Max von Stephanitz

Max von Stephanitz was a German cavalry officer and the founding figure of the German Shepherd dog breed. In 1899, he discovered a dog named Hektor Linksrhein, which he believed embodied the ideal traits he sought in a working dog. He purchased Hektor, renamed him "Germany," and established the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (Society for the German Shepherd Dog) to promote the breed. Von Stephanitz emphasized the German Shepherd's intelligence, strength, and trainability, making it one of the most popular and versatile dog breeds in the world, used in various roles including police, military, and service work.