German Shepherd: From Herding Dog To Police Dog
It was Max von Stephanitz who gripped all the essential credits for the development of the highly talented, faithful and obedient German Shepherd. He solely conceptualized a great variety of sheep herding dogs into one single variety. He visualized a dog of righteous character, great working ability, loyal and comprehensively trainable. Shepherd dogs were known as the best working dogs in 18th and 19th centuries. The shepherds in Germany employed their dogs to direct their group of sheep as well as cattle. The first priority was given on their working ability, not on their appearance. The root of these dogs in historical timeline has not yet been identified.
In the late 19th century, a movement for initiating the herding sheep method was inspired by Captain von Stephanitz. The movement also influenced his decision to establish his organization Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde where both talent and beauty were prioritized. Although von Stephanitz also put his primary emphasis on the working ability of the German Shepherd, the attempt of increasing good appearance was also found to be important.
History witnessed that the developmental journey of the German Shepherd was not always hassle-free. In fact, there were several ups and downs in the demand of shepherd dogs in earlier times. By that time, von Stephanitz shifted his idea into a new direction and trained the German Shepherd for the purpose of police service, where these dogs once again proved their robust efficiency. However, later in 19th century and early phases of the 20th century, the increasing number of dog shows made the breeder think about both the efficiency and appearance of the German Shepherd.
Continuous involvement of Captain von Stephanitz and the formation of Verein made the development of the modern German Shepherd possible. During the First World War the German Shepherd was discovered by the British people and they brought this dog to England under the name of the Alsatian. During that phase, all the breeding techniques and policies were regulated by Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde in Germany. In the post World War II phase, Germany was ruined totally, the same happened with different organizations including Verein. It is assumed that North American was acclaimed for the best the German Shepherd of that time.
However, in the late 19th century, von Stephanitz tried to find out new arenas of breeding German Shepherd dogs with the help of his extensive experience and application of knowledge. He kept his faith about many ideas used in England by that time. During 1899, von Stephanitz participated in a dog show, where he bought Horand von Grafrath. This is the time when Verein was founded and it was Horand who took his entry in the studbook as the first registered German Shepherd. Captain von Stephanitz was most impressed by the qualities of Horand.
Horand was a medium size dog with a blend of liveliness and activity. An obedient, brave, defensive and energetic type of dog was mostly adored for its mental alertness. Additionally, it had beautiful lines all over the body. These were the qualities that made the German Shepherd acquire such a universal acceptance. In modern days, German imports of German Shepherds are highly desirable to everyone for their incredible sense of smell, extraordinary obedience, sound temperament, and excellent physical structure and working efficiency.
The German Shepherd is an active breed with elegant beauty. It has a universal appeal due to its excellent obedience, loyalty and working ability. If you are in need of historical German Shepherd information, this article will provide it for you.
