| The German Shepherd dog breed has its origin in the | | | | by von Stephanitz in the early 1900s, the breed's |
| late 1800s when Max von Stephanitz from Germany | | | | popularity soon soared and became one of |
| began developing a breed that would later become | | | | Germany's most popular dogs. Serving in both World |
| the dog we know today as the German | | | | War I and II, the German Shepherd was a favorite |
| Shepherd.Von Stephanitz desired to produce a dog | | | | military dog, primarily in Germany, but American and |
| breed that could be utilized as an all-around working | | | | British soldiers were also impressed by the breed and |
| dog. | | | | brought the dog home following both wars. |
| Developed from various farm and herding dogs of his | | | | In fact, one of the most popular German Shepherds |
| time, von Stephanitz's original German Shepherd was | | | | dogs was Rin Tin Tin, originally from France, and |
| derived from a herding dog he acquired in 1899, and | | | | brought to America by an American GI following the |
| he and his friend Artur Meyer formed the Verein fur | | | | first world war. Rin Tin Tin went on to make 26 |
| Deutsche Schaferhunde which was the first club in | | | | movies until his death in 1932 and contributed to the |
| the German Shepherd dog breed history. This club | | | | breed's enormous popularity. |
| and von Stephanitz kept tight control over the breed | | | | In addition to its use in the police and military arenas, |
| until his death in 1936. | | | | German Shepherds have a history of usefulness in |
| He determined which dogs would be used to breed | | | | other areas, is known as a successful show dog and |
| based on how well they did in various shows and | | | | has been a popular family pet. German Shepherds |
| trials that were the precursor to the Schutzhund | | | | were the first dogs used as seeing eye dogs in the |
| tests still performed today. His main criteria for | | | | late 1920s and Helen Keller, an avid dog lover, owned |
| judging a dog's success were both its usefulness | | | | a couple of German Shepherds. |
| coupled with its intelligence. Von Stephanitz also | | | | The first German Shepherd Club in America was |
| promoted the utility of the breed to the German | | | | formed in 1913 and the breed was recognized by the |
| government for work in both the police and the | | | | American Kennel Club in 1908. Instantly recognizable, |
| military as well as other all-purpose uses as a working | | | | the German Shepherd continues to be a popular dog |
| dog breed. | | | | breed, and the German Shepherd is continually in the |
| German Shepherd Breed History | | | | top five most popular registered breeds as |
| Following the creation of the German Shepherd breed | | | | determined by the AKC. |