History & Temperament Of The German Shepherd

Without question, the German Shepherd Dog's temperament and intelligence has earned it an international fan club. Its affable, easy going nature gives way to a strong protective instinct when provoked. People close to the breed frequently claim that German Shepherds know right from wrong and that a well-trained GSD is the best room mate you could ask for.

Characterized by a direct and fearless expression, the German Shepherd never appears hostile, but instead appears self-confident, with a certain aloofness. While maintaining this aloofness, the German Shepherd must be approachable, quietly standing his ground and showing confidence and willingness to meet overtures without making them himself.

The traits of keen intelligence and trainability have made the German Shepherd arguably the most versatile breed in history. In addition to their traditional roles as police and herding dogs, the breed has encountered success in many areas including watchdog, leader of the blind, tracking, rescue, scent identification, agility, obedience, guardian, and of course companion. He is poised and calm, but when the occasion presents itself he can be alert and startling.




HISTORY OF THE BREED



Each of these dogs in turn sired many progeny and became pillars in the development of the German Shepherd. Von Stephanitz was a cavalry captain and was ideally suited to impose his strong will over the SV of which he was president. In this capacity and with uncompromising dedication he directed the breeding programs. The dogs of Thuringia, Frankonia, and Wurttemburg were all used, each area providing dogs which had special merits of tail and ear carriage, size, color, and temperament.

The degree of inbreeding was necessarily high at this time, for although if any breed of dog is most deserving of the title Noble with Natural Beauty then that dog is the German Shepherd.

He is a dog with elegant yet flowing lines, glamorous to behold, with a shining coat, erect ears, and an intelligent expression that will command attention wherever he is seen. His eyes indicate the love and affection he has for those who care for him and his sweeping tail will show his mood whether it be gay or sad.

By nature a German Shepherd is wary of strangers, though once one is accepted by him he is a friend for life. He is an efficient obedience worker, quick to learn and what is learned will never be forgotten. It is an active breed and thrives on work—little is beyond its capabilities. Fleet of foot, powerful yet graceful and nimble, he is the epitome of those qualities considered to be ideal within a dog.

He loves human companionship and will respond to his owner’s mood whether this be lying quietly by his side or romping across the fields; indeed, at all times, his one desire is to be with you and to please you.

He has a keen sense of humor and enjoys playful games yet, in defense of those he loves, can become a frightening adversary that one would be well advised to keep clear of. He can fit into a flat or a mansion as the need may be, for he is happy wherever you are happy.

In bringing a German Shepherd into your home, you are making an addition to your family and he will quickly feel a part of it. Your house, your garden, your possessions and in fact all that you own will from then on be in his special care. He needs your love, but he needs also correct attention to his grooming, exercise, food, and general welfare. Given these, your German Shepherd will devote his very life to you and you will be the richer for this and for the companionship and love you both will share.

In a short work such as this, one cannot look too deeply into the history of the breed for this would take up a volume in itself. However, it is important that all Shepherd owners have an insight, brief though it may be, into the development of the breed for it is this development that has given us the German Shepherd we see today. Only a few early dogs and only one person is named in this history, though it will readily be appreciated that there were many dogs and many people whose efforts and sacrifices have furthered the growth of the German Shepherd.

Almost from the very dawn of mankind the dog has figured prominently. Early man quickly recognized the dog’s ability to complement those faculties in which he was weak. The dog could run better, see better, hear better and had a far more acute sense of smell than man.

Wild dogs were captured and reared within man’s encampment, and in return for food, shelter, and protection, would help man hunt and give him advance warning of predatory animals. This was the beginning, and as man settled from his nomadic wanderings his requirements of the dog changed. He now needed more diversity in his dogs. There were those for hunting, those for protecting his home and family when he was away, those for carrying small burdens, and those for helping tend his flocks and cattle. The dawn of the pastoral shepherd dog had arrived. Throughout the world slow development was taking place, but the pace quickened in Europe where man himself was raising his standards more rapidly.

The size, coat, and colour of sheepdogs at this time varied greatly, dependent upon many factors. The weather clearly dictated that dogs working in cold areas would have profuse coats while those of temperate climates would have shorter coats. Areas where predatory animals were found in large numbers would need more powerful dogs than those lands dominated by man. The wolf, the bear, the large birds of prey—all would influence man’s choice of sheepdog.

In Germany, as in France, the United Kingdom, Holland, and others, the growth of large industrialized cities meant that predators were declining quickly and also that there was a greater awareness of the excellence of the shepherding dogs of different areas. The establishment of dogs of fixed type was now at hand although there were still great variations to be found from one area to another. Breeders would meet and discuss the relative merits and shortcomings of certain dogs, and it followed that dogs of high merit were much in demand as breeders tried to fix into their stock the sterling qualities seen in dogs from other areas. It came to pass that in Germany, in 1891, a group of enthusiasts formed the Phylax Society with the aim of fostering and standardizing native German breeds. The society was short-lived and in 1894 it was disbanded, but it had sown the seeds from which the German Shepherd was to emerge.

At this time Capt. Max von Stephanitz appears in the breed’s history and indeed it is this man who is acclaimed as the father of the breed. Von Stephanitz had long admired the qualities of intelligence, strength, and ability found in many native sheepdog breeds but had yet to see one which embodied all of his ideals. Chance was to play its part, and while visiting a show with a friend in 1899, he saw a dog that impressed him greatly to all accounts so much that then and there he purchased the dog and promptly formed a society, the Verein fur deutsche Schaferhunde or SV as it is called. This was a milestone in the breed’s history and marked the beginning of a new era for it. From this date the German Shepherd as a specific breed had arrived.
               
Horand v Grafeth

The dog was called Hektor Linksrhein but was later named Horand v Grafeth by Von Stephanitz, who used the animal as the basis on which much future development would be made. Horand was greatly admired by many breeders who were quick to use him in their breeding programs. Not surprisingly, he became the dog that best exemplified the goals of early breeders.

Horand’s most celebrated son was Hektor v Shwaben, who in turn sired Heinz v Starkenburg and the litter brothers Beowolf and Pilot.

Harried risks of incorporating faults, it likewise enabled the breeders to fix permanently those qualities which today are such features of the breed. Von Stephanitz believed above all else that the German Shepherd should be bred for utility and intelligence and this was to become his motto. It was this adaptability that was later to make the dog the world’s greatest all-rounder.

With the oncoming of the twentieth century, and having seen the SV develop into the largest single breed club in the world, Von Stephanitz was turning his attention to the long-term future. He was able to foresee that in a growing industrialized nation the role of the pastoral shepherd dog would decline and the breed must be able to adapt to other work if it were to continue as a functional animal.

1800 herding dog

It seemed that the very qualities that made the German Shepherd such an exceptional sheepdog could well be put to good use by government departments. This was the thinking of Von Stephanitz and this was to be his next campaign. As always, he achieved this and during World War I was seen as messenger dog, rescue dog, sentry dog, and personal guard dog. Servicemen from the USA, UK, and the Commonwealth would see first hand the dog’s bravery, intelligence, and steadfastness, and many stories were taken back home. Not surprisingly, a number of dogs were acquired by servicemen and transported home with them.

In 1919, when the English Kennel Club gave the breed a separate register, some 54 animals were included, but by 1926 the ranks had swelled to 8,058, such was the unprecedented success of the dog. At the end of the War it was thought that the breed would not flourish were the word German to appear in its name and it was therefore decided to call the breed the Alsatian Wolf Dog after the German-French border area of Alsace-Lorraine. The “Wolf Dog” tag was later to be dropped—again as it was felt that this would prejudice the breed. Thus we had for many years the misnomer of the breed brought about by national hostilities. In 1977, following numerous campaigns by breeders the name of the breed was changed back to the German Shepherd Dog by which it is known in the USA, Australia, and most other countries.



With the breed arriving in Britain mainly on the strength of its reputation as a war dog, its sterling qualities as a sheepdog were largely overlooked. At that time Britain already had a string of quality working sheepdogs such as Collies, Corgis, and Old English Sheepdogs. Therefore, the pattern of development of the German Shepherd in the USA, UK, and Australia was to be dictated by its adaptability. The Seeing Eye dogs in the USA and Britain were predominantly German Shepherds and only later did the Labrador challenge this position.

At the outbreak of World War II, the trained dogs of the Allied Forces were seen wherever the troops traveled, spreading the breed’s popularity like a blanket around the world.

by Ernest H. Hart.

ABOUT GERMAN SHEPHERD DOGS (GSD's)



Other Names:

Alsatian, Deutscher Schaferhund

Classification:
They belong to the Herding Dog Group

General Appearance:
The German Shepherd dog is a medium to large sized breed with erect pointed ears, a long body, and a weather resistant coat. Most of them have a medium double coat and dark-brown eyes.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION


Eye Color: Usually dark brown

Lips: Firm, not pendulous

Ear type: Ear is erect and pricked

Temperament: Loyal, responsive, protective, and intelligent.

Average lifespan: 10-15 years

Measurements and weights:

Males:

Height at the wither:

24 to 26 Inches (60 cm to 65 cm)

Weight: 60-130 pounds (30 to 40 kg)


Females:

Height at the wither:

22 to 24 Inches (55 cm TO 60 cm)

Weight: 45-110 pounds (22 to 32 kg)

Coat Color: The most popular colors are black and tan or a mixture with a dark saddle. There are also pure black and pure white shepherds.
Coat Type: Medium length (1 1/2 to 2 inches) double coat". Long haired individuals occur in the breed, as does the occasional woolly and curly coat.


COMMON HEALTH RISKS


Hip Dysplasia: a malformation of the hip joint that results in pain, lameness and arthritis.
Degenerative Myelopathy:
Progressive rear limb weakness or Paralysis - The age at onset is usually between 5 to 14 years. Cases have been reported in almost all large breeds of dogs, with the disease appearing with relative frequency only in the German Shepherds. This suggests that there is a predisposition for German Shepherd dogs to develop DM. There may be discomfort due to arthritis in the hip or lower lumbar (lower back) area, but this usually improves with activity. Over days, weeks or months the patient becomes progressively weaker as is evidenced by "shuffling" of the rear limbs and lack of coordination. Finally, full paralysis coupled with fecal and urinary incontinence develops.
Pancreatic Insufficiency:
A pancreatic disease that results in inability to digest food properly. Depending on severity of disease, remedy is usually low cost and easy, just require enzyme powders to be sprinkled on food to help digest food.
Gastric Torsion (Bloat):
A life threatening sudden illness. Because of the dog's deep-seated chest, the dog's stomach may twist so that nothing can past through the esophagus to the stomach or through the stomach to the intestine, causing gas to build up. A large amount of activity, such as vigorous running before or after eating or drinking water, can exacerbate bloating.
Epilepsy- seizures
Megaesophagous (Dilated Esophagus):
The results of this condition is regurgitation, and frequently leads to aspiration pneumonia. Megaesophagus interferes with effective peristalsis thereby preventing food from passing down into the stomach.
Treatment for congenital megaesophagus in puppies is primarily directed toward maintaining and improving the nutritional status of the pup. Food and water are usually given by raising the bowls up off of the floor (raising the bowls helps facilitate swallowing).
Pannus:
A chronic inflammation of the corneal surface and, in most cases, of the conjunctiva of the eye. The disease generally manifests itself in dogs between the ages of three and five. It first appears in the outer regions of the cornea and, in almost all cases, affects both eyes simultaneously.


IMPORTANT NOTE:

The above mentioned common health risks in GSD's are for informational purposes only. For detailed information, please always consult with your veterinarian.

TRAINABILITY

German Shepherds are very intelligent and responsive. They need obedience training early in life, particularly those that are boisterous, strong minded and dominating. A well-socialized German Shepherd dog is easier to introduce to new people and situations and generally makes an overall more stable companion.


FUN THINGS TO DO

German Shepherd Dogs are herders by nature. Walking, jogging, running and hiking can be good exercise for both you and your pet. The dog (with his/her herding instinct) will naturally try to "herd" you and your companions in order to better protect you. Games that require mental and physical agility are well suited to this breed. Exercises that require tracking and hiding would be fun for them too.