The history of working line German Shepherds goes back to Germany in the 1850s. At first, these dogs were used to guard livestock. They had two main jobs: one was to protect sheep from predators at night, and the other was to keep their human shepherds safe. However, as time went on, their purpose changed. Instead of guarding livestock, German Shepherds became experts in tracking and protecting people. Even though they are still technically part of the herding dog group, they haven’t worked with livestock much in recent years. For over a hundred years, working line German Shepherds have been mostly used for search and rescue, tracking, and protection work. As this article will show, since the mid 1900’s, working line German Shepherds have maintained the original type and character of the original German Shepherd breed. Show line GSDs on the other hand have not. Show line dogs bred for crazy roach backs have largely become their own breed and have little in common with what the original intent of what the German Shepherd Dog was intended to be and to accomplish. See here for information on authentic working line German Shepherds for sale.
Max von Stephanitz: GSD Founder
A German captain named Max von Stephanitz is credited with shaping the German Shepherd breed into what it is today. He was inspired by a dog named Hektor Linksrhein. Hektor’s working abilities were second to none! Stephanitz was so impressed with this dog that he immediately bought him. Wanting to create a line of dogs that were highly trainable and skilled in protection and tracking, Stephanitz is generally regarded as one of the most important figures in the German Shepherd breed history. He believed that a dog’s ability to work was what made it truly special. According to Stephanitz, a German Shepherd needed to be strong, obedient, and able to perform tasks at a high level.
Today, many American show line German Shepherds do not meet Stephanitz’s idea of what makes a dog truly special. These dogs may look the part, but they often lack the ability to perform serious working tasks. At Czech Working Line, we fully agree with Stephanitz’s idea that a dog’s ability to work is what makes it great. That is why we only breed German Shepherds that come from strong working backgrounds. Every dog we use in our breeding program must pass tough tests to prove they have the right skills. Many show line German Shepherds never go through these kinds of tests, so they often lack the ability to track and protect effectively.
Horand von Grafrath: The Original German Shepherd
Stephanitz first saw Hektor at a dog show and immediately knew he was special. He bought Hektor and renamed him Horand von Grafrath. Horand was the first official German Shepherd and became the foundation of the breed. Stephanitz then bred Horand with other strong working dogs and even introduced wolves into the bloodline to create tougher, more capable dogs.
Stephanitz wanted his dogs to be calm and in control. He focused on creating “dry” dogs, meaning they would only bite and protect when given a command rather than acting out of fear. This careful breeding resulted in powerful and steady German Shepherds that could track, protect, and work alongside humans with ease. Dogs like Schwaben and Beowulf, who were direct descendants of Horand, helped shape the working line German Shepherds we see today.
Working Line in Contrast With Show Line Shepherds
Over time, many breeders moved away from Stephanitz’s original goal of breeding dogs for their abilities. Instead, they started focusing on appearance. Show line German Shepherds became popular in dog competitions, where they were judged based on looks rather than their working skills. Unlike working line German Shepherds, many of these show dogs never had to prove their abilities in real-world tasks.
To win a show championship, a dog simply has to look closest to the breed standard while walking in a ring. This is a far cry from Stephanitz’s vision of a great German Shepherd. Some show line dogs can still do protection or tracking work, but many do not have the skills needed for these demanding jobs. The further they are bred away from true working bloodlines, the more they lose their ability to perform at a high level. Instead of being strong and capable working dogs, many show line German Shepherds are now simply pets that are not able to do the jobs the breed was originally created for. Considering the fact that GSDs were bred to do a job, to work, many modern show-line dogs simply don’t even come close to the original breed intent. They can’t work. They don’t thrive under pressure. Many have lost the ability to respond easily to training. And the health issues related to the extreme roach back cannot be overstated! What a mess these dogs have become!
Various Working Line Types
There are three major types of working line German Shepherds. These dogs are the West German, East German (DDR), and Czech German Shepherds. Each type has a unique history and purpose.
1. West German Working Lines
West German working line dogs are known for being well-balanced in size and ability. These dogs are not overly large or small and are bred to be strong workers. Unlike show dogs, West German working line German Shepherds must pass strict working exams before they are bred.
These dogs have stable temperaments and can handle stressful situations well. Because they have been bred for their ability to work, rather than for looks, they are often used in police and protection work. They can also make great family dogs, but they need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation.
2. East German Working Line German Shepherds (DDR German Shepherds)
East German working line German Shepherds, also called DDR German Shepherds, were originally bred in East Germany after World War II. These dogs were created specifically for military and police work.
The East German government controlled the breeding of these dogs, making sure only the strongest and healthiest were used. DDR German Shepherds were bred to handle extreme weather and tough conditions. They needed to be able to jump fences, track suspects, and work for long hours in both hot and cold temperatures. Because of this, they were bred to have strong joints and excellent endurance. Even today, DDR German Shepherds are known for their toughness and ability to handle difficult tasks.
3. Czech Working Line German Shepherds
Czech German Shepherds, also known as Czechoslovakian Shepherds, were bred in the 1950s for border patrol and military work. These dogs became even more popular after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
Czech working line German Shepherds are known for their high energy and ability to learn quickly. They often compete in Schutzhund, a sport that tests a dog’s tracking, obedience, and protection skills. Czech German Shepherds share many traits with DDR German Shepherds, as the Czech military originally used DDR dogs in their breeding programs.
These dogs are usually lean and athletic, with deep chests and strong jaws. They were bred to be able to run, jump, and work for long hours. Today, they are popular among people who want a strong, trainable dog for sport or protection work. Here at Working Line German Shepherd, we specialize in dogs highly response to training.
Conclusion
Here at Working line German Shepherds, our aim is to follow Stephanitz’ vision of beauty. Beautiful dogs are function dogs. They have strong nerves and an great work ethic. Unlike their show counterparts, these dogs must prove their abilities in real-world situations. Whether they come from west or east Germany—or the Czech Republic— these dogs are bred to protect those they love. They make great family protection dogs. And they thrive in police work, military service, and as trained personal protection dogs. To see our available working line German Shepherd puppies, click here.