Any of us has heard at least one story illustrating the willignes to please and the devotion to its master of this dog. It is able to do many things as it’s a very intelligent and versatile dog. Its main characteristics are to be direct as well as fearless and it never appears to be hostile. They may fool us with their self-confident and aloof appearence, but they are approachable and we may deal with them.

An Intelligent and Versatile Breed

The dogs of this breed are intelligent and can be trained to do different jobs, both police work or herding sheep. The German shepherd is an agile and obedient dog that can be used as a watchdog or in scent identification, it is good at tracking, rescue activities or can even lead blind people. Those having a dog of this breed say they are wonderful companions as well as excellent guardians as they are usally poised and calm but can be alert and startling when necessary.

An ideal German Shepherd is useful as a guardian and working animal that has a well muscled body that lends to its agility and power. With its well-balanced body, it is a long as well as tall animal that has a deep body and looks substantial in a way that shows off its muscular fitness to good effect. The general appearance of a German shepherd dog is to be very nimble and not at all flabby or clumsy.

It measures approximately two feet by 26 inches tall at the shoulder, though the females are slightly smaller and their body is slightly elongated but still strong. They are clean boned and muscled and have a firm general frame. They have a large and deep chest that hosts voluminous lungs and a powerful heart, giving the appearence of beeing both depth and solid but not bulky.

The Greman shepherd dogs are moving freely and trotting easily due the correct rib layout, because they have a well-sprung as well as long enough rib cage. The loin is quite short and only has a slight tuck up and the stomach is flat as well as firm. The shoulder blades of the German shepherd are long, the back is well-laid and the the front legs are strait and strong. They have oval bones into their legs and short and compact feet. Their toes are well-arched and the nails of their thick, firm foot pads are dark and short.

The noble head of the German shepherd dog is cleanly chiseled, without coarsenss, the long and strong muzzles have tightly fitted lips. You can count 42 teeth on the strong jaws of its slightly arched forehead. Its eyes are medium sized and are set obliquely and the dark eyes of this breed show off its keen and intelligent expression. The ears are medium-sized and taper slightly and are erect unless the dog is reposing or in motion.

Their history begins in the late 19th century from German captain Max von Stephanitz who wanted to breed an all-purpose working dog. He started from the local breed of landrace herding dogs. In order to select the qualities he was looking for, he forbidded the breeding of the dogs that couldn’t pass the schutzhunt trail he especially created for this breed. This trial system gave rise to many of the rapid developments of this breed’s abilities.

British and American soldiers were those who spread this breed all over the world after the end of the First World War.

The German shepherd dogs are good companions and guardians, intelligent, powerful and agile animals, able to do different kinds of work. This breed’s history starts with German captain Max von Stephanitz who selected from landrace herding dogs the ones to pass the schutzhunt trial in order to obtain a breed of all-purpose working dogs. The German shepherd dogs impressed English and American soldiers of the First World War, who imported it and start breeding it in their countries.