German Shepherds showing in herding group

[grimmie]

I was wondering when the GSD was switched/broken off from the working group and placed into the herding group and what the reasoning was behind the switch. I know that GSD's were at one point obviously intended to be herding dogs hence the name Shepherd but their use as herding dogs has been far surpassed IMO by their use as Working dogs ie... police dogs, SAR dogs and guard/sentry dogs. I am not in anyway saying that being a called a herding dog is an insult or wrong it just seems to me that GSD's primary utilization is no longer as a herding animal and I am just curious about why the switch was made. Are GSD's shown predominantly as herding dogs throughout the world or is it only in the AKC shows?

[Schaeferhund]

GSD was not switched from working into herding group. It was originally a hearding dog used by farmers in Germany for many many years. Then came Stephanitz standartized the breed, and linked the breeding and they started to use them as working alrounders. The name stayed.

[Nightshadows]

wasnt there something about the GSD being or going to be in the working group but then the working group got too large and other breeds had to be placed elsewhere?

[grimmie]

When I was younger I am fairly certain that the German Shepherd was shown within the Working Group when I watched shows like Westminster. I noticed in the past few years(4or5?) that the GSD is shown with the Herding Group and not within the Working Group. I just dont remember hearing about the change... perhaps I went to the potty during that portion of the show It doesn't really matter I suppose... just being curious.

[Norm]

Grimmie you are correct. In 1983 the AKC created the Herding Group from the Working Group. The GSD was one of the breeds put into the Herding Group.

[grimmie]

Thanks Norm for letting me know I'm not crazy...I sure didn't realize the switch was made so long ago. Time sure does fly!

[gsdoglady]

When the group was divided they gave the parent clubs the choice of where to go.

The very traits that make the GSD a good dog for use as a police dog, a SAR dog, Guide Dog and all the rest is directly because it was derived from dogs doing the tending style of herding. If you watch a HGH dog at work you will see all of the various traits that those different jobs need. Some of those traits have been increased in the serious sport dog, but the top caliber sport dog is one extreme of the breed. The tending dog is very different from the fetching dog like a border collie.

[Currmudgeon]

gsdoglady said:

Some of those traits have been increased in the serious sport dog, but the top caliber sport dog is one extreme of the breed.

Which is why using sport dogs as a standard can be misleading. A top notch sport dog may not make an acceptable patrol dog or companion dog. All the testing and qualification needs to be viewed with an eye for what you actually want the beast to do.