What is the history of the German Shepherd?
Captain Max Von Stephanitz was responsible for the development and naming of the German Shepherd way back in 1899. His initial goal was to breed the best herding dog. When he retired from the military he focused on his passion for breeding. He learned techniques from the British and attended dog shows to find a dog with the most desirable traits. Eventually finding a wolf-like dog, Von Stephanitz bought an Hektor Linksrhein and then changed it to Horand V Grafeth. With this dog, he created a society, the Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde or “German Shepherd” as to reach his goal of the best herding dog.
However, his goal of having the best herding dog was side tracked as Germany was turning to industrialization. But, due to the intelligence, strength and agility of the breed, it easily found its way to work for the police and the military. The popularity of the breed went over the top when World War I veteran, Corporal Lee Duncan brought home a puppy from France and trained him into the famous canine, Rin Tin Tin.
If this post made you want to learn more about the history of the breed, you should consult the German Shepherd Handbook. It contains a very thorough section about the history of the breed including how they came to exist, how they developed, how different cots evolved, behavioral differences between different bloodlines, the breed standard, the consequence of the popularity of the breed, where the “Alsatian Wolf Dog” name comes from and a lot more. To find out more, visit the official German Shepherd Handbook website.
