The GSD began when Max von Stephanitz founded the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhund on 22 April 1899 with himself as president and Artur Meyer as secretary, attracting 60 members that year (reaching 50,000 in 1923, around 100,000 in 1999). Basically, the breed is developed from working stock of 3 "types" found then in the regions of Thuringia, Frankonia and Württemberg (that last strain resembling today’s Old English Sheepdog or Bearded Collie). On September 20th the club approves bylaws, opens its Registry and, at the suggestion of A. Meyer and M. von Stephanitz, composes the Breed Standard to be passed to the VDH (German Kennel Club).
The first GSD registered (SZ 1) is Horand von Grafrath, a Thuringian dog originally named Hektor Linksrhein; his parents later receive registrations SZ 153 & 156.
1899    The first German Sieger & Siegerin titles are awarded, at Frankfurt-am-Main, to Jörg von der Krone & Lissie v. Schwenningen.

1901     Revisions to the Breed Standard were made on 28 July 1901 at the 6th membership gathering; in Köln on 17 Sept. 1909; in Wiesbaden on 5 Sept. 1930 at the conference of Executive Committee and Board, the first to set ideal sizes (published in Koerbuch Vol.XI), after which larger dogs were penalised; and also banned self-white except in the long-haired Old German Sheepdogs; on 25 March 1961 (at which time the coats became defined as Glatthaarige (=smooth haired), Langstockhaar (=long hair with undercoat) and Langhaarige/Langhaar (=long haired), and references to Rauh oder drahthaarige (=rough or wire-haired) and Zotthaarige (=shaggy haired) were removed) at the Breed Committee and Board of Directors meeting  (at which time the EUSV – European Union of GSD Clubs - was involved). At the 30 August 1976 WUSV conference another revision was agreed, and on 23/24 March 1991 the WUSV (World Union of GSD Clubs) assumed full powers by way of resolution. Federal amendments were made on 25 May 1997, and on 31 May/1 June 2008.

The current version, changing the LangStockHaars from a DQ to a separate variety, is known as FCI Standard #166 and was approved by the 31.8.2009 WUSV Conference in Ulm but not posted on the FCI website until 1.1.2011.

The current International Standard of the GSD is at:
​http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/166g01-en.pdf

and nations which have arrogantly invented their own "Standard" or have removed the Disqualifications only rarely produce genuine GSDs.

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Size for Class 1:
55-60cm = 21⅝-23⅝" for a bỉtch,
60-65cm = 23⅝-25½" for a dog.
Size for Class 2:
54-61cm (21¼-24") and 22-32 kg (49-71 lbs) for a bỉtch,
59-66cm (23¼-26") and 30-40 kg (66-88 lbs) for a dog.

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Until I find a competent site in English,  http://siriusdog.com/breed-survey-rules-korordnung-sv-gsd/  will point out these requirements before a GSD can be entered in a Breed Survey. Where the Rules state "the SV", I will state "Dogs NZ" or "the GSDAC", they being NZ's nearest-to-equivalent organisations.

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1: The GSD must be registered with Dogs NZ, and at least 2 years old on the date of the Survey.

2: The owner(s) must be a member of the GSDAC.

3: The GSD must have first passed a BH and then at least SchH1 or IPO1.

4: The GSD must possess an AD (Endurance Dog) certificate.

5: The GSD must possess 'a'-stamp (or equivalents such as GSDCAu or PennHIP) Pass certificates for hips and for elbows.

6: The GSD must possess a conformation show grading of Good or Very Good (in Germany, no higher grading can be awarded before the GSD has gained a Breed Survey Classiciatiion. Nor can it have progeny placed on the Main FRegister until BOTH their parents have Breed Survey Classifications).

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