The German Shepherd Dog - A brief insight

Dog Group

The German Shepherd is a large breed of dog that belongs to the Working Dog Group.

Origins of the German Shepherd

The German Shepherd otherwise known as the Alsatian is a relatively modern breed originally developed for herding livestock in Germany in the very late 19th Century.

Due to anti German sentiment following the first World War it was believed that the direct translation of the breeds name from Deutscher Schaferhund to German Shepherd Dog could provoke hostility to the breed. The German Shepherd was therefore renamed The Alsatian Wolf Dog by the Kennel Club and later changed to simply the Alsatian. The name stood with the breed for over 50 years until in 1977 following persistent campaigning by breed enthusiasts it was reverted back to the original Kennel Club name of The German Shepherd Dog.

The breed was not officially registered with the United Kingdom Kennel Club until as late as 1919. The German Shepherd has gone on to become one of the most popular breeds around the world proving its ability for both security work and in the show ring with exceptional agility skills.

Attributes of the German Shepherd

The breed is fearless and highly intelligent with a keen sense of smell responding exceptionally well to obedience training. These attributes lend themselves well to security work and the Alsatian is a strong favourite amongst Police Forces around the world.

Health issues

A downfall of the German Shepherds growth in popularity over the years has been the temptation and necessity in earlier years to inbreed whilst developing the breed. The Breed now shows a history of inherent problems related to inbreeding such as dysplasia of the hip and elbow.