ARGUABLY THE MOST POPULAR BREED worldwide, the Shepherd, as he is known to most people, provokes fiercer loyalties in enthusiasts’ hearts than virtually any other breed. The breed as we know it today was founded at the very end of the 1800s and a German cavalry captain, Rittmeister Max von Stephanitz, has been credited as the father of the breed. A group of people led by him promoted the Shepherd for thirty-five years to bring it to a position of respect. As demand for them as herding dogs fell away Rittmeister Stephanitz encouraged their use by police and the military and in the First World War alone 48,000 were enlisted in the German army.

It is difficult to talk about German Shepherds without being drawn into the discussion on type; the style of the dog varies tremendously even if the wording of the standards throughout the world is based on that of the country of origin. The appearance of the animal may vary according to the attitude of the fancier, but one thing will be agreed by all: that a genuine German Shepherd must be possessed of a truly steady temperament, greeting all he meets with a calm firmness. He ranks with any breed in his trainability for a veritable plethora of purposes. From his original work as a shepherd, acting as both herder and flock-¬guard, he has become by far the most widely used military and police dog for forces all over the globe.

He rates with the best as a guide dog for the blind; he is a tracker of great quality; and his devotees consider him the ultimate as an obedience worker.

Breed description courtesy of