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The German Shepherd Dog
COURAGE • LOYALTY • INTELLIGENCE • VERSATILITY
"The most striking feature of the correctly bred German Shepherd are firmness of nerves, attentiveness, unshockability, tractability, watchfulness, reliability and incorruptibility together with courage, fighting tenacity, and hardness."
~ Captain Max von Stephanitz
Huerta Hof German Shepherds
The German Shepherd is a breed of [larger sized] medium-sized dog that originated in Germany. German Shepherds are a relatively new breed of dog, with their origin dating to 1899. Originally part of the Working Dog group and later moved into the Herding Group, German Shepherds are working dogs developed originally as a utilitarian working breed which were popularly used for herding sheep. This breed was used for a wide variety of different working jobs, and because of their strength, intelligence, versatility and natural obedience, German Shepherds around the world are often the preferred breed for many types of work, including but not limited to search-and-rescue, police and military roles, personal protection, dog sports and service work. German Shepherds are the second most popular dog in the United States of America. The German Shepherd dog comes in several different notable types. Although each one is different they are all still German Shepherd dogs. The breed types differ slightly in terms of origin, size, structure and temperament. Each type of German Shepherd would be better suited for a specific home or job, so it is important to understand each type and what they bring to the table. You can learn more about the breed types by reading the "German Shepherd Types" section. There are several different breed standards set by different kennel clubs and organizations around the world. While they are all similar, there are some notable differences in standards in several governing bodies. It is ideal to begin with reading the original German Shepherd standard set by the German SV (the original German Shepherd club), followed by a very similar standard set by the United Kennel Club. The American Kennel Club and the Canadian Kennel Club have a nearly identical set of standards, and you can read the AKC standard for the German Shepherd standard here. It is important for me to note that this website advocates the German SV standard for the German Shepherd dog above all others due to quality, accuracy and popularity. The SV Standard for the German Shepherd is the original standard. The German Shepherd dog comes in a wide variety of different coat colours and patterns, although some of those coat colours are considered faults and are not desirable in the breed. Regardless, they are still German Shepherds (as long as they are proven purebred, otherwise they could be a mix of breeds or of a similar looking breed). Colours and even coat length can be more common in certain breed types, and less common in others.
Infographic by BLUEGIRL DESIGN. http://www.redbubble.com/people/bluegirldesign
A UTILITARIAN WORKING DOG
"Take this trouble for me: Make sure my shepherd dog remains a working dog, for I have struggled all my life long for that aim."
- Captain Max von Stephanitz
Photo contributed by Grace Wang!
If the German Shepherd dog has been bred correctly, this breed is not for the faint of heart nor is it a breed recommended to inexperienced or first time dog owners. The German Shepherd dog is first and foremost, a utilitarian working dog. This breed is often higher energy, fiercely intelligent, and thrives best when allowed to live among his family, or when given a job to do.
First established in Germany, the dog sport of IPO (formally known as Schutzhund) was developed as a way to test the German Shepherd dog for its strength, weakness and general working ability outside of a herding dog role. IPO has three phases; those being tracking, obedience and protection. This sport helps breeders, breed enthusiasts and dog owners thoroughly test their dogs and utilize the animal's full potential for training, work and breeding.
SAR K9 Indra owned by Sandra King
While IPO is the original breed test for the German Shepherd dog, as a versatile working dog the GSD can be utilized in almost every sport and working venue. To this day the breed is used heavily in police work, military work, search and rescue, detection work and a variety of different dog sports.
The German Shepherd is an athletic dog that is most often highly intelligent, very biddable and handler oriented. This breed requires a lot of exercise and should be kept in very good shape. German Shepherds are happiest and healthiest when they are given a job to do, and challenges to overcome. This breed is highly intelligent, owners of these dogs are encouraged to utilize their working genetics and intelligence.
Photo by David Winners!
The German Shepherd dog is ideal for active homes that can appreciate this breed's history and its need to be exercised, trained, challenged and worked in one way or another. This is a strong breed that requires training and socialization, and if you are not rescuing you should absolutely be certain to select a puppy from a reputable breeder who breeds for temperament, health, working ability and correct and functional conformation.
The German Shepherd dog would be a great companion for an experienced dog owner who is interested in competing in a dog sport, using their dog for work, or has a very active lifestyle.
GERMAN SHEPHERD COAT COLORS
Click the photo to view a larger version with the name of the color. These colors are acceptable within the Breed Standard.
The following coat colors are not acceptable within the breed standard, and therefore are not recommended for breeding and cannot be shown in the CKC/AKC/SV show rings.
GERMAN SHEPHERD COAT LENGTH
Click the photo to view a larger version with the name of the coat length.
Scroll to the bottom of this page to see a gallery of many different types of German Shepherds!
Structure
VA1 SGR 1967 INT CH Bodo vom Lierberg
The German Shepherd Dog is medium-sized, slightly elongated, powerful and well-muscled, with dry bone and firm overall structure. This working dog is meant to be very balanced in structure, with which it is meant to trot efficiently and fluidly for long periods of time.
The height at the withers amounts to 60 cm to 65 cm for male dogs and 55 cm to 60 cm for female dogs. The trunk length exceeds the dimension at the height at the withers by about 10 – 17 %.
Males should be within 66 to 90lbs, with females weighing in between 48 and 75lbs. An over sized or heavy dog is not ideal as a working dog, which is why the German Shepherd is characterized as a medium sized dog as opposed to a large breed. Balance in structure, very similar to the structure of a wild canine, provides efficiency and endurance in movement.
Movement
Image by Linda Shaw © http://www.shawlein.com/
FROM THE SV GERMAN SHEPHERD STANDARD
The German Shepherd Dog is a trotter. The limbs must be coordinated in length and angulation so that the dog can shift the hindquarters towards the trunk without any essential change of the top line and can reach just as far with the forelimbs. Any tendency towards over-angulation of the hindquarters reduces the stability and the stamina, and thereby the working ability.
Correct body proportions and angulations results in a gait that is far-reaching and flat over the ground which conveys the impression of effortless forward movements. The head pushed forward and the slightly raised tail result in a consistent, smooth trot showing a gently curved, uninterrupted upper line from the ear tips over the neck and back to the end of the tail.
1983 German Sieger - VA1 Dingo vom Haus Gero SchH3 KKL1 Dingo is considered one of the best movers of all time. The video above displays Dingo in motion, showing the correct movement of a German Shepherd Dog.
The German Shepherd - Dogs of Old
A look back at old photos of German Shepherds from various lines.
The German Shepherd Dog Gallery
Examples of the different colors, looks, coat types, bloodlines and sizes of the
German Shepherd dog breed!
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
About German Shepherd Dogs
German Shepherd dogs are a breed of medium-sized dogs that originated in Germany in 1899. They were originally part of the Working Dog group and later moved into the Herding Group. German Shepherds are known for their strength, intelligence, versatility, and natural obedience, making them popular for various types of work, including search-and-rescue, police and military roles, personal protection, dog sports, and service work. They are also the second most popular dog in the United States.
The breed comes in several different types, each with slight differences in origin, size, structure, and temperament. Understanding each type is important for selecting the right fit for specific homes or jobs.
There are various breed standards set by different kennel clubs and organizations around the world, with notable differences in standards among governing bodies. The original German Shepherd standard set by the German SV is highly regarded for its quality, accuracy, and popularity.
German Shepherds come in a wide variety of coat colors and patterns, with some considered faults and undesirable in the breed. However, regardless of coat color, as long as they are proven purebred, they are still considered German Shepherds.
German Shepherd as a Working Dog
The German Shepherd dog is first and foremost a utilitarian working dog. They are known for being higher energy, fiercely intelligent, and thrive best when allowed to live among their family or given a job to do. The dog sport of IPO (formerly known as Schutzhund) was developed to test the German Shepherd dog for its strength, weaknesses, and general working ability outside of a herding dog role. This breed is used heavily in police work, military work, search and rescue, detection work, and a variety of different dog sports.
German Shepherds are athletic, highly intelligent, and require a lot of exercise. They are happiest and healthiest when given a job to do and challenges to overcome. This breed is ideal for active homes that can appreciate its history and its need to be exercised, trained, challenged, and worked in one way or another.
German Shepherd Coat Colors and Structure
German Shepherds come in a wide variety of coat colors and patterns, with some considered faults and not recommended for breeding or showing. They also vary in coat length. The breed is medium-sized, slightly elongated, powerful, and well-muscled, with dry bone and firm overall structure. Balance in structure, similar to the structure of a wild canine, provides efficiency and endurance in movement.
The German Shepherd Dog is a trotter, with limbs coordinated in length and angulation to allow for efficient and fluid movement. Correct body proportions and angulations result in a gait that is far-reaching and flat over the ground, conveying the impression of effortless forward movements.
This information is based on search results.
