| The German Shepherd Dog, or Alsatian, is a | | | | about it. I say 'oddly', because, after the war, |
| comparatively modern breed of dog, dating from 1899. | | | | anti-German sentiment led the UK Kennel Club to |
| As its name suggests, the breed has its origins in | | | | change the breed's name to Alsatian Wolf Hound. |
| Germany and was bred as a herding dog. Today, the | | | | Eventually, the 'Wolf Hound' was lost and the breed |
| breed is most well known as a police dog. Because of | | | | became known simply as the Alsatian. It was not until |
| its intelligence, obedience and protective nature, it is | | | | 1977, that UK Kennel Clubs reverted to the name |
| used by police forces around the world. Although, the | | | | German Shepherd Dog. |
| German Shepherd is still used as an extremely | | | | Appearance |
| effective working dog, it is also a wonderfully popular | | | | The German Shepherd is one of the large breeds of |
| family pet. | | | | dog, which grows to approximately 22 to 26 inches in |
| The Origins of the German Shepherd | | | | height and weighs between 50 and 88lbs. According to |
| During the 19th century, in Germany, local communities | | | | the Kennel Club, the breed should have a domed |
| would select and breed dogs with desirable qualities, | | | | forehead with a long muzzle and black nose. It also |
| such as obedience and intelligence, to aid in the job of | | | | has brown eyes of a medium size and large erect |
| herding and protecting sheep. The result was excellent | | | | ears. According to the breed specifications, the |
| sheepdogs, but they varied from one community to | | | | German Shepherd should have a long neck, which is |
| the next in appearance and ability. In an attempt to | | | | raised when excited. Another prominent feature of the |
| eradicate these differences, the Phylax Society was | | | | breed is a long bushy tail, which should reach the hock. |
| formed, in 1891, which aimed to standardize the dog | | | | The breed has a variety of colors, the most common |
| breeds of Germany. Unfortunately, due to | | | | being black and tan or red and tan. However, German |
| disagreements over the ideal traits of breeds, or what | | | | Shepherd's can also be all black, all white, sable, liver, |
| we would now call 'artistic differences', the Society | | | | brindle, blue and panda. |
| lasted only three years. | | | | Temperament and Character |
| However, the Phylax Society was influential in | | | | Unfortunately, in some quarters, the breed has a |
| promoting the idea of standardized dog breeds. | | | | reputation for biting humans and attacking smaller dogs. |
| Consequently, Max von Stephanitz, who believed that | | | | However, reputable sources, such as the Centers for |
| dogs should be bred with the aim of acquiring excellent | | | | Disease Control and Prevention and American |
| working animals, came across a dog that lived up to | | | | Veterinary Medical Association, argue that there is no |
| his ideal. He immediately purchased the dog, named it | | | | accurate way to determine the bite rate of breeds, |
| Horand von Grafrath and founded the Society for the | | | | because of inaccurate reports and mixed breeding. |
| German Shepherd Dog. Subsequently, Max von | | | | Moreover, studies have shown that smaller dogs are |
| Stephanitz is credited with the creation of the breed. | | | | much more likely to bite than larger dogs. Of course, |
| A Change of Name | | | | due to the fact that German Shepherds are popular |
| The breed was first exported to Britain in 1908. Oddly, | | | | pets and often used for protection, the statistical |
| the popularity of the breed increased after soldiers | | | | analysis, on which claims of aggression in German |
| returning from World War I spoke enthusiastically | | | | Shepherds is based, is flawed. |