Learn the fascinating history of Czech Working Line’s DDR German Shepherds

The phrase “DDR German Shepherds” is derived from the German phrase “Deutsches Demokratische Republik” which translates in English to “German Democratic Republic.” Many of you familiar with the conclusion of World War II will recall the formation of the Deutsches Demokratische Republik in 1949. The Berlin Wall was erected. Germany was split into two states. It seems like only yesterday that I was sitting in my grandparents living room discussing the fall of the Berlin Wall. Not many breeders in the USA have invested in DDR German Shepherds. Give us a moment and we’ll share with you the fascinating history of what sets DDR German Shepherds apart from so many other GSD lines. 

With Germany’s surrender following World War Two, the allied forces divided German’s territory was divided into four regions. The west retained control of three of these regions. The Soviet Union controlled one. The three regions controlled by the west (France, United Kingdom, and United States) merged on May 23, 1949. These regions were combined into one and became known as the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland). But trouble was brewing on the eastern front (or so we in the west might have felt). On October 7, 1949 the Soviet Union closed the borders on the Eastern sector. In so doing, the German Democratic Republic (Deutsche Demokratische Republik, also known as DDR) became largely closed to the west. For most alive today, our historical memory of such events has been shaped by Hollywood drama and action movies depicting harrowing escapes or brave undercover forays past the “Wall.” How accurate these Hollywood representations of history might be are up for discussion. 

Cold War DDR German Shepherd Breeding Program Leaves Permanent Stamp on the Breed. By this time the Cold War has begun in earnest. East Germany is now cut off from the west. The Socialist Union party of Germany (Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands), also known as the East German Communist Party brought the German Shepherd registry and breeding under governmental control. In so doing, German Shepherd breeding in the DDR effectively became a government endeavor. And this is where it gets interesting. As a third generation dog breeders here at Czech Working Line, we know first hand the human temptation for humans to fall in love with a particular dog. In so doing, they inevitably make concessions that would never occur in a rules based breeding system. Under the DDR rules based breeding program, the East German government all but eliminated hip dysplasia. Continue reading to see why they were so effective in making crazy progress in such short periods of time.

Taking control of the German Shepherd registry, the DDR government quickly instituted stringent breeding criteria. Breeders were instructed to cull dogs from breeding programs displaying the slightest indication of hip dysplasia or lacking dry nerves (calm or stable temperament). Prioritizing straighter toplines with great substance of bone, the DDR line of German Shepherds valued strong, athletic, powerful dogs. Every litter was inspected for strong teeth, sound bone and joint structure, and a great ear set (no friendly ears, meany floppy ears that don’t stand up). Coat quality was a point of emphasis as was the whole package of the dog. But what set the DDR German Shepherds apart from their West German counterparts was the DDR German Shepherd’s breeding program emphasis on athleticism.  

DDR German Shepherd Dogs were tested to some of the highest standards for German Shepherd Dog breeders anywhere in the world! Where West German lines were required to scale five-foot angled walls, East German dogs were either capable of scaling a vertical, six-foot wall— or they were culled. And the list goes on. Where west German exams required dogs search six blinds, DDR lines were required to find ten blinds. Tracking requirements were even more extreme. West German tracking exams required eight corners and angles. DDR tracking exams in contrast required dogs complete double, sixteen all told. Through these rigorous testing means, DDR German Shepherds all but eliminated virtually all hip and elbow dysplasia in their lines. Expected to work long shifts patrolling the border between East and West Germany, DDR German Shepherds were selected from dogs with the strongest constitution, capable of surviving the harshest of weather.

Communist East German police, the Grenzschutz Polizei (Border Police) incorporated DDR German Shepherds as an integral part of their border patrol. The 850 miles long border  between East and West German was routinely patrolled by canines and their handlers The same was true for the one hundred mile-long Berlin wall. East German Shepherds were the drone technology of the mid twentieth century. They were the sentries finding military deserters and looking for persons attempting to escape to the west. Deserters and persons attempting to cross into the west were dealt with swiftly.

All this came to a swift end in 1989. I was seventeen at the time, a few months from my eighteenth birthday. I had recently left home as a young adult and recall that conversation with my grandparents sitting some three thousands miles from the my parents home. A historic moment. The Berlin Wall had come down! With the 1989 unification of East and West Germany, the DDR German Shepherd breeding program came to a swift end. In just a few months, tends of thousands of border patrol agents were let go. And just like that the DDR breeding program came to end. Handlers took dogs home. Many were abandoned. Some were sold. 

Sadly, only a few dedicated breeders worldwide are actively preserving these DDR lines and character traits. Czech Working Line is one of these breeders. Here at Czech working Line we are continuing to build on the work of both the Czech German Shepherd and East German Shepherd breeding programs. Like the East German breeding programs where their dogs were required to scale six foot vertical walls, rather than sloped shorter walls, we continue to select for powerful athletic dogs. Dry dogs, those dogs were exceptional nerves continue to be one of our great priorities. These are dogs with a clear off switch. They are not human aggressive, or angry dogs. Dry dogs with a clear off switch, healthy dogs with great joints continue to be our priority. 

For sure, DDR German Shepherds make both good family protection dogs and trained protection dogs. Searching for a police dog for sale, both Czech German Shepherd dogs as well as DDR German Shepherd lines are some of the best choices you could make! Interested in learning more about our DDR German Shepherds. Our East German Shepherd dogs are second to none. Call to see how you can bring home a German Shepherd puppy for sale from one of our upcoming litters.