Germany has produced some of the most well-known breeds, and indeed some of the most popular breeds across the world. The country has produced mostly working and sporting dogs, which were bred to help people in their daily lives.
As with is with every country and region, Germans have developed breeds that at the time were of necessity, and made the lives of people easier, whether aiding the hunt, guarding, or herding livestock. Due to this most of the German breeds are hardy, and intelligent dogs, that makes them highly desirable for dog owners, especially those with a lot of experience raising and training dogs.
German Shepherd: A medium sized herding dog, the German Shepherd was developed in the late 1800s, making it a relatively new breed. The German Shepherd was specifically bred for intelligence, hence making them one of the top dogs as far as smarts go. They have the ability to learn simple commands just after five repetitions. The German Shepherd is somewhat active, and is very willing to learn and please, and thrives on having something to do. They make excellent guard dogs, and can be wonderful family pets.
Boxer: Another medium sized dog, the Boxer is a Molosser, and was developed as a hunting dog, specifically to be able to grab and hold onto large prey. The Boxer is an energetic breed and is intelligent. Their calm demeanor makes them great with children as long as they are well socialized. They make great family pets, but can be weary of strangers due to their strong protective instincts.
Doberman Pinscher: The Doberman was developed in the late 1800s, and is a highly intelligent dog breed, and often used as a guard dog, a job which it does exceptionally well. With proper caring, training, and socialization, they can make great family pets, but do tend to be weary of strangers due to their protective nature.
German Shorthaired Pointer: A very popular hunting dog, the German Shorthaired Pointer is well known across the world, and especially in hunting communities, and is valued for its great pointing ability. It was specifically developed to be a hunter and be a suitable family companion so it makes a wonderful addition to an active family—due to its sporting heritage, it is a high energy dog and requires a lot of exercise.
Great Dane: Despite the name, the Great Dane was developed in Germany. It is a large sized dog breed, and was originally bred for hunting large game, the Great Dane is exceptionally strong; however, it has a very calm and gentle demeanor making it a wonderful addition to a family with lots of space.
Giant Schnauzer: Also known as the Munich Schnauzer, this large dog breed is the largest of the three Schnauzer breeds, and was developed as a farm dog for heavy work. It can make a great family dog, but due to its breeding it can be weary of strangers that enter the family home, so it requires lots of socialization as a puppy.
Rottweiler: Originally used as livestock herding dogs, nowadays they are mostly used as guard dogs, due to their alert nature and substantial size and strength. They can make kind and gentle pets, as long as they are socialized properly at a very young age.
Weimaraner: Known as the Gray Ghost, the Weimaraner is a striking canine with gray coat, and yellowish gray eyes. It is a hunting dog, and works as a pointer, but can also be trained to retrieve. Due to its breeding it is an energetic dog, and requires lots of exercise, so it needs an active owner, or one willing to provide it lots of exercise on a daily basis.