German Shepherd Dog History - Time Line

German Shepherd Dog History - Years of Special Occurrences

Here is the detailed history of German Shepherd Dog breed

1891 - Phylax Society was formed. With very short life span, this dog club was a precurser to the Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde (S.V), which was later created by Max von Stephanitz, the originator of GSD breed.
1894 - The Phylax Society (that was formed in 1891) was disbanded. Many members of the Phylax Society continued to exhibit the ideologies and concepts formulated by the society. One of those eminent members was "Captain Max von Stephanitz", the man who has been credited with the honor of being the father of German Shepherd Dog breed.
1895 - Hektor Linkshrein - later renamed as Horand von Grafrath was born on January 1st
1899 - Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde (S.V.) was initiated.
1899 - 1899 - On April 3rd in the same year of the formation of the Verein für deutsche Schäferhunde (SV) - world's first All-Breed German Dog show was held in Karleruube Rhineland. Captain Stephanitz, and his friend, Arthur Meyer were present in the show looking for a perfect dog to create a really superb herder. Captain stephanitz fell in love with a dog called Hektor Linkshreinand purchased the dog right at the spot and this turned out to be the major turning point in the History of German Shepherd Dog evolution.
1906 - First German Shepherd Dog that was believed to have set paws upon North America.
1907 - The first German Shepherd Dog ever exhibited in America.
1908 - The first German Shepherd registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC).
1908 - German Shepherd Dog first arrived in Great Britain in the early part of the century during this phase of time.
1913 - Benjamin Throop and Anne Tracy formed the German Shepherd Dog Club of America with 26 charter members.
1913 - The first championships had been awarded to German Shepherd Dogs.
1914 - Since this phase of tim till the decline of WW I, the heroic German Shepherd Dogs served in World War I and had played a salient role in the war.
1915 - The first specialty show of the German Shepherd Dog Club of America was held at Greenwich, Connecticut.
1917 - When America entered World War I, all things related to Germany became tabu. The American Kennel Club (AKC) changed the name of the GSD breed to the "Shepherd Dog". thus the German Shepherd Dog Club of America (GSDCA) became the "Shepherd Dog Club of America". In England, the breed had been renamed to "Alsatian". Read out the history of German Shepherd name.
1918 - Rin-Tin-Tin (Rin Tin Tin, Rinty) was born on September 10, as a Dark Grey male baby. He was sired by Fritz de la Chasse royale, who had been traced to the first Registered German Shepherd Dog, Horand. Rinty's mother was Betty des Flandreswho had also been traced to the first Registered German Shepherd Dog, Horand. Rinty was owned by Lee Duncan an american Serviceman.
1919 - The English Kennel Club gave the GSD breed a separate register with 54 dogs being included. By 1926 the count had swelled to 8,058. Such was the exceptional success of the German Shepherd Dog.
1920's - The "Alsatian League" and the "Alsatian Wolf Dog Club" united in the early 1920's under the name of the Alsatian League and Club of Great Britain and started bringing out some order to the GSD
1921 - "Strongheart" - the German Shepherd Dog became the first canine movie GSD star in silent movie, although there were a few canine stars (apart from GSD) had appeared before Strongheart. In 1921 strong acted in his first moview named "The Silent Call". Strongheart became the favorite star and had been well acclaimed by moviegoers of all ages. He used to travel by train from one part to the other of the country and huge mobs of people were on hand to see this marvelous animal at almost all stations.
1922 - Strongheart starred in the movie called "Brawn of the North". 1924 - Strongheart starred in the movie called "The Love Master".
1923 - German Shepherd Rin Tin Tin becomes a canine film star.
1923 - Shepherd Dog Club of New England founded, publishing the Shepherd Dog Review.
1925 - Strongheart starred in the movies called "White Fang" and "North Star".
1925 - The titles of Grand Victor and Grand Victrix are established as the titles for the winners of the GSDCA National.
1927 - Strongheart starred in the movies called "The Return of Boston Blackie"
1928 - Buddy, a German Shepherd Dog, becomes the first Seeing Eye dog among other service dogs to follow in the GSD timeline.
1932 - Rin Tin Tin (lovingly called "Rinty") died on August 10, at the age of 14 years in Los Angeles in the arms of the famous actress Jean Harlow. Rinty's owner had arranged to have Rinty's dead body returned to his birth land - Lorraine, France for his burial in the Cimetière des Chiens, the famous pet cemetery in the Parisian suburb of Asnières-sur-Seine. "Rin Tin Tin" was honored with a star on the "Hollywood Walk of Fame" at 1623 Vine St. in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA, that serves as an entertainment museum.
1936 - Max von Stephanitz, the founder of the German Shepherd Dog breed, died.
1967 - On June 23, 1967, Air Force Headquarters directed that Nemo, the 85 pound, black and tan German Shepherd, was the first hero of his kind to return from the Vietnam War. He returned to the United States with honors, as the first sentry dog to be officially retired from active service.
1977 - Following numerous campaigns by breeders the name of our breed was changed back to the German Shepherd Dog by which it is known in the USA, Australia, and most other countries.