Why GSD?

[wolfsoul]

Most breeds have longer names that aren't commonly used. Not many people actually put "dog" on the end of German shepherd dog when they are saying it. In Canada, Belgians are called "Belgian shepherd dogs," though I just call them Belgian shepherds.

[Iilo]

A lot of French breeds have "dogue" (an OLD OLD way of saying dog) tacked on.

[Karen]

I think it makes sense, as otherwise you could confuse them with a human employed as a sheep herder who lives in Germany!

[GSDOG]

I think it makes sense, as otherwise you could confuse them with a human employed as a sheep herder who lives in Germany!

LOL ...good point, I hadnt thought of it that way...

[areias]

Not totally sure if I understand the question..but..

maybe to distinguish a "German Shepherd" from his dog?


That may or may not have been a joke...I really don't know.

[Sevaede]

In german it is called Deutsche Schaferhunde..which means German Shepherd Dog...That is what the founder of the breed called it. In america before WWI started the AKC called it the German Sheepdog, during the war they dropped the German part, after the war the AKC changed the name to German Shepherd Dog. .........I actually looked this up because it has been a long long time since I even thought about the dog part of the name...If I am not mistaken Belgians are called Belgian Sheepdogs???

In the FCI they are referred to as the Mechelen Belgian Shepherd, Tervuren and Groenendael Belgian Shepherds (had to share a section. Dont know why that is), and Laeken Belgian Shepherds.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes only the Groenendael under the name "Belgian Sheepdog", but also recognizes the Tervueren (with the alternative spelling "Tervuren") and the Malinois as individual breeds. The Laekenois can be registered as part of the AKC foundation stock service and should eventually be recognised fully by the AKC.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Shepherd_Dog

[wolfsoul]

If I am not mistaken Belgians are called Belgian Sheepdogs???

The AKC is the only registry in the world that calls them Belgian sheepdogs, and it only refers to the longhaired black dogs. CKC used to call them Belgian sheepdogs, but there was too much confusion since CKC allows intervariety breeding between all the varieties and classifies them as one breed, and AKC does not.

[Freedom]

Well, based on all of this, then I guess Coco Bean and others need to start referubg to her Labrador Retriever DOG so we know they don't mean a person from Labrador who retrieves!