German Shepherds have a strong sense of loyalty to their owner.  This trait, along with their intelligence and willingness to work make them an ideal breed for guide dogs. The first ever guide dogs for the blind and visually impaired were trained in Germany to provide assistance for those blinded in the war. Here at Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, German Shepherds are included as part of our Breeding Stock as many of our guide and assistance dogs are German Shepherd and Labrador or Golden Retriever crosses.  We have found that by doing this, we are able to produce a dog that has the best attributes of both breeds. The German Shepherd crosses can come in all shapes and sizes such as brindle, black and tan, pure black, short haired and long haired.  Sometimes, all these varieties are present in one litter of pups. Some Guide Dog owners are such fans of the German Shepherd breed that they will wait until one becomes available for matching before they start their individual guide dog training. Something that many people don't realise about German Shepherds is that they are really big "softies" despite their size. Guide Dog Owner, Ed Harper, who lives in the rough terrain of Cape Clear, chooses German Shepherds as his preferred breed.  He explains as follows: "What I like about the German Shepherd Breed is their adaptability as they are able to work in a city on one day and in the countryside the next."  Here Ed can be seen with his gorgeous Guide Dog Izzy.