Who created the German Shepherd Dog?
The German Shepherd Dog was created by German cavalry officer Captain Max von Stephanitz. In 1899 he registered a dog named Horand von Grafrath as the first official German Shepherd.
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German Shepherd Facts
German shepherd facts and facts about german shepherd, from the Random Facts shelf.
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How did Rin Tin Tin become famous?
Rin Tin Tin was a German Shepherd puppy rescued from a bombed-out kennel in France during WWI by American soldier Lee Duncan. He became one of Hollywood's biggest stars in the 1920s, and his movies helped make the breed hugely popular in the US.
Why was the German Shepherd Dog renamed during the World Wars?
Anti-German feelings after WWI led the AKC to drop "German" and call the breed simply the "Shepherd Dog," and in Britain it became the "Alsatian." The AKC restored the original name in 1931, while the UK Kennel Club didn't fully return to "German Shepherd Dog" until 1977.
What was the first guide dog in the US?
The first guide dog in the US was a female German Shepherd named Buddy. She was trained for Morris Frank, who co-founded The Seeing Eye in 1929, the first guide dog school in America.
Why are German Shepherds used so often by police and the military?
German Shepherds are among the most common police and military dogs because they combine intelligence, trainability, a strong nose, and protective courage. That makes them useful for everything from patrol to bomb and drug detection.
How many scent receptors does a German Shepherd have?
A German Shepherd's nose has about 225 million scent receptors, compared with roughly 5 million in a human. That huge difference is why they excel at tracking and detection work.
Are German Shepherd puppies born with upright ears?
German Shepherd puppies are born with floppy ears, which usually stand up on their own sometime between about 5 and 8 months old, often going through a hilarious one-up, one-down phase first.
What health problem are German Shepherds especially prone to?
German Shepherds are especially prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, an inherited joint problem. Responsible breeders screen parent dogs through organizations like the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals before breeding.
What is the official AKC name of the German Shepherd?
The breed's official AKC name is the "German Shepherd Dog," with "Dog" included as part of the name, even though almost everyone just says "German Shepherd."
Which dog found the last survivor at Ground Zero after 9/11?
A German Shepherd police dog named Trakr, brought from Canada to help at Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks, is credited with locating Genelle Guzman-McMillan, the last survivor pulled from the rubble.