Differences between the German Shepherd and the East European

The East European Shepherd is sometimes mistaken for a subspecies of its German counterpart. This is not true. The differences between animals are manifested both in the signs of the exterior and in the history of the breeds. Let's take a closer look at the nuances of the breeds, their character, in order to understand for ourselves which of these dogs is better to choose.

Let's take a look at the history of the two breeds.

From one of the other versions, it follows that the ancestor of the breed is the small Indian wolf. The beast was found in Europe many centuries ago. About 6 thousand years ago, the so-called bronze dog originated from him, in whose veins the blood of wild and domesticated animals flowed. The bronze dog is followed by a shepherd dog named Hofowart. And already from this animal German shepherds appeared, which, however, at first outwardly were far from those that we can observe today.

The first mention of these dogs dates back to the 7th century. The West Germanic tribe of Alemanni describes in their code of laws the type of punishment to which people who kill a shepherd's dog are subjected. During the 18th century, cattle breeding was actively developing on the territory of Germany. Farmers needed guard animals that could handle livestock. Sheepdogs did an excellent job with this role.At the same time, selection was carried out to obtain animals with specified performance characteristics without paying attention to the appearance of the dogs. Because of which, the new individuals were very different from their counterparts.

The breeding of shepherd dogs was put on stream. No standards were put forward for the breed. There were two kennels: Württemberg and Thuringia, but dogs were bred throughout German soil. If we compare the animals obtained in these two centers, then the conformation of the dogs was significantly different. Pets from Turing had:

• wolf coat;
• flexible tail, rolled into a ring;
• average height and pointed ears.

The animals were more active and mobile in comparison with the individuals from Württemberg. But the latter are calmer and more balanced in character. The exterior of the dog is impressive, the skin is painted in spots, the ears are drooping.

And although there were differences between these species, the owners calmly crossed the animals. In 1882, the German Shepherd breed was first introduced to the general public. Two males - Greif and Cuirass - distinguished by their light coat color won the admiration of the crowd, which served as an impetus for further selection of the breed. It is believed that it was the dogs from Turing that became the ancestors of the breed that we see today.

In 1891, the first society of shepherd lovers was formed, for the first time standards appeared for the breed. After the closure of the club, Mr. Richelmann continued to work on breeding shepherd dogs in order to preserve the developments of the community. In 1899, Max von Stefanitz meets a shepherd dog. The first dog he acquired was Horand von Grafarte.

Stefanitz had a veterinary education, allowing him to make his dream come true. He wanted to breed the perfect shepherd dog. And to make the business look solid, Max first organized the German Shepherd Owners Union (SVNO). This society was not concerned with the commercial benefits of breeding the breed.

Sheepdog Grafart was distinguished by phenomenal parameters of the exterior. Stefanitz spared no time and effort to breed the breed:

• traveled all over the country in search of suitable individuals of the opposite sex;
• collaborated with the owners of nurseries, explaining to them the nuances of breeding work.

After 100 years, IHO has become the most impressive officially registered organization among all such communities. The breed standards put forward by Max von Stefanitz are considered to be the standard.

Thanks to the work of SVNO, the whole world was able to get to know the German Shepherd breed. Interest in German individuals was also shown by not particularly picky owners, who, for personal gain, decided to deviate from the breed breeding rules. The blood of decorative and other breeds, animals with an unstable psyche began to pour into the gene pool of German shepherds. Large-sized pets were very popular. To save the purebred breed, in 1925 SVNO decided to hold a conference, which included all breeders who wanted to maintain the breed standards of German Shepherds. A sample of dogs participating in various championships was made, among them a male named Claudo von Boxberg was identified. It was from Clodo that the main genetic branches of the breed originated.

Max von Stefanitz died in 1936, but his work was continued by members of the Union. During the Second World War, German Shepherd kennels began to disappear. In the middle of 1946, it was decided to nominate not one individual, but a group of dogs for the champion title. For the first time in history, the elite was a group of eight representatives of this breed. The sixties of the last century are the time of active animal breeding. At that time it was fashionable to attend dog competitions and exhibitions, to train pets. The emphasis of all events: excitement, playfulness, activity. They did not pay attention to the exterior of the pets, the main thing is the dog's mobility, its indefatigability. At the same time, the first "sports" breeders appeared. The cynological community has decided to single out two areas of purebred dogs: elite individuals, working animals.

For the first category, it was necessary to pass a test for physical endurance, absence of defects, poise, cleanliness of line and exterior. Conformity of origin was made with the method of analyzing the animal's DNA. The value of athletes was in the number of victories in championships, and the rest - intelligence, appearance, and so on - was not evaluated.

The East European breed was developed with the participation of German Shepherds. Over time, the "Europeans" have acquired a number of differences that have alienated the breed from its origins. The animals became larger in size, massive, which made it possible to use them in the security and sentry service. Today the appearance of the East European breed is significantly different from its German counterparts.

The breed standard was formed in 1976, but it was not recognized as an independent breed. Individuals were equated with the German Shepherd variety. In 1990, there was a crisis of this breed, the popularity of animals began to decline sharply. "Europeans" began to mate with a German brother, but the puppies still remained "Europeans". However, this selection method had a beneficial effect on the breed - it turned out to get rid of the following disadvantages:

• "Soft" back;
• lowered sacrum;
• twisted limbs.

Despite the acquired advantages, the breeders were extremely wary of the "Europeans", which could lead to the extinction of the breed. On the territory of Russia in 1991 a union of kennels of the East European breed was organized. At the beginning of the XXI century, a single pedigree book of mating was created. A couple of years later, the cynological community officially adopted the standard for "Europeans". The dog handlers wanted the breed to be able to perform many different tasks: guard, protect, guard, escort, patrol and perform search work.

To understand which breed is in front of you, you should compare the appearance of animals. Each breed has its own differences. The exterior of the German Shepherd is characterized by the following parameters.

• Head. The ears of the animal are erect, pointed upward, set high. In puppyhood, the ears hang. The eyes are dark brown, almost black. Dogs with light eyes are considered defective and should not be bred. Developed jaws, scissor bite. The nose is colored black.
• Frame. The body is elongated. The back is straight, closer to the tail it goes downhill. The front zone of the body is located above the back.
• Height. Males reach a height at the withers of about 65 cm, females - no more than 60 cm. The weight of the male fluctuates around 40 kg, girls - 32 kg.
• Wool cover can be short, long, soft and hard. The color of the coat is varied: from zoned bleached to tan and black. Individuals with spots are allowed, a black mask is formed on the muzzle.

The "Europeans" have differences.

• Torso pet is more massive. The animals are long-legged, the body silhouette is rectangular. The length of the body in relation to the height (at the withers) is 17% longer. The loin is short, the pelvis is lowered. The thoracic region is wide, the belly is tucked up. The tail is saber-shaped, down at rest, the tip of the tail is at the level of the knees.
• Head it is similar in shape to a blunt wedge, the superciliary arches are pronounced, a hump is permissible on the back of the nose. The nose is black. Eye color from dark brown to hazel. The ears are erect.
• Growth is higher than that of the "Germans". Males reach 75 cm, females grow up to 70. Male weight is 50 kg, girls - around 40.

Animals also differ in character. German Shepherd Dogs are temperaments, easy to train, psychologically stable.Pets are prone to unquestioning obedience, always respond to a nickname. Devoted, they treat strangers calmly, without showing aggression. They are friendly to children, support them in games.

The East European Shepherd Dogs are also a balanced breed with a sharp mind. The animal is brave, active, capable of making decisions quickly, and gets used to its owner in a short time.

There is a difference in the training of these breeds. For "Europeans" training is vital, the process requires persistence, perseverance, the help of a dog handler. The German Shepherd is more intelligent, it is not difficult to teach it even on your own, if you know at least the basics of training.

If you are going to engage in security, control or other activities that require a watchdog, then it is better to take a "European". This breed is widely used in the work of special services, the Ministry of Emergencies. It is better to keep these dogs in large enclosures.

According to dog handlers, a German shepherd is better suited for keeping a house. She will make a good company when playing sports and outdoor activities.

The similarities and differences between the East European and German Shepherd Dogs are discussed in the following video.