The German Shepherd breed, originally named “Deutscher Schäferhund” by Captain Max von Stephanitz, translates to “German Shepherd Dog.” At that time, all herding dogs in Germany were referred to by this name, so older breeds became known as “Altdeutsche Schäferhunde,” or old German herding dogs.
After World War I, there was concern that the term “German” would harm the breed’s popularity due to anti-German sentiment. As a result, the UK Kennel Club renamed the breed “Alsatian Wolf Dog,” after the Alsace region in France, which borders Germany. However, breeders worried that the term “wolf dog” would negatively impact the breed’s popularity and legality, so it was eventually dropped.
The name “Alsatian” persisted for about fifty years until 1977, when successful campaigns by dog enthusiasts led to the breed being registered again as German Shepherds by British kennel clubs. The American Kennel Club once listed “Alsatian” in parentheses as part of the breed name, but this was removed in 2010.