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German Shepherd Dog Facts
German Shepherd Dog Facts -
German Shepherd Dog Facts |
• The GSD is a fairly recent breed in the overall history of dogs, having been developed almost entirely in the 1900s.
• Captain Max von Stephanitz is the Father of the GSD.
• The German Shepherd, according to litter and individual dog registrations, is one of the most popular and numerous breeds of dog in the world.
• German Shepherd Dog Fact: Horand von Grafrath was the first GSD to be registered.
• The GSD was the first breed to be trained as a working guide dog. Buddy, becomes the first Seeing Eye dog in 1928.
• Today's German Shepherd Dog is a fantastic companion dog and is the working dog of choice by many working dog agencies throughout the world. They excel in all forms of dog training.
• Nemo, a German Shepherd, was the first hero of his kind to return from the Vietnam War. In fact, he returned to the United States with honors, as the first sentry dog to be officially retired from active service.
• The German Shepherd is suitable for many different jobs: schutzhund, herding, police work, guiding the visually impaired, search and rescue, drug and bomb detection and tracking to name a few.
• First German Shepherd believed to have set paw upon North American shores - 1906.
• German Shepherd Dog Fact: The first German Shepherd Dog exhibited in America - 1907.
• The first German Shepherd registered with the AKC - 1908.
• German Shepherd Dogs served throughout WWI and WWII.
• Another German Shepherd Dog Fact: In England, the name of the GSD breed was changed to the Alsatian - 1917.
• The German Shepherd, Strongheart, becomes one of the first canine silent movie film stars - 1921.
• The greatest canine star of all time, Rin Tin Tin, came from Germany in WWI where soldier Lee Duncan found "Rinty" and his sister in a bombed German dog kennel.
• German Shepherd Dog Fact: Average Litter Size: 8 puppies.
• Basic Requirements Needed to Own a GSD:
- they do require daily exercise,
- they should not be allowed to run free. Best case scenario: confine your dog to a fenced yard or within a kennel run (do not chain or tie any dog).
- remember, training is an important part of responsible dog ownership with any dog. Training also helps to establish a strong bond between the owner and the German Shepherd and is wonderful exercise - both physical and mental.
• The Sieger show held in Germany each year is the largest show held for any dog breed in the world.
• German Shepherd Dog Fact: Height of a typical German Shepherd male: 24 to 26 inches - weight: 80 to 95 pounds.
• GSD Fact: Height of a typical German Shepherd Dog female: 22 to 24 inches - weight 70 to 80 pounds.
• Concerning the coat, the SV breed standard states the following: "The normal (stock) coated German Shepherd Dog should carry a thick undercoat and the outer coat should be as dense as possible, made up of straight hard close lying hairs.
• Acceptable German Shepherd Dog color patterns may include any of the following: black & tan, black & red, black & cream, solid black , solid white (considered a conformation disqualification), sable (also called agouti or wolf gray, in various colorations), black & silver, liver (rare - conformation fault) and blue (rare - considered a conformation fault).
• Effective May 1, 1999, the United Kennel Club recognized the White German Shepherd as a separate breed known as the White Shepherd.
• Additional Facts and Traits: the German Shepherd is highly active indoors and outdoors, incredibly intelligent with a tremendous learning capability and fantastic problem solving skills, can be very territorial and protective of their "human pack", are exceptionally sociable to children and emotionally stable.
• German Shepherd Dog Fact: Number of GSD Litters registered in 2004 : 15,896
• According to S. Coren, the author of "The Intelligence of Dogs", The German Shepherd Dog ranks as the 3rd most intelligent dog breed of all.
Top 5 Brightest Dogs:
1. Border Collie
2. Poodle
3. German Shepherd
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