Quiz: How Well Do You Know the German Shepherd?

They work all kinds of jobs — from bomb sniffing for the military to guiding the blind — and they’ve consistently been in the American Kennel Club’s list of the top 10 most popular breeds in the U.S.

The intelligent and versatile German Shepherd rose to fame when Rin Tin Tin became a bona fide movie star after being found in a World War I battle zone.

The striking breed is quite recognizable, but how much do you really know about it? Find out whether you have your German Shepherd facts straight in the quiz below.

German Shepherd Challenge

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True or False: Most people think of German Shepherds as having a black and tan coat, but the breed also comes in other colors.

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Answer: True. The breed is available in black and tan, sable or solid black, as well as other solid colors.

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True or False: The GSD is ill-suited to life on a farm.

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Answer: False. The German Shepherd is a herding dog who typically adapts well to many jobs. He's well known as a police and military dog, but he's also generally keen to work with livestock on farms and ranches.

Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson and Dwight Eisenhower

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Question: Which president had a German Shepherd named Major?

A) Franklin D. Roosevelt
B) Lyndon Johnson
C) Dwight Eisenhower

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Answer: A) Franklin D. Roosevelt. Major was a former police dog who was donated to the New York State Police when FDR was a governor and wound up living in the White House.

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True or false: German Shepherds hardly shed at all.

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Answer: False. As any experienced GSD owner would tell you, their shedding is not for the faint of heart. The breed sheds heavily and constantly, earning it the nickname “German shedder.”

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Question: How did the breed rank in the American Kennel Club’s annual list of the most popular breeds for 2015?

A) 1
B) 2
C) 8

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Answer: B) 2. While the Labrador Retriever has been the top dog in the U.S. for 25 consecutive years, the German Shepherd was second on the list in 2015. The breed first became famous in the heyday of movie, TV and radio star Rin Tin Tin, but his loyal personality and gorgeous features have kept him in the hearts and homes of dog-loving Americans many years later.