What is a German shepherd dog?
A German shepherd dog is also known as an Alsatian. This is a working dog breed of German origin that is medium to large. Max von Stephanitz developed the dogs in the year 1899. He did this by breeding some herding dogs of the era.
The German shepherd is one of the world’s most recognizable and popular dog breed. This dog breed has had a rich history in the world, making them one of the most respected dog breeds in the world. German shepherds are loved for their compatibility with humans, intelligence, energy level and ability to work in different applications. There are many German shepherd types dog in the world. Some of them are below; we will explore the different types of popular breeds of German shepherd dog available to help you identify the one that will best meet your pet’s needs.
The German shepherd is a dog breed that originated in Germany. This dog breed was initially developed as a herder’s dog. However, the uses of a German shepherd have drastically changed over the years. These dogs are used for disability assistance, acting military applications, police use, and search and rescue.
Uses of the German shepherd
The German shepherd is a strong dog breed that has found uses and applicants in many different fields. Below, we will explore some of the uses of the German shepherd dog breed.
- Herding. The German shepherd was initially bred as herding sheep. This is a result of its speed and masculine body.
- Disability assistance. The German shepherd is intelligent and friendly to humans. This means that it is easy to train and thus can easily be transformed into an aide for disabled persons.
- Search-and-rescue missions. Different search and rescue missions in the woods, fields and construction sites are done using German shepherd dogs.
- Police use. Police departments around the world use German shepherd dogs to trail suspects and find drugs. The Police dogs are intelligent and very effective at their work.
- Warfare. German shepherd dogs are also used during warfare by the military. The dogs are used to trail the enemy and watch out for intruders.
- Home security. German shepherd dogs are considered fierce protectors of a home. They are aggressive and intelligent, and this makes them perfect home protectors.
- Pets. There are people who like to have German shepherds as pets. The well-trained dogs are friendly and fun to have at home.
- Show dogs. Beautiful German shepherd dogs are often used as show dogs. If you have a show line breed, you can take it to different dog shows worldwide.
German shepherd breeds to consider
The German shepherds are categorized into two broad groups: The show line and the working line. The show line breeds comprise five breeds of the dog. On the other hand, you will find three breeds in the working line of the dog. What separates these dogs is the color of their coats. German shepherds are separated by the length of their coats and hair. We will discuss the different types of German shepherds below;
Saddleback German Shepherd Dog
The Saddleback German shepherd dog is by far the most popular German shepherd variety in the world. These dogs are of two colors. However, the distinctiveness of their markings gives them their colors. The saddle is the part that refers to the black hair that lies on their back. Some people interpret this as a blanket that lies on their backs.
The other color of the German shepherd is usually tan or red. Regarding shows, the more vibrant the color, the better the score the dog will have. However, it’s important to note that liver color is not desirable for German shepherds. The dogs also have a black muzzle that covers part of their snouts and part of their face. The saddleback may also have a black marking on its tail.
The Black (Solid Color) German Shepherd Dog
The solid color German shepherd is not as common as the saddleback. However, they do not have any differentiating characteristics. You should, however, use their color to tell their behavior and health status. It is also important to note that some German shepherd dogs have powder blue colors on their coats. Although a German shepherd dog may be accepted in competition with this color, it will reduce its count. When it comes to selling colored German shepherds on the market, you will only find white or black.
Solid black German shepherds are accepted into a competition. However, solid whites are usually disqualified from the same. The black German shepherds are generally because of a recessive gene. On the other hand, the white coat forms due to a dominant gene that occurs in some litters. However, it would be best to never confuse white with the white Swiss shepherd or albinism. But since whites are disqualified from competitions, they are less common today.
Panda German Shepherd Dog
The other type of German shepherd is the panda German shepherd dog. These types of dogs have a curious appearance that distinguishes them from the different types of breeds. Although many people think this dog breed is a cross breed, the unique characteristics are a result of a genetic mutation. The mutation came from a USA litter, and it often features a white coat on the abdomen and legs, but with black or tan on the other parts of the body. That is why this type of dog resembles a panda.
The Panda German shepherd dog is strong, agile, and friendly to people. However, some breeders think this breed’s white markings are a fault. Other quarters believe that this dog is from inferior stock. And although the Panda German shepherd dog is strong, it has average health compared to the other German shepherd dogs we have on the list.
Sable German Shepherd
A Sable German shepherd is considered the agouti. However, it is essential to note that the stable pattern is not well manifested like in the saddleback shepherd dog breed. Instead, these dogs have some multicolored hairs on their back. This gives the dog a variegated appearance that becomes stronger as they age. Some colors may be more potent than others. The paint on the dog’s hair may be gold, tan, gray or black. However, it is essential to note that all the colors on the dog start as tan before becoming darker. However, it is necessary to note that these variations are wide due to a dominant gene.
The White German Shepherd
The white German shepherd is a part of the solid color German shepherd dog breeds. The only difference is that the fur on their coat is white, which predisposes them to appear white and beautiful. The only difference between the black and white German shepherds is that the black ones have a recessive gene while the white one has a dominant gene. However, you should never confuse a white German shepherd with albinism. This is because albinism is a different genetic factor from white color. However, it is important to note that white German shepherds are very rare. Also, white German shepherds are usually disqualified from the competition.
The West German Working Lines
The West German working line is considered the initial German shepherd breed. This breed was bred by Max von Stephan, the initiator of the German dog breed. The main attraction of the West Germany working line is the ability to work, listen, and learn instead of focusing on their appearance. West German working lines are considered a pure breed of the highest quality.
Czech Working Lines
The Czech working lines have similar characteristics to wolves compared to all the other german shepard breeds. The Czech German shepherd breed was developed to man the country’s border. These dogs have evolved to become great guard dogs and family pets. Also, you will find that the Czech German shepherds have applications in search and rescue, police searches, and other departments. Today, there are many other applications that the German shepherd has in many different industries.
The Belgian Shepherd
The Belgian shepherd is a close relative of the German shepherd. The breed description was recorded several years before the German shepherd. The Belgian shepherds are known for their faithful personality, good temperament, and playfulness. The markings on the face make the Belgian shepherd different from the rest of the German breeds. The Belgian shepherd has a black mask on his face.
The Czechoslovakian Wolfhound
As the name suggests, this dog breed is synonymous with the country of Czechoslovakia. The Czechoslovakian Wolfhounds are commonly used as working dogs with applications in the police, border patrol, and territory protection. The Czechoslovakian Wolfhound breed was developed due to crossbreeding the German shepherd and the Eurasian wolf. However, these dogs were initially created for military purposes. But since the Czechoslovakian Wolfhounds are predominantly wild dogs, they are seen as wild hunters.
Czechoslovakian Wolfhound owners need to cut their wild hunting tendencies for these dogs. And although these dogs can show love and protection to their owners, they can be very aggressive with strangers. Therefore, the Czechoslovakian Wolfhounds require experienced caretakers who will give them extensive care and training.
The Dutch Shepherd
We shouldn’t ignore the Dutch shepherd as we continue to look at the different types of German shepherd dogs. The Dutch shepherd is similar to the current German shepherd in many ways. You will notice German shepherd characteristics such as raised ears and masculine bodies. The Dutch shepherd is characterized by its coat that features a tabby pattern with black. Also, the dog might have a yellow coloring distributed across its body.
Understanding the working and show lines of the German shepherd
I know you have heard of the different categories of the German shepherd. In this post, we have already stated that German shepherds are categorized into both the show line and the working line. This is normally based on the skin coloring of the animal. You will also find that German shepherd dogs are categorized based on the animal’s body shape. The less muscular animals are considered to show lines, while the more muscular dogs belong to the working line.
The working line of the German shepherd seems to have larger muscle mass and more structured bodies. Security agencies, police, and the military prefer these dogs. However, there is ongoing research on whether temperament differs in the different types of German shepherd dogs. Although both of these dog breeds are trainable, many people believe that working dogs are more aggressive and suited for security applications than show-line German shepherd breeds. On the other hand, show dogs have a more docile and reserved behavior.
However, it is not advisable for first-time dog owners to have German shepherd dog breeds as pets. This is because German shepherds are very demanding and recognizable breeds. The dogs need a lot of attention, training and socialization. Without training, these dogs will develop a lot of behavioral disorders. German shepherds can be loving dogs, but if not well taken care of, they can create a temperament that you will not like.
The West German working line is considered the closest variant to the original breed. These dogs stand out for their practical workability as well as good temperament. The show lines came from West Germany. However, some lines came up in the USA due to mutations.
Advantages and disadvantages of German shepherd dogs
Below, we will look at the pros and cons associated with German shepherd dogs.
Pros
- Beautiful natural looking dog
- Enjoys challenging activities.
- Loyal to the owner
- It has an imposing look that intruders are afraid of. This makes it an excellent guard dog
- Brilliant and versatile dog
Cons
- Hard to find a German shepherd with a family-oriented temperament
- Needs thorough socialization
- Constant shedding
- Highly destructive when not well exercised
- Healthy risks
Do dwarf German shepherds exist?
In history, there has not been any dwarf German shepherd dog breed in the world. However, genetic mutations that have led to dwarfism have been noted in some of these breeds. Unfortunately, dwarfism is a condition that has adverse effects on a German shepherd. The situation worsens because some dogs don’t even live up to maturity. Research shows that dwarf German shepherds don’t even live past five years. In many jurisdictions, dog owners are discouraged from breeding a dwarf German shepherd.
Conclusion
German shepherd dogs are friendly and valuable in the home. With the many types of dogs, a dog owner needs to choose the one that suits their needs best. You have many breeds, whether you are looking for a pet or a working dog.