Ratings

Breed Introduction

The German Shepherd Dog, also known as the German Wolf Dog, is a dog breed famous for its intelligence, ranking third in IQ among all dog breeds. They are agile and well-suited for active working environments, often deployed in various roles such as police, guard, search and rescue, and military, and they also serve as guide dogs for the blind. Beyond their suitable working nature, German Shepherds can also be loyal and affectionate pets in households, enjoying the company of humans (including children) and other animals. They are obedient and can participate in schutzhund trials to evaluate the abilities of both trainers and dogs for honorary titles. The breed is celebrated as the ‘King of Dogs’.

Due to their wolf-like appearance, they were once speculated to be direct descendants of wolves, but they originated in Germany. In April 1999, the German Shepherd Dog marked its ‘centenary’. Various shepherd dog associations and dog enthusiasts in Germany celebrated the 100th anniversary of the ‘king of dogs’ with different forms of commemorations.

In 1890, German breeders Stephanitis and Mr. Meyer began to improve the ancient shepherd dog breed known as Altdeutscher Schäferhund. The cavalry officer von Stephanitis envisioned breeding a dog that was neither aggressive nor shy. He first sketched on his desk the shepherd dog of his dreams before crossbreeding various excellent dogs until he reached the ideal prototype. The German Shepherd Dog was officially born on April 22, 1899, in Karlsruhe, Western Germany. That year, at a dog show, a cavalry captain named von Stephanitis showcased the excellent breed he meticulously developed through numerous breeding experiments.

Dog breeding trends originated in Britain, where owning dogs was seen as a symbol of fashion and wealth among the upper class. However, the shepherd dog breeder von Stephanitis went against this trend, believing that dog breeding should not merely be ornamental or recreational, but rather serve society. In that spirit, he founded the ‘German Canine Enthusiast Association’ the same year. The German Shepherd Dog thus became one of the most popular and excellent military, police, and shepherd dogs of its time, assisting military and police in drug searches, fugitive apprehension, border patrols, and more. Additionally, it is an excellent herding and guard dog.