German Shepherds are, without a doubt, one of the most (if not the most) popular dog breeds in the world. They have thick fur and large dominating bodies. And their noble expressions have surely captured the hearts of humans for a very long time. But there are certain facts about the German Shepherd Dog that make it such a special dog breed.
German Shepherd Dogs or GSDs are highly courageous, loyal, and active. Their physical prowess and intellect make them a valued dog breed. However, anyone who owns a GSD or admires them from afar is likely to know this already.
Take a look at some lesser-known facts about the German Shepherd Dog. These are sure to leave you in greater awe of your four-legged friends.
Max Von Stephanitz – Introduced the Breed
GSDs enjoy worldwide fame. But as a breed, they are somewhat new. The first German Shepherd Dog was not born until 1889 when a German breeder named Max von Stephanitz came across a wolf-like dog at a dog show in the western part of the country. The dog had black and brownish-yellow patches of fur, was highly intelligent, and well-disciplined. Max bought the dog and named him Horand von Grafrath. Thus, the first officially registered GSD was von Grafrath.
There’s a Special Sport Meant Only for German Shepherds (and Their Proud Owners)
Schutzhund is a special sport for GSDs which started early in the last century. The natural instincts of the GSD breed were tested in this game. The main aim of this game was to determine what these dogs were capable of achieving. It helped breeders weed out the unwanted traits in the dogs and enhance the desirable qualities that would make them the ideal candidates for police dogs, military assistance, and security surveillance as well as for helping in search and rescue operations.
Schutzhund is today a very popular sport. Dog owners, as well as professional competitors, enjoy this game with their beloved pets.
Some German Shepherd Dogs Are Hollywood Divas
From being a loving pet and a guide for handicapped people to being a fierce guard, police and a military assistant, these dogs are surely capable of doing a lot – and this includes acting as well.
Known by the names Strongheart and Rin-Tin-Tin, these two German Shepherds are amongst the earliest Hollywood stars.
Rin-Tin-Tin, nicknamed Rinty, was a young German Shepherd dog. He served the industry in the 1920s and starred in over 25 movies during his ‘acting career.’
Strongheart was another dog of the same breed. He starred in a total of six movies during the same time but died due to burns suffered while filming a certain shot. Strongheart has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
German Shepherd Dogs provide entertainment, be it through the film industry or as loving pets. But they are also revered for being real heroes.
Since the early 1900s, these dogs have been trained to serve in battlefields. They guard the regiment, carry messages and at times even arms and ammunition. For example, Filax of Lewanno is one of the oldest war heroes. He brought over 50 wounded soldiers to safety during WWI and earned the respect of the whole country.
Aren’t these facts about the German Shepherd Dog simply incredible? Comment below.
This all-rounder yet humble dog breed is indeed paw-fect no matter how you look at it!
