German Shepherds - The Family Watch Dog

German Shepherds - The Family Watch Dog

There's a lot of different breeds of dogs, but among the world's
most popular dog breeds there are a few that have been singled
out as the most loyal, hard-working and intelligent. German
Shepherds have long been valued for these qualities and more.

The German Shepherd is a newer breed. It originated in 1899 in
Germany and was used for herding sheep. The breed was created
when German ex-military member and veterinary student Max von
Stephanitz saw a dog with admirable working qualities. The dog
was strong and intelligent, with a superior sense of smell and
fierce loyalty.

Von Stephanitz purchased the dog and bred it with his own
working dogs. Eventually, he created the breed we now know as
German Shepherds. Every German Shepherd today can be traced back
to von Stephanitz and his breeding efforts.

The name of the breed has been a source of several controversies
since its inception in 1899. The original name given to the
breed by Max von Stephanitz translated literally to "German
Shepherd Dog." In the 1940's, the Kennel Club officially changed
the breed's name to Alsation Wolf Dog. The change was due to the
fear that the breed would become unpopular because of widespread
anti-German sentiments during WW2.

Not long after this name change, the general public began to
fear that Alsation Wolf Dogs were actually wild and aggressive
half wolves. While this was not true, the public's fear was
enough to prompt the Kennel Club to change the name again, this
time to simply Alsation.

Dog lovers in various countries pressured kennel clubs for
another name change in 1977. This time, they asked that the
breed revert to its original name. Since then, the official name
of the breed has been German Shepherd Dog.

The original German Shepherd Dogs were used to herd and protect
sheep on working farms in Germany. Since then, German Shepherds
have been used in a variety of working capacities. Perhaps most
well-known is their use as police and military working dogs. In
rural settings, German Shepherds are extremely useful for search
and rescue missions. Their keen sense of smell and dedication to
pleasing their masters make them diligent workers.

In a more urban environment, German Shepherd Dogs are extremely
useful for locating drugs, explosives and fleeing suspects. The
strength of the dogs makes them ideal for taking down dangerous
or running suspects. They are often used in airports and mail
processing facilities to sniff out contraband in luggage and
packages.

In recent years, some concerns have been raised about the safety
of German Shepherd Dogs. There have been some reported cases of
the dogs turning violent or attacking people. However, most of
these cases are based on anecdotal evidence. Dogs tend to react
aggressively when mistreated or threatened, or when protecting
their masters. This has been the cause for many of the so-called
German Shepherd 'attacks'.

Overall, German Shepherd Dogs are very safe to have around. In
fact, they make outstanding guard dogs. They are protective of
their owners and will often put themselves in danger to save
their masters. They are currently the third most popular dog
breed in the United States and enjoy popularity all over the
world.

In Spain and the Balearic Islands especially, dog lovers
appreciate the loyalty and beauty of this regal breed. According
to licensing records, in fact, the German Shepherd Dog is the
most popular dog breed in Menorca - the
popular holiday island has a reputation of being extremely safe.
That reputation is thanks, in part, to these gentle working
dogs. They are always on the job, protecting their adoptive
families and keeping watch for any signs of trouble such as
housebreakers.

About the author:
Photographs and information about the Spanish holiday island of
Menorca can be found at travel guide yourmenorca.net

Traditional Menorca vacations are popular with families and the
holiday guide has Mahon airport photos and cheap flight
Menorca deals.

For new visitors a map
of Menorca is included.