The Gallant German Shepherd

 

Do you know your German Shepherd a.k.a. Alsatian?
Here’s who he is.
“He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.” – Unknown

Portrait: German Shepherd | Medium: Pen & Ink | Size: 8 inches x 10 inches

I am a German Shepherd. Please note that I am not a Belgian Shepherd Malinois (the guy looks a lot like me, and some say that he’s smarter too, but I have my doubts.)

General Characteristics:

We are known for our alertness, loyalty and intelligence.

We are called German Shepherds because we were first bred in Germany (sometime around the 1900s,) and because we were bred for the purpose of herding and protecting the cattle from the evil guys – the bears and the wolves.

Over time our unparalleled abilities led people to employ us as guard dogs all around the world. We are extensively used by  the Police & Military forces in controlling mobs. Our cousins the Belgian Shepherds or the Malinois are often recruited by the military and the police.

We also do a lot of search & rescue work during earthquakes and in mountainous terrains. We are excellent pets too because we are devoted and loyal and we guard our families and our homes with our lives.

We have an athletic build and we don’t tire easily – so if you get one of us as a pet dog, you must remember that we need to be active. That’s the only way to channel all our energy. We are very intelligent so you can easily train us. We love discipline (why else do you think we take up all those military jobs?)

And yes, we the German Shepherds love kids. (Who doesn’t?)

The German Shepherd’s Physical Attributes:

Let me begin with the obvious. We are super-beautiful. A few other details:

• Height: 23-26 in
• Weight: 75-90 lb
• Coat: Solid black, black with gold on legs, black and grey. Can be long-haired or short-haired. They shed the whole year-round and have a very thick undercoat.
• Life Span:  12-13 years
• Alternate Names: Alsatian / Deutscher / Schaferhund
• An Acute sense of hearing: Can hear sounds as far as 80 ft away.

You can read more about the physical and other characteristics of the German Shepherd here.
Quite like the Golden Retriever, we’ve starred in the movies too.

Hollywood German Shepherd Celebrities:

Rin Tin Tin

• Rin Tin Tin was a messenger dog who was wounded in World War I. He was rescued by an American soldier, Duncan Lee who lived near Hollywood. He trained Rin Tin Tin and the dog started acting in many silent films produced by Hollywood in those times. Overnight the dog acquired a celebrity status and his career lasted more than a decade. In his obituary the United Press wrote “The most celebrated dog in the world has left to go the hunting grounds in the Elysian fields”. Rin Tin Tin was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Strongheart

• Strongheart was a German Police dog who served in German Red Cross and was later transported to Hollywood by the husband-wife film-maker couple Laurence Trimble and Jane Murfin. He acted in many movies in 1920s and was a celebrity dog. Strongheart also has a star to his credit on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Pictures of Human Hollywood Celebrities with German Shepherds:

The Pin “GSD – German Shepherd Dog with Celebrities” contains pictures of popular hollywood stars like Daniel Craig, Hillary Swank, Enrique Iglesias, John Travolta, Pierce Brosnan, Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhaal, Bob Dylan, Betty White, Clark Gable, Jackie Kennedy, Gregory Peck and many more with their favorite German Shepherds.

German Shepherds in Comics.

• Ace the Bat-hound: In the 1950s/60s, a German Shepherd called Ace partnered with Batman and Robin in fighting crime. He even wore a mask!
• Rex the Wonder Dog: Rex another DC Comics Dog hero was a German Shepherd.

You must wonder why we the Alsatians (yep, that’s our other name,) figure in so many movies and comics as heroes.

Remember, all fiction is based on reality. The GSD is a Hero – both off-screen and on-screen.

Here are some real-life GSD heroes to prove my point.

Real Life German Shepherd Heroes:

Jade:

Jade, Hero German Shepherd, Saves Newborn Baby Abandoned In Birmingham Park In England

Sasha:

German shepherd “Lifeguard” Saves Child from Drowning

Dasher:

Hero German Shepherd Protects Toddler Lost in the Australian Bush

AKC Page for German Shepherd:

Visit this link to seek more information on German Shepherds on American Kennel Club Website.

 

You have a question?
…
You want to know what a GSD is?
…
Sheesh! And I thought that you were smart! A GSD is a German Shepherd Dog!

 

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