The German Shepherd is truly one of the finest breeds of dogs. Its physique and bone structure is noble and its intelligence, loyalty and obedience, remarkable. It is no wonder that it is one of the most favorite pets in the world and has garnered even more popularity by being the dog of choice for search and rescues, and as military and police dogs. German Shepherds are also used as guide dogs for children and the blind. This outstanding breed has had a long history. Its original standards have been maintained up to this day but of course, it has also been developed. There have been a lot of variances however throughout the ages especially in color and appearance. For purists or enthusiasts, the Shepherd of choice is imported from its homeland in Germany where the original standards for German Shepherds are maintained.
History
The German Shepherd breed came from a line of the sheep dog whose original purpose was to herd sheep to making the shepherd's work easier. It was in the late 19th century when a man named Max von Stephanitz saw the potential of breeding an all-purpose working dog. He came upon a strong and intelligent landrance herding dog which he later named Horand v. Grafath. His dog became the standard for the German Shepherd and the first one to be registered under that breed. He put up a council and created a trial wherein only dogs who came up to standards could breed together. This enabled the rapid development of the breed, making it the strong, agile and good-looking dog that it is today. The breed was then imported by the the British and American soldiers to their own countries after the WWI because they were largely impressed by it.
The German breed
There are variances in the breed that depend largely on their purpose. Although there is a standard appearance and set of qualities, A North American breed has a notable difference to the original German breed. They have sloped backs and a sharp angulation on the hock joint. Original German breeds are available in the market today and can be imported anywhere. There are many dealers and breeders that are found on the Internet. In choosing a dealer however, you should make sure that the dog actually came from Germany. It is better to go straight to a dealer than go with a broker to ensure this. It is also best to bring the imported dog to the veterinary immediately.