Mary Allen
The German Shepherd is a relatively new breed, dating back to 1899, and it owes its existence to one man: Captain Max von Stephanitz, a career captain in the German Cavalry, with the aim of creating a German breed that would become an unsurpassable herding dog.
#1 Centuries before Stephaniz’s advent, farmers from Germany and the rest of Europe relied on dogs to drive and protect their herds. Some dogs were legendary for their talent and shepherds would travel for days to breed their bitches with a respected sire.
However, as von Stephanitz found out, the herding dogs of the region have not yet been formed into an independent breed.
#2 In 1898, von Stephanitz retired from military service and began his second career, which would also become his passion: experimenting with dog breeds to create a superior German herding dog.
Stephanitz studied the breeding techniques of the British, known for their exceptional herding dogs, and traveled around Germany, attending dog shows and observing German-type herding dogs.
