German Shepherd

The German Shepherd (also known in Britain as the Alsatian) is a medium to large working dog, known for being intelligent and obedient. It is among the most frequently registered breeds worldwide and is commonly kept as a companion dog.

Males stand about 60-65 cm at the withers and females about 55-60 cm. The body is a little longer than it is tall. The breed has a domed forehead, a long square-cut muzzle with strong jaws, a black nose, medium-sized brown eyes and large, erect ears. The tail is bushy and reaches to the hock. German Shepherds can sprint at up to about 30 miles per hour.

They have a dense double coat with a thick undercoat, in medium or long versions. The long coat is rarer because the gene for it is recessive. Most are black and tan or black and red, often with a black mask and a "saddle" or "blanket" marking. Sable, solid black, white, liver, silver, blue and panda colours are rarer.

Beyond the home, they work in police and military roles, search and rescue, scent detection, disability assistance, and herding.

The breed was developed in Germany from 1899 by Max von Stephanitz, an ex-cavalry captain, using traditional German herding dogs. Before that, local shepherds bred their own dogs, so dogs varied a lot from one area to another. An earlier group, the Phylax Society, formed in 1891 to standardise German breeds but disbanded after three years over disagreements about working ability versus appearance.

In 1899 von Stephanitz bought a dog called Hektor Linksrhein, renamed Horand von Grafrath, and founded the Society for German Shepherd Dogs. Horand was the first dog on its breed register. Dogs from Thuringia, Franconia and Württemberg were also used, and close inbreeding was used to fix the traits wanted.

The breed gained international recognition after the First World War, helped by returning soldiers and film stars Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart. When the UK Kennel Club began accepting registrations in 1919, 54 were registered; by 1926 there were over 8000.

Because of anti-German feeling, the UK Kennel Club renamed the breed "Alsatian Wolf Dog" after the French region of Alsace. "Wolf dog" was later dropped, and the name Alsatian lasted until 1977, when campaigns allowed registration as German Shepherds again. "Alsatian" stayed in brackets in the Kennel Club's formal name until 2010.

German Shepherds are moderately active dogs, described in breed standards as self assured and curious. They are known for a willingness to learn and an eagerness to have a purpose.

They were bred specifically for intelligence and are known for being easy to train and quick to learn tasks. They are protective of their owners and can become overprotective of family and territory, especially if not socialised correctly. They are not inclined to make immediate friends with strangers.

They ranked second in one list of breeds most likely to bark as watchdogs. Over a long period in the United States, the breed was responsible for the most bites severe enough to need hospital treatment among pure breeds, though one Australian report found the breed fell far down the list once its popularity was taken into account.

Many of the breed's common ailments are linked to the inbreeding practised early in its history. Hip and elbow dysplasia are well known and can cause pain and arthritis later in life. One large North American study found rates of 18.9% for hip dysplasia and 17.8% for elbow dysplasia. Cauda equina syndrome, osteoarthritis and degenerative spinal stenosis also occur.

German Shepherds are among the breeds more commonly affected by degenerative myelopathy, caused by a mutation in the SOD1 gene. They are regularly tested for Von Willebrand disease, an inherited bleeding disorder, and are at risk of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, estimated to affect 1% of the UK population of the breed. They are also among the breeds with the highest risk of haemangiosarcoma, an aggressive cancer of the lining of blood vessels. Pituitary dwarfism, an inherited growth disorder, has long been known in the breed.

Lifespan is approximately 10 years. UK studies found averages of 11.3 years and 10.16 years, lower than the averages for all dogs or crossbreeds in the same studies.

This is general awareness only, not veterinary advice. Always consult a vet about your pet's health.

Is an Alsatian the same as a German Shepherd?

Yes. Alsatian is the name used in Britain for the German Shepherd. The name came about after the First World War, and the breed was registered as German Shepherd again from 1977.

How long do German Shepherds live?

About 10 years on average. UK studies have found averages of roughly 10 to 11 years, a little below the averages for crossbreeds and for dogs overall.

Are German Shepherds easy to train?

They are known for being easy to train and good at following instructions. They were bred specifically for their intelligence and are marked by a willingness to learn and an eagerness to have a purpose.

Are German Shepherds good with strangers?

They are not inclined to become immediate friends with strangers. They are protective of their owners and can become overprotective of family and territory, especially if not socialised correctly.

Do German Shepherds have wolf in them?

The name "wolf dog" was dropped after breeders worried the breed would be seen as a wolf-dog hybrid. The breed was developed from German herding dogs.

German Shepherds can sprint at up to about 30 miles per hour.

They have a double coat, and the long-haired type is rarer because the gene for it is recessive.

The breed has worked as police, military, search-and-rescue and scent-detection dogs. Early guide dog training in Switzerland in the 1920s used only German Shepherd females.

In 1921 Strongheart became one of the earliest canine film stars, followed in 1922 by Rin Tin Tin. Both have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

An Austrian police drama, Inspector Rex, stars a German Shepherd, and a Hungarian television series about a police dog named Kántor made the breed the most popular in Hungary.