German shepherd dog is one of the most useful dog breeds. It possesses a loyal, courageous, and intelligent personality. Originally developed in Germany in the mid-1800’s as a herding dog, the breed now often serves as a police dog, a working dog, and as a guide dog for the blind. People around the world also keep German shepherds as pets.
The German shepherd dog stands 22 to 26 inches (61 centimeters) tall at the shoulder and weighs 60 to 85 pounds (27 to 39 kilograms). It somewhat resembles a wolf in shape and has erect ears and a long, wedge-shaped muzzle. The dogs vary in color from black and tan to light brown. In the United Kingdom and certain other countries, the German shepherd dog is called the Alsatian dog.