The German Shepherd is one of the most popular dog breeds in North America today, which should come as no surprise when considering its intelligence, courage, striking look, and amazing work ethic. Intelligent and courageous, the German Shepherd has something for everyone. But what do you know about this popular breed? Here are six facts about German Shepherds that you may not have known.

1The GSD Is The Perfect Working Dog

The German Shepherd was bred to be the perfect working dog. Max Von Stephanitz of Germany admired many breeds of sheepdog but found none that satisifed his needs until, at a dog show in 1899, he met a dog who had all the qualities he was looking for. Von Stephanitz immediately purchased the dog and used him as the founding stock for a new breed that would go on to be the German Shepherd.

2They are Smart and Brave

German Shepherds are known for their intelligence, and with good reason: They’re considered the third smartest breed of dog. To be placed in the top tier of intelligence, breeds must understand a new command after only five repetitions and follow the first command given to them 95 percent of the time.

There are so many heroic GSDs in the breed’s history that you cannot possibly name them all. But Filax of Lewanno was honored at Westminster in 1917 for bringing 54 wounded soldiers to safety in WW1.

3After World War I GSD Were Renamed

After World War I, lingering anti-German sentiment throughout Great Britain led the UK Kennel Club to rename the German Shepherd to the Alsatian Wolf Dog. This name stuck until 1977. By this point, there were concerns that likening the breed to a wolf hybrid would affect its popularity. In addition, many breeders and dog enthusiasts wished to see the original name restored. After five decades, the German Shepherd dog finally got its name back.

4American Soldiers Brought The GSD To The US

World War I helped to increase the GSD popularity in the United States. American Soldiers saw what the dogs were capable of while fighting the Germans and many brought dogs back with them to the states.

Today the GSD is the second most registered dog in the United States. This is most likely due impart to the breeds diversity – they are popular as family, guard, performance, show, police, military, and service dogs. There isn’t much this dog can’t do.

5Their Star Power Lit Up Silent Screens

Rin Tin Tin, the most famous German Shepherd of all, was originally rescued from a World War I battlefield. In a small French village called Flirey, Corporal Lee Duncan found a damaged German kennel with a starving dog and five puppies inside. The dogs were rescued and one of the puppies was named Rin Tin Tin. He would later become a silent film star, appearing in a total of 28 movies.

6GSD are excellent rescue dogs

According to Dr. Stanley Coren of the University of British Columbia, German Shepherds are the third smartest breed of dog, ranking behind only border collies and poodles. According to tests, the smartest dogs get commands right 95 percent of the time or more. This is the main reason German Shepherds make such excellent working and rescue dogs.

7GSDs Come In Different Colors

Different German Shepherds come in different colors. When most people think of this dog, they think of brown and black fur. That’s the most common color, but German Shepherds also come in solid black and even solid white. Not every breed registry accepts these unique color combinations, but they do make eye-catching pets.

8Schutzhund As A Sport

German Shepherd Dogs were the inspiration for the dog sport called Schutzhund, which tests a dog for many different traits, including courage, intelligence, instincts, and sense of smell. Originally, only German Shepherds that passed the test could qualify to breed and pass on their genes to their puppies. Today, Schutzhund has become a popular sport for breeds of all kinds and championships are held in many countries. In Germany, it is still used to test German Shepherds for their disposition – just as it has been used for over a century.

Conclusion: Thanks to their intelligence and sharp looks, German Shepherd Dogs are sure to be a well-loved breed for generations to come. And if you’re lucky enough to have a German Shepherd in your life, you can feel honored knowing that they’re part of a long and fascinating history.

Der Beitrag Seven Facts About German Shepherd Dogs erschien zuerst auf Realmag.

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Durch globale Erwärmung überleben immer mehr Insekten die milden Winter und wandern in nördliche Gebiete. Diese giftigen Krabbeltiere aus Südeuropa könnten Euch gefährlich werden.

1Ammen Dornfingerspinne

Europas gefährlichste Giftspinne, der Ammen-Dornfinger, ist eigentlich im warmen Mittelmeerraum beheimatet. Doch inzwischen breitet sich die Art über ganz Deutschland aus.

Während man früher in Mitteleuropa eher selten auf den Ammen-Dornfinger traf, muss man zunehmend damit rechnen, dem Ammen-Dornfinger zu begegnen. Infolge der Klimaerwärmung ist er vom Mittelmeer zu uns gewandert.

Der Ammen-Dornfinger ist eine der wenigen Spinnenarten in Europa, deren Nervengift tatsächlich gefährlich werden kann. Ein Biss ist ähnlich schmerzhaft wie ein Wespen- oder Bienenstich. Das Spinnengift kann Schwindel, Erbrechen, leichtes Fieber oder Kreislaufversagen auslösen.

Der Beitrag Mücken, Spinnen, Skorpione: Diese 6 Gifttiere sind nach Deutschland eingewandert erschien zuerst auf Realmag.

Ob beim Autofahren, im Zug, auf dem Wasser oder über den Wolken – vielen Menschen wird von der Schaukelei auf Reisen schlecht. Wer für eine Flugreise etwas frischen Ingwer ins Handgepäck steckt, kann sich bei Reiseübelkeit etwas Erleichterung verschaffen. Denn Ingwer beruhigt den Magen und wirkt somit auf natürliche Weise gegen Brechreiz.

Noch besser wirkt Ingwer als Tee. Wenn du mit dem Auto unterwegs bist, schneide doch vor der Fahrt ein paar Stücke Ingwer in deine Thermoskanne. Beim ersten Anflug von Übelkeit kannst du darauf zurückgreifen.

Der Beitrag 5 Gründe, warum Ingwer der ideale Reisebegleiter ist erschien zuerst auf Realmag.

Every day, about eight million people travel by plane. In the stratosphere, when they chase in a metal tube, these people are doing pretty weird things. How to pay 10 euros for a can of beer, or they watch the episodes of the Golden Girls or buy something … in the SkyMall.

Favorite drink of almost all air travelers

But the strangest thing is our sudden thirst for tomato juice. The thick salty drink is not so popular at sea level, but for many passengers it is the first choice.

Everyone knows the taste of tomato juice. It does not taste moldy, but it’s a bit earthy – not too fresh. But as soon as we are 10,000 meters up, the thick red juice shows off its better side. It is more acidic, has a mineral taste and is very refreshing.

Low pressure in the airplane

And here is the reason why we feel that way: when we cruise at high altitudes, cabin pressure is low – much like the atmosphere a mile above sea level. This low pressure causes several things. The blood gets less oxygen, which makes the odor and taste receptors less sensitive. The mucus in the nasal cavities also expands in the low pressure environment. As a result, we can taste even more difficult.

In addition, most airlines hold the cabin at about 10 to 15 percent humidity. This dries nose and mouth and reduces the taste even more. Dryness, dehydration – it feels like a cold. Sweets are less sweet, salty food is less salty and it’s harder to taste certain herbs and spices. As a result, aviation usually seems rather dull, but tomato juice actually tastes better in the air.

Der Beitrag Why do we drink tomato juice on airplanes? erschien zuerst auf Realmag.