Documentary maker launches project for first ever full-length German Shepherd film
- Hayley O'Keeffe
- Jul 27
- 3 min read
A veteran documentary filmmaker has launched a Crowdfunder campaign to complete what he believes will be the first full-length film dedicated entirely to the German Shepherd.
Nicholas Jones, from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, is creating Why I Love My German Shepherd, an 85-minute 4K documentary which he describes as his “love letter” to the breed.
The film will tell the stories of German Shepherds and the people who love them, exploring the loyalty, beauty, intelligence and emotional bond which have made them one of the world’s most recognisable dogs.
Nicholas, who has spent more than 30 years making documentaries for broadcasters including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky, was inspired to make the film after his own German Shepherds, Nanouk and Tosca, changed the way he saw the breed.
His company, Quanta Films, has produced documentaries across history, aviation, science, arts and current affairs, with previous work including Whittle - The Jet Pioneer, Eric Brown - A Pilot’s Story, Heart of the Dragon - The Welsh Guards Story, and The Thomas The Tank Engine Man.
Now Nicholas is turning his camera towards the animal which he says transformed his own life.
The filmmaker first began filming his German Shepherds in Spain in 2022 and is now capturing further stories in Britain, including the relationships between German Shepherds and their owners.
He is raising £7,500 through Crowdfunder to help pay for the final post-production work needed to complete the film, including editing and the creation of the final cinema, TV, Blu-ray, DVD and VoD master.
Supporters can donate to the campaign and receive rewards in return, including a digital premiere pass, Blu-ray or DVD copies of the film, personalised German Shepherd mugs, T-shirts, phone cases and tote bags.
Higher-level supporters can also receive an on-screen sponsor credit or even have their own German Shepherd featured in a special section at the end of the film.
Nicholas said: “There has never been a full-length documentary made entirely about German Shepherds before.
“That seems extraordinary when you think about how loved, recognisable and important the breed is across the world.
“I am incredibly proud to be making this film, not just as a documentary maker, but as someone whose life has been changed by German Shepherds.
“This is my love letter to the breed, and I hope it becomes something German Shepherd owners and dog lovers everywhere can feel proud of too.”
Nicholas said the idea for the film came after his own german shepherd, Tosca became seriously ill at the age of four.
Her weight dropped dramatically and she became so weak she could not stand, but after treatment she recovered.
Nicholas said watching her suffer and then survive made him realise just how powerful the bond had become.
“I wasn’t always a dog person in the way I am now, but Nanouk and Tosca opened my eyes to the beauty, intelligence and emotional depth of the German Shepherd.
“They changed my life, and the more I filmed them, the more I realised there was a much bigger story to tell.
“This is not just a film about dogs. It is about loyalty, companionship, grief, joy and the extraordinary love affairs that exist between German Shepherds and their humans.
“I want to make the definitive film about this amazing breed, and I hope German Shepherd lovers everywhere will want to be part of it.”
The documentary is due to be completed in October 2026 and will be available on Blu-ray, DVD and VoD, with a cinema-standard version also being created.
Nicholas said: “I have financed the filming budget myself because I believe so strongly in the project and the footage we have so far is beautiful.
“The Crowdfunder is about helping us finish the edit and bring the film to the standard it deserves.
“It also allows German Shepherd owners and dog lovers to become part of the story, whether that is by watching the premiere, owning a copy of the film, wearing a personalised T-shirt, or even having their own dog celebrated on screen.
“German Shepherds give people so much. This film is my way of giving something back to them.”
Why I Love My German Shepherd can be supported through Crowdfunder at:
More information about the film is available at:
