The Roots Of The German Shepherd

Max von Stephanitz embraced all the credits for the development of this extraordinarily intelligent, reliable and subservient dog. Extensively it was von Stephanitz's idea that inspired a wide variety of sheep herding dogs into an individual breed of the best quality. He conceptualized a dog of dutiful character, huge working ability, loyal and incredibly trainable. In the 18th and 19th centuries, shepherd dogs were solely contributing their talents as working dogs. For them it was their working efficiency that was in high demand, not their appearance. However these dogs lacked a definitive origin.

Later in 19th century, the movement begun in the method of guiding sheep, in which Captain von Stephanitz played the leading role with his plan to form his upcoming endeavor Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde for breeding a dog with maximum potential. In his concept, the breeding techniques were not only limited to the improved working abilities of the German Shepherd, but he also put emphasis on the improved appearance, however, never underestimating the primary priority.
One of the early problems involved in the timeline of the development of the German Shepherd was when there was an apparent decline in the demand of shepherd dogs. By that time, it was again von Stephanitz who trained the German Shepherd as a police dog, which turned out to be a great source of service to mankind in general. During late 19th century and early 20th century increasing number of dog shows led the breeders to consider both the appearance and the efficiency of their dogs equally.

In 1899, with the persistent guidance of von Stephanitz, the concept of the modern German Shepherd took its place in reality with the establishment of Verein. During the First World War, England discovered the German Shepherd and brought this dog under the name of Alsatian home. By that time the overall control of all breeding in Germany was done by Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde. In the post Word War II phase, Germany was destroyed and in ruins, so was the breeding organization as well as the breeding policy. It was typically assumed that the best German Shepherd was bred in North America during that phase.
However, in the late 19th century, von Stephanitz tried to find out new arenas of breeding German Shepherd dogs with the help of his extensive experience and application of knowledge. He kept his faith about many ideas used in England by that time. During 1899, von Stephanitz participated in a dog show, where he bought Horand von Grafrath. This is the time when Verein was founded and it was Horand who took his entry in the studbook as the first registered German Shepherd. Captain von Stephanitz was most impressed by the qualities of Horand.

Horand was a medium size dog with a blend of liveliness and activity. An obedient, brave, defensive and energetic type of dog was mostly adored for its mental alertness. Additionally, it had beautiful lines all over the body. These were the qualities that made the German Shepherd acquire such a universal acceptance. In modern days, German imports of German Shepherds are highly desirable to everyone for their incredible sense of smell, extraordinary obedience, sound temperament, and excellent physical structure and working efficiency.

Jan Ryan loves various dog breeds and is blessed with a special affinity towards herding dogs. The German Shepherd is the perfect combination of action and elegance. It is widely accepted for its obedience, physical activity and working ability. If you are in need of historical German Shepherd information, this article will provide it for you.