German Shepherd

History and Naming
– Attempts to standardize dog breeds in the 1890s
– Local communities in Germany bred dogs for herding sheep
– Phylax Society formed in 1891 to create standardized development plans for native dog breeds
– Internal conflicts led to the society disbanding after three years
– Max von Stephanitz founded the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde
– Breed initially named ‘Deutscher Schäferhund’
– Name officially changed to ‘Alsatian Wolf Dog’ by the UK Kennel Club after World War I
– Successful campaigns led to the breed being registered again as German Shepherds in 1977
– The word ‘Alsatian’ was removed from the formal breed name of the American Kennel Club in 2010

Description and Appearance
– German Shepherds are medium to large-sized dogs
– Height at the withers is 60-65cm for males and 55-60cm for females
– German Shepherds can reach sprinting speeds of up to 30 miles per hour
– They have a domed forehead, long square-cut muzzle, and medium-sized brown eyes
– The coat is close and dense with a thick undercoat, accepted in medium and long variants
– Different coat variations include long-haired and short-haired types
– Most common color varieties are tan/black and red/black
– Rarer color variations include sable, pure-black, pure-white, liver, silver, blue, and panda

Association with Imperial and Nazi Germany
– German Shepherds became strongly associated with purity and militarism in Imperial and Nazi Germany
– Adolf Hitler acquired a German Shepherd named Prinz in 1921
– German Shepherds portrayed Hitler as an animal lover in Nazi propaganda
– Dogs, including Blondi, played a role in the Führerbunker during the Battle of Berlin
– German Shepherds were used as guard dogs at Nazi concentration camps during the Holocaust

Temperament, Intelligence, and Aggression
– German Shepherds are self-assured and moderately active
– They have a strong willingness to learn and a desire to have a purpose
– They are highly trainable and excel in tasks such as police work, guard duty, and search and rescue
– Their intelligence allows them to quickly learn various tasks and interpret instructions
– German Shepherds are described as curious, making them excellent guard dogs and suitable for search missions
– They can become overprotective of their family and territory if not properly socialized
– German Shepherds are not immediately friendly towards strangers
– German Shepherds have been responsible for severe dog bites requiring hospital treatment
– Their bite force is over 1,060 newtons, higher than that of other breeds
– Proper training and socialization are important to minimize aggression

Popularity, Working Dogs, and Health
– German Shepherds initially popular in the United States
– Reputation grew as a dangerous breed owned by gangsters and bootleggers
– German Shepherds are commonly used as police dogs, search and rescue dogs, and military dogs
– They have a keen sense of smell and can work effectively despite distractions
– German Shepherds are still used for herding and tending sheep in some regions
– German Shepherds may be prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, degenerative spinal stenosis, and ear infections
– They are predisposed to degenerative myelopathy and Von Willebrand disease
– German Shepherds require proper nutrition and supplementation for skeletal health
– Vitamins A and D, omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin play important roles in their bone healthhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Shepherd