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HISTORY As told in "The German Shepherd Today" by Winifred Gibson Strickland and James A. Moses The Origin of the German Shepherd Dog The history of this breed, the German Shepherd, starts with Max von Stephanitz. As a young German cavalry officer watching the sheepherder tending his flocks in the valley, he envisioned a dog of medium size who could cope with the two different sized breeds of sheep found in Germany. He came to the conclusion that he would breed such a dog amd make it available to sheepherders all over Germany. And so it was, this day in the 1890's that the idea of founding a new breed, the German Shepherd, came into being. The German Shepherd - no truer friend. The German Shepherd is an extraordinarily versatile dog. When bred correctly he can be molded into the kind of dog his master desires him to be, whether this is just a family pet, a top Obedience worker, a beautiful show dog, a guard dog for the blind, an avalanche rescue dog, a shee or cattle herder, a canine member of a search-and-rescue team, a movie actor, a TV star or a brilliantly trained canine companion. American Breeders Take Notice In this country some dedicated American breeders are taking a serious lok at the German Shepherd Standard. As a result, we are seeing more dogs who are physically sound, who not only have beautiful side gaits but are also true coming and going. For many years the dogs being shown were too extreme and overangulated and a far cry from the German Shepherd described in our breed Standard. There are many beautiful German Shepherds in this country. If the majority of the American breeders will just realize we have an excellent German Shepherd Standard exactly the way it is, and adhere to it, they will again gain the respect of all German Shepherd fanciers. Regardless of your own particular interest in the German Shepherd dog, remember that this breed is capable of being many things to many people. Your love for this breed, therefore, should be as great and encompassing as the German Shepherd Dog Standard. | ||||||||||
Choosing a German Shepherd Puppy In order to choose a German Shepherd puppy wisely, you should consider a few facts before you make the initial plunge. The place to buy a puppy is from a reputable breeder who specializes in German Shepherds. He has spent many years and many thousands of dollars establishing his name and excellent breeding stock. You can take advantage of a breeder's experience and knowledge and buy a puppy that will be a credit to the breed. A reputable breeder will stand behind his stock and be as eager as you are for the puppy to turn out well. Even though you may have to shop around, find a conscientious breeder who believes in good nutrition, good care and clean kennels are all necessary and vital in order to produce strong, sturdy, healthy puppies. The breeder who doesn't skimp on food but provides the puppies with a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of lean meat is doing his best to safeguard the health of his stock and build up their resistance to diseases. If you want an Obedience Dog, get one that has already shown signs of being unusually intelligent. But, don't get just a pet - buy a puppy that could do some Conformation winning. You are going to spend more time training your dog than the person who buys a top show puppy. Your initial investment will be very small compared to the amount of time a money you will spend training and caring for your dog in the years ahead. By purchasing a quality puppy in the beginning, you will be able to realize a return on your original investment by way of stud fees or the sale of puppies. And, equally important, you will have the feeling of pride and joy that comes with owning a beautiful German Shepherd. Whenever you take your dog into the showring, you can be assured that he is a worthy representative of the breed. To us the pleasure of observing a top-quality puppy develop into a beautiful, mature German Shepherd is worth the purchase price alone. When choosing a puppy for both Obedience and Conformation, you will have to be careful where you look, for many breeders will not sell their top-quality stock to Obedience people. They erroneously feel that the puppy will be ruined. It is possible to buy a puppy for this dual purpose, but don't buy a top show-quality puppy if you have no intention of showing and finishing it is Conformation. It is unfair to the breeder to neglect showing a dog that could be an asset to the breed and a credit to its breeding. Remember, it costs no more to take care of a beautiful show puppy than it does a mediocre specimen, or one that is advertised in your local newspaper for a comparatively low price. The price you pay, or the quality of your puppy, is of no consequence to your veterinarian. The fee for a veterinarian's services and medicine is the same for all dogs. If you intend to take care of your puppy properly you will have to give him a well-balanced diet, which means good food and supplements, so feeding a top-quality puppy will not cost you any more. Even though the initial cost of a good-quality puppy is higher, you will not have the medical problems or heartaches you might encounter with a puppy raised without the proper care. The breeder will be able to show you the dam and sire of the puppies as well as give you pertinent information about many of the dogs in their pedigree. If it is a repeat breeding, the breeder may be able to show you a dog from the first breeding or may have pictures to show you. He can give you a good idea of what your puppy will look like when he is mature. Notice whether the sire and the dam of your puppy are friendly but reserved. The parents should be in good condition, clean, healthy, with clear bright eyes and glossy coats. However, expect the dam to lose her coat after she has weaned her puppies. The puppies will usually take after their parents in type, appearance and temperament when they are mature. Choosing Male vs. Female If you are undecided whether to buy a male or a female, be assured that either will be equally affectionate, protective, intelligent and trainable. The male is larger and weighs about ninety pounds when mature. The female is about three-quarters the size of a male and her size appeals to many people. She will be in season twice a year and should be confined at this time. If you are worrying about a male roaming the countryside looking for bitches in season, perhaps you shouldn't get a Shepherd. These dogs should not be permitted to run free, but should be trained to stay on your own property. Better yet, they should have a large fenced-in area in which to exercise. Base your decision on your own personal taste, or make your choice when you see what the breeder has available for males versus females. American vs. European As to the choice between an American-bred puppy or a puppy with 100% European bloodlines, this has always been a controversial subject. I would suggest that you see the parents to get an idea of what your puppy will look like when he matures or whether you like their temperaments. Always remember that temperament, character and intelligence are just as important as conformation and far easier to predict. If you plan to train your puppy in Obedience or Schutzhund work, consider a puppy withEuropean conformation bloodlines. As the puppy matures, the excellent producing bloodline will manifest itself in the finished product. | ||||||||||
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