The Pain of Popularity
The German shepherd continues to be one of the most popular purebreds in the United States. Because of movies featuring German shepherds in heroic roles, such as Strongheart and Rin Tin Tin, the breed has received enormous media attention. While this attention may seem positive, the breed's wide exposure has resulted in a significant problem.
The German shepherd hit the #1 breed registration ranking with the AKC in the late 1920s and has remained in the top ten since that time. The shepherd is also one of the most common breeds to be seen in shelters and pounds.
When people saw an intelligent, handsome, perfectly obedient dog on the big screen, they immediately wanted to own a German shepherd. However, the supply of well-bred, quality German shepherds was minimal compared to the soaring demand. So people who had no knowledge of the breed cashed in on the latest fad and began breeding German shepherds as fast as the public could scoop them up.
As a result, the 1960s and 1970s were flooded with poorly bred shepherds, who were inherently at higher risk for genetic diseases and temperament disorders. Additionally, since so many people had a romanticized and unrealistic image of the breed, this energetic working dog wound up in homes unsuited for its true nature.
Before long, the criminal portion of society realized that the German shepherd's intelligence and trainability could be used for unlawful purposes. This exploitation caused a swing in public opinion about the dogs that lingers even today. When the breed's courage and loyalty were used for the wrong reasons, the German shepherd became the first “bad” dog in the country; these dogs were responsible for a disproportionate number of bites and fatalities in the 1970s. The general public came to fear and abandon the breed.
While a number of other breeds have since taken over the spot of criminal accomplice, the thoughtless breeding of shepherds does continue, as do sales to the wrong owners.
