Here is my pick for the top 24 German dog breeds that have earned their place in everyday service.
#1 Dachshund
The Dachshund was developed in Germany to be a dog that hunted close to the hunter.
It is still used in its native country for tracking wounded game.
They have been kept by royal courts all over Europe, including that of Queen Victoria. Dachshunds are often stubborn, making them a challenge to train.
Dachshunds come in three sizes:
- kaninchen
- miniature
- standard
#2 German Shepherd
The German Shepherd Dog is a breed that originated in Germany in 1899. Captain Max Emil Frederick von Stephanitz, a German cavalry officer, created the GSD by the cross-breeding of working sheep dogs from rural Germany.
German Shepherds are incredibly loyal, intelligent, protective, and playful. Socializing them as young pups helps them become well-adjusted adults. They are especially well known for their police work, being used for holding suspects and tracking criminals.
#3 Pomeranian
Pomeranians come from the region of Pomerania (today Poland and Germany). You should know that they are closely related to other Spitz breeds, like the Samoyed or Keeshond.
#4 Great Dane
The Great Dane is a breed of working dog developed at least 400 years ago in Germany. It was initially bred by German nobility for two primary purposes: guarding and hunting.
#5 Weimaraner
The Weimaraner originated in the province of Weimar, Germany, a city in the German state of Thuringia. It probably descended directly from the ancient grey French Scent Hounds of the 13th Century.
It may be used to track, point to, flush, or retrieve birds or other game. In Germany, it is not considered suitable for keeping as a companion dog.
#6 Poodle
Although it is the national dog of France, the Poodle originated in Germany. This breed can be seen in art from as early as the 15th and 16th centuries.
#7 Affenpinscher
The Affenpinscher is one of the oldest ‘toy’ breeds and originates from Germany. It was initially bred to be a ratter – to kill rats, mice, and other small vermin.
Editor’s Pick
#8 Boxer
The Boxer was developed in Germany in the 19th century. It was bred from the Old English Bulldog and the now extinct Bullenbeisser.
#9 Doberman Pinscher
The Doberman Pinscher is a breed of working dog developed in Apolda, Germany, by Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann.
#10 Eurasier
The Eurasier is a relatively new Spitz-type dog breed originating in Germany by Prof. Julius Wipfel.
#11 German Pinscher
The German Pinscher originated in southern Germany. It was first used as a stable dog to guard and to exterminate vermin.
#12 German Shorthaired Pointer
The German Shorthaired Pointer is native to Germany. It became a leading gun dog in Germany in the latter part of the 20th century.
#13 German Wirehaired Pointer
The German Wirehaired Pointer is a medium-large athletic dog that traces its origins back to 19th-century Germany.
#14 German Spaniel (Deutscher Wachtelhund)
The breed descends from an extinct dog called the Stöberer, and it was developed in Germany around 1890.
#15 German Longhaired Pointer
The German Longhaired Pointer is a German breed of gundog.
#16 Giant Schnauzer
The Giant Schnauzer is the largest of the three Schnauzer breeds, and it was developed in the Bavarian Alps sometime in the mid-1800s.
#17 Bavarian Mountain Hound
It originated in Germany around the early 20th century. The Bavarian Mountain Hound was developed by Baron Karl Bebenburg of Reichenhall.
#18 Rottweiler
The Rottweiler is descended from drover dogs left by the Roman legions in Rottweil, Germany. It is considered to be one of the oldest dog breeds.
#19 Hovawart
The Hovawart is a medium to large-sized German dog breed. The Hovawart does exceptionally well in search and rescue.
#20 Large Munsterlander
It originated in Westphalia and Lower Saxony. It is used to find and retrieve shot game. It was accepted by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in 1954.
#21 Leonberger
The Leonberger breed was originally created by Heinrich Essig. The first dog that was actually called a Leonberger was born in 1846. Traditionally, Leonbergers were kept as farm dogs.
#22 German Hound
The German Hound is a breed of dog originating in Westphalia, where it was bred as a specialised scent hound to assist hunters. Although it is a hunting dog, the German Hound is affectionate and benefits from living with the family.
#23 Biewer Terrier
The Biewer Terrier originated in Germany in 1984. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2021, and it was first imported to the US in 2003 by Donna Hall. The Biewer Terrier was admitted into the AKC’s Foundation Stock Service in 2014.
#24 American Eskimo Dog
The American Eskimo Dog’s country of origin is Germany. German settlers who came to the US brought their dogs with them. They are double-coated, with thick, straight fur.