If you dream of having an intelligent and cute puppy to play with, take for walks, and protect you and your home by being the most vigilant guardian, then the German Shepherd is for you. Intelligent and easy to train, the German Shepherd is a very active dog that likes to have something to do.
For this reason, they are the most famous dogs in the world. Their intelligence, compatibility with people, and usefulness as working dogs make them the most respected dog breeds. And a favorite family pet for some of the families.
How Many Types Of German Shepherds Are There?
There are many types of German Shepherd, some of which may be officially recognized in the future. But here are the five types that are best known today.
1. American German Shepherd Show Lines
As their name suggests, American Show Line German Shepherd are popular as show dogs. This type of German Shepherd was brought to the United States in the late 1800s, but instead of being used as working dogs, they were bred as show dogs. However, even though they are known as show dogs.
American Show Line German Shepherds are still excellent working dogs. They may not have the drive or nerve to handle military tasks such as apprehending criminals and tactical operations. However, they are excellent for tracking and detection. They are very confident, bold, and stubborn dogs.
However, their calmer nature makes them better service dogs. They are larger and longer than the original European sheepdogs. Their bodies slope downward from head to rump. Their colors tend to be lighter than the European lines. American show lines come in the black and tan saddle, sable, bi-colored, and white.
They have thicker and longer fur than working dogs. Because of their show dog nature.
Expert Tip: American Show Lines make fantastic family dogs. They are very loyal and faithful family dogs if their mental and physical needs can be met. They are also affectionate and companionable.
They love to lay around and conserve their energy more than working dogs. However, they still need to exercise on a daily basis. So physical exercise, training, socialization, and plenty of opportunities to play will help them become healthy and happy dogs. Usually, they need experienced working dog handlers to exercise them.
They have an incredible work ethic, are very alert and vigilant, and have a strong desire to protect their family, which they consider part of their job. Since these dogs are notorious shedders, they need to be brushed regularly. Twice a year, usually before the summer and winter seasons, they shed heavily.
And during these times, they need to be bathed more frequently.
2. West German Show Lines
Aesthetically speaking, the West German Show Dog (European Show Line German Shepherds) is larger than its American and Canadian counterparts. It is known for being more stately than other varieties, and it is thicker, has larger bones, a larger head, and a stockier build.
They have a curved back, unlike the American and Canadian show line dogs. You can easily see the difference between West and East German Shepherds just by looking at their bodies and faces, having more sculpted, sloping, and proportional shapes compared to East German Shepherds.
They have black and red coats, with the red bordering on deep brown. The dog’s coat has some shades of light brown between red and black. They are large, beautiful dogs. It is considered the most beautiful of all German shepherd types.
Their excellent temperament, strong nerves, and being instinctively protective makes them the ideal family dog and makes them popular inside and outside of Germany. The West German show lines have a stronger character and fewer health problems, as the breeding dogs are health tested.
Most German Shepherds are prone to hip dysplasia, and if they suffer from it, they are not allowed to be bred. These dogs have a very strong distinctive build, although they are not as powerful as the German working lines.
They are bred to the conformation standards of the Club Fuer Deutsche Schaeferhunde E.V so that the family lives up to a certain standard of beauty that the owners of these dogs expect.
Despite their striking beauty, West German Show Dogs are not as lazy as their American counterparts and are capable of doing some work-like tasks, and because their energy levels are too high, they can be excellent family dogs.
Since they are very sociable, friendly and cheerful, they are not only suitable as companions, but also as family friends. They are guardians of their pack, can be used as work animals, and are very energetic.
3. West German Working Line Dogs
This type of German Shepherd is trained to be a police dog or a serious working dog. We also often see them on television or in the movies. And all that they possess is hardworking, high pain tolerance, high intelligence and you will get West German Working lines.
Although these dogs were bred for their working ability, that does not mean they are not good-looking. West German working line dogs are known for their striking looks. These West German Shepherds have a back that is more sloping than that of the East German Shepherd. In addition, they are just as dark as their European cousins.
Their coats are bred for the pure, perfect color. The most common color is red-black, but they sometimes come in black-light brown, sable, bicolored, and occasionally black. Their backs are more sloped than in other breeds. West German Shepherds of the working line excel in many different sports and occupations.
Like all German Shepherds, they make perfect family dogs. They are good for guarding protecting and search and rescue. They have a calm temperament and are able to react well in a variety of situations. They are fantastic workers. They can handle stressful situations for an extended period of time.
They are extremely intelligent as they are involved in police and detective work where people’s lives are at stake. When they are not on duty, West German Shepherds are actually quite calm. They have a calm temperament and are able to respond well to different types of situations.
Because of their excessive training, they are highly motivated and have plenty of energy. They can persevere for hours on the field, exerting a lot of strength and energy. Due to their loyalty and the fact that they are very grateful to their owners, they are happy fellows working in the field.
Health issues are the only problem with this dog. Hip dysplasia is a common problem with the German Shepherd. In western Germany, health exams are not as strict as in eastern Germany, so there may be more health problems.
4. Czech German Shepherd Working Lines
As the name suggests, it is no surprise that this breed originated in Czechoslovakia after World War II. The Czech working lines are similar to the East German lines. This is because former Czechoslovakia shared a border with East Germany. They were the result of communist rule.
Because they have a strong labor structure where they were supposed to patrol the borders, they are strong and fast and able to endure long hours of difficult work in the field. They have a dark coat that is smooth and shiny.
They have a small tan, cream, or red patches, mostly on the feet and legs, with black or striped tips over most of the body, giving them a predominantly dark appearance. However, some Czechs may be solid black and have other color variations. Their bodies are strong, rigid, and well proportioned.
They look more like wolves than any other line. Because of their rigorous training, these dogs are extremely loyal and obedient.
Expert Tip: They are also very intelligent and able to learn quickly and understand quite complex concepts compared to other dog breeds. This breed requires a high level of training and exercise.
Most are not content to hang around and do nothing. Daily exercise, mental stimulation, off-leash running, hiking, retrieving, and obedience training are all part of a Czech German Shepherd’s daily routine.
Because of their nature, they do not make good pets unless you have time to give them plenty of exercise and challenges. They are not known for being laid back, but they are still good at protecting people and making good watchdogs.
5. East German Working Line Dogs
If the Czech German Shepherds were the result of Communist rule in Czechoslovakia, then the East German Shepherds came about as a result of World War II right after West Germany was separated from East Germany because of the Berlin Wall. As trade outside East Germany ceased, the East German working line was preserved.
East German dogs were bred for strength and athleticism, with straight top lines and large, strong heads. If the dog is completely free of hip dysplasia, it can be bred. The government has incredibly high standards when it comes to breeding these dogs.
It has taken full control of this dog breed and prevents the gene pool from being altered by outside influences to ensure that all dogs are free of health problems. East German Working Line Sheepdogs are incredibly strong and powerful.
Physical tests require them to jump up to six feet, balance on a narrow beam pass tracking tests, and search blinds. In addition, each puppy is tested before being sold to ensure there are no health issues. They can endure very bad weather for a long period of time.
Because of their breeding history, GDR dogs were used to actively guard the 850-mile East German border and the 100-mile Berlin Wall. These dogs served as guard dogs, sniffer dogs, and attack dogs.
Which Is The Best Breed Of German Shepherd?
Of all the five breeds mentioned, choosing the best breed of German Shepherd still depends on the needs of the prospective owner. It is important that you research each breed type thoroughly before making a final decision. The answer to this question lies in the breed’s versatility.
Highly intelligent affectionate, reliable, and eager to work are their best qualities. Look for a breeder who knows his lines and breeding program well so that your money, time, and effort are not wasted.
All lines have their own problems in one way or another, and this is true of other dog breeds as well. But if you know exactly what you want, approach the right breeder and let him know about it, you will get the right German Shepherd for your family.
What Is The Rarest Type Of German Shepherd?
Isabella German Shepherd is not a unique name for a dog, even though you might think it is. Instead, it’s one of the most gorgeous coat colors you’ll ever see. According to history, it dates back to the late 15th century. It is named after Queen Isabella, who announced that she would not change her dress until Spain won the Siege of Granada.
As a result, the color of her dress changed to a pale shade of red with white and black remnants. Isabella-colored German Shepherds, also known as purple German Shepherds, are the rarest of the breed when it comes to German Shepherds. Their pigmentation is the result of the recessive combination of blue and liver that comes from their parents.
These dogs have a diluted color and the black pigment of the liver gene that the parents pass on to their offspring. As a result, these dogs have no black pigment on the edges of their eyes, nose, or paw pads. They have either light blue or hazel eyes. Most Isabella German Shepherds have a medium-length, double coat.
However, some German Shepherds are long-haired. Believe it or not, this small difference in coat length can affect your pooch quite a bit. Long-haired German Shepherds are not suited for many jobs that German Shepherds normally do. That is why they are kept as pets, and that is how they have been treated for generations.
Conclusion
German Shepherds are well-known dog breeds in the world. Not only are they beautiful on the outside, but they also have a good temperament, are confident, brave, and intelligent, making them great pet therapy dogs, or service dogs. German Shepherds are gentle and friendly, highly intelligent, and have had an impeccable upbringing.
German Shepherds have a long history as working dogs that have helped police and military around the world. But that does not mean the regular owner has to be on the front lines, too. To keep a German Shepherd happy, a walk in the park is quite enough.
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