What Is A Ddr German Shepherd

Ddr German Shepherd History And Origin: How Are They Bred To Be Police Dogs

The East German Shepherd has arguably the most interesting history out of all the different types of GSDs.

For starters, these dogs are known as war dogs bred during World War II however, there is so much more to their story.

The origin of the DDR German Shepherd Dog dates back to October 7, 1949, when Germany entered a period known as the cold war. During the cold war, Germany was split into two East Germany and West Germany.

Shortly after the beginning of the cold war, the Socialist Union of Germany, then residing in East Germany, took control of the breeding and pedigree registration for GSDs.

For over 40 years, East Germany maintained this control over all German Shepherd dogs in their side of the country.

This very exclusive breeding policy gave birth to a variant of the German Shepherd known as the DDR German Shepherd or Eastern German Shepherd.

These dogs were first put into service as wardens along the borders of East Germany.

Needless to say, DDR GSDs are far more skilled in police and military work compared to standard German Shepherds. After all, these dogs underwent the most difficult kinds of training in the harshest of environments.

In 1989, when the cold war ended and the borders were reopened, the demand for guard dogs plummeted. This left thousands of DDR dogs jobless. As a result, many East German Shepherds were put down or abandoned.

So The Eastern Ddr Is Stronger But Is It More Desirable As A Pet Dog

There is quite the debate between in the fight of the DDR vs Czech German shepherd.The Czech shepherd appears to be the one that GSD lovers lean towards in terms of their temperament, training and general desirability.

As with all dogs, there are some owners and breeders that become fixated on one very specific line and become biased towards that dog, perhaps overlooking any issues in the meantime. However, the consensus does seem to swing away from the DDR. Why is this? It is due to looks, temperament or other issues?

The DDR German shepherd temperament is strong and there are many that dispute the issues of handler sensitivity and a general wariness around strangers.

DDR dogs are known to be very loyal to their pack, which means their family, master and all those within the territory of the house. There is therefore a natural protective instinct to guard your family and that territory from any perceived threat.

There are also those that question the maturity of these dogs, stating that DDR dogs take a while to mature and need a little patience. Some would counter that the Czech dogs are just as problematic in this department and that you can never really tell how a GSD will turn out. You simply have to give them the time and effort they deserve while respecting their ways and their intelligence.

At their core, these stocky animals are still protective, tough working dogs.

Different Types Of German Shepherds

August 28, 2020Lifestyle141028

If you were looking to adopt an intelligent and cute puppy that you could play with, go on walks together, and who would also protect you & your home by being the most vigilant guard, then you must look no further than the German Shepherd.

German Shepherd is perhaps the most widely recognized and loved dog breeds in the world. They are one of the best guard dogs that are so good at it that almost all of the police dogs in the USA are German Shepherds.

German Shepherd Dog Price: German Shepherd cost around Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 20,000 in India. On average, the cost of a German Shepherd ranges from $500-$1,500 in the USA.

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How Old Does A German Shepherd Have To Be In Order To Be A Police Dog

A German Shepherd can start rigorous training to be a police dog when it reaches the age of 12 to 15 months old. However, many K9 academies start training GSD puppies and other breeds as early as eight weeks old.

German Shepherds start actual police duty after they finish four to six months worth of basic training. Typically, GSD police dogs work until they reach ten years old.

Difference Between Ddr German Shepherd And German Shepherd:

Although the breed line is similar, it is pretty obvious that both dog breeds are somehow different from each other that explains their different names. The physical differences are not that clear or visible for an eye, or you can say they are subtle but that doesnt imply that both are the same. During the separation of East and West Germany, the dog developed on either side started developing their distinct traits.

If we talk about East or DDR German Shepherd, it is a working dog that was used in the past during World War with the military. It has a strong prey drive, and one can never undermine its working capabilities. They have high physical stamina also, it is their distinct trait that they hardly lose their focus on something. However, their coat color is often dark and they have sound elbows, hips, with a straight back.

Now lets come to West German Shepherd! The West German Shepherd comes in two categories. One is entirely a family dog, which falls in the category of show dogs. While the second category is working dogs, but not like DDR German Shepherd. The West working Geman Shepherds can only be used for herding, search, and rescue, law enforcement, or service pets. Yet both dogs can be good family dogs with a very nice temperament.

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The Phylax Society Gets Started

In 1891, a group of German dog fanciers got together with the intent of developing a distinct and uniquely German breed of shepherds. They called themselves the Phylax Society, a Greek word meaning guardian or guardsman, and they set about searching for dogs to fit their idea of the perfect canine. Unfortunately, they had only a vague idea of what they thought the perfect canine should be.

The biggest challenge faced by the Phylax Society was not a lack of quality dogs upon which to build a new, spectacular breed of dogs, but an inability to agree upon the traits that the perfect canine should possess. Some members felt that the dogs physical appearance mattered little as long as it could perform the tasks set to it with great agility and endurance. Others held that a conformation standard was most important, stressing beauty, or at least consistency of type, over ability. A few believed it was possible to have both beauty and physical talent and asserted that they would settle for nothing less.

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Difference Between An East German Shepherd And A West German Shepherd

After the First World War, West Germany and East Germany becomes two different nations instead of one. At that time, the East German shepherds and the West German Shepherds developed other traits differentiating the East German shepherd and the West German shepherds.

While the East German Shepherds are sturdy and more suitable as a watchdog, they are often also called West German Shepherds for their charm and obedience. People started raising them more commonly as a pet or show dogs.

Eastern German shepherds are much stronger and bulkier than Western German shepherds. Eastern German Shepherds are more confident and courageous than Western German Shepherds.

Both of these species get popular among the people of Germany only after the cold war.

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East Working Line Ddr German Shepherds

• The East Working Line DDR German Shepherds are very sturdy & graceful dogs particularly long coated. They have really strong bones, large heads and expanded shoulders. These GSDs are used for military and search & rescue purposes.
• East Working Line DDR German Shepherds are mainly used to patrol territory borders and they are also excellent in tracking and attacking. DDR stands for Deutsche Demokratische Republik.

• The East Working Line GSDs have darkest colored coats among all GSD Lines. They are mostly black sable or sable, but some can be solid black, but it is very rare. Their backs are little sloped.
• These GSDs can resist extreme harsh weather conditions and long working days.
• These GSDs are more defensive and reserved in nature.

• The East Working Line DDR German Shepherd have very strict breeding standards. These GSDs are only allowed to breed if they are fit and free of hip dysplasia.
• Even puppies are tested for proper bone structure code quality temperament. If the bones in hip joint dont fit together correctly, one can develop a condition called hip dysplasia.

Kennel Club Recognition: Do Kennel Clubs Recognize The Ddr German Shepherds

The DDR German Shepherd is not a separately recognized breed. It is simply a variant of the German Shepherd breed named after its unique qualities as a guard dog and its place of origin.

That said, there are no mentions of DDR German Shepherds or East German Shepherds in breed standards of major kennel clubs.

This is true for the breed standards from the American Kennel Club , the Fédération Cynologique Internationale , the Canadian Kennel Club , and the United Kennel Club .

Moreover, even the Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen , the largest German Kennel Club, does not mention the DDR German Shepherd in its breed standards.

However, this is not to say that DDR dogs are not recognized by kennel clubs.

Since these working dogs are German Shepherds through and through, they are still eligible to be registered in any kennel club as long as they are qualified based on the respective standards.

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Training A Ddr German Shepherd:

The main thing to know is that DDR German Shepherds are more prominent and take more time to develop than some other German Shepherds. Try not to be too worried about your puppy acting puppyish until around a year and a half.

Any training techniques you use with these dogs need to show positive behavior and build up leadership. These canines have a similar high insight level to all Shepherds, and your training needs to regard their intelligence.

The vast majority of the rules that apply to other breeds additionally apply to East German Shepherds. If you have opted for reward-based training, you have made a good choice because it functions admirably with a wide range of German Shepherds. You can buy your dogs favorite food or treat it as a reward.

Whats the purpose anyway?

The aim of training your dog based on a reward is that the canine figures out how to connect the owners orders with beneficial things.

If you offer eatable rewards to your little one, try not to give human food. Why not? Because this way, the dog will build a habit f asking for your food and refuse the one you usually offer it. Use canine food or possibly solid dog treats for better responsiveness to your orders.

Giving your dog a punishment for acting up is not a good technique but, the ideal approach to correct the mistake is to ignore the dog until it does not get your point. Being ignored will be a decent inspiration for a canine to get in line.

What Work Are Ddr Dogs Suited To Beside Security

A DDR German Shepherds tracking skills also make these dogs ideal for search and rescue work. Their ability to traverse all kinds of terrain can help them locate people who are trape under rubble after all types of disaster situations.

Some dogs are more protection-minded than others, for example. German Shepherds have been used as service dogs for decades, and East German Shepherds also have traits that are perfect for work as service dogs. These dogs are very alert to anything going on near their owners, making reliable guides.

The dogs sturdy build helps them guide the blind effortlessly, as well as assist people with mobility issues. Because these dogs are both tall and strong, they can quickly assist either a child or adult facing problems with mobility.

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So Does This Mean There Are No Ddr German Shepherd Breeders In Germany

The answer is no. Despite the decline of the species, there is still a number of breeders across the world that are working hard to keep the breed going with a strong bloodline.

They are working to preserve the DDR line in a form that most closely represents the standards of the original dog of East Germany. They are a rarity, and getting rarer, but have not been completely breed out yet.

German Shepherd Corgi Mix Appearance

Your Corgi German Shepherd mix will have a bright and intelligent expression.

German Shepherds and Corgis have similar heads.

A German Shepherd has a characteristic slightly domed forehead with a long and somewhat narrow snout, although they lack the fine-boned structure of some other breeds.

The Shepherds ears are large and open with definite points at the tips.

A Corgi has a more definite slope to his forehead. He, like the Shepherd, has rather large ears, but they are rounder. His eyes are also rounder and larger, and his snout shorter relative to his size.

Where the German Shepherd looks like a wolf in the face, the Welsh Corgi resembles a fox.

Your German Shepherd Corgi mix may look like one or the other breed in the head, but a balanced blend will create a dog with a muzzle medium in length with tight lips, rather round dark eyes, a moderately domed forehead, and large erect ears that may be rounder than a Shepherds.

Her gaze will be steady but open and curious.

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Czech Gsd Health Issues

Czech German shepherds are prone to the same health issues that a standard GSD has. They dont have any special illness exclusive to the variation, so you have nothing to worry about.

This includes eye infections, vision problems, and more importantly, hip dysplasia.

Czech shepherd puppies from an unethical breeder are, however, prone to more health issues than a normally bred German shepherd puppy.

The Temperament Of Czech German Shepherds

The ideology of what a German shepherd should be: intelligent and energetic.

And as you may have guessed, these characteristics also apply to Czech German shepherds despite being a relatively new breed.

However, you may find that they arent what they used to be. In the past, Czech GSDs were bred with a hardcore personality, but time passed by and now they have a much gentler temperament to cater to the needs of families.

But if they have unique traits, does that mean they can also develop health issues exclusive to them?

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Places To Find Ddr German Shepherd Puppies For Sale Or Adoption

If you are keen on getting a DDR German Shepherd puppy, be sure to have patience throughout your search.

Because aside from the hefty price tag of these dogs, they are also extremely hard to find. In fact, there are not a lot of DDR GSD breeders out there.

Below are some reputable DDR German Shepherd breeders that you can reach out to:

• Vom Banach K9 Vom Banach K9 is a GSD breeder located northwest of Washington State. They are among the very few breeders dedicated to preserving the DDR German Shepherd lineage, whether they are from the show lines or working lines. You may contact Vom Banach K9 through their contact page.
• Elite DDR German Shepherd Puppies Located in the city of Clermont, Florida, this breeder raises all the finest GSD bloodlines including DDR GSDs. They have DDRs suitable for shows, family companions, service, and working dogs. Reach out to them through their .
• Rodina Straze If you live near Maryland, Rodina Straze is a breeder worth checking out. This breeder specializes in preserving Czech German Shepherds and DDR dogs. They uphold the highest standards when it comes to their dogs. All dogs from this breeder are well cared for and guaranteed healthy.

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As with any other dog breed, you have the option to either buy or adopt a DDR German Shepherd breed.

Here are some services you can use to find DDR German Shepherds for adoption:

How Much Does A Ddr German Shepherd Cost Are They More Expensive Than Standard Gsds

The price of a DDR German Shepherd ranges from $1,500 to $3,000. At this price range, these dogs are easily two to three times more expensive than standard GSDs. For comparison, standard GSDs only cost $500 to $1,500.

Of course, the actual price of a particular DDR German Shepherd will vary depending on where you get it from. The age of the dog and coat color will also affect its price.

Aside from the price of the dog itself, there are also other initial costs to consider.

Heres a list of all the things you need to buy for your DDR German Shepherd puppy:

From the table above, expect to shell out $340 to $395 for your DDR German Shepherds initial supplies. Keep in mind that dog food and treats are not yet included in the list!

In addition to these initial costs, you also need to consider some recurring costs.

These include the expenses for dog food, seeking veterinary advice, vitamins, grooming services, pet daycare, and more. For all of these, you will need about $1,800 to $2,500 per year.

As always, a good way to save some cash is to consider adopting a DDR German Shepherd instead.

However, take note that they are rare to find in rescues and shelters! Another way to cut down on cost is to look for breeders that offer freebies.

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