The German Shepherd Dog is a breed of large-sized dog that originated in Germany in 1899.
As
part of the Herding Group, German Shepherds are working dogs developed originally for herding and
guarding sheep. Because of their strength, intelligence and abilities in obedience training they are often
employed in police and military roles around the world.
In Europe during the 1850s, attempts were being made to standardise breeds. The dogs were
bred to preserve traits that assisted in their job of herding sheep and protecting flocks from predators.
In Germany this was practiced within local communities, where shepherds selected and bred dogs that
they believed had the skills necessary for herding sheep, such as intelligence, speed, strength, and keen
senses of smell. The results were dogs that were able to do such things, but that differed significantly,
both in appearance and ability, from one locality to another.
To combat these differences, the Phylax Society was formed in 1891 with the intention of
creating standardised dog breeds in Germany. The society disbanded after only three years due to
ongoing internal conflicts regarding the traits in dogs that the society should promote; some members
believed dogs should be bred solely for working purposes, while others believed dogs should be bred
also for appearance. While unsuccessful in their goal, the Phylax Society had inspired people to pursue
standardising dog breeds independently.
Max von Stephanitz, an ex-cavalry captain and former student of the Berlin Veterinary College,
was one such ex-member. He believed strongly that dogs should be bred for working.
In 1899, Von Stephanitz was attending a dog show when he was shown a dog named Hektor
Linksrhein. Hektor was the product of few generations of selective breeding and completely fulfilled
what Von Stephanitz believed a working dog should be. He was pleased with the strength of the dog and
was so taken by the animal’s intelligence, loyalty, and beauty, that he purchased him immediately. After
purchasing the dog he changed his name to Horand von Grafrath and Von Stephanitz founded the
Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (Society for the German Shepherd Dog). Horand was declared to be
the first German Shepherd Dog and was the first dog added to the society’s breed register.
Horand became the centre-point of the breeding programs and was bred with dogs belonging to
other society members that displayed desirable traits. Although fathering many pups, Horand’s most
successful was Hektor von Schwaben. Hektor was inbred with another of Horand’s offspring and
produced Beowulf, who later fathered a total of eighty-four pups, mostly through being inbred with
Hektor’s other offspring. In the original German Shepherd studbook, Zuchtbuch für Deutsche
Schäferhunde (SZ), within the two pages of entries from SZ No. 41 to SZ No. 76, there are four Wolf
Crosses. Beowulf’s progeny also were inbred and it is from these pups that all German Shepherds draw a
genetic link. It is believed the society accomplished its goal mostly due to Von Stephanitz’s strong,
uncompromising leadership and he is therefore credited with being the creator of the German Shepherd
Dog.
Source: http://gsrelite.co.uk/the-history-origin-of-the-german-shepherd-dog/
German Shepherd Dog History
Admired and respected, the working class shepherd in German shepherd dog history has been
one of the most coveted dog breeds around the world. Originating in Germany, the German shepherd
dog proved to be excellent guardians and herders of sheep in their earliest uses. They were, and have
been to this day, valued for their superior intelligence, ease of training, alertness and muscular stamina.
Officially introduced and recognized as a standard breed in 1899 by Captain Max Von Stephanitz, the
German Shepherd has gone on to fill roles in police work, companions to the blind, search and rescue,
security, herding, K9 and wartime participation. Today, among all registered breeds with the American
Kennel Club, the dog takes up 4.6 percent of the canine population. It can be argued that Max von
Stephanitz was the single most important contributor in German shepherd dog history.
Source: http://germanshepherdsetc.com/german-shepherd-dog-history/
German Shepherd Breed Origins – 1899 to 1901
Max von Stephanitz, a German man, is credited with founding the German Shepherd herding dog breed.
Max was an ex German cavalry member, ex veterinary student, and ex member of a disbanded
dog group who believed dog breeds should be standardised.
Max was passionate about dogs, and admired the native German herding sheepdogs at the time
– but they were not standardised.
He couldn’t find the perfect dog, which to him, was a dog with intelligence, loyalty, a body
structure for working, along with a focus on working ability.
He was looking for a dog with ideal physical and mental traits for working, that had a high level
of obedience to it’s master. He believed appearance and show conformance should come second to this.
In 1899, Max saw a dog at a dog show that captivated him – not only was the dog visually
attractive, but it possessed all the traits he was looking for in a working dog.
After purchasing the dog, and changing it’s name from Hektor Linksrhein to Horand von
Grafrath, Max founded the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (Society for the German Shepherd Dog –
referred to as SV for short).
Using Horand as the stud, Max began systemised breeding, and the German Shepherd became
officially registered as a breed in 1899.
It is interesting to note that although Horand was a stud, the German Shepherd was developed
around the regional/native shepherd dogs in Germany – the Thuringian, the Wurttemberg sheep dog
and the Swabian service dog.
Source: https://thedailyshep.com/origin-history-evolution-of-the-german-shepherd-lines-1899-
to-now/
