This rare breed was recently created to provide an unusually impressive companion dog and show dog, but also one with good working potential as a guard or herder.
This massive new breed dates only from the latter part of the 20th century. A powerful, rugged, vigorous, agile and intelligent dog, it is a giant version of the German Shepherd, created by American enthusiasts by careful selective breeding for increased size.
The minimum height for males is 27 in (68.5 cm) and for females 25 in (63.5 cm). For comparison, the German Shepherd itself has a height range of only 22-26 in (55-66 cm). The ideal weight of this dog is 130-150 lb (59-73 kg) for males and 90-110 lb (41-50 kg) for females, which compares with only 75-95 lb (34-43 kg) for the German Shepherd. There are two coat varieties, the coarse-haired and the longhaired.
Kennels in at least five different states (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware and Pennsylvania, all in. the north-east of the United States) are now focusing on this breed, which promises to be popular in the future. For the present, however, it remain’ s a rare animal.
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