Dogs: The Impressive German Shepherd

No matter if you have an AKC (American) Shepherd or a German Shepherd directly from Germany, your Shepherd is your best friend and companion. He/She will protect and love you unconditionally. Their loyalty and intelligence is truly reflected in their eyes.

Now there are some slight differences between Shepherd's bred in the Americas and the Shepherd's bred in Germany. The first difference you may notice is the size. The German bred Shepherd tends to be a little bit larger than the American bred Shepherd. However, on average, the female will range between 24-26 inches in height and the male will range between 26-28 inches.

Another difference that may be noticed is the coloring. The German bred Shepherd's tend to be darker in color than the American bred. One small note here on color is that the German bred Shepherd's when there is one that is white it is overlooked. However, the American bred, in regards to AKC regulations, the white is unacceptable and is viewed as a flaw.

Probably the most prominent of the differences between the German and American bred Shepherd's is the stance. This is also the most noticeable. The German bred Shepherd's have a straight back and the American Shepherd has a sloped back (for AKC) The slope is a downward angle from the head to the tail; the back being lower at the haunches. It has been argued that this stance is too unnatural for the Shepherd and has increased their chances of developing "Hip Dysplasia", a degenerative hip disorder that is prominent among Shepherd's and other large dogs.

Now the history of the German Shepherd is as equally as impressive. It was developed almost entirely in the 1900's and so is fairly new among the breeds. In April of 1899 a German Cavalry Captain by the name of Max von Stephanitz and Artur Meyer attended one of the earliest dog shows. Von Stephanitz purchased a dog at the show. Von Stephanitz and Meyer decided to form the Verein fur Deutche Shaferhunde S.V. Von Stephanitz was the first president and remained so until he died in 1936.

The Verein fur Deutche Shaferhunde S.V. kept a stud book and the first Shepherd to be registered was the one that von Stephanitz purchased at the dog show. The dog's name was Horan von Grafrath and was given the number S.Z.1. Furthermore the Verein maintained control of the Shepherd breeding from that point forward, throughout Germany and it remains true today. Only the best are allowed to breed.

The sport of Schutzhund was also began in Germany. Schutzhund, directly translated, literally means "Protection Dog". Dogs that are involved in this sport are easily adaptable to police work, search & rescue, drug & bomb searching, and any number of other different jobs.

Currently there are about five levels in the Schutzhund sport, B/BH, SchH1, SchH2, SchH3, and FH. The B/BH level is a pass/fail level and is really a type of basic obedience. For a Shepherd or other dog to advance to SchH1, they need to pass the B/BH level.

The next level in Schutzhund is the SchH1 or Novice level. In this level there are three phases the dog must pass to advance to the next level (SchH2). In this level are three phases and each phase is worth 100 points. The dog must pass each phase with 70 points or better.

SchH2 is the next level and this is the "advanced" level. Again there are three phases and the passing score for each phase is 70 or better for a maximum of 100 points per phase.

SchH3 is the "Master" level and is more stringent than either SchH1 or SchH2. Just as before there are three phases but the scoring is a slight bit different. The dog must score at least 80 points to pass each phase for a maximum of 100 points per phase.

SchH1,2,and 3 are the main parts of any Schutzhund competition. They are esteemed titles for anyone who is participating or have participated in the sport. However, I did mention the FH level. This is an opptional level. It is an advanced tracking level. Any one of these titles look extremely good on any pedigree for anyone looking to buy a Schutzhund puppy.

Generally speaking, a "Schutzhund" Shepherd will have a stronger work drive than an "AKC" Shepherd. It is wise to also note that the temperment of a Shepherd bred for Schutzhund will be "harder". That is to say that they will be more wary of stranger's who enter the home and will be less "friendly" (based on obedience training) with stranger's. However, they are just like any other Shepherd raised around children. Parents will be surprised if they decide that the youngster needs a spanking for something done wrong. Their four legged sibling will not exactly like it.

That is not to say there is anything wrong with a Shepherd bred for AKC shows. Their temperment is much softer and tend to be more friendly towards strangers (depending upon their obedience training) and are equally as good around children. This is just pointing out differences between them.

One must learn how to approach any dog including Shepherd's. Never, Ever, look a dog directly in the eyes. They see this as a form of aggression and WILL react accordingly. Never, Ever, show your teeth to a strange dog (including Shepherd's). This is also perceived as a form of aggression and there will be concequences for either mistake. It is always best, when approaching a strange dog to ask the owner before attempting to pet it. Ask any owner, this is most annoying for someone to come up and just start petting the animal.

If you should decide to purchase a Shepherd, it is wise to decide whether you wish to purchase an American bred or German bred Shepherd, even if it is only going to be a family pet. Above all do obedience training - it is well worth the time and you will have a much happier dog. A Shepherd thrives on attention and loves to spend time with his/her family. They do not appreciate being tied up outside away from family. They view this as a form of punishment for something they have done wrong. Shepherd's are very social dogs and will tend to get along with other animals in the home (including cats).