German Shepherd Facts

A breed built on purpose

Nova's breed has a clear starting point. Max von Stephanitz, a German cavalry officer who admired the sheepherding dogs of his country, wanted one standard shepherd breed that was smart, strong and eager to work. In April 1899 he bought a striking dog at a show, renamed him Horand von Grafrath, and within weeks helped found the breed club Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde.

Horand was entered as SZ1, the very first registered German Shepherd Dog. According to the American Kennel Club, his bloodline runs through almost every German Shepherd alive today. Von Stephanitz cared as much about working ability as looks, and that idea still shapes the breed.

Size and build

The AKC standard asks for males of 24 to 26 inches at the shoulder and females of 22 to 24 inches. Males usually weigh 65 to 90 pounds and females 50 to 70 pounds. The body is a little longer than it is tall, which helps give the breed its smooth, ground-covering trot.

The coat is a double coat of medium length: a dense, straight outer layer over a softer undercoat. That is great insulation on a cold hike, but it also means plenty of shedding, so regular brushing is part of life with a shepherd. Nova says the brush is fine, as long as a walk comes after.

A dog with many jobs

German Shepherds began as herding dogs, and the AKC still places them in the Herding Group. Von Stephanitz also pushed the breed into police and military work, and after the First World War its fame grew, helped along by film stars Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart.

Today you will find shepherds in police and military units, search and rescue teams, detection work, guide and assistance roles, and dog sports such as agility, tracking and herding trials. The AKC sums the breed up as an all-purpose working dog that is loyal, confident, courageous and steady.

What that means at home

A dog bred to work all day needs real outlets. Shepherds tend to do best with daily exercise, training games and a close bond with their people. Without enough to do, a bored shepherd will often invent a job, and you may not like the job it picks.

That is exactly why NovaHova exists. Nova loves playing, running and hiking with her owner, and this site explores the science behind why dogs like her are so quick to learn and so keen to be busy.

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