Any of us has heard at least one story illustrating the willingness 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. These dogs approach directly and fearless the job to accomplish though don’t appear hostile. They may fool us with their self-confident and aloof appearance, but they are approachable and we may deal with them.

The All-Purpose Dog

Due to their intelligence and versatility, the dogs of this breed can be easily trained to accomplish different tasks, from herding sheep to the police work. 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. They have also other qualities: they are poised and calm or can be alert and startling when required, thus they are wonderful companions and appreciated guardians.

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. And, while on the topic about the German Shepherd one learns that it also seems to be very nimble and not at all clumsy or flabby and it may also be termed as noble.

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 muscled and the bone is clean as well as its general frame is firm. One perceives it to be of depth as well as solid and not bulky having a deep and capacious chest that has more than enough room for its heart and lungs.

The German 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. Their stomach is flat and firm and their loin is quite short, having only a slight tuck up. The German shepherd dogs have a well-laid back and long shoulder blades as well as straight and strong front legs. Their legs have not round but oval bones and their feet are compact and quite short. Their toes are well-arched and the nails of their thick, firm foot pads are dark and short.

One may describe aspects about the German Shepherd’s head as being noble without any coarseness and it is also cleanly chiseled and the long and strong muzzles contain the tightly fitted lips. The forehead is slightly arched and the strong jaws are filled with 42 teeth with 20 upper teeth and 22 lower teeth. 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.

The history of the German shepherd may be traced back to the late 19th and 20th century and originated with Captain Max von Stephanitz, whose goal was to breed an all-purpose working dog. Von Stephanitz was an admirer of the herding dogs of his native country, Germany and saw in them the potential to become an all-purpose working dog. In this direction, he created the schutzhund trial that was a breed test for the German Shepherd and prohibited the breeding of dogs that could not pass this trial. This trial system gave rise to many of the rapid developments of this breed’s abilities.

At the end of the First World War the breed spread in all European countries and in America.

The German shepherd dogs are good companions and guardians, intelligent, powerful and agile animals, able to do different kinds of work. The German shepherd dogs impressed English and American soldiers of the First World War, who imported it and start breeding it in their countries.