Editing German Shepherd (section)

=== Naming ===

[[File:German Shepherds in ravine.jpg|thumb|Sable bitch (left) and dog (right)]]

The breed was named {{Lang|de|Deutscher Schäferhund}}, by von Stephanitz, translating to "German Shepherd Dog".{{r|fci}} At the time, all other herding dogs in Germany were referred to by this name; they thus became known as {{Lang|de|Altdeutsche Schäferhunde}}, or [[old German herding dogs]].

The direct translation of the name was adopted for use in the [[stud-book]]; however, at the end of the [[First World War]], it was thought that use of the word "German" would harm the breed's popularity<ref name="palika-22">{{Cite book|last=Palika|first=Liz|year=2008|title=Your Happy Healthy Pet: German Shepherd Dog|publisher=[[Wiley (publisher)|Wiley]]|isbn=978-0-470-19231-3|page=22}}</ref> [[Anti-German sentiment#First World War|in countries that had fought Germany]].{{sfnp|Rice|1999|p=12}} The breed was officially renamed by the UK Kennel Club to "Alsatian Wolf Dog",<ref name="palika-22" /> after the French region of [[Alsace]] bordering Germany.{{sfnp|Kern|1990|pp=11–21}}

Eventually,{{when|date=February 2022}} the appendage "wolf dog" was dropped,<ref name="palika-22" /> after numerous campaigns by breeders who were worried that becoming known as a [[wolf-dog hybrid]] would affect the breed's popularity and legality.{{sfnp|Kern|1990|pp=11–21}} The name Alsatian remained for five decades,<ref name="palika-22" /> until 1977, when successful campaigns by dog enthusiasts pressured the British kennel clubs to allow the breed to be registered again as German Shepherds.<ref name=germanculture>{{cite web|url=https://germanculture.com.ua/german-facts/german-shepherd/|title=German Shepherd&nbsp;– The Ultimate Service Dog |date=25 June 2023|website=German Culture}}</ref> The word "Alsatian" once appeared in parentheses as part of the formal breed name of the American Kennel Club, until removed in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/3367/23/5/3 |title=Change of Name&nbsp;– German Shepherd Dog |date=19 October 2010 |website=The Kennel Club |access-date=22 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027170852/http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/3367/23/5/3 |archive-date=27 October 2010 }}</ref>