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Strength, loyalty, and versatility make the German Shepherd Dog (GSD) one of the most recognizable breeds. German Shepherds have a strong working drive to excel in myriad duties, from military work to companion sports to therapy work.

As the name indicates, the breed was developed in Germany. Dating back to the late 1800s, Captain Max von Stephanitz is credited with developing he breed. His goal was to create the ideal herding breed, unique to the country of Germany. Created specifically to have a strong herding instinct and be an all-around strong farm dog, the breed quickly rose in popularity not just for their herding abilities, but also as working dogs for the police and military. The German Shepherd is known for its trainability and quick responses, which also led to them being the first breed used as Seeing Eye service dogs, dating back to the 1920s.

Not Just Strong

The German Shepherd rose in popularity as a military dog at the start of World War I, but the wars impacted the perception of the breed, both here in the United States as well as in Europe. In 1917, the AKC instructed the German Shepherd Dog Club of America to change its name and the breed’s name to remove “German.”

The linking of the German Shepherd to the military, as well as their visible presence as police dogs, contributed to the breed developing a reputation for strength. The stereotype of them being a “scary” dog was not helped by irresponsible dog owners not properly socializing and training these powerful dogs.

In reality, the GSD is an intelligent, thoughtful, and loyal dog who thrives not just in professional working environments like the military, but also as companions, sport dogs, and therapy dogs.

The German Shepherd needs appropriate mental and physical outlets for their energy. These intelligent dogs love having a job to do.

Sandy Fitch’s German Shepherd Kinnick is a therapy dog as well as an active sports competitor in Fast CAT, obedience, tracking, and scent work. The breed’s reputation is never far from her mind. “Many people are nervous when they see a German Shepherd, because of what they see on TV or in movies,” Fitch says.

She helps to build trust in people they meet in the community by showcasing Kinnick’s extensive obedience training, good nature, and responsiveness. “I will usually show people some obedience commands that he will do when asked and we may even include a few tricks that he knows, to break the ice.”

Demonstrating training to build community trust in the breed and overcoming stereotypes is important for all responsible GSD owners who want to showcase how wonderful their dogs are. GSD owners emphasized the importance of consistent training and structure starting from a young age to help this breed live up to their potential.

Becky Slanker of Texas has had four therapy German Shepherds. Her current GSD, while also a therapy dog, has seven AKC sport titles in obedience, rally, and scent work. She notes that while training is extremely important for German Shepherds, they thrive with the same techniques and approaches as any other breed.

Michele Pratt-Koss of Ohio is active in rally, obedience, Fast CAT, conformation, Schutzhund (IGP), and Barn Hunt with her GSD Ruby, whom she describes as “a great, versatile dog.”

“Ruby loves to work, and multiple judges have commented on how enthusiastic she is in the ring,” Pratt-Koss says. “She is always game to try new things. She loves to learn.”

Pratt and Ruby recently competed at the German Shepherd national specialty show, where the team took home wins in rally. “Never in my dreams did I ever think a dog would be taking me so many places,” Pratt-Koss says.

Not only is Ruby a successful sports dog, but she is also an ambassador for the versatility and kindness of the breed. “She has changed people’s minds about German Shepherds and broken the stereotype locally. She won in conformation based on temperament; she might have kissed the judge that day.”

Compassionate Canines

Though often recognized for their strength and bravery as working military and police dogs, German Shepherds are equally compassionate and sensitive, making many of them naturals for therapy dog work. The breed’s loyalty, intelligence, and empathetic temperament, along with their ability to pick up new skills quickly, allow German Shepherds to remain calm and confident in busy and often stressful environments where therapy dogs are most needed, such as hospitals, schools, and nursing homes.

The GSD’s natural ability to be particularly attuned to the emotional state of the people they are interacting with allows them to give comfort and stability to people who are going through a challenging time. Slanker fell into therapy work with her dogs in educational settings because of her work as an English teacher. She had seen the way that therapeutic reading dogs could help new, reluctant, and struggling readers. Slanker’s previous German Shepherd worked as a therapy dog supporting young readers for eight years at a local elementary school, providing a calm listening ear while students read stories aloud.

On the other hand, her dog Tanner especially enjoyed his job as a therapy dog at a local hospital unit for people recovering from substance abuse. Slanker noted that he was especially close to the veterans, “and of course they loved him,” too.

Fitch and Kinnick are also involved in reading-to-dogs therapy visits at local libraries. “Kids enjoy reading to the dogs and will sometimes ask the dogs what book they want,” Fitch says. “Kinnick will look at the child when being read to, and kids enjoy showing him the pictures. Dogs don’t laugh or judge if a child is having difficulties when reading; they just provide interaction and support.”

Like Slanker, it was Fitch’s job that first led her to pursue training and then later, to certify her German Shepherds as therapy dogs. Fitch works at Opportunities Unlimited, a facility for adults with traumatic brain injuries. She saw the ways that therapy dogs had been able to improve the quality of life of residents noting that the dogs “even provide motivation some days when they just don’t want to get out of bed and work on their rehabilitation goals.”

She explains that on difficult days, the only reason someone might want to get out of bed is to spend time with a visiting therapy dog. “There is sometimes Many depression after a brain injury with learning to navigate life,” Fitch says.

As part of her work—and as a therapy dog handler—Fitch is always looking for creative ways to involve her dog in rehabilitation work with patients. On that note, she’s found a way to use Kinnick’s sports skills in a clinical setting.

The residents will give obedience commands to Kinnick, who follows through. “Kinnick will retrieve balls that are being thrown by someone learning to stand and work on balance and coordination. Kinnick will also allow residents to brush him, which is also useful for getting a range of motion with our residents … sometimes they don’t even realize they are doing therapy, they just enjoy working with the dog.”

Fitch also highlights the immense emotional importance of these visits. “Most facilities don’t allow pets, and many folks had pets before entering a facility,” she says.

Although many GSDs take to therapy work naturally, not all dogs will enjoy the same jobs. Keeping this in mind, it’s important to think about what kind of work best suits your dog. Therapy dogs provide comfort and support to people, and just like us, dogs have preferences for the kind of work that they will do.

“My dog that went to the elementary school all those years could not handle nursing homes,” Fitch says. “The smells, the vibe, particularly different. And when we went to the substance abuse hospital, we would rotate through four wards … each of those had a particularly different vibe.”

Fitch encourages owners to “figure out where your dog will excel and don’t force your dog into a slot that he doesn’t enjoy.” She notes that this isn’t just about where therapy dogs can be of most service, but true when it comes to anything we do with our dogs.

The powerful German Shepherd is also a sensitive breed. “It’s important to center where they want to be working,” Fitch says, whether that’s sports or therapy work. She uses the example of one of her previous dogs who thrived in agility. But her current GSD doesn’t, so they don’t compete. “It’s like forcing a child to play piano,” she says.

The Total Package

For Fitch, there is no question the German Shepherd is her favorite breed and aligns perfectly with her lifestyle, sports, and training goals. “I love having a dog that is always up for anything. They are smart and pick up new things quickly. A well-bred German Shepherd loves its people and will protect its life, as well as just lay at your feet when not working.”

This breed truly is a total package of a working dog. Slanker notes that not just recognizing, but truly understanding the purpose for which this breed was developed will help you to live a better life with your German Shepherd. “I think what people don’t understand is that GSDs were bred to work with people and they do not do well being a yard dog.”

As an avid breed enthusiast who’s worked closely with German Shepherd rescue organizations, she adds that many of the common behavioral issues or complaints people have about life with German Shepherds come down to misunderstanding these dogs for who and what they are.

Instead of working against the breed traits, Slanker advises learning to love, appreciate, and work with them. “I think it’s important to do the homework about the breed and find a reputable breeder.” Recognizing that these are smart and powerful working dogs who need mental and physical outlets is the first step toward knowing if this is the right breed for you.

The happiest and most successful German Shepherds belong to people who prioritize making sure they are providing for their dogs. From the show ring to the sports arena to the visiting rooms of hospitals, German Shepherds are always eager, alert and ready to come out on top.

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