German Shephards
The German Shepherd, also known as the Alsatian was a dog originally bred to herd sheep. Today, they are one of the most popular types of breeds in the UK and the United States. Not only are they great herding dogs, they have also been used as guide dogs, guard dogs, police dogs, military dogs and can be very helpful in search and rescue parties. Despite their many uses German Shepherds love being around people and other animals. Strict upbringing in young puppies is crucial however to train them in proper socialization rules.
The Controversy
There has been a lot of controversy over the appearance of "working line" German Shepherds and a "show line." Most breeders believe and know that there are strict conformation rules that a German Shepherd must adhere to, while others who use German Shepherds as working dogs do not conform to these standards. Those that believe all German Shepherds should look a certain way do not agree with the way the working line German Shepherds are kept; they are bred strictly for working and beauty comes second.
Working lines versus show lines
•In Germany which is where German Shepherds originated, show line or conformation line dogs are bred for proper physical appearance and also for working instincts. There are very strict rules to make sure they fit the conformation and beauty of a standard German Shepherd. Show line German Shepherds actually make great pets.
•Working line German Shepherds are rarely allowed (if ever) to enter the show ring because they usually do not conform to the strict standards and physical appearance. They are bred purely to endure work and obedience. They are trained to know and understand what and where a threat is which makes them very well suited to police and military work. These working line German Shepherds do not however make very good house pets as they can be very aggressive and threatening to individuals. Many of these working line German Shepherds are already working with police forces, and government organizations.
Temperament
German Shepherds are very intelligent animals with an exceptionally strong work drive. That is why they make such great working line dogs for police and military organizations. They exhibit fearlessness even from a young age and this can contribute greatly to protecting their territory, owner, or family. It can be a well mannered dog if trained properly but can also serve as a friendly companion and faithful watch dog. The most important thing to remember about German Shepherds is that they need to be well trained and socialized when they are young pups as that will determine their temperament when they are older. If you were to look and find an "ideal" German Shepherd it would be fearless and alert, yet loving and non aggressive.
German Shepherd Hollywood Debuts
•German Shepherds have had their time on movies and television. Some of the appearances that you may have seen German Shepherd dogs in are:
•One of the most popular television shows in the 1980s which aired in Canada on CTV was "The Littlest Hobo." It featured a German Shepherd that would travel between different places doing something good for the town of someone specifically and then leave and move on to the next place.
•A more recent movie that hit the screens in 2007 was "I am Legend" which a German Shepherd named Abbey plays the companion of the main character Robert Neville (played by Will Smith).
•The children's film "All Dogs go to Heaven" also featured a German Shepherd named Charlie B. Barkin in 1989.
Whether they are bred to be working line dogs, or show line dogs German Shepherds have become quite versatile in their ability to do many things.
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