What Were German Shepherds Bred For and Their Evolution Over Time

German Shepherds were originally bred to herd sheep, specifically in Germany in the late 1800s. Their ancestors, the Thuringian Shepherds, were known for their intelligence and protective nature.

Their early breeders, Captain Max von Stephanitz and his contemporaries, were looking for a dog that could handle the physical demands of herding and the mental demands of working with sheep. They wanted a dog that was not only intelligent and loyal but also agile and strong.

The first German Shepherd was registered in 1899, and the breed quickly gained popularity as a working dog. They were used for herding, guarding, and even police work.

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In the 19th century, German shepherds were descendants of a family of German herding dogs.

Their intelligence, speed, strength, and sense of smell made them perfect for herding sheep and protecting flocks from predators.

Shepherds used these dogs to herd sheep and as guard dogs, taking advantage of their natural abilities.

Captain Max von Stephanitz is credited with standardizing the breed in the late 1800s, believing the dogs were meant to work due to their intelligence and sturdiness.

Herding started becoming obsolete with the invention of railroads, which led Captain von Stephanitz to help the dog become a go-to breed for law enforcement.

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Captain Max von Stephanitz founded the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde, SV, becoming the first president. This organization played a crucial role in standardizing the breed.

Von Stephanitz's motto was "Utility and intelligence", which guided his approach to breeding. Beauty was secondary to him, and a dog was worthless if it lacked the intelligence, temperament, and structural efficiency needed to be a good servant of man.

He developed a breed standard that dictated the exact function and relationship of every aspect of structure, gait, and inherent attitude. This standard was based on mental stability and utility.

Von Stephanitz heavily inbred Horand and Luchs to consolidate the bloodline. This intense inbreeding concentrated undesirable recessive traits originating from the original strains.

To counteract this, he inserted unrelated blood of herding origin through Audifax von Grafrath and Adalo von Grafrath. This helped to introduce new genetic diversity into the breed.

The earliest origins of German Shepherds date back to the 19th century, when they were used to protect flocks and herd sheep. Captain Max von Stephanitz is credited as the creator of the breed.

German Shepherds were initially developed as working dogs, and Von Stephanitz insisted that they should work. They have indeed worked throughout history, performing police work and serving as guide dogs.

The breed nearly became extinct during and after World War II, due to circumstances beyond their control.

Here's a brief timeline of the breed's history:

The German Shepherd Dog was bred to be a working dog, not just a showpiece. Von Stephanitz wanted a dog that was intelligent, responsive, and had a strong work ethic.

Von Stephanitz was impressed by the sheep-herding dogs he met while serving in the military, and he decided to create a formal breed of German sheepdog. He founded the world's first German Shepherd Dog club, Verein für deutsche Schäferhunde, with his friend Artur Meyer.

The breed's original purpose was to herd sheep, and von Stephanitz wanted a dog that could do the job effectively. He believed that a dog's working ability was just as important as its appearance.

The German shepherd's immigration to America was a significant event in the breed's history. The American Kennel Club recognized the German shepherd as a breed in 1908.

The German Shepherd Dog Club of America was founded in 1913, a testament to the breed's growing popularity. This marked the beginning of the breed's establishment in the United States.

Members of the breed, Rin-Tin-Tin and Strongheart, became movie stars, further increasing the breed's popularity in the US. Their fame helped to raise the German shepherd's profile and make it a beloved breed.

However, the first world war began to fuel anti-German sentiments that impacted the breed, creating a mixed perception of the German shepherd in the US.

For centuries, people had cared more about a sheepdog's functionality, rather than its looks. People wanted dogs that could do the job, not just look good.

Local and regional styles of dogs did develop, but it wasn't until von Stephanitz harnessed these different dogs' traits that the ultimate German herder was produced. This involved crossing dogs from different parts of Germany to achieve a middle ground.

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The Thuringian dogs, for example, tended to be smaller and stockier, often with wiry coats, curled tails, and sharp temperaments. Von Stephanitz believed that combining these traits with those of dogs from Wurttemberg would provide the perfect balance.

To von Stephanitz, a dog's working ability was as important as its appearance. He wanted a dog that could do the job, not just look good.

Horand, the dog that started it all, was described by von Stephanitz as "untrained in his puppyhood … [but] nevertheless obedient to the slightest nod when at his master's side." This was exactly the kind of temperament von Stephanitz was looking for in a German Shepherd Dog.