The German Shepherd Dog is without a doubt one of the most popular dog breeds. They are found in homes across the world as well as police forces, military units, and therapeutic environments. But what is it about the GSD temperament (intelligent, respectful, loyal, and utterly cute dog) that made them the way they are today? What’s their history and what were German Shepherds bred for originally?
So, what were German Shepherds bred for? German Shepherd Dogs were originally bred to herd sheep and protect flocks in Germany. During World War 1 and World War 2, GSDs were trained to be mine detectors and guard dogs for the military. As of now, German Shepherds can be bred to guard homes, become part of the military or police force, and used in therapeutic situations.
The German Shepherd has had quite a wild ride and an interesting one at that. We are going to discuss the history behind German Shepherds and what exactly they were bred to do. It’s an exciting adventure that will make you fall in love with your beloved best friend even more.
History of the German Shepherd
The timeline of a German Shepherd is a fairly long one, but the story itself is filled with exciting information that truly shows just how German Shepherds were bred to be the top-notch dogs they are today. Let’s take a look.
It all started back in the 1850s when the people of Europe were looking to standardize breeds. Dogs, like the German Shepherd, were being bred in a way that will keep their positive traits in the front line. For the German Shepherd, that meant breeding to keep the traits of being loyal, intelligent, and overall easy to train and obey.
1. Herding and Protecting
The main goal behind breeding a German Shepherd was to herd keep and protect the flocks.
The German Shepherd was chosen because he proved that he could handle the task of keeping the area safe, without letting the sheep leave the designated area. Not only were they able to handle this in great stride, but it seemed as though this breed enjoyed it.
At this time, however, the Germans were having some difficulty deciding on which dogs to continue breeding. They formed the Phylax Society, a society in which members would decide which dog breeds should continue to grow. There was some trouble amongst these members, though, with some focusing on looks and others focusing on intelligence.
The society eventually disbanded three years later after multiple disagreements. One man, though, named Max von Stephanitz will forever be a name associated with the German Shepherd. He was introduced to a German Shepherd named Hektor Linksrhein (later Horand von Grafrath) and was instantly amazed.
The dog had supreme intelligence, loyalty, and overall beauty. That paved the way for the German Shepherd to become the center point of the breeding program.
2. German Shepherds as Military Dogs
When World War 1 rolled around, it seems as though there was a sudden shift in what German Shepherds were bred for and what they were used for overall.
During World War 1, German Shepherds were used in the military for overall protection and sniffing out mines.
Knowing how smart, loyal, and protecting a German Shepherd is, the Germans decided to use this type of dog breed to help them throughout the war. Their extreme intelligence made it easy for them to do things such as sniff out mines and save soldiers’ lives, while their loyalty kept them obedient to their own.
German Shepherds were again used in World War 2. Again, this breed was used for the same reasons.
Unfortunately, during this war, in particular, a lot of the German Shepherd bloodlines were lost.
Today, German Shepherds are Mainly Bred for These 4 Roles
To put it simply, the main reason why German Shepherds were bred originally was to take care of the sheep and herd them.
But being the smart, loyal, and overall obedient dogs that they are, they have now become bred for a multitude of different reasons.
Remember: GSDs are an insanely popular family dog. A perennial top 5 most registered dog breed, according to AKC.
Aside from family duties, here are the next 4 things that German Shepherd dogs are bred for today:
1. Guard Dogs
Since the beginning of their reign, the German Shepherd has been used to protect and guard, especially when it came to a farm full of sheep. In this day and age, German Shepherds continue to be bred and serve as guard dogs. They are likely to still be found on farms helping with the sheep.
They are also likely to be found in the homes of families across the world. This is because they have a wonderful temperament that works well with children, while their obedience, instinct to guard, and loyalty keeps the family feeling safe and secure.
2. Show Dogs
Did you know that this strong, caring, and beautiful breed is also used in the show? Due to their high levels of intelligence, charming personalities, and beautiful appearance, German Shepherds are commonly bred for show nowadays. These dogs are likely to be found within the same families and cost a whole lot of money compared to other German Shepherds will different skills.
3. Therapy/Service Dogs
German Shepherds are snuggly and caring automatically, making them a great choice for therapy dogs. German Shepherds are known to be able to help those who are suffering from depression and PTSD. They provide a high level of comfort and warmth to an individual who may need it.
Aside from being a top pick for therapeutic reasons, the German Shepherd is often found as a service dog as well. They can help those who are struggling with different types of disabilities, including but not limited to hearing impairments, visual impairments, seizures, diabetes, and overall mobility impairment.
German Shepherds are commonly bred to be therapy and service dogs because they are easy to train, willing to learn, and obey commands without a struggle.
4. Military/K9 Dogs
German Shepherds were used in World War 1 and World War 2 and were being bred as military dogs to help protect soldiers and sniff out mines. But just because that’s a part of their past, doesn’t mean it’s not a part of their future.
Being a military or K9 dog requires a lot of skills, and that’s why these types of German Shepherds are specifically bred.
Whether they are being trained to join forces or being used in the police task to find drugs, fugitives, or rescues, it takes a special type of training that is only capable of a few select breeds. One of these breeds, of course, is the German Shepherd.
Related Questions
Almost all domestic dogs in this day and age are descendants of the gray wolf, and the same is true for the German Shepherd. While the German Shepherd used to be referred to as the Alsatian Wolf Dog, that doesn’t make them part wolf. In fact, the German Shepherd is no different than any other dog breed.
The German Shepherd is mostly known for its ability to guard and protect. They are also well-known for being loyal, smart, obedient, and dedicated. The breed is now known to be one of the top picks for military, police forces, therapy, service, search and rescue, and being a beloved pet.
