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The German Shepherd Dog or Alsatian is a breed of dog. Because they are eager to please, they are easily trained in obedience and protection. German Shepherd Dogs are often used as working dogs in many capacities, including search and rescue (SAR) dogs, military dogs, police dogs, or guard dogs. They are also used as assistance dogs (particularly guide dogs), though not as much as Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers.

Appearance

The German Shepherd Dog is a large, strong, handsome-looking dog. The fur is a double-coat and can be either short or long haired. It varies in color, coming in many different shades, mostly cream (tan) and brown, but also solid black or white. Dogs with coats that have tricolored hair (black and white with either brown or red) are called sable or agouti. Different kennel clubs have different standards for the breed according to size, weight, coat color, and structure.

Common faults

There are several common features that are disqualifying faults in show dogs:
  • Ears that never stand up completely; instead, the top 10 to 15 percent of the ear remains floppy. These are called "friendly-tipped" dogs.
  • A small percentage of GSDs have a tail that stands vertically, exposing their anus. This is also a disqualifying fault in all GSDs.
  • A muzzle that is not predominantly black is considered a disqualification only in American show GSDs.

Breed lines

There are several types or lines of GSD and the behavior, abilities, and appearance of each is quite different. The major lines are the international working line, the international show line, and the North American show line.

Dogs from FCI-recognised international working lines are bred primarily for traits involving their working ability rather than appearance, so their appearance can be somewhat varied.

The FCI-recognized international show lines differ in that emphasis is given more to the appearance of the dog when breeding, so they are very consistent in type or appearance.

The North American show lines have also been bred primarily for their looks, but have a markedly different appearance from the international dogs, featuring a noticeably sloped back and sharp angulation of the hock joint. There is a current debate over whether the American show lines still represent the original German Shepherd Dog, or whether the line has become distinct enough that it should be considered a separate breed. Critics of the American line argue that the working ability of these dogs has been lost, and that the angled back is detrimental to the health of the animal. Proponents of the line believe that the altered bone structure of their dogs represents an improvement to the herding ability of the animals.

In the erstwhile GDR, the German Shepherds more closely adhered to the old prewar standard marked by straighter back, longer and denser coat and darker color. These dogs are now praised for breeding working dogs as they are less prone to hip dysplasia. Attempts to preserve this distinct line and raise it to the status of an officially recognized breed ("East German Shepherd Dog") are stalled.

Variant sizes and coats

Some groups or breeders have focused on variants or mutations of the breed that are not recognized by most kennel clubs as acceptable show GSDs but that might eventually become breeds on their own.

White coat A white (or very light), but not albino, version of the German Shepherd has also always occurred, but was designated a disqualifying fault in the AKC in the late 1960s. The white coat is considered a fault by International (FCI) Fédération Cynologique Internationale breed standards in most parts of the world.

The white coat, however, does not prevent the white-coated German Shepherd Dog from being registered in the AKC as a German Shepherd Dog. White Shepherds hold champion titles in the UKC (United Kennel Club). Now, some breeders selectively breed White Shepherds for their beautiful snowy white coats and physical stature, striving for a Shepherd that closely resembles the original dog; less angular than today's German Shepherd breed. See the WGSDCA or American White Shepherd Association for more detail. However, the white German Shepherd has been recognised by some organisations under the name Berger Blanc Suisse (or White Shepherd Dog).

Long-haired coat : The so-called "long-haired German Shepherd" is considered a "fault" in the German Shepherd Dog breed according to American Kennel Club standards as well as the International (FCI) breed standard. The long hair gene is recessive. Dogs with this coat look somewhat like the Tervueren type of Belgian Shepherd Dog. An example with pictures can be found here. Popular myth holds that long-haired GSDs ("fuzzies") are more affectionate, but there is little evidence for this. Long coats usually have no or little undercoat, thus they can be rather sensitive to extreme weather.

Giant shepherd : Some organizations recognize a deliberately bred, larger variation of the breed as the Shiloh Shepherd Dog or other names.

Temperament

Well-bred GSDs have powerful jaws and strong teeth, can develop a strong sense of loyalty and obedience, and can be trained to attack and release on command. Poorly bred GSDs such as those from puppy mills can be fearful, overly aggressive, or both. GSDs (like Pit Bulls, Rottweilers and Dobermanns), are often perceived as inherently dangerous, and are the target of Breed Specific Legislation in several countries. If a GSD is violent or aggressive, it is often due to the combination of poor breeding (bad nerves) and the owner's lack of control or training. GSDs are often used as guard, attack and police dogs, which further contributes to the perception of being a dangerous breed. However, many GSDs function perfectly well as search dogs and family pets, roles where aggressive behavior is unsuitable.

GSDs' sense of loyalty and emotional bond with their owners is almost impossible to overstate. Separation trauma is one reason they are now used less often in guide dog roles, since guide dogs are typically trained from puppyhood by one owner prior to final placement with their employer.

There are two major different types of German Shepherd dogs within the recognized (FCI) world standard; the working lines and the show lines.

The working lines are dogs that are developed by breeders who are mainly concerned with the dog’s ability to work and compete in schutzhund. These dogs are high drive animals, the structure is usually adequate, the physical appearance is very diverse, and colors vary widely. We find blacks, black and tans, bi-colors and sables. Although these dogs are high drives they can be very good house dogs, family companions as long as they have been socialized adequately.

The show line German shepherd was developed by breeders who are very focused on the structure and appearance of the dog. Although these dogs do have to obtain working titles in order to qualify for breeding, their working drives are usually lower then those of the working lines. The conformation lines are dogs that are generally easy to live with, trainable, stable, and calm yet possessing enough drive to work and protect. The structure of these dogs is excellent, balanced, harmonious and efficient, their general appearance is quite homogenized. They are mainly black and red, black and tan or occasionally sable.

Working and show lines are still similar in temperament, with the working line being higher drive and more intense, but keep in mind the German shepherd is a working breed and that even the milder show lines are to be treated with much respect. This is a breed made for protecting, defending and working long hours in harsh conditions. The show lines are not just pretty toy version of the working lines. They require exercise, appropriate training, socialization and an understanding of what it takes to live with and raise a working breed.

In North America, we find American/Canadian shepherds, which are very different from the original German shepherds. Although these dogs have common ancestry to the German shepherd, they have become almost a breed onto themselves. These dogs are bred for show purposes, the breeders focusing almost exclusively on looks and movement. They have adapted the standard to their own preference and the result is that these dogs differ greatly from German shepherds found in the rest of the world. They are generally larger, softer, heavier, have lighter bone structure, there is often less differentiation of the two sexes, the males having less masculine heads and bodies, their angulations is quite extreme and their very structure is very different from German shepherds. Although their general appearance is generally quite different, the major difference is in the temperament; The Canadian /American shepherd is not a working dog. Most if these dogs do not have the required temperament to do any sort of work aside from the occasional herding dog. They have gone a long way off from the temperament described in the breed standard. The American/Canadian shepherds are not required to pass any temperament test, do Schutzhund, have the endurance test, the breed survey or anything really, they are not even required to be free of dysplasia. The only registry is the CKC or the AKC, which do not control the quality of the animals being bred. These animals retain a potential for aggressive behavior and responses, but without necessarily possessing the courage, stability and clear headedness to temper their actions. They are often fear biters, nervous and stressed, showing inappropriate aggressive tendencies. They lack to courage for true protection work, their aggressive behavior being a result of defensiveness and fear for themselves and not an instinct to protect their master. This can be confusing to a novice, but the end result is very different; you cannot count on this type of dog to protect and defend you in a threat situation. This is not to say they are necessarily bad dogs, but they are not German shepherds as the rest of the world seems them and as the founder of the breed intended them to be. *Original content taken with permission from Les Anges Gardiens, breeder of German showline German shepherds

Health

As is common in many large breeds, German Shepherds are prone to elbow and hip dysplasia. Other health problems sometimes occurring in the breed are von Willebrand's disease and skin allergies. German Shepherds are also prone to bloat. They have an average lifespan of twelve years.

History

The breed was originated by Captain Max von Stephanitz in the late 19th century and early 20th century. His goal was to breed an all-purpose working dog. The first registered GSD was Horand v. Grafrath *. Von Stephanitz admired the landrace herding dogs of his native German Empire, and believed they had the potential to be all-purpose working dogs. Additionally, he was aware of the declining need for herding dogs and believed that the working abilities of the breed would decline unless it was put to other uses. Von Stephanitz created the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde *, or SV as the official governing body for the breed.

The SV then created the schutzhund trial as a breed test for the German Shepherd Dog, and prohibited the breeding of any dog which could not pass the trial. The schutzhund trial, along with the SV's conviction that "German Shepherd breeding is working dog breeding, or it is not German Shepherd breeding" led to a rapid development of the breed's abilities.

After World War I, British and American soldiers, impressed by the abilities of the dog, brought home examples to breed. The breed instantly became popular, both as a family pet and as a working dog. To this day, the German Shepherd Dog is considered one of the most, if not the most, intelligent and versatile breeds in existence.

Working German Shepherd Dogs

German Shepherds often compete and excel in obedience trials and Schutzhund competitions. German Shepherds are also often trained as police dogs, due to their trainability, size, work drive and look which commands respect, but is not too scary.

Shepherding

The original purpose for the German Shepherd Dog was (not surprisingly) to herd sheep, cattle, or any other animal that might require the assistance of a shepherd. Even given the name "Shepherd", some people are surprised to hear that these dogs were bred for herding, as the GSD is more often found working as a guard dog, police dog, or companion pet than in the field working sheep.

The German Shepherd Dog does not have the "eye" that Border Collies or some other similar breeds have. They are trained to follow their instinct, which for the GSD is to "work the furrow", meaning that they will patrol a boundary all day and restrict the animals being herded from entering or leaving the designated area. It is this instinct that has made the breed superb guarding dogs, protecting their flock (or family).

A German Shepherd Dog's instincts to herd might manifest themselves by the dog closely watching or even nipping at members of its family as they go for walks. The dog might attempt to lead people to what it perceives is the correct location, even going so far as to gently take a hand in his teeth to lead the person. With some training, this can become a trick, sometimes known as "walk the human."

Miscellaneous

Breed names

The proper English name for the breed is German Shepherd Dog (a literal translation from the German "Deutscher Schäferhund") but they are usually informally referred to as GSDs or simply German Shepherds. In addition, the sobriquet police dog is used in many countries where the GSD is the predominant or exclusive breed used in the canine police force.

Alsatian is also commonly used in the United Kingdom and countries of the Commonwealth of Nations. After World War I, a few dogs were taken to England and the United States. At that time, the English owners renamed the dog as the "Alsatian Shepherd", as it was feared that the breed's original name could be an impediment due the anti-German feelings still present after the War. Only in 1930 did the British Kennel Club authorise the breed to be known again as German Shepherd.

Popularity in the U.S.

Based on 2005 American Kennel Club statistics, German Shepherd Dogs are the fourth most popular breed of dog in the United States with approximately 45,000 new registrations during the year *.

Famous Shepherd Dogs

See also

External links

Dog breeds | Herding dogs

Duitse Herdershond | Немска овчарка | Pastor alemany | Schæferhund | Deutscher Schäferhund | Pastor alemán | Berger allemand | Pastore tedesco | רועה גרמני | Duitse herder | ジャーマン・シェパード・ドッグ | Schäferhund | Owczarek niemiecki | Pastor Alemão | Немецкая овчарка | German Shepherd Dog | Немачки овчар | Saksanpaimenkoira | Schäferhund

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "German Shepherd Dog".

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