I would love to own a german shepherd!
German Shepherds are fantastic. The originated from Germany. They are medium to large-sized working dogs.
When did people discover (or start breeding) german shepherds?
Even though the German Shepard's origins go back to 1899, they are still considered a fairly new breed.
That's really interesting.  Are they more typically pets, or working dogs?
Well the German Shepard was used for sheep heading and still is, but many people have them as pets also. 
Do they typically look a certain way?  I know some have part black fur
Kingdom.
Description.
German Shepherds are medium to large-sized dogs. The breed standard height at the withers is for males, and for females. German Shepherds are longer than tall, with an ideal proportion of 10 to 8 1/2. The AKC official breed standard does not set a standard weight range. They have a domed forehead, a long square-cut muzzle with strong jaws and a black nose. The eyes are medium-sized and brown. The ears are large and stand erect, open at
the past century. The German Shepherd used in the show ring was contrasted with the working German Shepherd, which still looks much like the German Shepherd of old.
Crufts Judge Terry Hannan insisted that the working German Shepherds are anatomically incorrect, and that it is the show dog that conforms to the breed standard. When it was put to the Chairman of the Basset Hound Club that they were breeding deformed congenital dwarfs, he rejected that accusation, claiming that current Basset Hounds look very much like those of the 1800s. When