The German Shepherd Dog originated in Germany at the turn of the twentieth century. In 1899, a man by the name of Max von Stephanitz formed the Verein f�r Deutsche Sh�ferhunde, or Club for German Shepherds. Stephanitz's dog, Horand von Grafarth, became the first registered German Shepherd.

At this time the German Shepherd was first and foremost a herding dog, but the shepherd's intelligence and eagerness to learn also made him an excellent working dog capable of many tasks. Shepherds are recognized the world over as one of the premier breeds for guide dogs, police and security work.

Males are 61 to 66 centimetres (24 to 26 inches) in height. Females are 56 to 61 centimetres (22 to 24 inches) in height. German Shepherds have a double coat of medium length on the body with short hair on the face, legs and ears. Shepherds come in a wide variety of colours. For the complete breed standard, click .

Shep "n" Rott German Shepherds are available in pet or show quality.