According to the AKC the German Shepard Dog is the 2nd most popular breed. The German Shepard is most commonly known as a police and guard dog. They are known for being being highly intelligent, fearless and strong however they are also friendly once they know you and are a great family dog. They are usually black and tan but can be also be other colors. They can be anywhere from 50lbs to 90lbs.
The German Shephard Dog has been around for over a century, being firts exhibited in the United States in 1907. They were bred from herding breeds in Karlsruhe, Germany by Captain Max Von Stephanitz in 1899. Originally they were bred for herding sheep. The breed exploded in popularity after being a featured role in the TV shows Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart. They both have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
They are not immediately friendly and do take a little time before they warm up to you. But when they do they are a loyal companion and protective guard dog. They can become overly protective if not socialized properly as puppies. They respond best to reward based training methods.
They have a keen sense of smell and because of that they have been used extensively as scent dogs for search and rescue, cadaver, drug detection and other jobs. They also were used as the main breed for guide dogs for the blind although that role is now more often given to Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers.
