I've noticed on a few recent threads that there are some strong feelings about the GSD being referred to as an Alsatian...

My understanding is that the German Shepherd was renamed due to anti German sentiment but then altered back to GSD in the 1970's (?).  Does it matter that much if some people still remember them as, or refer to them as, Alsatians?

I'm not trying to pick a fight - just curious really.  Are there any other breeds that have been renamed in recent history?

It is just something that winds me up, a bugbear if you will. I just think it has vicious connotations (No idea why though, just something in my head)

I don't know the origin of the current name but Great Danes have little connection to Denmark, and originated as German mastiff breed.

I too much prefer German Shepherd and hate the name Alsation. I have no logical idea or reason why I feel like this, it is just a gut feeling I suppose, and I have no explanation.

My breed gets called Burmese...all the time they certainly do not come from Berma! It does wind me up and when folk ring up looking for a pup and cannot even get the name right, well !!!!
Aileen

It's funny what associations the mind makes; I can't help thinking of Alsatians as being pet dogs and German Shepherds as being working police/guard dogs!

I know people who are convinced that the short-haired ones are Alsatians and the long-coated ones are German Shepherds ...

I know people who are convinced that the short-haired ones are Alsatians and the long-coated ones are German Shepherds ...

Ditto.

And like others, I much prefer to refer to them as German Shepherds and not Alsations but don't know why.  Never thought of categorising them into German Shepherds are the 'working' lines and Alsations are 'pet dog' types though as has been said.  For me they are all German Shepherds, and in my mind that name says;  magnificent, noble, courageous and strong (and they're not my breed).

I know people who are convinced that the short-haired ones are Alsatians and the long-coated ones are German Shepherds ..

Absolutely, heard this so many times, always correct it but I'm sure people don't believe me, I always get a blank look. :-D

It does make me cringe, but I guess we shouldn't let it bother us after all how do joe public know unless they have bought a GSD pup? And know from their breeder, paperwork etc,  it is not as if there were a huge advertising campaign when the name was changed back. Alsation is the English version of the name and particularly with those aged 40+ it remains so.

I'm still having trouble today remembering that Jiff is now Cif and Brontosaurus is now Diplodocus :-D

I try not to be too hard on people calling a GSD an Alsation it's just what they grew up knowing them as, at least we all know what they mean. :-)

To be honest the Kennel Club perpetuated the name by for many years stating them as German Shepherd dog (Alsation)

Aileen

I call them Sherman Gepherds lol, it started off as a joke when I had Louie, as he was white, and was told so many times by "experts" that he wasn't a GSD, now the names stuck in my head.

I found this -

The breed was named Deutscher Schäferhund by Von Stephanitz, literally translating to "German Shepherd Dog". The breed was so named due to its original purpose of assisting shepherds in herding and protecting sheep. At the time, all other herding dogs in Germany were referred to by this name; they thus became known as Altdeutsche Schäferhunde or Old German Shepherd Dogs. Shepherds were first exported to Britain in 1908, and the UK Kennel Club began to recognise the breed in 1919.

The direct translation of the name was adopted for use in the official breed registry; however, at the conclusion of World War I, it was believed that the inclusion of the word "German" would harm the breed's popularity, due to the anti-German sentiment of the era. The breed was officially renamed by the UK Kennel Club to "Alsatian Wolf Dog" which was also adopted by many other international kennel clubs. Eventually, the appendage "wolf dog" was dropped. The name Alsatian remained for five decades, until 1977, when successful campaigns by dog enthusiasts pressured the British kennel clubs to allow the breed to be registered again as German Shepherd Dogs. The word "Alsatian" still appeared in parentheses as part of the formal breed name and was only removed in 2010.

Ally

Must confess that I tend to say Alsation but that is probably due to the fact that is what I was brought up to call them, as we had a black Alsation/GSD called Kim when I was a child.

He was the most placid dog ever and all the children in the area loved him.I always thought the name Alsation came from the region of Alsace where the breed originated from but then again that may be a figment of my imagination.

Incidentally my breed was originally the japanese spaniel and only became the chin in the last few decades.They are still called this in some books and other parts of the world.

The GSD is not the only name which had to be changed during the war years as our royal family changed their German  name of Saxcoburgh,don't know how to spell it,to the more English sounding Windsor.

There is an area in France called Alsace, that was won back from the Nazi's during the war. people that come from this area are known as Alsatians. not sure if this has anything to do with the origin of the 'alsatian,

> I'm still having trouble today remembering that Jiff is now Cif and Brontosaurus is now Diplodocus

And I remember Oil Of Ulay!  :-)

My hubby still calls them Alsatians and doesn't see what all the fuss is about. I am a bit torn - the official name has been GSD for quite some time now. But on the other hand everyone calls my dogs King Charles because they don't realise that Cavaliers and King Charles are different, and there's no point getting cross. :-)

And there is a lady in the next village advertising her irish setters as red setters.
As Aileen says she can,t even get it right herself.

You have to laugh sometimes - my Flatties have been called various things but the ones that really had me going were Flat-headed and Flat - Footed retrievers, and mine have good feet!!!

>And there is a lady in the next village advertising her irish setters as red setters.

For many years the name was Irish (Red) Setter. The old names linger!

I'm still having trouble today remembering that Jiff is now Cif

Sorry Carrington, but I am still in the Ajax and Vim age !!!

.....and Omo, don't forget. Perry Como uses Omo, but at rehearsal he uses Persil

Sorry, I'll go get my coat.

Yes JG I know  just like the German Shepherd Dog (Alsatian)

I don't know the origin of the current name but Great Danes have little connection to Denmark, and originated as German mastiff breed.

And that's why their German name is Deutsche Dogge (German Dogue)... :-)

Since getting more involved in the dog world, as it were, reading crits and online information I find GSD quite easy and automatically think of them as such.  However I do have a real affection for the name Alsatian and this is how I remember some of the dogs I knew as a child

Oddly enough I have more trouble with Irish Setters.  I have to a quick internal translation to convert them from Red Setters which was the name I first learned for them!  Actually they were one of the first dog breeds I could identify...

> I have to a quick internal translation to convert them from Red Setters which was the name I first learned for them!

i'm the same, i know that they are irish setters, but they are Red Setters in my head :) Probably because it is such a striking feature of the breed, you'd never confuse them with anything else would you?