German Shepherds have a long and proud history. The breed was popularized by Max von Stephanitz, who was a former student of the Berlin Veterinary College. Max is known as the father of the GSD breed, and he bred German Shepherds to be working dogs. 

THE FIRST EVER GUIDE DOG

Who doesn't love service dogs? But, did you know that the first Seeing Eye Dog was a female German Shepherd Dog named Buddy?

Sometime around the 1920s, Morris Frank was partnered with Buddy, who went on to become Frank's, 'declaration of independence.' Frank was also a co-founder of The Seeing Eye - the first guide-dog school in the U.S.

INTELLIGENT

If you're looking to adopt a highly adaptable canine, then you can't do much better than a German Shepherd.

Oh, and did we happen to mention they're ranked as the third most intelligent breed of dog by the American Kennel Club?

 VERSATILE

Speaking of intelligence. Did you know that GSDs aided the Allied Forces during World War 2?

German Shepherds are employed by law enforcement agencies throughout the world because of their intellect. They're also popular rescue dogs. Talk about being a jack of all trades. 

MANY NAMES

German Shepherds have an impressive number of names.

What we mean is that the GSD is also sometimes referred to as Alsatian, Deutscher Shaferhund, Berger Allemand, and Schäferhund.

STRONG

A study done by Brady Barr of Nat Geo revealed that German Shepherds have a bite that measures somewhere around 130 - 238 pounds of pressure.

That's an incredible amount of power! If you're the proud parent of a German Shepherd, then it's a good idea to only let it snack on safe bones that can match its jaw.

BIG DOG

You wouldn't think it but, German Shepherds are classified as a large dog breed.

The average adult male GSD can grow to a height of 24-26 inches, and weigh anywhere around 66-88 pounds (30-40 kgs). An adult female GSD can weigh between 50-70 pounds (23-31 kgs).

PROTECTIVE

German Shepherds have very strong protective instincts. In fact, some breeders came up with a sport to test this trait in Alsatians.

That's why it's important to accustom GSD puppies to socialization and proper training to make sure they're comfortable around strangers.

COAT OF MANY COLOURS

While GSDs are most commonly thought to be tan in colour with a black back, the truth is that there are eleven recognised colours of GSDs.

Some of these colours include black, sable, black and red, blue, black and silver, and black and cream. 

ENERGETIC

As any GSD owner will tell you, German Shepherds are incredibly energetic. They need mental and physical stimulation to thrive, and this probably has to do with the fact that the breed was created as working dogs.

If you're planning on adopting a GSD, then it's a good idea to have some activities planned to keep you fur-baby occupied.

We're guessing you probably know the GSD breed a little bit better now that you've gone over our list of top facts about German Shepherds. There's no doubt that the GSD is a popular breed among dogs, and it's easy to understand why.

German Shepherds are smart, easy to train, very safe around children, and super-duper fun. They'll make a great addition to your family, and will likely shower you with love and adoration. Just make sure you do your best to take care of them, and you'll have a friend for life.