handled by James Moses. With 275 BIS wins, Mystique is not only the top-winning GSD of all time, she’s also the show dog with the most wins in American history, earning the Top Dog spot in 1993 and 1994. In 1993 alone, she amassed 116 BIS wins, more than any other dog in a single year.
The question we ask is: what makes a German Shepherd Dog look like a German Shepherd? It’s not simply the dog’s size, shape, angulation, or gait, but rather the combination of all of these essential features that together create an ideal representation of the breed. Written by the German Shepherd Dog Club of America (the breed’s national parent club) and approved by the American Kennel Club, the breed standard serves as a blueprint for breeding and judging at conformation shows. In fact, the purpose of dog shows is to determine which dogs are best suited for breeding. It’s absolutely critical for breeders and judges to have an accepted “ideal” so that all of the valued qualities of the breed will be preserved from generation to generation.
To emphasize that the German Shepherd is not just a pretty face in a shiny coat, the breed standard also describes this dog’s working ability. In the section on temperament, the standard states that the GSD must be “fit and willing to serve in its capacity as a companion, watchdog, blind leader, herding dog, or guardian, whichever the circumstances command. The ideal dog is a working animal with an incorruptible character combined with body and gait suitable for the arduous work which constitutes its primary purpose.”
The German Shepherd’s working ability and temperament are just as important as the desired physical characteristics that the standard details. These traits as described in the breed standard are intended to preserve the true working character of the breed. Although the vast majority of modern GSDs do not work in the same capacities as their herding-dog ancestors, they should still possess the ability and true spirit that distinguishes this versatile working breed.
German Shepherds possess a natural drive to herd other animals—or people if the job calls for it.
HERDING COUSINS
The German Shepherd Dog belongs to the Herding Group, the category of dogs that includes the shepherd’s assistants. The GSD is the most popular of these breeds in the United States, but other highly regarded and recognized breeds in this group include the Australian Shepherd, Border Collie, Collie, and Shetland Sheepdog. In appearance, the Herding breeds vary significantly, from the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the mop-like Puli to the tousled Bearded Collie and the rough-coated Bouvier des Flandres. The GSD appears most similar to its Belgian herding cousins—the Belgian Malinois, Belgian Shepherd, and Belgian Tervuren, all of which excel in similar disciplines. All of the shepherd breeds were developed in continental Europe and were designed to work independently and alongside the shepherd to control, protect, and move—or herd—livestock such as sheep, goats, and cattle.
A PIECE OF HISTORY
The American Kennel Club registered the first German Shepherd Dog in 1908, a female by the name of Queen Switzerland, registration number 115006.
The GSD in Brief
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
Germany
ORIGINAL USE:
Herding sheep and other livestock
GROUP:
Herding
AVERAGE LIFE SPAN:
12 to 14 years
COAT:
Double coat of medium length, consisting of a dense outer coat with straight, harsh, and close-lying hair and soft undercoat.
COLOR:
Strong rich colors are preferred, including sable, black, and black and tan. Pale, washed out colors are undesirable, and white is disqualified from the show ring.
GROOMING:
Once or twice weekly brushings recommended; daily brushing required during twice-annual shedding periods. Bathe whenever necessary. Ears, teeth, and nails should be attended to weekly.
HEIGHT/WEIGHT:
Males, 24 to 26 inches at the shoulder; females, 22 to 24 inches.
TRAINABILITY:
Very high
PERSONALITY:
Confident and approachable; direct and fearless, not prone to indiscriminate friendships; willing to meet new people and to excel in role as companion and working dog.
ACTIVITY LEVEL:
High; thrives with a job to do, and can do just about anything!
GOOD WITH OTHER PETS:
Yes, with proper introductions and training
NATIONAL BREED CLUB:
German Shepherd Dog Club of America; www.gsdca.org
RESCUE:
American German Shepherd Rescue Association; www.agsra.org
The German Shepherd is the most popular of the Herding Group dogs.
POPULAR FROM THE START
Unlike the histories of many dog breeds, the German Shepherd’s genesis is well documented. When Max von Stephanitz decided to launch a standardized program for the ideal working sheepdog, he set his eyes and heart upon a canine named Hektor von Linkshein, whom he renamed Horand von Grafrath, and deemed him to be the foundation dog for his new breed, the Deutsche Schaferhund or German Shepherd Dog. So impressed with this hard-working herding dog was von Stephanitz that he founded the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV), the German breed club. The SV went on to become the largest specialty club in the world; today it boasts 1,600 local clubs and almost 80,000 members. Von Stephanitz made lasting and far-reaching strides with his new breed and was able to exert great influence over the German breeders thanks to the success of the SV.
The German Shepherd quickly became the “it” dog for both military and police work, as well as for families seeking companionship and protection. A decade into the breeding program, the GSD made its way to America and was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908.
SOCIAL BUTTERFLY
The best GSD owner’s home and lifestyle should be able to accommodate a big, active dog. This breed wasn’t built for apartment-dwelling. Having a large, securely fenced yard is a must, as it is much easier to provide the German Shepherd Dog with opportunities to exercise freely. However, a GSD can adapt to living in an apartment if his owner is willing to spend at least 30 minutes twice a day taking the dog for a brisk walk.
The
