Appearance
The German Shepherd Dog is a large and strong dog. The fur is a double-coat and can be either short or long haired. Although the black and tan saddle [3] may be most recognizable, German Shepherds come in a variety of colors and patterns though not all are accepted by the various breed clubs or FCI. Two toned German Shepherds can be black and tan, black and red, black and brown, black and silver, black and cream, blue and tan, or liver and tan. Solid colors may be black and solid white or any of the dilutes (liver, blue, or cream). Dogs with coats that have tricolored hair (black and white with either brown or red) are called sable or agouti. Sables can come in a variety of mixtures as well including black and silver, black and red, black and cream, and black and tan. Some various markings are referred to as 'striping' (black stripe markings on the legs found in some sables), 'pencilling' (also often found on the sable as black lines on the top of the dog's toes), 'tar heels' (black that runs down the back of the dog's legs), and (grey hairs along the back of a female or a neutered male.)[4]
Different kennel clubs have different standards for the breed according to size, weight, coat color, and structure. German Shepherds that compete in dog shows, must have an appearance that conforms with the guidelines of the individual kennel club. Some common disqualifying faults include ears that are not completely erect, or a muzzle that is not predominantly black. Ear faults can be caused by weak cartilage in the ears which allow them to flop (also called "friendly-tipped"). It is often possible for a veterinarian to correct this problem by taping up the ears.
In 2005, Dr. Brady Barr of the National Geographic measured the bite forces of many different animals, including domestic dogs for the documentary Dangerous Encounters: Bite Force. A German Shepherd named Ike was measured at having a bite of 130-238 pounds. [5] However, this test is inaccurate, as the device within the bite sleeve measures the pressure at the point of impact, which is dictated by the size and weight of the dog and not its jaw capabilities. There is no definite way to determine the force of a dog's bite, however it is widely accepted that the bite force of the German Shepherd Dog is roughly 750-1200 pounds, half that of a gray wolf.[citation needed] German Shepherd Dogs can weigh up to 125lbs for males and 85 lbs for females, although 80-90 lbs for males and 65-75 lbs for females are normal and preferred for working dogs.
Breed lines
Dogs from FCI - recognized international working lines are bred primarily for traits involving their working ability rather than appearance, so their appearance can be somewhat varied. In the former East Germany, German Shepherds adhered more closely to the old prewar standard, marked by a straighter back, a longer and denser coat, and a darker color. These dogs are now praised for their working ability. There are current attempts to preserve this distinct line and raise it to the status of an officially recognized breed ("East German Shepherd Dog").
The North American show lines are recognized by AKC and the UKC and they have a noticeably different appearance from the international show line German Shepherds. Noticeably sloped back and sharper angles of the hock joint.
Variant sizes and coats
Some groups or breeders have focused on variants of the breed that are not recognized by most kennel clubs as standard show German Shepherds. White Shepherds or Berger Blanc Suisse are recognized as a separate breed.
White coat
The recessive gene for white coat hair was fixed in the German Shepherd Dog breed DNA by the late 19th and early 20th century German breeding program that extensively used "color coated" dogs that carried a recessive gene for "white coats." The maternal grandfather of Horand von Grafrath, the first entry "SZ 1" in the SV Stud Book, was a white-coat German shepherding dog named Greif von Sparwasser. White was designated a disqualifying conformation fault by the SV (German Shepherd Club of Germany) in the 1933 and by the German Shepherd Dog Club of America (GSDCA) and the German Shepherd Dog Club of Canada (GSDCC)in the mid-1960's.
Long-haired coat
Dogs with the long-haired coat variation look somewhat like the Tervuren type of Belgian Shepherd Dog. The long hair gene is recessive. Popular myth holds that long-haired GSDs (sometimes called "fuzzies") are more affectionate, but there is little evidence for this beyond owner impressions. Long coats can come in two variations, both with an undercoat and without. Without the undercoat they have very little weather protection, but those longhairs with it fair as well as their shorthaired companions, just with longer hair on the outside.
Kennel club treatment of long-haired German Shepherds varies. It is considered a fault under American Kennel Club and FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale, i.e. International Canine Federation) standards. Under other standards, such as Germany[6] and the United Kingdom,[7] long-haired German Shepherds are actively bred, registered, and shown, and specialized long-haired breeders exist. There is also a variation known as 'long-stock-haired German Shephard'; stock hair isn't registered directly as a fault and such dogs are able to participate.
Giant shepherd & Shiloh Shepherd
The Shiloh Shepherd was bred by Tina M. Barber of Shiloh Shepherds Kennel. The King Shepherd is a larger variation of the German Shepherd but is not accepted in the AKC ring. When shepherds are bred this large, their size prevents them from fitting the AKC's breed standard description of "Size, Proportion, Substance".
Temperament
The breed has a personality marked by direct, fearless willingness to protect human children. The dog must be approachable, quietly standing its ground and showing confidence and willingness to meet overtures without itself making them. It is poised, but when the occasion demands, eager and alert; both fit and willing to serve in its capacity as a companion, watchdog, guide dog for people who are blind, herding dog, or guardian, whichever the circumstances may demand. The dog must not be timid, shrinking behind its master or handler; it should not be nervous, looking about or upward with anxious expression or showing nervous reactions, such as tucking of tail, to strange sounds or sights. Lack of confidence under any surroundings is not typical of good character. The ideal dog is a working animal with an incorruptible character combined with body and gait suitable for the arduous work that constitutes its primary purpose.
Health
As is common of many large breeds, German Shepherds are susceptible to elbow and hip dysplasia. Other health problems sometimes occurring in the breed are von Willebrand's disease, skin allergies and canine degenerative myelopathy. It is also prudent to check the eye and ear health as GSD tend to have problems with these as well. German Shepherds, like all large bodied dogs, are also prone to bloat. They have an average lifespan of 10-15 years.
Working German Shepherd Dogs
German Shepherds often compete and excel in obedience trials and Schutzhund competitions. German Shepherds are also often trained as police dogs and military dogs due to their trainability, size, work drive, and general appearance which commands respect.
Scent work
The German Shepherd dog is one of the most widely used breeds in a wide variety of scent work roles. These include search and rescue dog, cadaver dog, narcotics detection dog, explosive detection dog, accelerant detection dog, mine detection dog, and others.
Movie and television work
Rin-Tin-Tin, a German Shepherd dog, was considered to be one of Hollywood's top stars during the 1920's and 30's. At the peak of his career, Rin-Tin-Tin received as many as 10,000 fan letters a week.[8]
Kommissar Rex, (English Inspector Rex) an Austrian television show featuring a resourceful German Shepherd police dog.
The Littlest Hobo was a live-action popular television series in the 1980's airing on CTV in Canada. It featured a German Shepherd that travelled from place to place, performing some good deed, and then moving on.
A group of six German Shepherd Dogs was featured in the 2006 film Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby as they formed a pyramid for Gregory Girard (Andy Richter), Jean Girard's (Sacha Baron Cohen) husband.
Koton, a German Shepherd, stars as Jerry Lee, a police dog, in the 1989 movie K-9.
Oscar of the HBO television series Curb Your Enthusiasm is a German Shepherd owned by Jeff and Susie Greene. Susie initially takes Oscar to be a guard dog after her separation with Jeff. Oscar is a dog formerly owned by the police and trained as a corpse-sniffing dog.
A German Shepherd chases after a young Tommy in the opening sequence of Tommy Boy
Will Smith's character, Neville, has a German Shepherd companion in the 2007 film I Am Legend.
Fictional German Shepherds in Popular Culture
- "Sheri Thompson" of the Don Bluth movie All Dogs go to Heaven and its sequels
- "John," of the Japanese series anime series Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin and its sequel Ginga Densetsu Weed. The character is specifically said to have been imported to Japan from the United States, and with his owner responds to commands in English.
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