The German shepherd, one of the worlds most famous breeds, was originated by Captain Max won Stephanitz in the late 1800s. Its intelligence and ability to train is thanks to Captain Max who wanted an all purpose working dog.

German shepherds are used as working dogs in many areas such as search and rescue, police, the military, assistance dogs to the blind and handicapped and as guard dogs.

A Shepherds color is varied, but is primarily cream and brown. There is a white version but most organizations dont recognize it as a valid color. Longhaired German shepherds are also not recognized, as the long hair gene is recessive. German shepherds can be differentiated by individual behavior and abilities. Working dogs have their emphasis in service, while the show dogs emphasis appearance. There is a misconception that German shepherds are violent in nature; this is only due to poor training. Although a German shepherd has powerful jaws and strong teeth, it develops a strong sense of loyalty and can be trained to attack and release on command. Dogs used to working have high energy, and can seem unhappy if not exercised daily or trained to do a job. The international variety of German Shepherds has less energy and working ability and makes excellent pets.

German Shepherds are naturally prone to health problems like elbow and hip dysphasia, von Willebrands disease and skin allergies. The average lifespan of a German shepherd is twelve years, and with the right pet/owner combination, those years will be priceless.