The German shepherd dog (GSD) can trace its
origins back to the 7th century when it was formed from a variety
of different shepherd dogs although its wolf-like appearance
suggests even earlier ancestry. The German shepherd dog was
originally bred for herding but has been used mainly this century
for guarding and protection work. It is also a popular guide dog
and has worked extensively with the police and armed forces.
It was at the end of the 19th century that
Rittmeister Max Friedrich von Stephanitz dedicated his life to the
refinement of this dog. The breed was first shown in 1882 and the
first club for the breed was formed in Germany in 1899. It was
because of this club and the work of Rittmeister that the breed
was saved from extinction and it was developed to work with police
and the army. GSDs were widely used in the First World War as
messenger dogs and to locate the wounded.
After the war some German shepherds were
taken to Britain and the US, but due to the obvious strong
anti-German sentiment at the time the English Kennel club gave the
breed a separate register. The name Alsatian was introduced, from
Alsace an area on the West bank of the Rhine which was re-annexed
by the French in 1918. This name is still used in the UK, Ireland
and the Commonwealth. These are large strong dogs that are very
faithful to their owners. They can be short or long haired and the
most common colouring is black and tan although they do come in a
variety of different colours including black and red, black and
brown, black and silver, black and cream, blue and tan or liver
and tan as well as solid black or white.
They are a very intelligent breed so need
plenty of mental stimulation. They do very well in obedience
training as they are eager to learn and very responsive. They
react well to voice given commands as well as reward-method
training. The German shepherd progresses easily from basic
obedience training to agility, tracking, rescue work and personal
protection. The breed is also used in a variety of scent work
roles including narcotics detection, explosive detection and
accelerant detection. The GSD will develop a close bond with his
handler and want their company as much as possible. They will get
along well with children as long as they are not tormented. It is
important to socialise a GSD at an early age to promote
self-confidence and prevent unruliness.
As with most large breeds, they are prone to
elbow and hip dysplasia, they can also suffer from bloat which can
usually prevented with careful animal husbandry. It is a good idea
to regularly check the eyes and ears as GSD tend to have
occasional problems with these too. Congenital heart problems have
also been found in the breed.
German shepherd dogs have appeared in many TV
shows and movies, some notable examples are:
- Rin Tin Tin - One of Hollywood's top stars
of the 1920's and 30's who at his peak received 10,000 fan
letters a week.
- The Littlest Hobo - The popular 1980's TV
series which stared this type of dog who traveled from place to
place performing good deeds.
- A German shepherd called Koton stared as
a police dog in the 1989 movie K9
- In the movie Talladega Nights: The Ballad
of Ricky Bobby, a group of 6 German shepherd formed a pyramid
for Gregory Girard (Andy Richter)
