German Shepherd

Group: Working
Size: Large
Lifespan: 10-12 years
Exercise: High
Grooming: Low
Trainability: Very high
Area of Origin: Germany
Date of Origin: 1800s
Other Names: Alsatian, Deutscher Schaferhund
Original Function: Sheep herding, guarding, police dog

History
According to the official records of the Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde (SV) (The German Shepherd Dog Club in Germany) with its headquarters in Augsburg, the standard was originally developed at the first meeting of members in Frankfurt am Main on 20th September 1899 based on the proposals of A Meyer and M von Stephanitz. The next step was to have the breed standard accepted by the VDH (German Kennel Club). Amendments were made to the standard during the 6th meeting of the association on the 28th July 1901, during the 23rd meeting in Cologne on the 17th September 1909, by the Board of Directors and Advisory Committee in Wiesbaden on the 5th September 1930, and at the Board of Directors and Breed Committee meeting on 25th March 1961. 
Within the framework of the World Union of German Shepherd Dog Clubs (WUSV), it was revised and confirmed at the WUSV meeting on 30th August 1976 and reviewed, catalogued by authorisation and resolution of the Executive and Advisory Committee on 23rd March 1991. Further amendments were made at the meeting of the federation on 25 May 1997, 31 May 2001/1 June 2011 and 6 & 7 June 2009. 
The German Shepherd Dog, whose planned breeding commenced in the year 1899 after the founding of the German Shepherd Dog Club in Germany, was bred from central German and southern German strains of existing herding dogs with a final goal of creating a working dog predisposed to a high working aptitude. In order to reach this goal the breed standard was laid down which relates to physical attributes as well as those of temperament and character. 

Temperament
The German Shepherd has an aloof and sometimes suspicious nature—great for a watchdog, but not the sort of family dog who'll make guests feel welcome. However, if you expose a German Shepherd to many different situations and people starting in puppyhood, they can learn to take new people and circumstances in stride.

Upkeep
The German Shepherd may embody some of the best traits of dogs, but they're not for everyone. Originally bred to herd flocks all day, this is a high-energy dog who needs a lot of activity and exercise. Without it, they're likely to express their boredom and frustration in ways you don't like, such as barking and chewing. Their coat sheds a lot and must be brushed weekly to remove dead coat.

When selecting your breeder, remember, you'll get a slightly different kind of German Shepherd depending on whether they're descended from dogs that come from show versus working lines. German Shepherds that have been bred true to the German working lines tend to have a higher drive than their show counterparts, whom typically make better family pets. However, the best way to mould your German Shepherd into the perfect fit for your lifestyle is to spend time with them and ensure you train them right from day one.

Breeders

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