CHAPTER I 
The Origin , Early History and Geneology 
of the Shepherd 
'T'HE existing conditions in the world during the 
introduction of this interesting breed to 
America were responsible for considerable confusion 
in regard to its proper breed name. Known origin¬ 
ally in Germany as Der Deutche Shaeferhund, the 
correct literal translation of The German Shepherd 
Dog was accepted in America as the proper name 
among the fanciers of the breed. The American 
Kennel Club, however, translated the Shepherd into 
the Sheepdog, due, perhaps, to the fact that herding 
dogs were generally known as Sheepdogs in the 
old English classifications. Previous to the World 
War, the name was also correctly translated in 
France, where he was known as the Chien de Berger 
Allemand, and the breeders of France registered 
their kennel names and their dogs in the German 
Studbook, where they will be found today. During 
the war the French changed the name to Chien de 
Berger Alsace, and when the breed was taken up 
in England this name was, in part, accepted there, 
and the dog was known as the Alsatian Wolfdog, 
and this of all the dog’s collective nomenclature is 
the most erroneous. In America the name was also 
changed during the war to Shepherd Dog, and this 
again is most misleading, for the German Shepherd 
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