Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde Origins and Evolution

The Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde, or German Shepherd Dog Club, has a rich history that spans over a century. Founded in 1899 in Germany, the club aimed to establish a breed standard for the German Shepherd Dog.

The breed's origins can be attributed to Captain Max von Stephanitz, who is credited with creating the first breed standard in 1899. He was a passionate dog breeder who wanted to create a dog that was intelligent, loyal, and strong.

The German Shepherd Dog was originally bred to herd sheep, and its early development was influenced by other herding breeds such as the Thuringian Shepherd and the Wurttemberg Shepherd. These breeds were known for their intelligence, agility, and protective instincts.

The breed quickly gained popularity, and by the early 20th century, the German Shepherd Dog had become a favorite among police and military forces due to its intelligence, loyalty, and trainability.

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The Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde, or SV, has a fascinating history. It was formally established on April 22, 1899.

Max von Stephanitz was a key figure in the club's founding, serving as its first President. He was instrumental in shaping the organization's early years.

The SV's first headquarters was located in Stuttgart. This marked the beginning of a new era for the German Shepherd Dog breed.

The club's first dog, Horand von Grafrath, was registered in the organization's breed registry, the Zuchtbuch für deutsche Schäferhunde (SZ). This event set the stage for the development of the breed's standards.

Von Stephanitz believed that working ability was crucial for the German Shepherd Dog, and he prioritized this quality when creating the breed standard.

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The Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde, or Society for German Shepherd Dogs, has a rich history that dates back to the late 19th century.

The society was founded in 1899 in Frankfurt, Germany, with a clear goal of creating a high-performance working dog. The breed was developed from the existing German herding dogs, specifically the middle-German and southern-German strains.

A. Meyer and Max von Stephanitz were instrumental in shaping the breed's standard, which was first presented at the society's founding meeting. The standard has undergone several revisions since then.

The first revisions were made in 1901 and 1909, with further updates in 1930, 1961, and 1976.

The Haarkleid, or coat, of the Deutsche Schäferhund is a crucial aspect of the breed. The coat comes in two varieties: Stockhaar and Langstockhaar.

Stockhaar is the more common of the two, characterized by a dense, straight, and firm coat that lies flat against the body. The coat is shorter on the head, including the ears, and on the front of the legs, but longer and thicker on the neck.

The coat on the back of the legs is longer, reaching the wrist joint or hock joint, and forms moderate "hosen" on the rear of the thighs. The coat on the tail is also longer, forming a bushy plume.

Langstockhaar, on the other hand, has a longer, softer coat that does not lie flat against the body. It has a more flowing appearance, with feathers on the ears and legs, and a bushy tail with a feathered appearance.

The coat colors for both varieties include black with red-brown, brown, yellow, or light gray markings. A solid black coat with a darker undercoat, saddle, and mask is also acceptable. Small, unobtrusive white chest markings and light-colored paw pads are allowed, but not preferred. The nose should always be black, regardless of coat color.

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