Four German Shepherds

The German Shepherd dog is a breed most of us know well, but do we really know them at all?  There are four distinct styles of German Shepherds and they are as different from one another as are donkeys and zebras.  They all have erect ears, most are black and tan, black and red, or sable, all have long tails, there the similarities end.

Pet German Shepherd

The most common GSD is the pet type, called euphemistically in the South, as Old-Timey Big Bone.  This is a large substantial dog, typically semi smooth coated and straight legged with a level topline.  They are territorial and generally fairly strong in temperament.  Many times these dogs have white shepherds in their backgrounds.  This is the type of dog you will see in farm yards and junk yards.  They are purebred and registered but will seldom have a Ch or Obedience title holder in a four generation pedigree.

This is a typical female, heavily in whelp.

The American Show shepherd

These are elegant dogs with sloping toplines and very well angulated front and rear.  They are judged heavily on sidegait and topline.  In the main most of the aggression has been bred out of these dogs.  An aggressive dog does not do well in the show ring.  There are show shepherds that have obedience titles but very few with protection titles (Schutzhund).  They make impressive show dogs and nice pets but have a distinct tendency to be nervous and timid.  There is a loose lead temperament test in the show ring but more of the dogs have to be trained past timidity than past aggression.  Very few will bite.  The incidence of hip dysplasia is much lower than in the past.

The German Show Shepherd

Most of this type are black and red, some black and tan, a few are sable.  They have a different topline than the American show type but are also judged heavily on sidegait.  Many long coat shepherds come from German show lines. 

The temperament is somewhat stronger than the American show types as to gain the highest ratings a Schutzhund (protection) title is required.  Clean movement, not cow hocked, is much valued in this type. This type often has a roached or curved backline, not the straight and sloped of the American show shepherd and not the straight and level of the American generic shepherd or the working style. The colors tend to be much stronger with even some blacks in this Older German style

style. Most are fairly large, heavy boned, and impressive.

Working Shepherds

The fourth type is the working type, mostly either Czech or East German in origin. These dogs tend to be more what the founder of the breed, Max Von Stephanitz, had in mind when the breed was created.  Dark, either sable or black and red, some all black, somewhat lighter in bone and shorter backed than the other types.  Smaller ears. What I see as the Rin Tin Tin type of Shepherd.  These guys have an unequaled work ethic.

They are bred for border patrol and police work and excel in both. The kindness and consistency with which this type is trained determines his behavior.  If treated with kindness they will be kind, if treated harshly they will be harsh in return.   Often they are seen as being aggressive but that is far from the truth in most of this type. This is in no way a vicious dog.  They are kind and very loving with their family, watchful of strangers, serious about protecting their people. STRENGTH OF CHARACTER  IS PARAMOUNT..  Combined with strong nerves and great trainability this makes this type of dog a candidate for all types of police, search and rescue, and guide dog work.  This is the type of dog who would willingly lay down his life for you, while lovingly guarding you,  your child, or elderly parent.