German Shepherd Dog: Is the REAL GSD a sheep herder, or a Police/Protection dog?

Chetco...very interesting question indeed. Here is my take on it. When the breed was created, it was mainly used as a herder, hence the name SHEP-HERD and it is called that all over the world.

The dogs were and I am sure they are still used at some parts of the world as such!!

Later on when it was discovered that some of them had the drive for police work, they started being used for that work!

I have seen several back home used as herders and not one of them had what it took for police work.

For those of us in the protection dog industry, maybe falsely, we consider a GSD that can do police work as a REAL working dog. I don't think they are too "sharp" per say, I think they are bred with more drives for police work now because that is what the market requires.

I find it strange that you were told that about the Beuceron because the owners of the French Ring club up there are supposed to be breeding some of the best in the country.

Dutch is correct in his statement...a dog that has proper temperament AND drives can do both police and herder work. Prey drive, hunt drive, defense drive, they can all serve the same purpose, depending on how they are used!! Hope I helped!

The 'real' GSD (like most dogs) was bred to do many thing. GSD's were bred for herding and for protection work. When more people moved to cities and less people herded flocks, more GSD's were bred for protection work than for herding but they are still bred for both. Unfortunately, the american bred GSD has been so exaggerated by the show ring that they have trouble being stable (physically) and for that reason, they are no longer being used by most municipalities as police dogs - they now either choose malinois or german bred GSD's. The dogs in america have been bred mostly only for the show ring and for that reason are not generally considered good working dogs (there may be some strictly working lines but i'd bet they outcross to german lines). The german bred dogs however, have been bred to rigorous standards including requiring real work and some breeders there still breed them for herding instinct. The german dogs are still used for herding and police work. The tests they require in europe tend to be significantly different than those in the UK or USA (where the Border collie and the tests associated with the border collie have predominated). You can see GSD's at trials but not so many as other breeds. You can have dual titled dogs but this doesn't mean anything. A title is really just a piece of paper and doesn't really tell you whether the dog has much instinct or drive, especially at the lower levels. There are plenty of breeders out there who put their dog through an 'instinct test' and then sell pups as if they are from 'herding lines' when in fact the dog may have done no more than move behind the handler and move where told. You have to know something about herding and actually watch the dog to see whether it's got instinct and drive.

If you'd like to see a good video on GSD's doing the work they were actually bred for (the HGH test) this video is a good one and is narrated in english. http://leerburg.com/506.htm

This is significantly different than most of what you'll see in america. The AKC C course was designed after this course but this one uses hundreds of sheep and two dogs at a time. Very enjoyable!

I've seen Germans herd with both showline and working line dogs. A dog doesn't NEED a hard temperament for herding. But some of the super bulky roach backed show dogs can't meet the physical demands of the job.

The GSD's original purpose was to excel at everything, not to herd sheep. Indeed I believe their purpose was more for military and police than herding (hence why the GSD's founder created Schutzhund as a breeding instrument to test the suitability of the working dog that the GSD is supposed to be). Border Collies can not be compared to GSDs, it's a completely different type of herder. Most herding trials are geared for the BC/Aussie/Cattle dog style of up close and personal herding. Not open range continental style herding that GSDs, and Rottweilers are meant to do.

The real GSD is the jack of ALL trades and the master of none. He isn't the fastest, or strongest, or smartest, or the best police dog...but he ranks highly in ALL of these areas making him the best all around dog for any purpose. Versatility is key here. The show lines DO NOT consistently produce dogs capable of being Police Service Dogs. The true GSD is the working line GSD, the other "strains" are the wannabe cousins and inlaws to the GSD.

just a good example of a dog that is no longer used for the purpose it was intended. I never see a GSD used as herder any more. never. I was raised on a farm with aussies and border collies but we never owned a herding GSD. My preferred herder is the aussie. It is sad that most dogs are never given the opportunity to do the job they were groomed by years of breeding to do. 99.999% of today's dogs only know how to be couch potatoes. Now, as a chihuahua owner, I do admit they do that job quite well, but they were never bred to be anything else than a companion animal.

My family uses our 2 GSD and a Rottie for herding cows and a GSD and a Belgian Shepherd as guarding dogs. (Of course the 2 GSD and the Rottie are capable of guarding our farm).

But when it comes to an open field and sheep I think Border Collies are much more capable for the job. My uncle uses 2 Border Collies for herding and a GSD for protection.

*I am not a expert and I don't think that I know much to say a full opinion ... and here I am just giving you an example of how my family uses the dogs at work.

The GSD has a very interesting history.

"In 1889 Captain Max von Stephanitz began the standardization of the breed. It all started at a dog show in Karlsruhe in western Germany. A medium-sized yellow-and-gray wolf like dog caught his attention. The dog was of the primal canine type, supple and powerful, and possessed endurance, steadiness, and intelligence. He was a working sheepherder, born with this ability, requiring no training other than direction and finish to become proficient at the task. This dog, Hektor Linksrhein, was purchased by von Stephanitz, renamed Horand von Grafrath, and became the first registered German Shepherd Dog." He wanted to develop a breed that was intelligent, mentally stable, and structurally sound. An all around utility dog.

Germany started to become more industrialized and there was less need for herding dogs. The good Captain, worried about loss of the breed, set about to prove it's working capabilities in other ways. Tests in tracking, obedience, and protection work were developed (basis of today's Schutzhund trials) and the GSD, having lived up to it's design as a versatile working dog, was put into government and military service.

A Mrs. Harrison Eustis of Switzerland, bred GSD's that were put into service as seeing eye dogs, adding another job these dogs excelled at.

I heard a quote once something to the effect that the GSD may not be the best at any one thing, but they are one dog who can do everything well.

Add - Poor breeding practices (such as breeding for one trait, rather than breeding to the standard) have really hurt the breed over the years. I'm hopeful though, after coming into contact with breeders who are working to bring these wonderful dogs back from the hock-knocking, poor temperment messes that many lines have become.

My father bred and raised German Shepherds. His one male was a protection dog but most all of his females worked as herding dogs on our horse farm. The male came from Germany, was trained by a prefessional company and then we got him. He naturally took to herding with the other dogs with no help from us. I know all the generations of puppies did the same and many were duel titled. It all depends on the bloodlines but so many are being bred for protection work, I think the good ones are the ones that are bred to do what they were originally bred to do, herd.

German Sheep Herder

I feel kind of bad for the GSD. Being pushed out of herding by the border collie and now being pushed out of police work by the Malinois.. Although any sport that the border collie has decided to involve themselves in, they have taken the spotlight and pushed all the other breeds out of the winning circle!

I saw a video of a GSD herding once, i was quite impressed! However i do not know of anyone who uses them for that purpose.

My mum's boyfriend's GSD was used for herding. She came from working lines and all generations herd too.

I always thought due to their loyalty to sheep, they'd been used for human protection if one was to put it in that manner.