THE ORIGIN OF THE GERMAN SHEPHERD: 10 FACTS ABOUT THE DEUTSCHE SCHAFERHUND

3.webp

EVER SINCE I WAS 8, AND SAW THE BRITISH POLICE K-9 UNIT PERFORM AT THE HILLINGDON SHOW, I HAVE LOVED GERMAN SHEPHERDS…

I grew up with Golden Retrievers, and I have owned numerous mixed breeds. However, after I first owned my own “Alsatian” Kylie (a British term for German Shepherd), no other breed of canine will ever top the Shepherd in my lifetime. Never.

Untitled Design22 1024x683

Many consider the German Shepherd as the best all-purpose working dog available in the world. I agree. I currently have two German Shepherd companions, a 4-year-old male, brown and black mix, called Zane and my one year old, AKC Registered, all-black female, named Zivah. Along with my wife’s Cava-Poo Louis, and mixed breed Australian Shepherd Sparrow, I love them all to bits.

Kylie, my first German Shepherd (also called an “Alsatian” in England) was huge, and she came home with me from my U.S. Air Force service in the United Kingdom. She is the original Shepherd that sealed my love affair obsession with the German Shepherd breed. I miss her all the time.

SHEPHERD DIMENSIONS

Sleek, muscular, beautiful, the Shepherd can quickly grow quite large. Male German Shepherds are heavier and slightly taller than females. A male German Shepherd can weigh between 71 and 84 pounds and have a height of between 24 and 26 inches. The female Shepherd weighs between 62 and 68 pounds and stands at a height of between 22 and 24 inches. (Peter)

MAX EMIL FREIDRICH VON STEPHANITZ

The German Shepherd Dog (Der Deutsche Schäferhund) descends from German herding dogs that, until the late 19th century, varied considerably between geographic districts.  In April 1899, a German cavalry officer, and dog lover, Max Emil Friedrich von Stephanitz, dreamed of developing THE ideal German herding dog. (Flaim)

Joined by his close friend Artur Meyer, he attended a dog show and clapped eyes upon a magnificent dog with the appearance of a wolf. It’s name was Hektor Linksrhein. Already impressed with appearance he investigated further. (Flaim)

The dog’s intelligence and unique character sealed the deal for Mex Emil. He had found his future sire. Impressed, von Stephanitz gladly handed over 200 German gold marks to purchase the dog on the spot. He named his new acquisition, Horand von Grafrath, and within one month, von Stephanitz and Meyer founded the world’s first German Shepherd Dog club, Verein für deutsche Schäferhunde. (Flaim)

Untitled Design48

TREMENDOUS SPEED

With their sleek outline and front to rear slope, the Shepherd provides a solid platform. They have an easy gait, natural trot, and are capable of incredible speed. They have an eye-popping top speed of up to 30 miles per hour, making them one of the fastest canine sprinters in the world. (Grant)

Their agility and speed allows them to rapidly cover large distances in a short amount of time and perform their duties with precision. With explosive ability, high intelligence, and loyal obedience, the German Shepherd provides the perfect working dog package.

This helps make the Shepherd one serious “aggressor solution” and can take down even the largest human (called “Decoys” in training) with impunity. With incredible speed, agility, and a bite force that can snap bones in half (the average shepherd has a bite force of 175 to 238 pounds per square inch -PSI- with some sources indicating it can go as high as 300 PSI) they are feared by anyone crosses the line and is chased by said fur rocket. (Shepherd101)

Untitled Design64 1024x576

Think on this. The average human can run 7.2 miles per hour (mph), a male possibly 8mph. An OLYMPIC sprinter can run 21-28 mph. A German Shepherd can hit 30 mph in full stride.

Example Scenario 1: A “creepy individual” is drunk and disorderly on an Air Force Base and somehow, he scaled the base perimeter, and is reported walking across to the Base Exchange.

Up pulls the Air Force K-9 Unit with “Zeus,” the German U.S.A.F. K-9 Shepherd, literally chomping at the bit. After several warnings, the creeper refuses to follow directions and does a runner (takes off running). This leaves the officer no choice but to release Zeus to do his work. Cruiser back door is opened, Zeus is out, letting out a guttural boom of a bark, Zeus kicks into gear and a high pursuit entails. But not for long.

Untitled Design58 1024x576

Trying to evade a German Shepherd, “creeper” could be running full out, elbows to ankles, flying most likely at around 8 mph. He feels he is doing pretty damn good as his sneakers catch fire from pure effort. Add if we add alcohol or drugs to said runner – we have a very confident individual indeed.

Even if creeper had a 30-foot lead, it would take Zeus approximately, 2-4 seconds to reach, take down, and subdue said creeper. Zeus, once full speed, would cover 40-44 feet per second. Maybe two seconds to exit the vehicle, speed up, hit stride, then one more second to catch target.  It may take a minute to pull down the aggressor, but to make contact would take Zeus 2-3 seconds at the most!

Untitled Design51 1024x576

Example 2: An Olympic sprinter, if gone rogue, with a 30-foot lead, running flat out at 28 mph, could cover an additional 41 feet per second. Zeus would still cover 44 feet in a second. The Olympian has covered 58 feet, so we will add a second on Zeus’s time. He’d bagged him in 3-5 seconds at the most!

OUR NATION’S PROTECTOR

The U.S. military utilize around 1,600 military working dogs at a time. Along with service members, they help keep the nation safe with missions on land, in the air and on sea. Currently, the Army alone has approximately 600 dog teams, “which have seen service in Iraq and Afghanistan…(and) the courage and loyalty of these dogs have continued to save lives and prevent injuries since creation of the K-9 Corps.” (Cohick)

ALL Army, Navy, and Marine Corps, dog teams funnel through the Air Force Dog Handler Team training program located at Lackland AFB, Texas. The 341st Squadron is responsible for training both Dog and Handler. The school also produces about 300 of the best detector dogs in the world per year. Successfully trained, will become a bomb detection dog, drug dog, or police / security dog.

Interestingly, not all dogs can make the grade, and go up for adoption or other types of service if they can’t meet standards. Approximately 50% of dogs who enter the Military Working Dog Training Program graduate to become actual military working dogs.

Detection is only one skillset performed by military working dogs. Today -as in the past- they perform a multitude of tasks. They perform High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) jumps with Special Operators, insert from boats with the U.S. Navy SEALs, protect military bases and personnel, locate ordinance and drugs, and basically anything else they can do to serve our military and nation. (Cohick)

U.S. Air Force Military Working Dog (MWD) Handlers are paired with their dogs for deployments, where they are assigned to clear troop and vehicle routes, explosive sweeps (search and destroy), and patrol work. They work together to ensure the safety of their fellow troops by detecting any potential threats. They have saved thousands of lives, in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other far-flung locations.

Untitled Design63 1024x576

FAMILY GUARDIAN – FRIEND FOR LIFE

Along with being the best working dog known to man (Yes, I’m biased) the German Shepherd is the best friend and family protector any man could ask for. Their character, loyalty, courage, confidence, and the ability to learn commands, and a willingness to put their life on the line in defense of loved ones, puts them tops on my list.  

They can be gentle family pets and steadfast guardians all at the same time. I can attest to this, as all of my children and grandchildren – or anyone part of my close family (my pack) – are treated with care and protected. However, as the breed standard says, “there’s a ‘certain aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and indiscriminate friendships.” You have to gain a Shepherd’s respect, trust, then love and loyalty. They give it back in volumes.

Untitled Design54 1024x576

10 FACTS ABOUT SHEPHERDS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Drawbacks? Not really drawbacks to me, but here are 10 facts all should know if planning to bring home a German Shepherd.

FACT 1: THEY SHED, SHEDLOADS OF HAIR.

FACT 2: THEY ARE VOCAL AS HELL; THEY WILL TALK AND BARK AT YOU OFTEN

FACT 3: THEY NEED PLENTY OF EXERCISE, AND WILL WANT TO GO OUTSIDE EVERY 30 SECONDS

FACT 4: THEY NEED DAILY MENTAL STIMULATION (TRAINING IS BEST)

FACT 5: THEY HOARD TOYS AND BALLS

FACT 6: THEY ARE VERY PROTECTIVE AND TERRITORIAL

FACT 7: THEY ARE EXTREMELY INTELLIGENT

FACT 8: THEY ARE CANINE COMEDIANS; THEY WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH EVERY DAY

FACT 9: THEY HAVE THE SOFTEST EARS AND LOVE THEM RUBBED THE RIGHT WAY

FACT 10: YOU WILL HAVE ZERO PRIVACY AS THEY WILL NEED TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE OK, WHAT YOU ARE DOING 100% OF THE TIME

Untitled Design52 1024x576

MY TAKE

The German Shepherd is the perfect dog. No, it’s not a fluffy, accessory breed, to be propped up onto the steering wheel, as you navigate busy traffic on the way to your pedicure. It’s not a “hound from hell” bred for war, and it’s not a dog bred strictly to herd, cuddle, catch vermin, run races, or retrieve hunting prizes.

It’s sole purpose in life is to please you it’s owner and ensure the safety of you and its pack (your family). It’s sense of humor and character is second to no breed, its protective nature, intelligence, size, confidence, beauty, and undying loyalty, with fearsome guard dog ability and reputation, make it numero uno in the canine world.

I have to go now and hug both my Shepherds.

See you at the next Roll Call.

Shift dismissed.

SOURCES/cITATIONS

All images used here are either Public Domain or permissible to use with disclaimer that follows. Credit has been given to all of my sources. “The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.”