The German Shepherd Dog (GSD) is a versatile working-dog, capable of being trained to perform a wide variety of tasks. GSDs are family pets, police dogs, guide dogs, search and rescue dogs, bomb and drug detection dogs, sheep and cattle herders, hunting companions, guard dogs, obedience champions, avalanche dogs, assistance dogs, show dogs, and more. Regardless of their particular role, GSDs are excellent companions provided they receive the attention, training, and exercise they need and feel useful.

There is no doubt that the essential credit for the development of this marvelous breed, must go to Max von Stephanitz. It was his vision that welded a wide variety of sheep herding dogs into one breed. He envisioned a dog of incorruptible character, great working ability, loyal and highly trainable. He used as his watchword, "Do right and fear no one," and it was he who laid down the guideline of the breed, "Utility is the true criterion of beauty".

Shepherd dogs were the true working dogs of the 18th and 19th centuries. The shepherds of Germany had used their dogs to herd flocks of sheep and herds of cattle for generations, but those dogs were of no specific origin. The only requirement was one of utility; looks were unimportant. It wasn't until late in the 19th century that a movement was begun to improve the methods of herding sheep. This method was begun and led by Captain von Stephanitz and it was his leadership, both in his vision of the breed and in his talents of organization which lead to the formation of the Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde, SV, which was established in 1899.

Stephanitz did not allow for anything to interfere with his demands of utility and intelligence. Therein lies the beauty of the breed according to him. There is nothing in the breed standard that does not have as its cornerstone, the basis of utility. Each requirement has a reason and that reason is always based on utility; allowing the dog to work in the most efficient way as possible. This was not a disservice to German Shepherds. It allowed the early breeders to concentrate on the fundamentals of their working dogs. Years later, after the breed was established, Stephanitz allowed some effort to develop beauty, but he insisted to his end that efficiency should take precedence over mere beauty.

One of the early crises that developed was a lessening need for a herding dog. The time came when railroads transported stock and when sheep raising declined. Again, it was his keen sense which lead him to promote the German Shepherd as a police dog and this work, as well as its further ramifications into related areas, has developed into a great source of service to mankind by this herding dog. This was occurring during the late 19th and early 20th century, when rapidly growing dog shows also led breeders to breed their dogs for appearance as well as working qualities.

With the formation of the Verien, in 1899 and under the constant guidance of von Stephanitz, the development of the modern German Shepherd began. England discovered the dog during World War 1 and many tales were carried back to Europe about dog exploits under enemy fire. The dog himself was taken to England and the breed was furthered in that country under the name Alsatian. During this time the Verein (SV), became big business, with over fifty thousand members and six hundred chapters. There was nothing like it in the world. It kept and published a stud book, a gazette on a regular basis and held its "Sieger Show' yearly. The Verein controlled all breeding in Germany, allowing which breedings were to take place and which dogs were fit for breeding. It declared when bitches were to be bred, the number of pups to be raised in the litter and set a maximum age that dogs could be used for stud service, all of which appears to be somewhat authoritarian and dictatorial.

However, after World War 2, Germany was devastated and in ruins. So too, was the breed. It was generally felt that the best German Shepherds resided in North America. Long after von Stephanitz had retired from the Verein, which was in 1935, his principles of breeding dogs were applied and once again the German Shepherd was brought back to strength in Germany. Today, the world over, German imports are highly desired and sought after. The principles that von Stephanitz employed to transform a vast number of herding dogs, tall, short, long-coated, short-coated, prick-eared and lop-eared, linked together by perhaps only the single common thread of possessing herding instincts, into a uniform breed, were the same principles used to bring the breed back from almost total destruction in Germany following the war. These principles are presented in his work "The German Shepherd Dog in Word and Picture". This impressive work was widely circulated and consists of some seven hundred pages.

Throughout the late 19th century, von Stephanitz was breeding dogs, experimenting and learning. He relied on many of the ideas being used in England at that time. In 1899, von Stephanitz attended a dog show and it was there that he purchased Horand von Grafrath. It was at this time the Verein was established and Horand became the first entry in the newly founded stud book, becoming the first registered German Shepherd. It was Horand's shepherd qualities that impressed von Stephanitz the most. He was a medium sized dog with beautiful lines, he was active and had a zest for living. He was obedient, bold, protective and energetic. But most of all it was his mental soundness that was emphasized.

It was in this mental soundness and in the actual qualities transmitted by Horand, that saved the breed's popularity and has promoted the German Shepherd to such wide acceptance. Today we have a dog that is used throughout the world as a police dog, armed service dog, guide for the blind, schutzhund sport dog and search and rescue dog. We have a demand for German Shepherds as family companions, obedience dogs, show dogs and even still as herding dogs. Thousands of people across the country derive great pleasure from the German Shepherd Dog through showing and breeding. It is the extraordinary character and sound temperament, an incredible sense of smell and efficient working physical structure and size that makes this the most versatile dog today.