var arrayFacts=[ "Great Guide!

German Shepherds have been leading the blind, helping the hearing impaired, and assisting the physically disabled as service dogs for years.

In fact, a German Shepherd by the name of Orient led a blind hiker, who was the dog’s owner, across the entire Appalachian Trail. The trail extends some 2,100 miles!", "Animal Testing.

In 1941, Nazi party leader Martin Bormann gave Adolf Hitler a German Shepherd as a present. This dog, Blondi, was Hitler’s faithful companion until right before his death.

Near the war's end, Hitler led Blondi to the Führerbunker and killed her by feeding her cyanide, just as the Soviet's were closing in on the bunker.

Hitler killed himself and Eva Braun on April 30, 1945.", "Show dogs, and Dogs shows.

After Lassie, there was a similar show featuring a German Shepherd known as The Littlest Hobo.

The Littlest Hobo was a movie that was released in 1958 in the United States. From 1963-1965 it became a television show on Canadian television.

The Littlest Hobo was about a stray German Shepherd that wandered from town to town, helping people in need. The dog was never named on screen, but they called him Hobo in the publicity photos and documents.", "A dog by any other name...

Another name for the German Shepherd is the Alsatian.

The German Shepherd was originally bred in Germany and eventually used by the Allied forces during both World War I and II. They served valiantly in both wars but during World War I officials felt anti-German feelings might spread to the dogs. They were therefore renamed to Alsatian, after the town in France.

It was not until 1930 that the British officially began to recognize the name German Shepherd.", "From rags to riches.

Before becoming an actor, the German Shepherd Oatmeal was living in a dog pound.

Oatmeal played Gordon Howe Kronk Jr. on the medical drama Chicago Hope. On the show, the dog’s breed was in question because his fur made him look like a terrier, his color made him look like a German Shepherd, and he was built like a wolf.

In reality, Oatmeal was a German Shepherd rescued by animal trainers from a California dog pound. After Chicago Hope, he went on to star in Lawn Mower Man II and DuPont Stainmaster commercials.", "Life with the stars.

Bullet, a German Shepherd, starred in over 100 episodes of the Roy Rogers' Show.

Roy Rogers' and Bullet were the best of friends. In fact, in edition to the over 100 episodes of the Roy Rogers' Show in which Bullet performed, he accompanied Roy in at least two different movies - In Old Amarillo and Spoilers of the Plains.", "War Dogs.

During World War II, the Germans used German Shepherds as mine detectors.

War dog kennels were set up throughout Europe during the war. The Nazis trained their Shepherds fiercely and actually used them as mine detectors, thanks to their excellent sense of smell. They were also used as guard dogs, sentinels, and messengers. The dogs were effective enough to force the Allied forces to start bombing the kennels where they were trained.

In the United States, the Dogs for Defense organization was started to train German Shepherds for the US army. ", "Bad dog, bad!

German Shepherd puppies are prone to aggression, especially when frightened.

This is partly why German Shepherds are not recommended for homes with smaller children.", "Watch out!

German Shepherds, along with Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Huskies, and Chows, are the dogs most likely to bite.

This could be caused by a genetic pre-disposition for aggression, but it could also be because some German Shepherds are trained by their owners to be attack dogs, an important fact to remember when selecting a dog.", "Super smell.

German Shepherds are often recruited by police departments for drug and bomb detecting, thanks to their excellent sense of smell.

They are also used to hunt, help people with disabilities, and can also make great pets.

But they have been breed mainly for herding. Even today, they have strong herding instincts and are used by sheep and cattle herders across the world.", "Cosmetic surgery can be quite pricey.

It cost $1 million dollars to dress Max, a German Shepherd dog, for his part in the TV series The Bionic Woman.

He was on the adventure show from 1976-1978. Although his name was originally Max, it was changed to Maximillion when producers realized it was going to cost a million dollars to create his suit, which was going to have four bionic legs and a bionic jaw.

Max was the real life pet of Lindsay Wagner, the show's star.", "Trust your instincts.

German Shepherds and Border Collies are both used for herding, but excel at it in different ways.

Border Collies make exceptional herders because they have superior eyesight, while German Shepherds rely primarily on instincts.

The German Shepherd is trained to work the furrow. They patrol from the entry point to the exit point and ensure none of the flock can escape. Border Collies, on the other hand, sit in one place, and watch the flock, only herding them back when necessary.", "Super Dog.

Jerry Lee (whose real name was Koton), the German Shepherd police dog in the movie K9, really was a police dog from Kansas City, Missouri.

Sadly, Koton died November 18, 1991 from a fatal gunshot wound. He was trying to apprehend a suspect, in the attempted murder of a police officer.

Ten days before he died, he found $1.2 million dollars of cocaine in a drug bust, making him quite the hero when he died.", "War Hero.

Jet was a famous rescue dog during WWII.

Originally a house pet, he was recruited by the British military and trained in search and rescue operations.

Jet managed to save dozens of people who were trapped in bombing raids during the Battle of Britain. He'd crawl under the rubble, and seek out survivors. If one was found, Jet would run and get help.", "Here's...Leica!

Leica, Jack Parr's famous German Shepherd, was named after another famous dog - Laika - the first animal sent into outer space.

Laika was launched into outer space on November 3, 1957 by the USSR on Sputnik 2. Sadly, Laika didn't survive the mission, a fact that outraged the international community when it was learned that they had planned to kill the dog anyway.

Jack Parr liked the name Laika, which means barker, and decided to name his dog after him, although he changed the name slightly to Leica. Leica often appeared with Jack when he hosted The Tonight Show from 1957-1962. ", "Top Cop!

German Shepherds are standard for K-9 units in police departments. The police prefer males since they are slightly larger.

Males are also very territorial, an excellent trait in police dogs.

These dogs are trained as drug-sniffing dogs, bomb-sniffing dogs, and are used in teams with human police officers. ", "Captain Max.

The German Shepherd breed dates back to the 1800’s, when Captain Max von Stephanitz helped to create the ultimate herding and working dog. By 1899, the Captain had founded the first German Shepherd Club, Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde.

Max von Stephanitz believed in training a courageous, durable, striking, unwavering dog that could serve in whatever capacity its owner desired. To this day, the words of the Captain are used to dictate the qualifications of the German Shepherd breed.", "Blockbuster!

The famous German Shepherd, Rin Tin Tin was one of two survivors from a war dog kennel in Lorraine, France that had been bombed. He was brought back to the United States with his lifelong owner Corporal Lee Duncan.

Once in the U.S., he won numerous dog show awards during the 1920's. He then turned towards acting, eventually starring in 26 different films.

He was the first German Shepherd to act, and was so adored by the public that some say he saved Warner Brothers Studios from bankruptcy during the silent film era. When he died in 1932, his son Junior took over his contract.

Rin Tin Tin actually signed his own contracts by using his paw print.", "Dog University.

The German Shepherd dog was a part of a Guard Dog training program founded in Germany called The Schutzhund, which trained Dobermans and Rottweilers as well.

The main mission of the school remains training dogs in protection techniques as well as search and rescue skills.

The program has three different levels, each progressively harder. A major factor in the dog's progression is how hard it works at each level.", "Their own unique look.

The North American show lines of German Shepherds are bred for a look that is very different from other German Shepherds.

The major difference in North American German Shepherds is a noticeable sloped back and unusual joints. This difference has started a debate in the dog community as to whether or not the American line is the same as the main German Shepherd breed."];