Where did DDR dogs originate?
After Germany's unconditional surrender on 8 May 1945, the Allies officially divided Germany into the four military occupation zones — France in the southwest, the United Kingdom in the northwest, the United States in the south, and the Soviet Union in the east, bounded on the east by the new Poland-Germany border on the Oder-Neisse line.
East Germany would beoame known as Deutsche Demokratische Republik or DDR. Subsequently a border wall was constructed between the two new countries. The Soviets began an extensive effort to procure German Shepherds dogs to patrol and defend the border wall. To do this the East German Communist Party took control of the breeding and registration of the German Shepherd pedigree and made the German Shepherd part of its military. In 1989 we saw the fall of the Berlin wall and the German borders opened, and the use of the DDR dogs to patrol the wall, was not necessary any longer
The popularity of DDR German Shepherds, also known as Deutsches Demokratische Republik German Shepherds, has been growing for many years now. During both World Wars, German Shepherds were sought after to work side by side with the military due to their loyalty, intelligence and working ability. Before the Cold War began Germany worked as one nation, but during the Cold War the borders were closed by the Soviet Union and Germany’s two nations East Germany and West Germany was formed. East Germany is also known at Deutsche Demokratische Republik.
In 1989 the German borders opened, and the use of the DDR dogs was not necessary any longer. Just months after the border opened about 50,000 guards were dismissed from duty, and the DDR dogs were either abandoned, put down or sold to others that would use them for similar purposes.When the East German Communist Party took control of the breeding and registration of the German Shepherd pedigree and made the German Shepherd part of its military, they were specifically bred to have strong, large heads and to have incredible athleticism and power. If any of the German Shepherds showed signs of a weak temperament, hip dysplasia or any other disease they were not used for breeding. That is why the DDR is such a unique German Shepherd. Because of selective breeding, these traits still remain.
The DDR dogs were trained to out-perform the West German Shepherd dogs by scaling straight six-foot walls, endure long patrols in harsh weather conditions and much more. The DDR’s worked as Border Police and guarded the East German border that was 850 miles long, in addition to the Berlin Wall. Their main duty was to track and attack deserters .
The popularity of DDR German Shepherds, also known as Deutsches Demokratische Republik German Shepherds, has been growing for many years now. During both World Wars, German Shepherds were sought after to work side by side with the military due to their loyalty, intelligence and working ability. Before the Cold War began Germany worked as one nation, but during the Cold War the borders were closed by the Soviet Union and Germany’s two nations East Germany and West Germany was formed. East Germany is also known at Deutsche Demokratische Republik.
In 1989 the German borders opened, and the use of the DDR dogs was not necessary any longer. Just months after the border opened about 50,000 guards were dismissed from duty, and the DDR dogs were either abandoned, put down or sold to others that would use them for similar purposes.When the East German Communist Party took control of the breeding and registration of the German Shepherd pedigree and made the German Shepherd part of its military, they were specifically bred to have strong, large heads and to have incredible athleticism and power. If any of the German Shepherds showed signs of a weak temperament, hip dysplasia or any other disease they were not used for breeding. That is why the DDR is such a unique German Shepherd. Because of selective breeding, these traits still remain.
The DDR dogs were trained to out-perform the West German Shepherd dogs by scaling straight six-foot walls, endure long patrols in harsh weather conditions and much more. The DDR’s worked as Border Police and guarded the East German border that was 850 miles long, in addition to the Berlin Wall. Their main duty was to track and attack deserters .
