Like the East Shepherd the West Shepherds experienced the separation during the wars discussed in the East German Shepherd portion of the site. The residence in West Germany did not use the Shepherds as strictly for war or border patrol; the dogs were bred also for beauty. This is why the Wast German Shepherds can either be from a show line or a working line and becasue many West German Shepherds are bred with other West German Shepherds the West German Shepherd can carry both characteristics of a show line and a working line shepherd. The West Shepherds who are show line dogs are bred to be physically attractive, but lack the courage and strong nerves of a true protection dog. The West Show Line shepherds tend to be more auglutated, and do not seem to have as much working or prey drive as the working line GSD. 

The West German Shepherd makes wonderful family companions, but they do need lots of daily exercise and need training to do a job of some sort to avoid behavioral or destructive problems. They perform well in herding, service, search and rescue, guide dogs, and therapy dogs.