Reichsmarks. He renamed his new companion "Honrand von Grafrath". This was the first specimen entered in the breeding book, with the number SZ1 (Schäferhund-Züchtung 1) and is considered the forefather of all German Shepherd dogs. He was so enthusiastic and fascinated by its nature and appearance that he and his friend Arthur Meyer founded the "German Shepherd Dog Association" in Karlsruhe on 22 April 1899. He was the first president until his death. All German Shepherd dogs that meet the breed standard up to the third degree of family are listed here. Arthur Meyer was responsible for thisbreeding book until his death on 29 December 1900.
At the first club meeting on 20 September 1899, the breed standard for the German Shepherd breed was set. Due to the enthusiasm of its founder Max von Stephanitz, the popularity of the German Shepherd grew enormously. The number of members of the German Shepherd Dog Association rose to 6,000 by 1914 and to 50,000 registered members by 1923. The Körbuch was introduced in 1922. This represents an important control mechanism for maintaining the breed characteristics of the German Shepherd. The Körbuch is used to classify German Shepherds that are suitable for breeding. Registration is voluntary. However, inclusion in the Körbuch is subject to strict requirements, so that only relatively few animals are registered. Depending on whether the criteria are met, the dog receives a breeding license for two years or for life. The German Shepherd Dog Association currently has around 100,000 registered members. Max von Stephanitz died on 22 April 1936 and is buried in the Trinitadis Cemetery in Dresden.
WWII
During the Second World War, more than 30,000 dogs were used, most of which did not survive, many shot by allied invasion troops, even after 8 May 1945. After the end of the war, the final rise to one of the most popular dog breeds in the world began. In the Arab world, the German Shepherd dog is very popular as a prestige object. Today, up to 10,000 € and more are paid for specimens from well-known lines.
.jpeg)
.jpg)
