History of the DDR German Shepherd

Did you know that there is such a thing as an East German Shepherd and a West German Shepherd? The East GSD is better known as the DDR German Shepherd, which stands for Deutsches Demokratische Republik German Shepherd (this translates to the German Democratic Republic, which was a socialist state in Eastern Germany starting in 1949).

How exactly are East German Shepherds different from the West German Shepherds (GSDs) we all know and love? If you would like to learn more about these beautiful dogs, we go over their origins, history, appearance, and temperament.

​

History of the East German Shepherd

Back in 1949, after the end of World War II, the Soviet Union occupied part of Eastern Germany, which is when it became the German Democratic Republic. At this time, Germany was divided into the Federal Republic of Germany and the Democratic Republic. In the U.S., we knew these areas as “West Germany” and “East Germany.”

The East German Communist Party took over the German Shepherd breeding and pedigree registrations as a way to make German Shepherds part of their military. From here, this is where we see the beginnings of the East German Shepherd

​

East German Shepherd Origins

There existed breed Wardens on both sides East and West Germany. On the East German military placed strict breeding criteria on these dogs, Any perceived flaw in a DDR German Shepherd took the dog out of the breeding program. Flawed temperament and any health issues, such as hip dysplasia, would see the removal of the dog from breeding.

The breeding wardens on the East GSD's were also looking for a specific appearance and would check every litter for the right temperament, coat quality, ear set, bone structure, teeth, and overall appearance. They were looking for dogs with strength and large heads and with the capacity for athleticism and power.

East German Shepherd dogs were used as part of the Border Police (Grenzschutz Polizei) patrols, where they were responsible for guarding the East German border, which is 850 miles long, and the 100-mile Berlin Wall. These dogs acted as an attack, tracking, and guard dogs and were also part of a special unit that would track down deserters throughout the countryside.

The Berlin Wall was torn down in 1989, and Germany’s borders opened up. The guards and the East German Shepherd sentry dogs were no longer needed, so many of these dogs were abandoned, sold, or euthanized. The breeders of the DDRs were thought to have given or sold some of these dogs to friends and family as a means to preserve the line.

The color of the DDR’s coats is one of the first differences that you might notice. They tend to be darker than the GSDs we’re familiar with and have predominantly black or sable coats. You sometimes see a small amount of tan coloring on the legs and feet and sometimes on the face and around their ears. But they tend to have dark faces.

These dogs were driven working dogs that were bred for guarding and attacking. They were high-energy and active dogs with focus, endurance, intelligence, great stamina, and courage.

One of the most important things that owners need to know about DDR German Shepherds is that these are dogs that thrive on a lot of activity. The DDR German Shepherd is a result of four decades of exclusive breeding. These dogs were designed to be more aggressive, more territorial, and more resilient than other GSDs.

Like all Shepherds, they require more fulfilling lives than existing ignored in a backyard.

An activity that should be a part of every German Shepherd’s everyday life is a brisk walk once or twice a day. Taking a dog on walks helps provide stimulation.

Another advantage of walking is that it helps to provide better bonding between both of you.