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HomeExclusiveWhere Did German Shepherds Originally Come From

Where Did German Shepherds Originally Come From

Were German Shepherds Used In The Holocaust

Training a German Shepherd to come and sit in front of you

Yes, although not commonly. German shepherds were used in a variety of roles, one of which was as police dogs during the Holocaust. They were generally deployed to ferret out hidden enemies or contraband goods, but they also did track duty at times.German Shepherds are highly attentive and intelligent animals so they did an excellent job sniffing out anyone hiding from them within the camps. There isnt much information about their success rates because Nazi records werent particularly thorough about these details, but its likely that many people would have been caught by these dogs just based on how cunningly some hid themselves from being found by other means..

Who Killed Blondi Adolf Hitlers Dog

Hitler killed his dog.Hitler was often seen as a loving pet owner who treated his dogs just as well as he treated humans. In truth, Hitler punished Blondi for eating a chicken bone by locking her outside on the cold ground, and ordered her execution for being too nervous at Moravias reception or from being so lazy at Memels reception, the 20-something labours of childbirth had weakened her considerably..

What Is The Smartest Dog

Its difficult to say what the smartest dog is, since there are so many different factors. One dog breed may be more intelligent than another if they have a higher working/obedience intelligence or possess an inborn ability for specific tasks.Since one of these breeds may have certain skills that others do not, it becomes difficult to identify which breed can best do any one task. That said, there are some general guidelines you can follow to get your head in the game when it comes time to choosing a pup The following leads us offThe least-extreme opinion on the subject is that all breeds are equally smart, but each has its own form of intelligence making them appealing for various reasons (e..

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What Is The Difference Between Straight Backed German Shepherd

German Shepherd no slope backs and straight backs are from the working line. Most GSDs from the show line are sloped backs. According to some breeders and some GSD clubs, having sloped backs and angulated hind legs will give GSDs more force in their gait, allowing them to function better than straight backs.

Nailing Down The Truth

How long did it take for your pups full coloring to come ...

Dogs nails are always growing. If they walk on pavement or gravel often, their nails may get ground down from those surfaces. German Shepherds nails are usually black, so it is difficult to clip their nails without hitting the nerve.

The goal is to cut the nails down without hitting the nerve in the nail. Nails that are too long can make your dogs foot align incorrectly when they walk.

This can lead to foot and joint issues later on. When clipping their nails, high praise in a calm environment will give you the best results for them to get through it in the most positive way.

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What Are The 5 Types Of German Shepherds

List of 5 different types of German Shepherds based on their looks and coat patterns:Saddle Coat German Shepherd. The German Shepherd dogs of this type are also called Saddle Back Shepherds. Black German Shepherd. Panda German Shepherd. Sable German Shepherd. White German Shepherd.Aug 28, 2020

Good Things Come In Small Packages

This much smaller Aussie proved to be very popular and in 1990, the Miniature Australian Shepherd Club of the USA was formed. MASCUSA was able to garner recognition for the Miniature Australian Shepherd from the American Rare Breeds Association .

However the Miniature Australian Shepherd never showed with the Australian Shepherds in ASCA. If a dog was registered with the Australian Shepherd Club of America and had an ASCA pedigree and was below the “preferred height” per the Breed Standard they could show since there is no size disqualification. However, if they were registered as a Mini only they were never allowed to show in ASCA. If an ASCA dog is registered as a Mini, ASCA revokes their papers because the ASCA considers the Miniature Australian Shepherd a different breed entirely.

In 1993 the AKC offically recognized the Australian Shepherd. Due to the policies of ARBA to not permit showing of dogs with the same name of AKC recognized breeds MASCUSA had to change the name of their Minis to avoid confusion between the now separate breeds.

The name ‘Miniature Australian Shepherd’ was changed to ‘North American Shepherd’. That seems simple enough, but MASCUSA also changed it’s name to reflect this change to North American Miniature Australian Shepherd Club of the USA . It was quite a mouthful, but it retained the connection to the ‘Australian Shepherd’ legacy.

But wait there’s more… maybe I’ll just let the now MASCUSA explainâfrom their website:

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What About Mini Aussies Where Do They Fit In

Where do Mini Aussies fit in? Smaller spaces of course! The history and origin of the Mini Aussie is closely tied to the Australian Shepherd. Miniature Australian Shepherds were bred from Australian Shepherds and they have a shared history.

Courtesy Valhalla-Aussies

Cordova Spike

A woman named Doris Cordova from Norco, California began breeding Australian Shepherds with the aim of developing a miniature size variation in 1968. Her motivation was to create a dog with the characteristics that made the Australian Shepherd great, but in a package small enough to better allow them to be house dogs and to make travel to stock shows easier.

One of the most well known dogs from her Cordova kennel was “Cordova Spike” who was placed with Miniature Australian Shepherd enthusiasts, Bill and Sally Kennedy. They continued to develop the miniature at their B/S kennels.

Not long after, another breeder, Chas Lasater of Valhalla Kennels also began to produce Mini Aussies. Cordova, Lasater and the Kennedy’s were instrumental in the creation of the breed.

Australian Shepherdsmade In America

Teaching a German Shepherd to come and sit beside you with GSM

Whatever the historical origin, once they arrived in North America these dogs were prized for their sheep herding skills. During this time working farm dogs were bred more for function than conformity to a standard. Depending on the terrain and weather conditions American stockmen bred herding dogs to suit their conditions.

The qualities of strong herding and guarding instincts, exceptional intelligence, alertness and high energy that we love in our Aussies today came directly from a practical need for these traits in working stockdogs. The Australian Shepherd was actually “Made In America” by American stockmen.

For this reason the name ‘Australian Shepherd’ is somewhat of a misnomer. A more accurate name would be ‘American Shepherd’. In fact the Australian Shepherd is not even recognized in Australia as a native breed.

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Tips To Introduce Your Dog To Water

There are lots of different approaches you can take to safely introduce your German Shepherd to water and swimming.

Be Patient: not all dogs have an affinity to water. For some, new situations are scary. You must never force your dog into water. Allow them to approach and check it out on their own. It may take several attempts before they are comfortable enough to get their paws wet.

Get In With Them: our dogs look to us to lead and take control of new situations. If your dog sees you calmly getting into the water, it shows your dog that the water is safe and nothing to be afraid of.

Start Small: it is unrealistic to expect your dog to jump straight into a lake the first time they see water. Try setting up a small doggy pool or kiddie pool in your yard. With the water only deep enough to cover their feet, it is much less intimidating than a deep swimming pool.

Lots of Praise: verbal praise and encouragement will really help to relax your dog and make them more comfortable with getting into the water. Praise them just for stepping close to it, even if they dont get in. the more positive experiences they have, the easier it will be to get them used to the water.

Swimming Lessons: yes, you read that right. Dogs can take swimming lessons! There are lots of facilities that offer swimming lessons for dogs, as well as hydrotherapy sessions. You can also search for outdoor dog pools. Some facilities offer doggy pool parties for friendly dogs!

A Short History Of The German Shepherd

As the name of the breed suggests, the German Shepherd originates from Germany. The history of the breed dates back to the late 1800s. In the 1850s, German dog breeders were trying to standardize dog breeds to preserve the best traits that assisted their job of herding sheep. This was practiced within small communities of people in Germany where shepherds bred dogs.

German breeders wanted to have a dog that had the necessary skills for herding sheep such as intelligence, strength, speed, endurance, and a strong sense of smell. The breeders got results but the ability and the appearance of dogs differed from one community to another. As a result, the Phylax Society was formed in 1891 with the purpose of creating native dog breeds but it was disbanded in just a few of years due to internal disagreements on the traits of the dogs the organization should promote. Nevertheless, Germanys efforts to create a dog breed of the nations own continued.

In 1899, Max von Stephanitz, an ex-member of the Phylax Society and a former student of the Berlin Veterinary College, was shown a dog during one of his visits to a dog show named Hektor Linksrhein. The dog was agile, loyal, fast, intelligent, and appeared pleasing to the eye. The dog satisfied his beliefs of what a working dog should be, and he purchased him.

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Where Did The German Wirehaired Pointer Come From

  • The German Wirehaired Pointer , just like their close relative the German Shorthaired Pointer , was developed for its all-round hunting skills in early 19th century Germany. It’s believed that they came about as the result of crosses between traditional Pointers, Pudelpointers and Wirehaired Griffons, amongst other dogs.

The most common diseases seen in the German Shepherd breed that can cause death are hemangiosarcoma or osteosarcoma . However, there are lots of disease processes that can afflict this breed and shorten the lifespan.

More Controversy Of Max Von Stephanitz

How to Train a German Shepherd Puppy to Come

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 Do Black German Shepherds Get Their Name From

Black German Shepherds are a relatively new breed on the block. These were introduced into the mainstream American market in the 1930s, courtesy of Ernie Loeb, long known as Mr. German Shepherd for his pivotal in importing the breed from then-Nazi Germany. Today, all black GSDs can be traced back to one of Loebs imports Bernd vom Kallengarten with its solid black gene.

Three Reasons for the Name

Unlike other dog breeds, the reasons for assigning the name of black German Shepherds is as clear as day. First, these dogs are so named because of their all-black coloration from the tips of their pointy ears to the ends of their bushy tails.

Second, the German part of the name attests to their German origins. Two Germans were notable in bringing the breed to the attention of the world so much that, today, these are one of the most recognizable and most registered dog breeds in the world. The first German was Max von Stephanitz who founded the Society for the GSD, thus, establishing the breed as a distinct one. The second was Ernie Loeb who imported the abovementioned progenitor of all black GSDs.

Third, these dogs were originally bred in ancient times, records put it as early as the 7th century, as working dogs tasked to herd sheep and assist shepherds in the fields. Thus, the term shepherd in the name has value even today although other tasks have been found for them ranging from household pets to guard dogs and military dogs.

Coloration Variations

Change of Names

Versatility Of The Breed

Max von Stephanitz recognized a need to integrate German Shepherds into other areas of society and became a strong advocate for using the dog in military service, law enforcement, protection service, and rescue efforts. Von Stephanitz championed the resulting breed to serve in various branches of government service that would take advantage of its versatility. This included tasks in supply carrying, tracking, courier service, guard positions, and Red Cross duties.

Always looking for ways to protect and improve the breed, Von Stephanitz paid close attention to trends in breeding and worked tirelessly to maintain the standard for which he is so well recognized. Discouraging breeding for beauty instead of purpose, Von Stephanitzs motto was:

Utility is the true criterion of beauty.

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Why German Shepherds Are Sometimes Called Alsatians

German Shepherds were used heavily by both sides during world war 1 and world war 2. The British did not like calling them German Shepherds since Germany was the enemy at the time so they gave them the name Alsatian instead.

This name continued to be used after WW2 for many years but has become less and less popular over time since German is no longer at war with Britain. In 1977 the name was officially changed back to German Shepherd in Britain after campaigns made by German Shepherd breeders.

The name Alsatian comes from the French town Alsace-Lorraine. It is an area that France gave to Germany in 1871 after the Franco-German war.

In USA, they did not have an issue with calling the dogs German Shepherds, so the name Alsatian has never become very common in USA. With that being said, in 1917 the American Kennel Club did rename the breed from German Shepherd Dog to just Shepherd Dog which was reverted back to German Shepherd Dog in 1977.

Common misconceptions that people have with German Shepherds and Alsatians

They are different breeds

Many people think that German Shepherds and Alsatians are different breeds but this is not the case. They are the same breed, the only difference between them is the name and that Alsatians used to be a name used in Britain.

They were bred for different purposes

They are from different countries

Are German Shepherds the same as Alsatians?

Yes, German Shepherds and Alsatians are the same but with different names.

How Can You Tell If A German Shepherd Is Purebred

German Shepherd Everything You Need to Know

The American Kennel Club is the first place to go for information on registering your dog, but some criteria that qualifies a dog as purebred is having two registered parents, belong to AKC-recognized breeds like German Shepherds, and staying within breed standards.Its important for owners of any type of pet to be aware of how predetermined breeding can lead to medical issues in several generations down the line. Of course its better than letting unlicensed individuals mix breeds willy nilly with no controls at allthe worst case scenario would be extinction. But its still important for people who care about this issue to lobby their lawmakers for more stringent.

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Bernd V Kallengarten & Falk V Eningsfeld

Imports critical to the breed in America were Bernd v Kallengarten and Falk v Eningsfeld. Bernd was imported by Ernie Loeb. Bernd was dominant for shoulder, forehand, bone, feet, substance, suspension, head, croup, tailset, and body length but also weaknesses for ears, steep croup, loose ligamentation, long coats, and high percentage of hip and elbbow dysplasia. Of note is the fact that Bernd introduced the solid-black gene into the American breed.

German Shepherds As Rescue Dogs

Again, the German Shepherds keen nose and sharp mind pull through as a rescue dog. In the wake of all kinds of disasters, German Shepherds can help find survivors. Plus, theyre some of the best at this job!

Whether they are searching for citizens trapped beneath rubble or swimming across flooded lanes, German Shepherds have already saved scores of citizens.

In fact, it was a German Shepherd and his officer who found the final survivor of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Despite the alarming amount of debris on the site, this German Shepherd had no problems navigating through the mess.

If you find yourself in New York City or Washington D.C., you may very well find statues honoring the brave German Shepherds who helped save those affected by the events of 9/11.

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A Service And War Dog

Not surprisingly, Von Stephanitz used Horand extensively at stud, linebreeding intensely on him to fix the traits that he found so valuable. Thanks to the success of some of those offspring in particular his three grandsons Heinz von Starkenburg, Beowolf and Pilot Horands blood flows through the veins of virtually every German Shepherd alive today.

Though the German Shepherd was being developed just as the storm clouds of the Great War were gathering, the German military hadnt yet fully appreciated the value of war dogs. Von Stephanitz relentlessly and successfully promoted his nascent breed as a peerless service dog, and mourned the fact that Horand had never had the opportunity to prove himself in that respect.

What could not have become of such a dog, he asked rhetorically, if we only had at that time military or police service training?

American fanciers met Von Stephanitz in person in 1930, when he was invited to judge at the famous Morris & Essex Kennel Club Show by the impossibly wealthy Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge, the shows benefactress and a German Shepherd breeder herself. So many Shepherds were entered that Von Stephanitz was forced to judge both sexes over two days and, in the European tradition, wrote a critique on each.

1949 Ch. Nyx of Longworth, dam of the famed D litter of six champions.

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