The German Shepherd that corresponds to the standard, offers the observer a picture of rugged strength, intelligence and agility, whose overall proportions are neither in excess or deficient in any way. The way he moves leaves no doubt that he is of sound mind and body and so possesses physical and mental traits that render possible an
ever-ready working dog with great stamina. With an effervescent temperament, the dog must also be cooperative, adapting to every
situation and take to work willingly and joyfully. He must show courage and hardness, as the situation requires defending his handler and his property. He must readily protect on his owner's command yet also be a pleasant companion. He should be devoted to his familiar surroundings, above all to children and other animal's. He is composed in his contact with with outsider's.
All in all, he gives a harmonious picture of natural nobility and self-confidence. There is no doubt that the essential credit for the development of this marvelous breed must go to it's creator Max von Stephanitz. It was his vision that welded a wide variety of sheep herding dogs into one breed.He envisioned a dog of incorruptible character, great working ability, exceptional loyalty, and can be trained for any task.
He used as his motto for the dog;Do right and fear no one, and it was he who laid down the guideline of the breed,Utility is the true criterion of beauty.Shepherd dogs were the true working dogs of the 18th and 19th centuries. Those of Germany had used their dogs to herd flocks of sheep and herds of cattle for generations, but those dogs were of no specific origin. The only requirement was one of utility; looks were unimportant.
It was not until late in the 19th century that a movement was begun to improve the methods of herding sheep. This method was begun and led by Captain von Stephanitz, and it was his leadership, both in his vision of the breed and in his talents of organization, that lead to the formation of the Verein für
Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV), which was established in the late 1800's.
Stephanitz did not allow for anything to interfere with his demands of utility and intelligence. Therein lies the beauty of the breed according to him. There is nothing in the breed standard that does not have as its cornerstone, the basis of utility. Each requirement has a reason and that reason is always based on utility; allowing the dog to work in the most efficient way possible. This was not a disservice to German Shepherds. It allowed the early breeders to concentrate on the fundamentals of their working dogs. Years later, after the breed was established, Stephanitz allowed some effort to develop beauty, but he insisted to his end that efficiency should take precedence over mere beauty.
One of the early crises that developed was a lessening need for a herding dog. The time came when railroads transported stock and when sheep raising declined. Again, it was his keen sense that lead him to promote the German Shepherd as a police dog and this work, as well as its further ramifications into related areas, has developed into a great source of service to mankind by this herding dog. This was occurring during the late 19th and early 20th century, when rapidly growing dog shows also led breeders to breed their dogs for appearance as well as working qualities.
With the formation of the SV in 1899 and under the constant guidance of von
Stephanitz, the development of the modern German Shepherd began. England discovered the dog during World War I and many tales were carried back to Europe about dog exploits under enemy fire. The dog itself was taken to England, and the breed was furthered in that country under the
name Alsatian. During this time, the SV became big business, with over
fifty thousand members and six hundred chapters. There was nothing like it
in the world. It kept and published a stud book, a gazette on a regular basis, and held its Sieger Show yearly. The SV controlled all breeding in Germany, allowing which breeding was to take place and which dogs were fit for breeding. It declared when bitches were to be bred, the number of pups to be raised in the litter, and set a maximum age that dogs could be used for stud service, all of which appears to be somewhat authoritarian and dictatorial.
However,after World War II, Germany was devastated and in ruins. So too was the
breed. It was generally felt that the best German Shepherds resided in North America. Long after von Stephanitz had retired from the SV in 1935,his principles of breeding dogs were applied and once again the German
Shepherd was brought back to strength in Germany. Today, the world over,
German imports are highly desired and sought after. The principles that
von Stephanitz employed to transform a vast number of herding dogs, tall,
short, long-coated, short-coated, prick-eared and lop-eared, linked
together by perhaps only the single common thread of possessing herding
instincts, into a uniform breed, were the same principles used to bring
the breed back from almost total destruction in Germany following the war.
These principles are presented in his work The German Shepherd Dog in Word
and Picture This impressive work was widely circulated and consists of some seven hundred pages.Throughout the late 19th century, von Stephanitz was breeding dogs, experimenting,and learning. He relied on many of the ideas being used in England at that time. In 1899, von Stephanitz attended a dog show and it was there that he purchased Horand von Grafrath (*Hecktor Linkrhein*). It was at this time that the SV was established, and Horand became the first entry in the newly founded studbook, becoming the first registered German Shepherd.
*** It is well known by most who search for knowledge that Stephanitz knowingly purchaced Hecktor Linkrhein,who carried the white gene in his blood line, Stephanitz then changed Hector's name to Horand Von Grafrath. Horand's maternal Grandsire was a white show dog named Grief. Therefore the white coated shepherd has a very influential part in the breed's history and development.
It was Horand's shepherd qualities that impressed von Stephanitz the most.
He was a medium-sized dog with beautiful lines. He was active and had a zest for living. He was obedient, bold, protective, and energetic. But most of all it was his mental soundness that was emphasized.It was this mental soundness and the actual qualities transmitted by Horand that saved the breed's popularity and has promoted the German Shepherd to such wide acceptance. Today we have a dog that is used throughout the world as a police dog, armed service dog, guide for the blind, Schutzhund sport dog, and search and rescue dog. We have a demand for German Shepherds as family companions, obedience dogs, show dogs, and even still as herding dogs. Thousands of people across the country derive great pleasure from the German Shepherd through showing and breeding. It
is the extraordinary character and sound temperament, an incredible sense
of smell and efficient working physical structure and size that makes this
the most versatile dog today.
*** Historical White Facts***
In 1882 Grief was the first White to ever be shown.
In the 1890's Whites where particularly abundant in most area's of Germany.
In 1912 Ann Tracey Imported top German Bloodlines to her New York Kennel. Not suprisingly white progeny instantly occured.
Between 1920-1930 German Shepherd dogs Rin-Tin-Tin and Strongheart appeared in Hollywood movies later both kennel's produced numerous white offspring.
1921 Stephanitz published a book with the inclusion of a White German Shepherd named BERNO Vd SNEEWIESE which is further proof of the whites contribution to the evolution of the GSD breed.
1950's white gsd CHINOOK and WHITE CRIDER made debut films.
1964 avid devotees of the breed formed the world's first white German shepherd Dog club that club is know today as the White German Shepherd Dog Club International Inc. and is a world wide organization dedicated to preserving the heritage of the white GSD. for more information go to: www.whitegermanshepherd.org
1968 Unfortunately the white German shepherd disqualified from the AKC show ring. And to this day we are fighting for our dog's right to be in the ring.
*** JUST A FACT***
Max Von Stephanitz once said, "no good dog is a bad color".
