German Shepherd Dog

About this Breed

The German Shepherd dog is the second most popular dog breed in the United States, and the fourth most popular in the United Kingdom (where it is known as the Alsatian). This breed was standardized in Germany at the end of the 19th century from local dogs used for herding and livestock guarding. Their confidence, courageousness and keen sense of smell coupled with their notable intelligence make them highly suited to police work, military roles, and search and rescue. German Shepherds require regular physical and mental exercise and have a heavy shedding coat that comes in both short and long varieties. They were first recognized by the AKC in 1908 and later became fashionable as soldiers returning from WWI spoke highly of the German dogs and Hollywood popularized the breed with stars like Strongheart and Rin Tin Tin.