One of the most popular dog breeds in the world is the German shepherd, sometimes known as the GSD for short. In the UK, they are called Alsatians, after the area in France where they originally were bred by German dog breeders. The first GSDs were whelped around 1882. For such a ubiquitous dog breed, it may be surprising to learn that it is less than 200 years old.
After the success of the Hollywood series Rin Tin Tin in the 1920s and 1930s, many people wanted their own Rin Tin Tin. Originally bred to herd sheep (hence the name), this highly sensitive, intelligent breed can also be used in police work, as guide dogs and in search and rescue units. GSDs were among the numerous search and rescue dogs that were deployed to the September 11, 2001 disaster.
Variations and Size
Over the decades since German shepherds were first introduced to America in 1907, breeders have been trying to make them different from European GSDs. The most noticeable difference is in their stance. American GSDs have a spine that slopes downwards, making the dog’s hind end appear to be crouching. European GSDs have straighter spines and stand more like a normal dog.
GSDs vary considerably in size, even among litter mates. The average size is two feet high at the shoulders and a weight of 80 pounds. However, GSDs have been known to grow to 27 inches high and nearly hit 100 pounds and still be purebred. Males tend to be larger and heavier in this breed.
Coats and Colors
Since 1882, many different types of coats have developed, including long-haired, wire-haired and short-haired. However, these have since fallen out of favor with national breed societies. The German shepherd’s coat is to be thick, double-layered and of medium length. Hair on the tail, belly and legs are often the longest. Get used to this hair, because GSDs shed quite a bit.
German shepherds are usually black and tan, but this has been another point of debate. All black German shepherds and those with white patches exist but are not allowed. Also, white naturally occurs in the breed, but white dogs are not allowed to be shown and in most countries cannot even be registered. But a good German shepherd is never a bad color.
Problems with GSDs
There are naturally many different types of dogs have developed within the breed but different countries have different breed standards, forcing out genetic diversity. As a result, German shepherds, especially in North America, are subject to many health problems such as heart disorders, hip dysplasia, epilepsy and pituitary dwarfism.
If considering bringing a German shepherd into your home, please do not buy from a pet store but search your local animal shelter. German shepherd puppies have floppy ears which grow straight as the puppy ages. When they outgrow their cute stage, many people abandon them. They may also abandon them if they do not want to deal with the dog’s health problems. Many states and countries have dog rescue groups specifically for German shepherds.
Additional References
- ASPCA Complete Guide to Dogs. Sheldon L. Gerstenfeld, VMD. Chronicle Books; 1999.
- Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds. D. Caroline Coile, Ph.D. Barron’s; 2005.
- The Howell Book of Dogs. Liz Palika. Howell Book House; 2007.
- DogBreedInfo.com
