Introduction 
'T'HE interest that was aroused in the Shepherd 
upon his advent in America was prompted pri¬ 
marily by his attractive exterior, his alert and en¬ 
gaging manner and the many visible proofs of his 
intelligence. As the acquaintance and understand¬ 
ing of this intelligence grew among the early 
fanciers of the breed, there came with it the desire to 
know more of his antecedents and the mental de¬ 
velopment that has given the breed its high station 
as a working dog, and they found that the entire 
history of this breed, from its early forbears to its 
most recent development was one in which utility 
was the keynote. Through the importations and 
business affiliations with experienced German fan¬ 
ciers, their efforts to encourage the breed in this 
respect were followed to a certain extent in America, 
not perhaps with the thorough understanding and 
patience of the German fanciers, but as well as they 
knew. At least, the early foundation was laid for 
this work with the very first entry of the breed, 
and great credit is due to those who inaugurated 
it here, many of whom are still its sponsors and are 
today developing this very important function of 
the breed. That it will grow and expand to its 
proper complement, there is no doubt, for the value 
of this training is still superficially understood by 
the general public in America. It has, to some 
extent, been grasped by the energetic moving picture 
men in this country, who have capitalized this ability 
with no mean .success, so that the working and earn- 
