German Shepherd

The German Shepherd (also known as the "Alsatian", Deutscher Schaferhund, GSD, Berger Allemand, Alsatian Wolf Dog, and Schaferhund) is a breed of dog originating in Germany. Creation of the modern breed was credited to be Max von Stephanitz. They were originally bred to be herding dogs, although now they tend to be police and guardian dogs.

Appearance
German Shepherds can come in a wide array of colors: Black, Black and Tan, Rad and Black, Black and Silver, Sable, Grey, blue, bray, liver, white, black, and black and cream. The American Kennel Club German Shepherd breed standard reads: "The first impression of a good German Shepherd Dog is that of a strong, agile, well muscled animal..." They have dark, almond shaped eyes; and upright ears. They have a double coat to protect them from burrs, snow, and rain. According to the AKC, white dogs are not allowed to enter competitions. Male German Shepherds are 24-26 inches at the withers, with females being 22-24 inches at the withers. ales typically weigh 75-90 pounds, with females being 50-70 pounds. They are longer than they are tall.

Temperament
The AKC breed standard states that the perfect German Shepherd is "direct, but not hostile, expression, self-confidence, and a certain aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and indiscriminate friendships...."

However, finding a perfect German Shepherd is hard. Temperament differs depending on what job the dog was bred to do. for example, lines that are bred for schutzhund and protection work tend to be businesslike and serious, whereas show lines differ a lot, ranging from mild to mellow, to hyperactive and skittish, to dumb and dopey. Dogs bred by bad breeders tend to have unpredictable temperaments.

German Shepherds, on average, are friendly, protective dogs who usually do well with kids, as long as the kids treat them with respect.

Breed-Specific Legislation
In some countries, such as Ireland, German Shepherds are a banned breed. They are also banned in some small U.S towns and cities.

In Popular Culture

 * Delgado from the Beverly Hills Chihuahua movies is a German Shepherd.

Cool Breed Facts

 * According to S.Coren, the German Shepherd is the 3rd smartest dog breed in the world.

Gallery
German Shepherd Gallery