German Shepherds first started being developed in the late 19th century by a man named Max von Stephanitz. Stephanitz is still today credited as having fathered the entire German Shepherd breed. An admirer of the German sheep dog of the time, he chose to breed selectively to procure his most desired traits and weed out those that were unnecessary or undesirable. Stephanitz bred his dogs for years, creating the founding root of the German Shepherd breed and eventually become the dog we know today.

When the German Shepherd was brought over to the United States, the breeders in America changed up the bloodlines of the breed by mating it with other types of dog. It is still up for debate whether these breeders aided or damaged the development of the German Shepherd, as American breeders were working towards a show-quality dog while the original German Shepherd was intended primarily for work.

German Shepherds in the United States have coats that are on the shorter side of medium, usually brown and black, tan and black, or cream and black, but not uncommonly producing an all white or all black variety. The truly German variety of the breed has a longer coat which is occasionally (but rarely) seen in the U.S.

German Shepherds were initially developed by Stephanitz as a working breed. To this day, even with the American cross breeding, German Shepherds excel in the work force as hunters, farm dogs, service dogs, narcotics dogs, and law enforcement dogs. German Shepherds are an exceedingly agile, strong, and athletic breed, with a very malleable temperament. They can be trained to work as aggressive guard dogs or be gentle helpers on the farm.

In their native country, the breeding of German Shepherds is so meticulously monitored that a registered shepherd must have had both its sire and damn Shutzhund certified, which means that they have been evaluated for temperament and ability by professionals. Shutzhund certification pays no mind to the size, coat, or general appearance of the dog, which is vastly different from the American variety of canine judging.

The primary visible difference between true German Shepherds and American German Shepherds, besides the length of their coat, is the lack of sloped hips. True German Shepherds have hips level with their shoulders, as the original breed was intended to. American German Shepherds have a distinct slope at the back of the torso into the hips. Sloped hips are argued over by many international breed enthusiasts, being the desired trait for showmanship in America, but also leading to an earlier onset and more significant risk of hip dysplasia.

Whether you are choosing to acquire an American German Shepherd or seeking out a true German Shepherd, you must research your breeder thoroughly. Because of the popularity of this breed and its potential for strength, there are many unethical breeders out there who are trying to turn a quick profit by mating irresponsibly. With proper research, either variety of German Shepherd can provide you with a loyal worker or a loving family pet.

Show Dog competitions are popular all over the world. Thousands of dog fanciers find enjoyment through show dog competitions. Obviously, these owners of show dogs are very proud of their dogs, and they just love showing them off and hopefully win the competition.  Show dog training requires  a combination of obedience training, and also presenting your dog to the judges-where it will be prodded and probed as it is examined by the judge. Your dog must meet the standards of its particular breed, which the judge’s are closely looking for, and also maintain a perfect posture while remaining  relaxed throughout the examination.

There are several different categories that the show dogs compete in. Each category is  based on the variety of breeds within them  and the types of activities those breeds are best skilled at. The seven different categories include: Sporting, Non-sporting, Hound, Terrier, Working, Herding and Toy. Besides have a terrific confirmation, each dog must impress the judges with its skills -whether it is working livestock in the case of the herding dogs, or performing an obstacle course for a working dog. Sporting dog, such as Labradors will be tested in field trials. As you can see, there is a niche for every breed of dog.

Here is a list of the various show dog categories. Check out which one best fits your dog.

Sporting Dogs – These types of dogs were bred for hunting  game birds-either on land or in the water. Breeds in this group include Retrievers, Spaniels, Pointers and Setters.

Hound Dogs – These types of dogs were bred for hunting  game by sight or scent.  Breeds of hound dogs  include:  Beagles, Bassets, Dachshunds and Greyhounds and many other hound varieties.

Working Dogs – These breeds of dogs were bred to guard property, pull a cart and even to  perform search and rescue services. Included in this group are such dogs as the Akita, Doberman, Boxers and St. Bernard breeds.

Terrier Dogs-Terriers are breeds that specialize in hunting and eliminating vermin from farms – Included in the Terrier group are dogs  such as the Airedale, Cairn Terrier and Scottish Terrier, Jack Russell terrier and many more.

Toy Breeds – These little dogs have been bred to be household companions. Included in the Toy group are Poodles, Pugs, Pomeranians, and Maltese.

Non-Sporting Dogs – This category is formed by a more diverse group of breeds, that come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and includes Bulldogs, Standard Poodles, Chows and Dalmatians. The dogs in this group are primarily companion dogs.

Herding Dogs – This category includes dogs such as the German shepherd dog, Collies, Australian Sheepdogs, Old English Sheepdogs, and more. These types of dogs were bred to help shepherds manage their flocks, Depending on the breed of dog you want to have, after you have thoroughly trained your dog you can enter him in a dog show in the category you would like him to compete in. Each dog breed falls within a certain category, so the dogs he competes against will have similar skill sets.

If you are interested in dog show competitions, get more familiar with what’s happening in your area. Check out your local Kennel Club to find out more about coming dog shows. You can meet and network with other show dog handlers to get some good advice getting started with show dog training for your dog.

For example, if your dog is a working dog, you will want to concentrate on that particular type of competition and what you will need to train your dog for his particular category’s competition. Watching and learning from an experienced dog handler will help  you will quickly learn the right way to go about the type of show dog training your dog needs.

Of course, you can’t really get involved with show dog training until you have already done a very thorough job of obedience training your dog. If you haven’t already fully obedience trained your dog, of course you will need to concentrate on that first of all.

Dog obedience is a must if you want to own a dog. You must expect that it must be a well behaved one. But a dog can never be trained with its own efforts. You must come forward to teach it how it behaves. It is not an easy task and you can never expect the result overnight. It is patience and endurance that pay. To make your dog obedient you have you have to follow some measures that may be of great help to you.

Since time immemorial dog is the faithful friend of man. In the early stages there was no mechanism. Then how the dogs learnt obedience? Actually the dogs have the power of assimilating the training of their masters. It is latent within them. All you have to do is to arouse the sense of obedience.

To seek dog obedience you must come forward with positive outlook. You need patience. The dog can never be obedient overnight. It needs proper training to be honed. If you can prove yourself a friendly master the dog is sure to be obedient. If you fail to make your dog obedient you are sure to be in trouble at home and outside. If a dog finds that its master is friendly to it, it is ready to show you gratitude and joy. It will try its best to be obedient in a gradual manner.

Everything depends on your approach. If your approach is sincere you must taste the essence of success. If you are casual you are sure to be engulfed in the gulf of despair. Your mode of training can make a puppy obedient. Again your constant effort may prove hard when you try to train a dog that is obstinate since its birth due to its pedigree. You must not lose heart to train such types of dogs. If you actually seek dog obedience you have to work hard. You must have strength of mind and of course patience.

If you have not the strength or if you lack patience you may hire a dog trainer or take your dog to the dog training schools. Your ultimate goal should be to make your dog obedient. It must respond to your commands and abide by the instructions of the other members of your family. You have to keep it in mind that only a well behaved dog can offer you perfect pleasure. A true friendship is bridged when you have a well behaved dog by your side.