History of the German Shepherd Dog

Worf belongs to the breed of dog known as the German Shepherd Dog which is known for its intelligence, work ethic and loyalty. Though as a recognized breed they have only existed for a short period of time German Shepherds have come to be known as the ideal dog in some circles. 

So where did Worf and all his German Shepherd kin get their start? Just over one hundred and ten years ago in 1889 when Captain Max von Stephanitz was attending a dog show in Karlruhe, Germany. He spotted a medium sized wolf looking dog that intrigued him. Captain Max bought the dog and named him Horand von Grafath who became the first registered German Shepherd Dog. 

Captain von Stephanitz is considered the “Father of the German Shepherd” and wrote the first book espousing the intelligence and loyalty of the breed called, The German Shepherd Dog in Word and Picture. Captain von Stephanitz also started and became the first president of the inaugural German Shepherd Dog Club. 

German Shepherds were first used as herding dogs, working in the pastoral fields and farms of the late 1800s in rural Germany. As the industrial revolution began to take hold Captain von Stephanitz had the foresight to realize that if his new breed were to survive then it must adapt to working in other environments. 

And the German Shepherd Dog did more than adapt, they excelled at everything their human masters wanted them to do. With the coming of World War I the dogs were pressed into service as Red Cross dogs, messenger dogs, carrying supplies, tracking and guard dogs. They served with great honor and as the war ended the tales of their bravery and loyalty were told by service men of all nations returning from the front. It was at this time that the dogs were reintroduced to the United States. 

The first German Shepherd Dogs came to the U.S. in 1907 when they were exhibited at dog shows here for the first time. Although they began to catch on and the first German Shepherd Dog Club of America was formed in 1913 but with the coming of World War I everything German became verboten. After the war returning U.S. service men brought German Shepherds with them and the breed began to grow in popularity once again. 

By the time World War II began the German Shepherd Dog returned to service, this time with the U.S. and its allies. Since that time it has been bred and adapted to any number of roles, probably more so than any other breed. 

After the war the German and North American lines diverged, producing two almost identical but different breeds of the same dog. While the general look and behavior of both sides are the similar there are differences in structure, the way they move and overall style. While there are instances of cross-breeding between the two lines of dogs, for the most part the North Americans and Germans develop the breed from within their own borders.

Which is what made our German Shepherd Dog Worf unique, not only as an individual but also within his breed. Worf’s dad Sherman came from German Shepherds imported from Germany. His mom, Haze, was a standard North American German Shepherd. In a sense he was a bridge between both sides, unique in both look and demeanor. In the end all German Shepherds, Worf included, are descended from Captain von Stephanitz’s first German Shepherd Horand von Grafath.