Meet the German Shepherd. Dog Fancy Magazine
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Call of the Wild (1921) and White Fang (1925). Strongheart was the first canine movie star.
Another GSD, rescued as a puppy from a bombed-out war dog kennel in Lorraine, France, soon out-did Strongheart. Corporal Lee Duncan managed to bring this pup (named Rin Tin Tin after a French toy) back to the United States and trained him as he had seen the war dogs trained. At a show in 1921, “Rinty” amazed the audience by broad-jumping 131/2 feet. Darrell Zanuck saw this and paid Duncan $350 to film Rinty with his new camera. Before his death in 1932, Rinty made 26 movies for Warner Brothers and became a huge star, receiving 10,000 fan letters a week. Rinty’s offspring have continued to act in movies and television. The Rin Tin Tin breeding program is now owned by Ms. Daphne Hereford, daughter of Ms. Jannettia Propps, who inherited the line from Duncan. To stay up to date with Rin Tin Tin, go to www.rintintin.com.
German Shepherds love being put to work, but they also enjoy a little down time and R&R with the people they love.
Because tending dogs do not work under direct command, they had to be quick-witted enough to adapt to changing circumstances and able to make independent decisions. The job required them to be assertive enough to keep determined sheep (strong animals heavier than the dogs) from getting into areas beyond the nonexistent fences. They needed enough self-confidence and control to physically force potential escapees back into the group by gripping only their wool. Above all, the tending job required courage to protect the sheep from humans and animal predators, like wolves and bears.
If you like lively, intelligent midsized dogs, the German Shepherd just might be the breed for you.
Join the Club
The parent club of a canine breed is considered the expert on everything related to that breed of dog. It’s responsible for safeguarding and promoting a particular dog breed. These national organizations are members of the American Kennel Club and are made up of knowledgeable breeders. Each parent club determines the breed standard, denoting the most desired traits of an ideal specimen of the breed, which the AKC then officially approves. The standard is used to guide breeding practices and competition judging. The parent club of the German Shepherd is the German Shepherd Dog Club of America. Learn more about the club at its website, www.gsdca.org.
WHAT A SPORT
Consistent with the breed’s historical role as a tending dog, the German Shepherd is a true team player and excels when working independently or by his master’s side. In fact, the GSD excels at his person’s side in most any dog sport. Whether he’s flying over a hurdle in an agility trial or executing a broad jump in an obedience trial, the well-trained GSD is a focused, professional athlete who thrives on pleasing his handler. Tracking is another sport at which German Shepherd Dogs have been excelling for many years. Relying on his nose and brain, the GSD is a natural tracker, and these skills have been applied to many of the breed’s professional disciplines, such as search and rescue, arson and drug detection, border control, police trailing, and many others.
CANINE CONSIDERATION
The rest of this book will dive into everything important you need to know to find and care for a German Shepherd. It’s a lifetime commitment, and not one to be taken lightly. So before you go looking for a breeder, make sure bringing a dog into your home is really what you want. Examine your home environment and lifestyle to make sure the lively and personable GSD is really the dog for you.
Then, once you’re certain that the German Shepherd Dog is your ideal breed, don’t just rush out and buy the first one you see. Take the time to study the breed. Do your research and know which GSD qualities to look for when meeting available litters; learn the best tactics for training and socialization; study what you can do to contribute to your pet’s health and happiness; and discover the vast array of activities you can do to bond with your active dog. Now, let’s get to it!
Having endeared himself to humans centuries ago for his devoted service in livestock fields, the GSD has won over recent generations in his civic services.
At a Glance …
German Shepherds have been one of the most popular dog breeds for the majority of the past century.
Devoted and highly trainable, GSDs make great service animals, as well as family pets.
GSDs thrive when given a “job” to do, whether it is guarding the family at home or apprehending criminals alongside a police officer.
German Shepherds have an instinctive herding mentality—a skill that has endeared them to humans throughout the world for hundreds of years.
The possibilities are endless when considering what activities to involve your German Shepherd Dog in to keep him healthy, active, and happy.
Impressive and harmoniously built, the German Shepherd Dog is regarded as one of the world’s most recognizable dogs. At once, this dog is strong, agile, and well muscled, while also alert and full of life. Defying definition, the German Shepherd possesses nobility and quality.
Many of the words in the above paragraph come from the official breed standard of the GSD, but words are merely words. How do they come together to describe this wonderful breed?
For the Record
The German Shepherd Dog that lays claim to winning the most Best in Shows is Ch. Altana’s Mystique, owned by Jane Firestone and handled by James Moses. With 275 BIS wins, Mystique is not only the top-winning GSD of all time, she’s also the show dog with the most wins in American history, earning the Top Dog spot in 1993 and 1994. In 1993 alone, she amassed 116 BIS wins, more than any other dog in a single year.
The question we ask is: what makes a German Shepherd Dog look like a German Shepherd? It’s not simply the dog’s size, shape, angulation, or gait, but rather the combination of all of these essential features that together create an ideal representation of the breed. Written by the German Shepherd Dog Club of America (the breed’s national parent club) and approved by the American Kennel Club, the breed standard serves as a blueprint for breeding and judging at conformation shows. In fact, the purpose of dog shows is to determine which dogs are best suited for breeding. It’s absolutely critical for breeders and judges to have an accepted “ideal” so that all of the valued qualities of the breed will be preserved from generation to generation.
To emphasize that the German Shepherd is not just a pretty face in a shiny coat, the breed standard also describes this dog’s working ability. In the section on temperament, the standard states that the GSD must be “fit and willing to serve in its capacity as a companion, watchdog, blind leader, herding dog, or guardian, whichever the circumstances command. The ideal dog is a working animal with an incorruptible character combined with body and gait suitable for the arduous work which constitutes its primary purpose.”
The German Shepherd’s working ability and temperament are just as important as the desired physical characteristics that the standard details. These traits as described in the breed standard are intended to preserve the true working character of the breed. Although the vast majority of modern GSDs do not work in the same capacities as their herding-dog ancestors, they should still possess the ability and true spirit that distinguishes this versatile working breed.