The Gold Standard: 5 German Shepherd Facts You Should Know About

You might have seen german shepherds in movies, police and military operations, or maybe someone you know owns one. These dogs are one of the best breeds to have as a pet. German Shepherds are extremely loyal and protective of their owners. These dogs are also known to be affectionate to children, despite their intimidating looks.

Historically speaking, these dogs were bred in Germany sometime around 1889. The story was that Max von Stephanitz, a known german dog breeder at that time, noticed a wolf-like dog in a dog show. The yellow and black markings, along with its intelligence, impressed Max. He soon purchased the dog, and it was clear that it had discipline in its genes.

Soon, Max set up strict guidelines on implementing the standards for this breed. These standards eventually led to the mass breeding of the german shepherd that we know today. In celebration of the german shepherd breed and its countless contributions to us human beings, here are some facts that you should know about this breed:

German Shepherds Have the Strongest Bites

A German shepherd’s bite can measure over 238 lbs. Having such an incredible bite force means that a heavy german shepherd weighing around 80 lbs can deliver a bite force triple its weight. This reason is one of the german shepherd facts why militaries all over the world love the german shepherd.

World War I Brought the Breed to the USA

Historically speaking, Germans bred the dogs for several purposes. One of these was to become a Mercy dog. Mercy dogs are dogs who are trained to bring medicine to dying soldiers on the battlefield. If the soldier were dying, a mercy dog would stay by that soldier’s side to keep them company until help arrived or if the soldier died.

Soon after the end of the 1st World War, Americans were impressed by the German shepherd’s ability and intelligence. Soldiers immediately brought some pups home with them and made the breed famous in the US.

A German Shepherd Cornered Osama Bin Laden

As mentioned above, military and police forces all over enjoy having german shepherds as additions to their force. In one of history’s most famous manhunts, a german shepherd helped US military personnel take down one of the world’s most wanted terrorists.

In their training, the dogs were taught to enter the battlefield by way of parachute. This new move by the dogs would enable them to jump off the helicopters along with the Navy Seals effortlessly. Although military intelligence won’t disclose the specifics of the mission, it’s highly probable that a german shepherd helped the Navy Seals corner the wanted terrorist.

German Shepherds Aren’t Aggressive by Nature

Despite their intimidating looks and size, german shepherds aren’t aggressive by nature. In fact, it takes a lot of training to create the same dogs you see in police and military operations. By nature, these dogs are often laid back and enjoy the company of children. German shepherds, however, do dislike strangers which often make them perfect guard dogs.

German Shepherds Are Highly Intelligent

Aside from their physique, the breed is also lauded for its intelligence. In as low as five simple repetitions, an adult german shepherd can learn new tricks such as sitting down or giving its paw to you. The best period to train german shepherds is when they’re still puppies.

Due to the german shepherd’s ease in training, a lot of families also love having these pooches around. The breed is the second most registered breed by the American Kennel Club. The American Kennel Club is responsible for registering pure breeds of dogs.

Takeaway

One of the best dog breeds to have is the german shepherd. They’re tough, loyal, and at times gentle. A german shepherd can have a long lifespan, which makes it a good pet. Having such an intelligent and loyal companion by your side is such an enjoyable experience.