Have you ever heard of the Alsatian, Alsatian Wolf Dog, Deutscher Schaferhund, American White Shepherd or Panda Shepherd. Well, let's take them one at a time.
- The GSD had just begun to be noticed in the U.S. when World War I broke out. Since all things of German origin were shunned in many countries during and after the war it was believed that the inclusion of the word 'German' in the breed name would hinder its popularity. Therefore the breed was officially renamed by the UK Kennel Club to "Alsatian Wolf Dog." Although this name lasted for five decades dog enthusiasts eventually won the battle to have the British Kennel Club allow the breed to be registered by its original name, the "German Shepherd Dog." The extension of the word "Alsatian" remained present until it was removed in 2010.
- Deutscher Schaferhund literally translates to the "German Shepherd Dog."
- A white dog has always been considered a fault in the German Shepherd. However these dogs are now recognized as a separate breed by the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) and are known as the American White Shepherd.
- The piebald coloring occurs in a single bloodline of the German Shepherd. These dogs are know as Panda Shepherds where approximately 35% of the dog is white and the remainder of the dog is black and tan. Other GSD's that exhibit this coloring have been tested and thus far none, outside of this blodline, none have exhibited the 'Panda' gene.
