Where the German Shepherd came from
The German Shepherd was created in Germany in the late 1800s. A former cavalry captain named Max von Stephanitz wanted one great, all around working dog from the herding dogs of the countryside. He bought a dog named Horand von Grafrath in 1899 and founded the breed club, the Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde, the same year.
As industry grew and sheep farming shrank, von Stephanitz pushed the breed toward service work. After World War I, returning soldiers spoke well of the dogs, and the breed spread around the world.
The AKC recognized the breed in 1908. Today German Shepherds work as police, search and rescue, guide and service dogs, and are one of the most popular family breeds.
- 1899 Max von Stephanitz buys Horand von Grafrath and founds the breed club
- 1908 AKC recognizes the German Shepherd Dog
- After WWI Returning soldiers praise the breed, and British kennel clubs rename it Alsatian
- 1977 British kennel clubs allow the name German Shepherd again
The job a German Shepherd was bred for
The first job was tending sheep and keeping them off crops, which took steady patrol and watchfulness. That shaped a dog that watches the home, reads people and wants to be with family all day.
What you see at home
Shadows you. Alert and watchful. Can be unsure of new things if not socialized. Mouthy as a puppy.
Shadowing you everywhere
That is the teamwork drive. Give them a job with you, then teach a calm place for when you can't.
Barking at sounds
A watchful dog tells you what they notice. Reward quiet, and build confidence with new sounds at a distance.
Unsure of new things
Go slow with new surfaces, places and people. Let them look and choose.
Mouthy puppy
Redirect to a toy and reward gentle mouths.
Sports that fit a German Shepherd
- Tracking. A long tradition of strong nose work
- Scent work. Fits their focus and nose
- IGP. The sport was built around this breed
- Obedience. Loyal and eager to work with a handler
- Herding. Still has the instinct
Training tips for a German Shepherd
- Start socialization early and keep it calm and positive.
- Teach a settle and a place cue so watchfulness does not turn into constant patrol.
- Use food and play rewards, and keep sessions clear and fair.
- Build confidence with new surfaces, sounds and places.
Body and health
Many lines have sloping backs and hips that are prone to dysplasia, so avoid high impact jumping while growing and keep them lean.
Fun fact. After World War I, the breed was renamed Alsatian in Britain, and that name stuck until 1977.
Breed is where we start
A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your German Shepherd is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.
Looking for a different breed? See what 75 breeds were bred to do.