Old German Shepherd Dog
Encyclopedia
The Old German Shepherd Dog () is a traditional type of working herding dog
from Germany
. It is a landrace
consisting of working strains of dog, and is the type from which the modern German Shepherd Dog
was developed as a standardised breed
. The landrace is not recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale
but has its own standard.
In 1899 a new formal breed was established by the Society for the German Shepherd Dog. This was selected from amongst the working shepherd dogs, and became the modern German Shepherd Dog
breed.
Many German herdsmen continued to breed their dogs for working ability rather than to the new breed standard, and their remaining non-standardised working dogs were called Altdeutscher Schäferhund, or "Old German Shepherd Dog".
. The breed standard requires the animal to be capable of herding sheep and cattle. In 2008, the German Society for the Conservation of Old and Endangered Livestock Breeds (GEH) listed the breed as "extremely vulnerable" to extinction.
The Old German Shepherd Dog is bred solely for working ability, and thus its appearance differs between each dog; however, most appear similar to the long-haired variation of the modern German Shepherd, often with slightly different colouring patterns. The coat may be any length and can be shaggy, smooth or wiry, and the colour may be black, brown, blue or tan. The ears may be either erect or semi-erect. They are generally around the same height as a typical German Shepherd: 55 and 65 cm (21.7 and 25.6 in) at the withers
. They weigh between 22 and 40 kg (48.5 and 88.2 lb) but are known to have been larger.
Herding dog
A herding dog, also known as a stock dog or working dog, is a type of pastoral dog that either has been trained in herding or belongs to breeds developed for herding...
from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It is a landrace
Landrace
A landrace is a local variety of a domesticated animal or plant species which has developed largely by natural processes, by adaptation to the natural and cultural environment in which it lives. It differs from a formal breed which has been bred deliberately to conform to a particular standard...
consisting of working strains of dog, and is the type from which the modern German Shepherd Dog
German Shepherd Dog
The German Shepherd Dog , also known as an Alsatian or just the German Shepherd, is a breed of large-sized dog that originated in Germany. The German Shepherd is a relatively new breed of dog, with its origin dating to 1899. As part of the Herding Group, the German Shepherd is a working dog...
was developed as a standardised breed
Dog breed
Dog breeds are groups of closely related and visibly similar domestic dogs, which are all of the subspecies Canis lupus familiaris, having characteristic traits that are selected and maintained by humans, bred from a known foundation stock....
. The landrace is not recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale
Fédération Cynologique Internationale
Fédération Cynologique Internationale is an international federation of kennel clubs based in Thuin, Belgium. The English language translation, World Canine Organisation, is not often used.Its goals are described in Article 2 of their regulations:...
but has its own standard.
History
Before the 1890s, any dog used for herding and protecting sheep in Germany was referred to as a "German Shepherd Dog". The dogs were bred solely for their working ability, with little effort to standardise a particular appearance, eliminate genetic defects or to create a defined breed of dog.In 1899 a new formal breed was established by the Society for the German Shepherd Dog. This was selected from amongst the working shepherd dogs, and became the modern German Shepherd Dog
German Shepherd Dog
The German Shepherd Dog , also known as an Alsatian or just the German Shepherd, is a breed of large-sized dog that originated in Germany. The German Shepherd is a relatively new breed of dog, with its origin dating to 1899. As part of the Herding Group, the German Shepherd is a working dog...
breed.
Many German herdsmen continued to breed their dogs for working ability rather than to the new breed standard, and their remaining non-standardised working dogs were called Altdeutscher Schäferhund, or "Old German Shepherd Dog".
Modern breed
The modern Old German Shepherd consists of dogs whose ancestry can be traced to before establishment of the German Shepherd DogGerman Shepherd Dog
The German Shepherd Dog , also known as an Alsatian or just the German Shepherd, is a breed of large-sized dog that originated in Germany. The German Shepherd is a relatively new breed of dog, with its origin dating to 1899. As part of the Herding Group, the German Shepherd is a working dog...
. The breed standard requires the animal to be capable of herding sheep and cattle. In 2008, the German Society for the Conservation of Old and Endangered Livestock Breeds (GEH) listed the breed as "extremely vulnerable" to extinction.
Appearance
Withers
The withers is the ridge between the shoulder blades of a four-legged animal. In many species it is the tallest point of the body, and in horses and dogs it is the standard place to measure the animal's height .-Horses:The withers in horses are formed by the dorsal spinal processes of roughly the...
. They weigh between 22 and 40 kg (48.5 and 88.2 lb) but are known to have been larger.