Varying in type, these dogs were the foundation used in the development of the modern registered German Shepherd Dog. While the SV-registered dogs came to have a more standardized appearance and came to be bred more as police, service, companion and show dogs, herdsmen in Germany continued to breed their sheep and cattle dogs as they always had. The Old German Shepherds remained unregistered and were bred solely for the usefulness in herding. Appearance, not being a consideration, remained variable.
Ears are semi-erect, erect, or sometimes folded close to the head.
Old German Shepherds are characterized by their hardiness, endurance and easy-keeping qualities. They can be found throughout Germany. One type, the Westerwaelder Cowdog, became noted as a distinct strain. Used for herding large groups of cattle, taking them to and from the villages and keeping them together on unfenced pastures, it was also employed in sheepherding. As itinerant sheepherding and open-field cattle herding have declined in Germany, the Old German Shepherd and Westerwaelder Cowdog have diminished in numbers.