The Deutsches Demokratische Republik (DDR) German Shepherd, also known as the East German Shepherd, is a bloodline of devoted and courageous guard dogs bred in Germany following World War II. The DDR German Shepherd is an agile, athletic, and able dog that is willing to go the distance for his owner. The DDR German Shepherd is an ideal pet for anybody looking for a dedicated, courageous, and clever canine friend.
Here are some interesting DDR German Shepherd facts and information to help you understand more about this magnificent dog.
How Do DDR German Shepherds Differ From Standard German Shepherds?
Four decades of specialized breeding have produced the DDR German Shepherd. These dogs differ from regular GSDs in that they were developed to be more aggressive, territorial, and tough.
But in addition to these, DDR GSDs have additional characteristics that make them stand apart from the competition.
DDR German Shepherds are generally comparable to ordinary GSDs in terms of their physical characteristics.
They are similar to most German Shepherds in terms of height and weight. In actuality, an untrained eye won’t be able to immediately detect any differences.
The color of the coats is an exception, though. DDR GSDs typically only have black and sable markings on their coats, as opposed to other GSDs who can have grey, tan, or red markings.
Additionally, DDR German Shepherds have fewer sloping toplines than other GSDs.
DDR German Shepherds outperform other breeds in the area of health. These dogs have an extremely low likelihood of developing hip dysplasia, a bone ailment that affects German Shepherds fairly frequently.
DDR German Shepherds are also less likely to develop genetic predispositions such as dwarfism.
In terms of behavior, DDR German Shepherds are about the same as standard GSDs.
Although they were originally bred to be aggressive guard dogs, these pooches have evolved to be great family companions and they have a balanced temperament.
What Does a DDR German Shepherd Look Like?
The medium to large East German Shepherd has an athletic body and a well-balanced stance. East GSDs are longer than they are tall, so they have longer limbs overall. DDR German Shepherds’ general demeanor gives away their general attitude, which is robust, agile, and well-mannered.
These dogs don’t seem very menacing at first glance, yet they are always quite noticeable.
German Shepherds from the DDR breed have a strong frame with lots of curves. Because of this, their silhouette appears curved rather than angular.
A DDR Shepherd has a little straighter top line than regular GSDs. As a result, they have more level backs than typical German Shepherds.
DDR dogs’ medium-length double-layered coats shield them from the weather. Usually, these dogs are either black or sable. They can have straight or wavy coats. Similar to a typical German Shepherd, an East GSD has a bushy tail. Their tails droop between their hindquarters while they are at rest.
What Types Of Work Suited To DDR German Shepherds?
DDR German Shepherds meet the requirements for military dogs mentioned above, which means they are able to obey orders and can guard and protect effectively. I’ll discuss what each of these characteristics entails in terms of getting work out of your GSD in this section.
- Protecting Property
Because they are constantly concerned on guarding their owner, DDR German Shepherds sometimes find it difficult to socialize with other dogs.
Teaching a DDR Shepherd how to protect won’t be a problem. You’ll need to tell them who is acceptable to let on the property, if anything. The DDR will eventually be in a situation where he is unable to actually harm anyone.
Some families tether their GSDs to kennels in the backyard; others think it’s cruel and find various solutions to prevent the dog from bringing a lawsuit by biting the local lawyer’s child.
Having your DDR Shepherd double as a security alarm with incisors is the ideal way to have him guard your property and keep people away from your dog.
As he may mistake visitors for intruders, your dog’s job should not be to attack trespassers but rather to bark in alarm and drive away true trespassers.
- Protecting (and Herding Livestock)
When herding sheep or cattle, your DDR Shepherd’s job is different from when they are defending your land. The dog serves solely as an alert when defending your home; it is not the assailant who “fixes” the worrying situation.
However, the same dog should be allowed to attack while defending your animals from hyenas or foxes. A different kind of training is necessary for this.
When taught to be real shepherd dogs, DDR German Shepherds are frequently socialized to the point where they don’t feel uncomfortable even when they run into a stranger. This enables them to narrow their attention to species that can pose a threat to the chicken coup, such as foxes and coyotes.
DDR German Shepherds have tremendous offensive ability, but they don’t make effective hunting dogs. However, you can train a DDR German Shepherd to kill foxes at sight by using dummies and rewarding the puppy for each dummy “killed.”
While they can track, their assistance with hunting is at best mediocre. Their tracking skills would be better utilized elsewhere.
- Detecting Substances
DDR German Shepherds may be trained to detect drugs, explosives, misplaced items, and even dead bodies thanks to their exceptionally sensitive sense of smell.
According to the urban legend surrounding the DDR military’s usage of these canines, the DDR German Shepherds were trained to attack using the old belongings of deserters, and they were sent after soldiers who tried to flee on the other side of the Berlin Wall.
According to the narrative, the military did employ DDR German Shepherds to hunt down deserters. But what important is that DDR Shepherds used to track individuals frequently, whether it was by having them smell old garments or by simply pointing at someone who had recently left.
- Companionship
Despite not being trained specifically to be therapy dogs, DDR German Shepherds are just as emotionally intelligent as other GSDs and can be service animals. Dogs’ willingness to please and corresponding work ethic make them excellent emotional supporters for persons going through trauma recovery.
However, you should speak with experts and get their advice before employing a DDR German Shepherd for therapy. I can only tell that your dog can be helpful. But it’s best to leave the “how” to the experts when it comes to that.
Conclusion
A DDR German Shepherd is often fairly similar to other GSDs, and they make excellent family pets.
Simply said, these dogs will provide you with just the best kind of company. The lengthy history of these dogs justifies their expensive price, though.
Consider getting an East German Shepherd if you can get over the high upfront cost. A DDR German Shepherd can handle whatever you throw at it with the right care and training!
