Origin Of The German Shepherd
Two years ago a study was done that concluded that a popular European herding dog breed from the 1850s was the ancestor of 7 well-known shepherd dogs: the German Shepherd, the French Berger Picard, Cane Paratore, Bergamasco Shepherd, Pastore d’Oropa, Lupino del Gigante, and the Pastore Della Lessinia e del Lagorai.
During these times, dog breeds were crossbred with the clear idea of making the best possible working dog. The local shepherds were breeding dogs that had to be smart, intelligent, fast and have a keen sense of smell to become good shepherd and herding dogs.
These dogs were very different from village to village and some efforts were made to standardize dog breeds. One of the first efforts towards that goal was the organization of the Phylax Society which was formed in 1891 and they wanted to create standardized development plans for German dog breeds. Society came to an end after only 3 years because of internal conflicts and the inability to agree on which traits they should promote in specific dog breeds.
After buying that dog Von Stephanitz changed the dogs name to Horand von Grafrath and later went on and founded the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde. Von Stephanitz declared his dog Horand as the first official German Shepherd Dog and was the first dog ever to be added to the society’s official breed register.
German Shepherds As Activity Dogs
German Shepherds are fit! Theyre additionally quick dogs with their ample strides. Theres no abstinent that. But alike admitting they avowal a beyond size, they additionally affectation a hasty bulk of agility.
They consistently are at the top of the archive for activity contests. In fact, affluence of German Shepherds accept gone on to win championships in this field. They apprentice courses bound and their able builds do the rest.
Maintaining The German Shepherd As A Family Dog
Max von Stephanitz believed that the ideal breeders of German shepherds would be families with only a couple of breeding dogs in order to facilitate daily contact with the dogs as a way of carefully choosing the dogs which would enhance the breed in the future.
He argued,
All the wonderful qualities of character possessed by a good shepherd dog will therefore only be brought to light when he remains in the same hands for a very long time, preferably from puppyhood, where having obtained a footing in the house, he shares the joys and sorrows of the familyand our dog is completely ruined in mind and body wherever he is treated only as merchandise.
Along these same lines, Max von Stephanitz did not believe in maintaining dogs in kennels on a regular basis and pointed out that such would necessarily result in dogs that would be unable to perform to their utmost ability.
Whenever the dog is kept in an enclosed kennel, he will not only degenerate physically, becoming stiff, sluggish and lazy but will also become mentally torpid and lose all his sharpness and vim.
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The Pastoral Breed Group
The Pastoral Group consists of herding dogs that are associated with working cattle, sheep, reindeer and other cloven footed animals.
Usually this type of dog has a weatherproof double coat to protect it from the elements when working in severe conditions. Breeds such as the Collie family, Old English Sheepdogs and Samoyeds who have been herding reindeer for centuries are but a few included in this group.
Socializing Puppies Vs Adult Rescued German Shepherd Dogs
If you have adopted a puppy, his character will depend on the way you raise and train him. Your main objective should be raising your puppy to become the best social dog possible.
A puppy should be introduced to at least 100 strangers in the first twelve weeks of their life and visit more than 40 places.
It can look a lot, but you have to set some goals for your puppies good future.
For example, you can introduce one new person every day to your puppy and try to visit at least 2 or 3 new places every week.
Do these things while introducing new people and places:
- Let your puppy explore everything.
- reward him and give him treats if he behaves well with other people or pets.
- Tell other people to give him treats so he can start being friendly with strangers.
- It is very important that your puppy socializes very well with your family members and feel comfortable with them.
On the other hand, if you adopted a Rescued Dog, the things could be different. He will come to you with other kinds of bad and good experiences that maybe you do not know.
You should start by giving him treats for good behavior, so he can understand the way he should behave.
You should handle some situation carefully with adult shepherds. If you are introducing new people to him, and you notice that he is showing signs of stress, anxiety, or you feel aggressive behavior, take him out of the situation.
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German Shepherd Dogs In Police And Personal Protection Work
Yet another role that was a natural fit for German Shepherds after their stellar service record in military K-9 roles was police and personal protection work.
Today, German Shepherds are still a top pick to work in a wide variety of public police and private protection work for both institutions and individuals, as Anges Gardiens German Shepherd breeder explains.
Examples include German Shepherds working in narcotics and bomb-sniffing, search and rescue and forensics, Secret Service, and on-site guard dog and protection dog duty.
Why Do They Use German To Train Dogs
The reason that most police agencies train their dogs using German commands is actually quite simple. There is a significantly reduced risk of the K9 officer confusing a command if it is in another language than the primary language of his handler. Not all police dogs in the US are trained in German.
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What Dogs Were Bred To Make A German Shepherd
The German Shepherd was developed over many years of selective breeding. Breeders in Germany may have begun with the ancient herding dogs that were common in Europe. These dogs were known as the Alaunt , the Thuringian Shepherd , the Riesenschnauzer , and the Laufhund . Other breeds known to have contributed to the development of the German Shepherd are the Beauceron , the French Drover Dog , the Field Spaniel . The German shepherd is an intelligent, courageous, loyal, and dependable breed. These traits are shared with all herding dogs, but are especially favored by shepherds..
Working Attributes Of German Shepherds
As a dog breed, German Shepherds show an innate willingness to learn and have a purpose. Their uncanny ability to follow instructions has led them to be easy to train and create a man to dog relationship and reliance. These attributes especially make them inclined to be a working-dog as opposed to other dog breeds like dachshunds or dalmatians.
On the dog intelligence scale, German shepherds are ranked third, but their discipline is what sets them apart and makes them the dog of choice for the military, police, and service-dog positions.
Because of their innate intelligent nature, they are more attentive, and better able to observe then do. This allows for better, and shorter training times, and thus entrance into the work field sooner.
For all their good attributes, German shepherds do have faults. If not trained correctly, they can be overprotective, but this attribute is one that is desired if they are being trained as a guard or attack dog.
Historically, as a sheepdog, this protective nature allowed them to better watch over and look after their flock.
It is only natural that as the breeding of this dog progressed, this attribute was preserved during the breeding process.
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Why Are German Shepherds The Only Police Dogs
German Shepherds are famous for working with police. German Shepherds are calm-under-pressure, theyre highly intelligent and trainable, and they love to work. This makes the breed well-suited for working in high-stress situations, and its no surprise theyve been used in police work for more than 100 years.
What Were German Shepherds Bred For
German Shepherds a large-sized breed that originated in Germany in 1899 was part of the Herding Group. Known for their courage, loyalty and guarding instincts, their history of herding has meant they are great guard dogs, police dogs, military dogs, search and rescue dogs, and guide dogs for the blind.
As the name suggest, German Shepherd dogs were originally bred to help shepherds herd animals, but have since become a versatile working dogs, often in the military, police and other emergency services, as well as guide and assistance dogs, Bill tells us.
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How Much Do German Shepherd Greyhound Mix Puppy Cost
Lets be clear, the German Shepherd Greyhound Mix isnt cheap. An offspring of two popular breeds would be in high demand, so you shouldnt expect otherwise.
There are two options available to you, both with their benefits and downsides. You can go through the adoption method at shelters or buy from a breeder.
The average price from a breeder falls between $1,000 to $4,000. Ensure you get a reputable breeder who has the necessary documents, not a backyard breeder with no approval or information on the pup.
Adopting a Greyhound Shepherd is less costly, going less than $1,000. It is also a valuable service to pick up an abandoned pooch from the shelters and give it a home.
You may not find this designer breed as much as the parents, but some are in shelters.
The tough part about adopted dogs is handling the trauma they may have faced. Many owners love the idea of a hybrid but lack the information and experience to take care of one.
Frustration sets in, and these owners employ harsh treatments. This leaves the dog with scars within and without.
If you choose the adoption part, make provisions for dealing with trauma.
History Of German Shepherd Breeding
German Shepherds or the German Shepherd Dog came into being as a breed in the late 1800s. Max von Stephanitz of Germany had an interest in the working dogs in his native Germany. Here they were selectively bred to have those qualities that could do the job of herding and protecting a flock from predation. At the time, there was a disagreement among dog enthusiasts about whether a dog should be judged on its looks or on its ability to work.
Max von Stephanitz began looking for a working dog that had it all. At a dog show in 1899, von Stephanitz finally came upon what he considered to be the perfect specimen. He purchased him and named him Horand von Grafrath . This dog was the first dog registered in von Stephanitzs new breed club, The Society of German Shepherds. Horand von Grafrath sired many puppies including Hector von Schwaben.
One direct descendant of Horand von Grafrath, Beowulf, was the sire of over eighty puppies. The first German Shepherd dogs were the result of many inbreedings from Horand and his offspring. Several have stated that wolf crosses were among the dogs bred into this early closed gene pool. However, recent genetic testing would belie immediate wolf ancestry. While German Shepherds may appear more wolf-like than some other breeds, they do not appear to have the DNA to match.
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Watch An Amazing German Shepherd Training For K
If you have never witnessed a professional dog trainer put a new German Shepherd K-9 training candidate through their paces, you are in for a jaw-dropping treat with this YouTube video clip.
This amazing video allows you to watch a German Shepherd flawlessly executing command after command in preparation to serve as a guarding and protection dog.
More Controversy Of Max Von Stephanitz
Another area of controversy that Max von Stephanitz dealt with was the color of German Shepherd dogs, particularly white shepherds. Grief, the grandsire of Horand, was a white shepherd, and Horand sired many white pups. With his emphasis on the suitability of the German Shepherd to serve as a working dog, Max von Stephanitz was not greatly interested in the colors of the dogs he promoted.
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Where Did German Shepherds Originally Come From
German Shepherd/OriginAs the name suggests, the German Shepherd originated in Germany in the late 1800s. The most intelligent, responsive and obedient local shepherd dogs in Germany were bred to create what is now known as the German Shepherd. This breed was responsible for herding sheep and protecting flocks from predators.
Breed History: Where Did German Shepherds Come From the-dog-blog posts breed-hi
Maintaining Integrity In The Face Of Adversity
In the 1930s, several prominent members of the Nazi party became actively involved in the German Shepherd Club in Germany. These members advocated a desire to produce dogs that were attractive in appearance. This philosophy was the antithesis of all that Max von Stephanitz had worked for, developing a dog known for his abilities rather than appearance. Max von Stephanitz staunchly maintained his position despite threats from the party,
The breeding of Shepherd dogs must be the breeding of working dogs, this must always be the aim, or we shall cease to produce working dogs.
However, Max von Stephanitz didnt manage to persuade anyone, so he, who had always advocated utility over beauty, eventually resigned from the club. A year later, he passed away.
Maintaining his devotion to the dogs he loved throughout his life while tirelessly working to achieve the goal of preserving the breed as a working dog, Von Stephanitz will always be admired for his achievement and dedication. One of the most often quoted statements of Max von Stephanitz could surely have been used as his epitaph:
Take this trouble for me: Make sure my shepherd dog remains a working dog, for I have struggled all my life long for that aim.
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What Are German Shepherds Bred For
German Shepherds are bred to be a working dog. Historically German shepherds were bred to assist shepherds in herding sheep. During WWI their role changed to include police dog duties, scent-work roles, service-dog positions, and more.
There is a multitude of reasons any dog is bred. Breeding has become more popular in the last couple of centuries to retain certain desireable attributes whether that be looks, or to hone skills that certain dogs already have.
Working German Shepherds contribute to our safe society every day because they have certain skills that contribute to our national defense, and individual well-being.
Dystocia Pregnancy & Birth Complications
One of the issues that can come up with German Shepherds is the size range among some of the dogs. The GSD was not at the beginning intended to be a very large dog. Over time and especially in the United States the GSD has increased in desirable size. A mismatch mating of a sire on the large range with a dam on the low could increase the probability of puppies too large to navigate the birth canal. In the world of dogs, the safest path to a medium-sized dog is not simply to mate a large dog with a smaller bitch.
Size dystocia is common in some breeds especially the brachycephalic ones like a bulldog. In a study of 151 involving over 13,00 bitches in the UK, the German Shepherd Dog was not a very high risk for cesarean section. A pregnant dam of the German Shepherd breed is much more likely than not to whelp that seven or eight puppies naturally without any human assistance.
False Pregnancies
False pregnancy does happen in German Shepherds as they do in other breeds. In this condition, a bitch exhibits the signs of pregnancy such as enlarged mammary glands, enlarged abdomen, vomiting, and the display of nesting behavior. False pregnancy can happen even if a male dog has not been within reach of the bitch. This common hormonal problem will resolve on its own in a couple of months. It is usually not treated.
Stillbirth
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Projects Further Development In Germany And Its Outcomes
Germany, controlled by the SV, had a more strict breeding program in place from the start, introducing the A stamp, a tattoo I.D system. German Shepherd dogs were highly sought after by South America, France, Italy, Japan, and the Scandinavian countries. This required stricter top-rating regulations for the entire bloodline.
From this quality control stance, some of the most notable sires came, including Quanto Wienerau, Mutz vd Pelztierfarm, Marko v CellerLand and Canto Wienerau. Quanto remained a popular producer, creating the best qualities of the forequarter, bone, and head morphology, along with desirable cow hocks and long and short croup in the German shepherd dog. Canto only lived for four years but passed on superior traits in energy, style, and fluidity of movement, which appealed to the international audience. The mating of the Quanto, traditional, and Canto lines yielded Canto Arminius, a very substantial and dominant influence in the breed as well as a heavy influence on German Shepherd history.
- Canto Wienerau
- Canto Arminius
What Are The Best German Shepherd Bloodlines
Probably an American line or West German line would be best for you. If youre wanting a working dog for police work, Schutzhund, security, or personal protection, youll definitely need to purchase from a working line. If you want a stable temperament, the German and/or Czech working line is your best bet.
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