By 1914, the German Shepherd Dog was so popular in the United States that there was a debate about altering its name to "shepherd dog" or "sheepdog."
In 1917, the American Kennel Association deleted "German" from the name of the breed. In 1930, AKC members opted to revert the name back to "German shepherd dog."
In the early 1900s, the German shepherd dog was taught to serve the German military by transporting ammunition, guarding, acting as a courier, and undertaking search and rescue operations.
During World War I, the breed's valor on the battlefield attracted American soldiers, who brought some of the dogs back home, causing the breed's popularity to surge.
You may be familiar with Rin-Tin-Tin, but are you familiar with Etzel von Oeringen, also known as "Strongheart"? The former German police dog starred in six films,
including "White Fang" in 1925, making him one of the earliest canine film stars. Even on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, he has a star.
Dorothy Harrison Eustis, an American dog trainer residing in Switzerland, trained German shepherds as guide dogs for the blind in 1927.
Morris Frank, who was blinded as a child and saw a widespread need for excellent seeing-eye dogs, took notice of Eustis's efforts.