The German Shepherd dog has a relatively short history though it is a well-loved and well-worked dog today. The breed began in Germany in 1899 and was registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1911. By World War I, over 48,000 German Shepherds were enlisted in the German army. Though the breed is part of the herding group, the German Shepherd dog has many other talents and can be trained in a variety of fields.

The German Shepherd breed is registered in the herding group by the American Kennel Club because of its skill in sheep herding. However, German Shepherd dogs are used for many other purposes today. They are the most common dogs used by police and military for protection and tracking and by the visually impaired as guides. German shepherds are highly intelligent, fiercely loyal, and are at their best when put to work. They can be trained to do multiple tasks. Of course, German Shepherds are also excellent family dogs especially for protection and home security. A German Shepherd breeder may specialize in training this breed in any of the above areas.

German Shepherds are easier to train than many other breeds because of their inherent courage, physical and mental strength, work ethic, intelligence, loyalty and hardiness. German Shepherd dogs are well suited to any job that allows them to protect and serve. There is no better protector than a German Shepherd.

A good German Shepherd breeder will be able to provide you with documentation of the dog's pedigree and medical history. Because German Shepherds are prone to many skeletal disorders, especially of the hip, the breeder should also include a warranty or statement that the dog has been evaluated for these issues. Getting documentation is also a good way to make sure your Shepherd is purebred as well determining what accomplishments the dog has in his ancestry. Most German Shepherds are trained and certified in many areas and a pedigree will list these achievements.

Unfortunately, a German Shepherd breeder may attempt to sell faulty German Shepherds. Make sure you obtain a complete copy of your German Shepherd's medical records including health history, immunization records, results of blood tests, and any other relevant health information. This breed is prone to hip problems and a reputable German Shepherd breeder will give you some form of warranty or guarantee that your German Shepherd has been evaluated.

An alternative to buying a purebred puppy from a German Shepherd breeder is buying from a rescue center. Rescue centers save purebred dogs from abuse and abandonment. The centers socialize rescues and foster or adopt dogs out to appropriate, loving owners. Rescue centers are often either run by or affiliated with reputable breeders. A sure-fire way to tell a good breeder from bad is to see how involved they are with their dogs. Good German Shepherd breeders love German Shepherds!

Unfortunately, some breeders over-breed Shepherds in what are called puppy mills. These mills churn out puppies with little regard for the health, happiness or socialization of the adult dogs. Due to this practice, many adult German Shepherds are in need of homes. Rescue centers foster and adopt out dogs by matching them with loving owners. This is an excellent way to obtain a trained, purebred German Shepherd at a reduced cost.

To recap, a reputable German Shepherd breeder will have his or her own kennel, will provide documentation of lineage and health information, and will be affiliated with a rescue center, ASPCA, or other agencies that support animals.