K9 Training Center

Short history,

The german Shepherd Dog originates from Germany. In 1899 Stephanitz formed the SV that is in existence today The role of the SV was to hold data of each dog in order to protect and maintain the breed standards that's were originally prepared by Stephanitz.
The rule of the SV at the time was strict. Looks were unessential utility and character were the essence of this marvelous working dog that so loves to work as a team amongst humans.
During the world wars these dogs were seen and story's about their courage and talent spread across the world. It didn't take much time for the breed to reach every corner of the world to. Being that Great Britain and Germany were enemy's at the time the name of the dog an obvious set back for it in the UK. Thus the name Alsatian was given to the breed.
With time more registry offices opened such as the Kennel Club in the UK or the American Kennel Club in America. These registry offices put in their own standards that originated from the SV.
With time people changed work changed and the areas where the German Shepherd work changed. Eventually the German Shepherd Dog became a family member of many households. This was where the registry clubs lost strength of their original standards that were very close to those drawn up by Stephanitz. Looks became important and even though registry offices of today say that more importance to utility and character should be given when breeding breeders first choice is the looks of the dog. The looks like a fashion object has been changing throughout the years to today's low backed (high angled) German Shepherd Dogs that are actually over angulated. Many breeders argue that looks are of the less important aspect of their breeding programs but you will always see many of these breeders showing of their dogs with a simple photo that has been modified for richer look of pigment (the tan color) with their dogs in the stance position. You will here them in real life over web boards etc. commenting on a dog. Where the comments are of looks. Character and utility has dropped in importance. However because of this time has bought along three different names for the German Shepherd Dog of today. The German Shepherd Dog Pet, The show line and the working dog. The pet will be either show line or from working lines, that doesn't fit all requirements. Most generally the pet doesn't have the character that is necessary. This isn't a bad thing because it means that the dog will actually do much better in a family home. The dog will be happier and will fill the families expectations whereas a working dog would be a handful. The show line dogs are the most wanted. These are the dogs with 'over' agitation, black and tan with a good saddle etc. These dogs can also be working dogs but classed as Show-line and put in the Show-ring because that's where everybody's eyes are and where the money is. The working line consists of many different colors and looks. Many people will see a working German Shepherd Dog and ask its breed. When told a German Shepherd Dog they will argue that it isn't or think that they have been taken as a fool because everybody knows what a German Shepherd Dog looks like when actually they don't they only think of the black and tan saddle show line dog because that's what's on show. The working line most generally has a straighter back. They are stronger healthier dogs on the whole. They are bred according to Stephanitz true dream were look was of unimportance. It is the working line of dogs that most generally serve in the police force, army et c..

As mentioned above each club has its own standard and with the years passing standards have grown apart (I must say that not considerably but enough). The reason for this is that each country has a different liking and each country has a set of people who introduce the breed whom have different likings. This has given the German Shepherd Dog even more variety in looks. You have the West German lines, East German lines, Czechoslovakia lines, American lines, British lines. Each being quite distinct in looks. Where the working lines have luckily been left much alone. When looking at the true history of the German Shepherd Dog and Stephanitz description one can't help but realizing that a Working German Shepherd Dog is actually THE German Shepherd Dog.
Around the world there are people who breed working line German Shepherd Dogs and do their best to preserve them. Many top breeders of Show line Dogs agree with the situation of German Shepherd Dogs. These breeders are against over breeding, breeding for extreme agitation etc. They can easily say that they breed according to character etc. Because they have a large variety of dogs which look like what people want so they can focus on character Even so these top breeders also breed working lines as well.
No working line breeder condemns this type of breeding as long as genetic problems are not overlooked for the sake of looks and the German Shepherd Dogs utility and character is preserved.
A new registry the IWGSDC (International Working German Shepherd Dog Club) has been set up for the protection and to maintain Stephanitz original unchanged dream of the German Shepherd Dog.

German Shepherd Dogs are known world wide with this single name translated from German to each native language with the same meaning. The only exception is the use of Alsatian in the UK, with their reasons being described above.

German Shepherd Dogs are well known for their utility they have been and will continue to be trained for many different roles in life. The reason being so is that they are utile. They are trained as guide dogs due to their talent for socializing, caring, quick thinking, trustworthiness. As home dogs because of their trainability, ability of quickly adapting, their fondness of children. As guard dogs because of their courage, their strength, their awareness. As protection dogs, as tracking dogs, as police dogs, as Search and Rescue Dogs, As police Dogs, as Army Dogs. All because of their exceptional traits. It is because of all of the traits combine in a German Shepherd Dog that they are so utile. It is due to this that they are the most K9 trained dog around. So much of a preference that when K9 is mentioned many people do not realize that K9 is a type of training that Army, Police etc. use that people automatically think of the German Shepherd Dog when the word K9 is heard. Research shows that over %90 of people actually think that K9 is another name or a type of German Shepherd Dog and not the title earned by an individual dog through high training.

A note: K9 training is not specific for German Shepherd Dogs many dogs can and are trained for the K9 title e.g. Rotweiller, Dobermann. It's just that the majority prefer the German Shepherd Dog for the training.