Can You Spot Any Significant Difference In Above Two Dog Breeds?
It would be pretty difficult actually, because they are one breed only
Why then there is so much of confusion on this topic ?
We have tried to explain it, to clear your doubts once and for all.
A common question asked by dog lovers is whether the Alsation and German Shepherd is the same dog breed, or are they different breeds. If you take a vote, there may be contradictory opinions, which is surprising because, in reality, they are just two different names of the same dog breed.
This debate on the difference has been going on for many decades now, with many with the opinion that they are different in color, structure, size, temperament, and place of origin. Claiming that the German Shepherd (GSD) originated in Germany whereas the Alsatian dog originated in the german speaking Alsace region on the border of France and Germany.
With so many opinions, there is bound to be confusion among dog lovers. So to put things in clear perspective let’s start first with the origin of the breed.
Origin
As per Wikipedia, The breed was developed by Max von Stephanitz in 1899 using various traditional German herding dogs.
It was originally developed as a sheep herding breed hence the name “shepherd” but these days its serves as an efficient working dog, guide dog and police dog.
The breed was named Deutscher Schäferhund, by von Stephanitz, literally translating to “German Shepherd Dog”
During the first world war, it was used extensively by both the German army and the allied forces as a working/guard dog, but since the word German was included in the name, the British decided to rename it, and the UK Kennel Club rechristened it as the Alsatian Wolf Dog after the Alsace region of France bordering Germany. Ever since then, even after the end of the two World Wars, the name Alsation was used by the British.
The Americans on the other hand had no reservations about the name and kept on using the German Shepherd name.
Dog breeders around the world, however, wanted to restore the original name and it was after there years of relentless effort the name Alsation was finally replaced by the original name German Shepherd in the year 1977 by the UK Kennel club.