Welcome to Banzai's German Shepherd Page!

Welcome to my page. I'm a German Shepherd Dog or GSD. We're a very popular sort, I'm sure you've seen a few of my cousins. We were created in the late 1800's by Captain Max von Stephanitz who wanted to create a superior herding dog. He was very successful in my opinion. Like our name suggests, we are a German dog. Us GSDs have a very unique style of herding, it's not quite what you see Shelties, Kelpies and Border Collies do. Captain Stephanitz soon realized how very smart and versatile we were, and at the decline of herding with the modernization of the world and competition from Australia, Stephanitz persuaded military and police to use us as their working companions. We succeed at that too. In order to preserve our working heritage the German Shepherd Club created a certification process called Schutzhund. Today in Germany you cannot breed a GSD and have it registered with the SV (German GSD club) if it does not have a working title. The most common being Schutzhund.

German Shepherd Dogs are good at so many things. We do everything from police work to guiding the blind. We can even do water work (Stuff that in you kong and chew it You walking wet carpet!) We have many standards world wide, so the sad thing is, that a typical North American GSD, and a typical European GSD may look worlds apart. Temperament varies also.

We're a large breed of dog. We are very powerful, just like Newfoundlands. We are active in body mind and spirit, so we need someone who's going to exercise all three areas. Because we are a herding dog, we do have a protective streak, we are also pretty firm in our wills. We need someone who is strong willed, yet willing to respect us as a companion and trust our judgment as we are good judges of situations. We make good companions for children, I love kids to death. We are very very stable dogs, and are never fearful, but never vicious either. We are brimming with confidence though, I know I'M the best dog in the world!

Unfortunately due to our popularity, there is so many things in the breed that are not correct. The first thing being the large number of bad breeders breeding us. Since we are so popular, bad breeders see an opportunity to make a buck off the breed. When searching for a breeder, make sure money is their last concern! There is also a lot of diversity in the breed, which may be a good thing or a bad thing. The bad part about diversity though, is that there are a lot of extremes. For example a lot of North American show dogs. have very angulated back ends, or many European imports to North American have lousy and too aggressive temperaments. A GSD is a versatile dog and should always be bred as such. Structure, health and temperament should always be of top concern. There is a disturbing trend that a lot of people are only working their GSDs for specific drives, such as prey drive or fight drive. This is just as bad as someone who breeds for a fearful GSD. Always make sure if you're a first time GSD owner, that you get a dog from a reputable breeder, one who breeds for moderation in all drives, for a stable, yet active family pet.

Like the other dog mentioned, it's important to go to a responsible breeder. There are far more breeders of GSDs than there are of Newfoundlands in almost any country! We are the hosts to a good variety of genetic problems, including but not limited to; hip and elbow dysplasia, von Willebrande's Disease, progressive retinal atrophy, thyroid problems, dwarfness, heart problems and a few more. So be very careful in choosing your breeders.

Choose carefully and you'll have a solid stable companion who will not only be your pet (We're way above that!) we'll be your partners, protectors and friends.

German Shepherd Dog Frequently Asked Questions

What's a GSD?

GSD stands for German Shepherd Dog. They are also called Alsatians and Alsatian Wolf Dogs. In Germany the breed's name is Deutsche Schaferhund. They are all GSDs.

Are GSDs vicious?

Any dog can be vicious. GSDs are no exception. GSDs were founded by Captain Max von Stephanitz to be superior herding dogs. Most herding breeds if not all have a protective nature in them, because not only did they have to herding the livestock, many had to help guard it from predators, thieves, traffic etc. When modernization came around, many sheepdogs and shepherds were put out of work due to machines. This nearly wiped out many herding breeds, however it gave the GSD a chance to shine proving that it is truly a versatile dog. Including that of a reliable police and military dog. Care must be taken when one has a GSD that their protective nature is respected and kept under control. This is done through training and socialization. GSDs have become widely popular and have fallen into the wrong hands who do not train accordingly, thus allowing their GSDs to get out of control and possibly hurt someone. Which is why so many GSDs have bitten people. A well bred, well trained GSD is not a vicious animal. It is highly confident and will not bite unless it is seriously provoked.

Are GSDs part wolf? They look very wolfy?

There has been some controversy to that lately, as wolf mixes grow in popularity as pets, rumours abound that GSDs are actually wolf mixes and some speculators have said to found evidence that it is so with some lost ark of the GSD history. Well I proceeded to get the book that they were referring to (supposedly only a few copies left in the world, costing at $500.00 US) I found two in several months of searching costing me $100.00 Canadian. Where I found no evidence that the GSD is indeed part wolf. GSDs may share some aspects with the wolf, however upon closer inspection, GSDs and wolves look worlds apart. Likewise their temperaments are worlds apart. Wolves being shy towards humans, GSDs are confident.


Do they shed?

GSDs are excellent shedders. Don't be fooled into thinking that their short coat means less shedding. Most GSDs can give a lot of long coated breeds a run for their money. Most herding dogs do shed, because most of them were expected to be out with the flocks in whatever weather. As a result, they had to have tough coats. A GSD coat should consist of two layers, a harsh overcoat that helps to keep out the elements, and a soft dense undercoat which acts as insulation. Frequent brushing keeps the shedding down as well as helps to maintain a healthy coat.

Are they good with kids?

GSDs are very good with kids. Like any dog, they should be socialized with kids at an early age, and must be taught that they are not a sibling to the kids. If they think they are a sibling, they will play like the child is their brother or sister which can be dangerous. GSDs love children, they are very gentle and will often make it their duty to protect all the children on their block. Like with ANY breed of dog it is not fair or safe to leave dogs and kids unsupervised. And it is not fair or safe to allow the kids to constantly tease, play, abuse the dog. Dogs need their own quiet time too, and this should be respected with any breed. GSDs are dedicated family dogs who will put their lives on the line for their family members.

How much exercise do they need?

Remember a GSD is a herding dog, most dogs from the herding group need quite a bit of exercise to keep them out of trouble. GSDs are active and require chances to stretch their legs by playing with the Frisbees, running, swimming, etc. They benefit from a nice long walk a day, plus extra playtime.

Are GSDs easy to train?

GSDs are extremely intelligent animals. Most GSD owners will say that their GSD is one of the smartest, if not THE smartest dog they have ever owned. That said, many GSDs can be willful, especially as teenagers, so they may not listen to your command, even if they understand. It is important to establish a pecking order with your GSD as soon as you get it home. Some GSDs accept this right away, a few and generally males, take a little bit longer. This can all be influenced on which puppy you choose in the litter (check ethics page). Once GSDs hit maturity, if they have been trained and socialized properly, they are very reliable dogs, and they pick up things within moment. But beware this intelligence is actually very helpful in helping a GSD find mischief, so one should take great care in keeping their GSD mentally stimulated as well.

What colours do GSDs come in?

GSDs come in a variety of colours. They come in sables ranging from a dark red to a gray. They come in black, black and red, black and tan, liver, blue dilute, white and off whites. Liver, white colours, and blues are not accepted in the show ring. White GSDs are the source of great controversy. Many white GSD groups are seeking their own breed status and they have developed their own breed standard. Many people dislike white GSDs, but in many cases, breeders are working very hard and have succeeded in many areas to produce a sound stable companion harking back to the structure in the early days of the original GSD and the temperament.

What is the difference between Show and Working lines?

There has been a lot talk regarding working lines and show lines. Often the two are also separated by international borders such as German and North American. But many people mean working vs. show. The GSD has diverged in many ways since they first appeared in countries outside Europe. Even in Europe, the dogs often look different. Show lines means dogs that are bred exclusively for show. You can usually tell a North American show GSD by it's finer head, taller stature longer neck and lower angulation in the hindquarters. While a German show GSDs are smaller, stockier with a rounded back and intense colour. Working dogs worldwide tend to be smaller, sturdier and compact than their show counterparts.

The key difference that heats the fires so much is the difference in temperaments. Many working lines are very intense and a few are outright unnecessarily aggressive. While show lines tend to be more laid back or even sometimes shy or nervous. However when people get involved and when they think they are breeding the "correct" GSD that's when the real aggression starts to fly. Many people think it's cool to have a dog that bites hard, and will bite just about anything. While others think it's okay to breed dogs and not make sure the dogs have adequate temperament. It is in the opinion of this writer that these factions are both wrong. Not testing for correct temperament when you have a breed capable of guarding, yet it is hiding under it's bed is not something to be proud of. At the same time testing for temperament, and deviating the temperament of a versatile working dog into one that is only suitable for "apprehending" and biting is just as wrong if not more so! 

Ideally, all the GSDs would at least have the same temperament. They would all be able to do schutzhund, yet still be able to work with children and the elderly. A versatile breed is NOT extreme. Anyone doubting the breed's versatility should look up a copy of The German Shepherd Dog in Word and Picture by Max v. Stephanitz and see the dogs in there doing water work! And as many waterwork experts will tell you, you need a strong intelligent dog who's not going to bite the drowning victim's arm off. And while one shouldn't expect a GSD to brave the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Newfoundland, it is in the opinion of this writer that a GSD should be able to do just about anything asked of it.

That said, there are many many MANY dedicated folks who breed versatile working lines, and those who breed versatile show lines. But they are often hidden in the heat of the battle between different factions. They have wonderful dogs who do outstanding tasks and are usually better representatives of the breed than their counterparts. These are often the dogs you see doing schutzhund, obedience, tracking, agility and all sorts of sports.

A lot of the times, the most vocal in the two factions are not breeding for the betterment of the breed, but breeding for their own agenda, and should be discouraged and avoided for the sake of the breed.

If one is looking for a GSD, one should avoid any breeder who says their dogs should be limited to conformation or bite work. If they only have limited titles, ask them why their dogs only have such and such. And ask them if their dogs could compete in a sport a little to the opposite of what their dogs are titled in. Be realistic, it's difficult at best to show a North American show bred GSD in the CKC or AKC so it's going to be even more difficult to show a German working bred one. And someone who cannot even pronounce schutzhund will probably not have much of an ideal of the kind of more energetic temperament it takes for the sport. But try a more "softer" sport such as obedience or a "tougher" one such as tracking. And regardless of lineage working or show, make certain that your breeder screens for faulty hips, elbows, VWD, and hopefully thyroid, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, faulty hearts and is familiar with degenerative diseases and recessive genes in their lines. Try to find a breeder who is not terribly entrenched in the politics of the breed, it can be fun to discuss extremes, but when extremes enter the bloodlines, there is trouble. A good dog is a good dog, stick to that, and you'll have a good life with GSDs and far less worry than your more politically charged counterparts.

Okay, what the Heck is Schutzhund?

Schutzhund is a sport and an ability test all in one. It is quite popular in the US and Canada. It was devised by the early SV when they recognised that herding with dogs would soon be far less common with mechanised farming methods. It contains three sections. One being bitework, one being obedience and one being tracking. The dog and handler compete for a score out of 300 requiring a pass in each area to obtain a title. It is a trustworthy and common tool used by many breeders to evaluate the temperament of their dogs and many swear by it religiously.

Bitework? They Teach the Dogs to Bite? Doesn't that make Them Vicious

On the contrary, the bitework helps to teach the dogs control and what and when NOT to bite. All dogs bite, some dogs are a little more protective of their owners than others. GSDs are a protective breed, and it's important to recognise that, regardless of the type of breeding. Many Schutzhund handlers train their dogs to treat bitework as a game. You'll find at a trial, that some dogs are more focused on biting the sleeve (the padding the "aggressor" has on his arm) and some even hijacking the sleeve because it is so much fun. Most Schutzhund dogs go home to their families with children, kittens, puppies and visitors, they are normal funloving upstanding dog members of society!

Male or Female?

So much of how a dog behaves depends how the dog was brought up. These are only loose generalizations on the genders of the breed.

Females are supposed to be and generally are smaller than their male counterparts. They are reported to be a little more grouchy with their own kind, however it rarely goes beyond a warning. Females tend to be less willful, and more devoted to family life with their humans. They also tend to be more thoughtful in the growing years (maybe this is biased because the author of this is a female!). Females tend to be more eager to please. At the same time, however females can also be aloof and less affectionate than males, unless it's regarding children.

Males are larger in size and usually in ego. Males are prone to outright dog aggression which goes beyond the warning. Males are good in family life, but they are often not as maternal as the females. Males tend to be more intense and goofy, they tend to be better siblings to children, although they will protect with the same if not more enthusiasm. Males tend to be willful in their growing years, but usually once they hit maturity, they are wonderful companions.

All dogs unless intended for breeding should be spayed or neutered.

Dog or puppy?

There are benefits to having both. With puppies, you generally get a fresh clean start with no acquired bad habits. Where if you get an older dog, you may have to solve a few habits. With a puppy...well you just get a puppy, they're very cute. But with an older dog, you get a more dignified companion, so it's a tough choice where that is concerned. Hopefully if you get an older dog, it may have some training, but there is the off chance that it can come with emotional baggage, which you may need to work through. The dog is already usually all grown up, so you can get an ideal of his finishing size, while a puppy may vary within the standards.

Rescue or Breeder?

A responsible breeder and responsible breed rescue are both excellent places to get a dog. They both screen their dogs and their potential owners very carefully. A breeder can give you a well raised and loved dog from the start. Whereas rescues often have dogs in who have some problems, but equally deserving of a good home. They will try to match you up with a dog best suited to your lifestyle. With a breeder you can get a health guarantee. Rescues can only really guarantee the immediate health of the dog. It boils down to a personal choice. With a rescue, you are saving a life. With a breeder, you're getting a dog from a trusted source. Both have their downfalls, but as with anything, you should investigate thoroughly where you are getting your dog from and if it is a trusted source.

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All photos and content on this site is copyrighted by Joy Henderson Carder, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and not to be used in any way without express written permission.