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German Shepherd Dog
German Shepherd Dog
Other namesAlsatian
Berger Allemand
Deutscher Schäferhund
GSD
Schäferhund
Traits
Height Males 60–65 centimetres (24–26 in)[1]
Females 55–60 centimetres (22–24 in)[1]
Weight Males 35–43 kilograms (77–95 lb)[1]
Females 25–33 kilograms (55–73 lb)[1]
Coat See Description section below
Color Most commonly tan with black saddle
Litter size 5–10
Life span 9-13 years[2]
Kennel club standards
Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard
Dog (domestic dog)

The German Shepherd Dog (German: Deutscher Schäferhund), also known as an Alsatian or just the German Shepherd, is a breed of large-sized dog that originated in Germany.[3] German Shepherds are a relatively new breed of dog, with their origin dating to 1899. As part of the Herding Group, German Shepherds are working dogs developed originally for herding and guarding sheep. Because of their strength, intelligence and abilities in obedience training they are often employed in police and military roles around the world.[4] German Shepherds currently account for 4.6% of all dogs registered with the American Kennel Club. Due to their loyal and protective nature, German Shepherds are one of the most registered of breeds[clarification needed].[5]

Origins

German Shepherd Dogs. Female (left), Male (right).

In Europe during the 1800s, attempts were being made to standardize breeds.[6] The dogs were bred to preserve traits that assisted in their job of herding sheep and protecting flocks from predators. In Germany this was practiced within local communities, where shepherds selected and bred dogs that they believed had traits necessary for herding sheep, such as intelligence, speed, strength, and keen senses of smell. The results were dogs that were able to perform admirably in their task, but that differed significantly, both in appearance and ability, from one locality to another.[6]

To combat these differences, the Phylax Society was formed in 1891 with the intention of creating standardised dog breeds in Germany. The society disbanded after only three years due to ongoing internal conflicts regarding the traits in dogs that the society should promote; some members believed dogs should be bred solely for working purposes, while others believed dogs should be bred also for appearance.[7] While unsuccessful in their goal, the Phylax Society had inspired people to pursue standardising dog breeds independently.

A German night-watchman from 1950 with his dog

Max von Stephanitz, an ex-cavalry captain and former student of the Berlin Veterinary College, was one such ex-member. He believed strongly that dogs should be bred for working.

In 1899, Von Stephanitz was attending a dog show when he was shown a dog named Hektor Linksrhein. Hektor was the product of few generations of selective breeding and completely fulfilled what Von Stephanitz believed a working dog should be. He was pleased with the strength of the dog and was so taken by the animal's intelligence, loyalty, and beauty, that he purchased him immediately.[6] After purchasing the dog he changed his name to Horand von Grafrath and Von Stephanitz founded the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (Society for the German Shepherd Dog).[6] Horand was declared to be the first German Shepherd Dog and was the first dog added to the society's breed register.

Horand became the centre-point of the breeding programs and was bred with dogs belonging to other society members that displayed desirable traits. Although fathering many pups, Horand's most successful was Hektor von Schwaben.[8] Hektor was inbred with another of Horand's offspring and produced Beowulf, who later fathered a total of eighty-four pups, mostly through being inbred with Hektor's other offspring. In the original German Shepherd studbook, Zuchtbuch fur Deutsche Schaferhunde (SZ), within the 2 pages of entries from SZ No. 41 to SZ No. 76, there are 4 Wolf Crosses.[9] Beowulf's progeny also were inbred and it is from these pups that all German Shepherds draw a genetic link. It is believed the society accomplished its goal mostly due to Von Stephanitz's strong, uncompromising leadership and he is therefore credited with being the creator of the German Shepherd Dog.[10]

Popularity

When the UK Kennel first accepted registrations for the breed in 1919, fifty-four dogs were registered, and by 1926 this number had grown to over 8,000.[6] The breed first gained international recognition at the decline of World War I after returning soldiers spoke highly of the breed, and animal actors Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart popularised the breed further.[11] The first German Shepherd Dog registered in the United States was Queen of Switzerland; however, her offspring suffered from defects as the result of poor breeding, which caused the breed to suffer a decline in popularity during the late 1920s.[11]

Popularity increased again after the German Shepherd Sieger Pfeffer von Bern became the 1937 and 1938 Grand Victor in American Kennel club dog shows, only to suffer another decline at the conclusion of World War II, due to anti-German sentiment of the time.[11] As time progressed, their popularity increased gradually until 1993, when they became the third most popular breed in the United States. As of 2009, the breed was the second most popular in the US.[11][12] Additionally, the breed is typically among the most popular in other registries.[11] The German Shepherd Dog's physique is very well suited to athletic competition. They commonly compete in shows and competitions such as agility trials.

Name

The breed was named Deutscher Schäferhund by von Stephanitz, literally translating to "German Shepherd Dog". The breed was so named due to its original purpose of assisting shepherds in herding and protecting sheep. At the time, all other herding dogs in Germany were referred to by this name; they thus became known as Altdeutsche Schäferhunde or Old German Shepherd Dogs.

The direct translation of the name was adopted for use in the official breed registry; however, at the conclusion of World War I, it was believed that the inclusion of the word "German" would harm the breed's popularity,[13] due to the anti-German sentiment of the era.[14] The breed was officially renamed by the UK Kennel Club to "Alsatian Wolf Dog"[13] which was also adopted by many other international kennel clubs. Eventually, the appendage "wolf dog" was dropped.[13] The name Alsatian remained for five decades,[13] until 1977, when successful campaigns by dog enthusiasts pressured the British kennel clubs to allow the breed to be registered again as German Shepherd Dogs.[3] The word "Alsatian" still appeared in parentheses as part of the formal breed name and was only removed in 2010.[15]

Modern breed

The modern German Shepherd is criticized for straying away from von Stephanitz's original ideology for the breed:[16] that German Shepherds should be bred primarily as working dogs, and that breeding should be strictly controlled to eliminate defects quickly.[17] Critics believe that careless breeding has promoted disease and other defects.[16] Under the breeding programs overseen by von Stephanitz, defects were quickly bred out; however, in modern times without regulation on breeding, genetic problems such as color-paling, hip dysplasia, monorchidism, weakness of temperament, and missing teeth are common, as well as bent or folded ears which never fully turn up when reaching adulthood.[18]

Description

Close-up of a German Shepherd's face showing the long muzzle, black nose and brown, medium-sized eyes

German Shepherds are large sized dogs, generally between 55 and 65 centimetres (22 and 26 in) at the withers, with an ideal height of 63 centimetres (25 in) according to Kennel Club standards.[19] Weight is 30–40 kilograms (66–88 lb) for males and 22–32 kilograms (49–71 lb) for females.[1] They have a domed forehead, a long square-cut muzzle and a black nose. The jaws are strong, with a scissor-like bite. The eyes are medium-sized and brown with a lively, intelligent, and self-assured look. The ears are large and stand erect, open at the front and parallel, but they often are pulled back during movement. They have a long neck, which is raised when excited and lowered when moving at a fast pace. The tail is bushy and reaches to the hock.[19]

A solid black German Shepherd

German Shepherds can be a variety of colors, the most common of which are tan/black and red/black. Most color varieties have black masks and black body markings which can range from a classic "saddle" to an over-all "blanket." Rarer colour variations include the sable, all-black, all-white, liver, and blue varieties. The all-black and sable varieties are acceptable according to most standards; however, the blue and liver are considered to be serious faults and the all-white is grounds for instant disqualification in some standards.[20]

German Shepherds sport a double coat. The outer coat, which is shed all year round, is close and dense with a thick undercoat. The coat is accepted in two variants; medium and long. The long-hair gene is recessive, making the long-hair variety rarer. Treatment of the long-hair variation differs across standards; they are accepted under the German and UK Kennel Clubs but are considered a fault in the American Kennel Club.[19][20][21]

Intelligence

German Shepherds were bred specifically for their intelligence,[22] a trait for which they are now famous.[4] In the book The Intelligence of Dogs, author Stanley Coren ranked the breed third for intelligence, behind Border Collies and Poodles.[23][24] He found that they had the ability to learn simple tasks after only five repetitions and obeyed the first command given 95% of the time.[4] Coupled with their strength, this trait makes the breed desirable as police, guard, and search and rescue dogs, as they are able to quickly learn various tasks and interpret instructions better than other large breeds.[25]

Aggression and biting

Well-trained and socialized German Shepherd Dogs have a reputation as being very safe (see temperament section below). However, in the United States, one 1996 source suggests that German Shepherd Dogs are responsible for more reported bitings than any other breed, and suggests a tendency to attack smaller breeds of dogs.[26] An Australian report from 1999 provides statistics showing that German Shepherd Dogs are the third breed most likely to attack a person in some Australian locales.[27]

According to the National Geographic Channel television show Dangerous Encounters, the bite of a German Shepherd Dog has a force of over 238 pounds-force (1,060 N) (compared with that of a Rottweiler, over 265–328 pounds-force (1,180–1,460 N) of force, a Pit bull, 235 pounds-force (1,050 N) of force, a Labrador Retriever, of approximately 230 pounds-force (1,000 N) of force, or a human, of approximately 86 pounds-force (380 N) of force).[28]

Temperament

German Shepherds are highly active dogs, and described in breed standards as self-assured.[20] The breed is marked by a willingness to learn and an eagerness to have a purpose. They are curious which makes them excellent guard dogs and suitable for search missions. They can become over-protective of their family and territory, especially if not socialized correctly. They are not inclined to become immediate friends with strangers.[29] German Shepherds are highly intelligent and obedient.[30]

Health

German Shepherd Dog at an agility competition

Many common ailments of the German Shepherds are a result of the inbreeding practiced early in the breed's life.[31] One such common ailment is hip and elbow dysplasia which may lead to the dog experiencing pain in later life, and may cause arthritis.[32] A study by the University of Zurich in police working dogs found that 45% were affected by degenerative spinal stenosis, although the sample studied was small.[33] The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals found that 19.1% of German Shepherd are affected by hip dysplasia.[34] Due to the large and open nature of their ears, Shepherds are prone to ear infections.[35] German Shepherds, like all large bodied dogs, are prone to bloat.

According to a recent survey in the UK, the median life span of German Shepherds is 10.95 years,[2] which is normal for a dog of their size. Degenerative myelopathy, a neurological disease, occurs with enough regularity specifically in the breed to suggest that the breed is predisposed to it.[36] Additionally, German Shepherd Dogs have a higher than normal incidence of Von Willebrand Disease, a common inherited bleeding disorder.[37]

Controversy

The Kennel Club is currently embroiled in a dispute with German Shepherd breed clubs about the issue of soundness in the show-strain breed.[38] The show-strains have been bred with an extremely sloping topline (back) that causes poor gait in the hind legs. Working-pedigree lines, such as those in common use as service dogs, generally retain the traditional straight back of the breed. The debate was catalyzed when the issue was raised in the BBC documentary, Pedigree Dogs Exposed, which said that critics of the breed describe it as "half dog, half frog". An orthopedic vet remarked on footage of dogs in a show ring that they were "not normal".

The Kennel Club's position is that "this issue of soundness is not a simple difference of opinion, it is the fundamental issue of the breed’s essential conformation and movement."[38] The Kennel Club has decided to retrain judges to penalize dogs suffering these problems.[39] It is also insisting on more testing for hemophilia and hip dysplasia, other common problems with the breed.

Use as working dogs

Urban Search and Rescue Task Force dog works to uncover survivors at the site of the collapsed World Trade Center after the September 11, 2001 attacks

German Shepherds are a very popular selection for use as working dogs. They are especially well known for their police work, being used for tracking criminals, patrolling troubled areas, and detection and holding of suspects. Additionally thousands of German Shepherds have been used by the military. Usually trained for scout duty, they are used to warn soldiers to the presence of enemies or of booby traps or other hazards.[40] German Shepherds have also been trained by military groups to parachute from aircraft.[41]

The German Shepherd Dog is one of the most widely used breeds in a wide variety of scent-work roles. These include search and rescue, cadaver searching, narcotics detection, explosives detection, accelerant detection, and mine detection dog, among others. They are suited for these lines of work because of their keen sense of smell and their ability to work regardless of distractions.[40]

At one time the German Shepherd Dog was the breed chosen almost exclusively to be used as a guide dog for the visually impaired. In recent years, Labradors and Golden Retrievers have been more widely used for this work, although there are still German Shepherds being trained. A versatile breed, they excel in this field due to their strong sense of duty, their mental abilities, their fearlessness, and their attachment to their owner.[citation needed]

German Shepherd Dogs are used for herding and tending sheep grazing in meadows next to gardens and crop fields. They are expected to patrol the boundaries to keep sheep from trespassing and damaging the crops. In Germany and other places these skills are tested in utility dog trials also known as HGH (Herdengebrauchshund) herding utility dog trials.[42]

Strongheart, one of the earliest canine stars

German Shepherds have been featured in a wide range of media. Strongheart the German Shepherd was one of the earliest canine film stars and was followed by Rin Tin Tin, who is now acclaimed as being the most famous German Shepherd. Both have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[43]

Batman's dog Ace the Bat-Hound appeared in the Batman comic books, initially in 1955,[44] through 1964.[45] Between 1964 and 2007, his appearances were sporadic.

Rex, a German Shepherd is the eponymous police dog character of the Austrian television drama Inspector Rex.

The animated movie All Dogs Go To Heaven stars a German Shepherd named "Charlie Barkin". He is also the main character in the sequel and the tv series.

The 2007 Hollywood movie I am Legend starring Will Smith as virologist Robert Neville shows a German Shepherd Dog Samantha (Sam) as the only companion of Neville in the deserted New York City where a lethal strain of virus has spread. The movie portrays a close bond between the main character and his dog.[46]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "USA German Shepherd Dog Standard". United Schutzhund Clubs of America. Retrieved 20 July 2008.
  2. ^ a b O'Neill et al., (2012). "Longevity of UK Dog Breeds" (PDF). Royal Veterinary College, University of London. Retrieved 18 January 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b "German Shepherd — The Ultimate Service Dog". German Culture. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  4. ^ a b c Coren, p.134
  5. ^ Rice, p.8
  6. ^ a b c d e "History of the Breed". German Shepherds.com. Archived from the original on 1 June 2008.
  7. ^ Rice, p.11
  8. ^ Stevens, p.11
  9. ^ "Progency list for V Beowulf". Pedigree Database. Retrieved 14 August 2008.
  10. ^ Willis, p.5
  11. ^ a b c d e Palika p.25
  12. ^ "AKC Dog Registration Statistics". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  13. ^ a b c d Palika p.22
  14. ^ Rice p.12
  15. ^ "Change Of Name – German Shepherd Dog". The Kennel Club. 19 October 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
  16. ^ a b Conan, p.43
  17. ^ The first standard of the German Shepherd Dog Society, written by von Stephanitz said "A pleasing appearance is desirable, but it can not put the dog's working ability into question ... German Shepherd breeding is working dog breeding, or it is not German Shepherd breeding"Harder, Aimee. "GSD vs. WGSD — It's not a black or white issue!". White German Shepherd Dog Club of America. Retrieved 20 July 2008.
  18. ^ "The History of the German Shepherd Dog". German Shepherd Dog Club Queensland. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  19. ^ a b c "German Shepherd Dog (Alsatian) Breed Standard". The Kennel Club (UK). Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  20. ^ a b c "German Shepherd Dog Breed Standard". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  21. ^ "Rasse-Lexikon Deutscher Schäferhund" (in German). Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen. Retrieved 15 July 2008. [dead link]
  22. ^ von Stephanitz, p.12
  23. ^ "Ranks 1 to 10 – Brightest Dogs". Petrix. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  24. ^ "The Top 10 Smartest Dog Breeds In The World". Pet Meds Online. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  25. ^ "About the Breed". White Paws: German Shepherd. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  26. ^ Ross, John; McKinney, Barbara (1996). Puppy Preschool: Raising Your Puppy Right—right from the Start. St. Martin's Press. p. 58. ISBN 0-312-14029-0.
  27. ^ "Reported Dog Attack Survey". New South Wales Department of Local Government. 1999. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); |archive-url= requires |url= (help); |format= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  28. ^ "Dog Bites: Information and Statistics". 26 January 2008. Retrieved 2012-31-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help) Cites a National Geographic study.
  29. ^ "Breed Standard — German Shepherd". New Zealand Kennel Club. Retrieved 19 July 2008. While the dog should be approachable and friendly, he does not make immediate friendships with strangers.
  30. ^ Dogwise: The Natural way to Train your Dog (1992), John Fisher Souvenir Press Ltd. ISBN 0-285-63114-4
  31. ^ Willis, p.31
  32. ^ "German Shepherd Dog Health Problems". Dog Biz. Retrieved 19 July 2008.
  33. ^ Attention: This template ({{cite doi}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by doi:10.2460/javma.231.10.1529, please use {{cite journal}} (if it was published in a bona fide academic journal, otherwise {{cite report}} with |doi=10.2460/javma.231.10.1529 instead.
  34. ^ "Hip Dysplasia Statistics". Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. 2009. {{cite web}}: |archive-url= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  35. ^ "German Shepherd Health Problems". Bodeus. Retrieved 19 July 2008.
  36. ^ "Degenerative Myelopathy German Shepherd Dogs". University of Florida 1998. Retrieved 11 April 2009.
  37. ^ "Von Willebrand's Disease (vWD): A Type of Hemophilia in Dogs". Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
  38. ^ a b "German Shepherd Dogs – The Soundness Issue". The Kennel Club. 8 February 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  39. ^ "German Shepherd Dogs – Judges Training Programme". The Kennel Club. 16 February 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  40. ^ a b Strickland, p.17-28
  41. ^ "It's a dog's life in the Army". The New Zealand Herald. 22 July 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  42. ^ Hartnagle-Taylor and Taylor, Jeanne Joy, Ty (2010). Stockdog Savvy. Alpine Publications. ISBN # 978-157779-106-5. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  43. ^ Choron, p.40
  44. ^ Irvine, Alex; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1950s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. Batman No. 92 (July 1955) Once Superman had a dog, Batman got one too, in "Ace, the Bat-Hound!" In the story by writer Bill Finger and artist Sheldon Moldoff, Batman and Robin found a German Shepherd called Ace. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  45. ^ Ace the Bat-Hound appearances at the Grand Comics Database
  46. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480249/

Further reading

  • Choron, Sandra (2005). Planet Dog: A Doglopedia. Houghton Mifflin Books. ISBN 0-618-51752-9.
  • Conan, Michel (2000). The German Shepherd Handbook. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's. ISBN 0-7641-1332-1.
  • Coren, Stanley (1995). The Intelligence of Dogs: A Guide to the Thoughts, Emotions, and Inner Lives of our Canine Companions. New York: Bantam Books. ISBN 0-553-37452-4.
  • Cree, John (1977). Training the Alsatian, the Obedient Companion or Working Partner. Pelham. ISBN 0-7207-0993-8.
  • Hartnagle-Taylor, Jeanne Joy; Taylor, Ty (2010). Stockdog Savvy. Alpine Publications. ISBN #978-157779-106-5. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
  • Palika, Liz (2008). Your Happy Healthy Pet: German Shepherd Dog. Wiley. ISBN 0-470-19231-3.
  • Rice, Dan (1999). Training Your German Shepherd Dog. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's. ISBN 0-7641-0852-2.
  • Ross, John; McKinney, Barbara (1996). Puppy Preschool: Raising Your Puppy Right—Right from the Start. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-14029-0.
  • Stevens, Katrina (2002). The German Shepherd Dog. Willow Creek Press. ISBN 1-57223-512-8.
  • Strickland, Winifred Gibson (1998). The German Shepherd Today. Howell Book House. ISBN 0-87605-154-9. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • von Stephanitz, Max (1994). The German Shepherd Dog in Word and Picture. Hoflin Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-99932-80-05-7. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Willis, Malcolm (1992). The German Shepherd Dog: A Genetic History. Maxwell Macmillan International. ISBN 0-87605-175-1. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Willis, Malcolm (1976). The German Shepherd Dog: Its History, Development and Genetics. K and R Books. ISBN 0-903264-15-3.
  • Fisher, John (1992). Dogwise: The Natural Way to Train Your Dog. Souvenir Press Ltd. ISBN 0-285-63114-4.
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