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Pedigree Dogs > German Shepherd Dog (Alsatian)
Breed Information
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. The German Shepherd is a relatively new breed
of dog, with its origin dating to 1899. As part of the
Herding Group, the German Shepherd is a working dog
developed originally for herding and guarding sheep.
Because of its strength, intelligence and abilities in
obedience training it is often employed in police and
military roles around the world.
German Shepherds currently account for 4.6% of all dogs
registered with the American Kennel Club. Due to its
loyal and protective nature, the German Shepherd is one
of the most registered of breeds.
When the UK Kennel Club first accepted registrations for
the breed in 1919, fifty-four dogs were registered, and
by 1926 this number had grown to over 8,000. 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.
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.
German Shepherds are a large sized dog, 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. Weight is 30–40
kilograms (66–88 lb) for males and 22–32 kilograms
(49–71 lb) for females. 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.
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.
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.
German Shepherds are highly active dogs, and described
in breed standards as self-assured. 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. Shepherds
have a loyal nature and bond well with people they know,
most markedly with the one person to whom they consider
the alpha of the household. This is very important, as
they are bred to protect those in their pack and feel
stressed if they do not have a 'master'. However, 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. German Shepherds are highly intelligent and
obedient.
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