German Shepherds are large, intelligent dogs, who are very loyal and protective of their family. The German Shepherd is also an excellent guard dog because it is naturally wary of strangers. The German Shepherd is calm, collected, courageous and alert. These are some of the attributes that makes the German Shepherd a very good watchdog when trained well.
Information and facts about the German Shepherd
| Other names: | Alsatian; German Shepherd Dog; Berger Allemand; Deutscher Schäferhund |
| origin | Germany |
| types of GermanShepherds | West-German Working Line, East German ddr work line, Czech Working Line, American Show Line, European Show Line. |
| colours | Black, Black & Tan, Sable, Black & Silver, Grey, Red & Black |
| Patterns | bicolor,sableblack and tan |
| HEIGHT | 24-26 inches (male) 22-24 inches (female) |
| WEIGHT | 65-90 pounds (male) 50-70 pounds (female) |
| LIFE EXPECTANCY | 8-12 years |
Facts and information
American breeders vs European breeders:
American breeders developed breed standards set up by the American Kennel Club (AKC). These standards focus on body shape and elegant movements, which make German Shepherds desirable as performance and show dogs.
European breeders, however, still follow Max von Stephanitz’s breed standards, which focus on health, temperament, and agility. The German Shepherd Club of Germany oversees these standards, which require dogs to pass a series of tests. American breeding standards don’t require these tests.
* The German Shepherd is the 2nd most popular dog in America
* The German Shepherd is said to be the 3rd smartest dog
* German Shepherd can reach speeds of up to 32 miles per hour at full sprint.
* The first service dog was a German Shepherd
* The German Shepherd tends to be a curious learner and like to be useful.
* The German Shepherd is advertised as :
- Athletic
- Tireless
- Loyal
- Fiercely protective
- Obedient
- Highly intelligent
- Highly trainable
* The German Shepherd was initially trained to be a sheep-herder Back in the day. Their main purpose was the protect flocks of sheep against predators. German Shepherds to this day maintained the same obedience towards their trainers and protectiveness of their owners.
* The abilities of the German Shepherd goes far beyond its origin as a herding dog. The German Shepherd has made a name for himself as a police and military dog, guide and assistance dog, search and rescue dog, and detector dog.
* German Shepherd dogs are furry dogs with rough outer coats. It is one of those dog breeds that is more suited to colder regions than the hotter ones.
* German Shepherds typically have a dense double coat with a water-resistant outer layer and a thick undercoat
* German Shepherd dogs are commonly known by their wolf-like appearance, strength, loyalty, and noble disposition.
* The most common color of the long haired German Shepherd is black and tan but there are sable German Shepherd, blue German Shepherd, white German Shepherd, and a solid black German Shepherd
* During the war, the Germans used the German Shepherd dogs for a variety of purposes:
- Guard dogs – They would obediently and observantly ensure that allied forces were unable to sneak up on unsuspecting German troops.
- Attack dogs – They would occasionally join charges and create chaos and fear during trench charges.
- Mercy dogs – They would find wounded soldiers and bring them first aid.
- Hospice dogs – They would provide comfort and companionship to mortally wounded soldiers until they passed.
- Messenger dogs – They would be strapped with vests-of-sorts that allowed them to quickly carry messages along the front lines
* With their loyal personalities and eagerness to work, you’ll find German Shepherds to be very obedient when it comes to training and following commands.
* They have a powerful nose. therefore they like to explore things with their nose.
* Panda Shepherds are the rare kind of German Shepherds. A typical German Shepherd displays no white markings. However, due to genetic mutations, white-furred variety of German Shepherds were produced. Unfortunately, their white marks are considered “fault,” therefore they are not allowed to participate in dog shows. Nevertheless, Panda Shepherds are just as intelligent and hardworking as their fellow German Shepherds.
Characteristic of the German Shepherd
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| energy | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| exercise needed | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| health | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| intelligence | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| muscle and power | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| loyal | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| rareness | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| obedience | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| personality | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| temperament | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Health
Responsible breeders strive to maintain the highest breed standards, Dogs bred by these standards are less likely to inherit health conditions. However, some hereditary health problems can occur in the breed. The following are some conditions to be aware of:
-Hip dysplasia and Elbow dysplasia.
Hip and elbow dysplasia Are categorized as developmental disorders caused by dysmorphic and lax joint formation. This malformation consequentially results in abnormal wearing of bone over time, inducing the secondary development of osteoarthritis (OA) or arthrosis, and degenerative joint disease (DJD)
– elbow hygroma
An elbow hygroma is a fluid-filled swelling that occurs over the elbow joint. It is more commonly seen in short-haired, large breed dogs
-Gastric dilatation-volvulus
Gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV), also known as gastric dilation, twisted stomach, or gastric torsion, is a medical condition that affects dogs in which the stomach becomes overstretched and rotated by excessive gas content.
History of the German Shepherd
During the 1850s, attempts were being made to standardize dog breeds.Dogs were being bred to preserve traits that assisted in their job of herding sheep and protecting their flocks from predators.shepherds were selected and bred dogs. It was recognized that the breed had the necessary skills for herding sheep, such as intelligence, speed, strength and keen senses of smell.The results were dogs that were able to do such things, but that differed significantly, both in appearance and ability, from one locality to another.
Worldwide interest in the breed began rising in the early 1900s and the GSD was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1908. In modern times it remains as one of the most popular dog breeds, currently ranking second in the AKC listings. Cross-breeding these dogs with Shiloh shepherds resulted in king shepherds.
During World Wars I and II, the word “German” was dropped, and the breed was referred to as the shepherd dog or the Alsatian (a name that stuck in some regions).
Adolf Hitler acquired a German Shepherd named “Prinz” in 1921,
Did you know ?
Advantages
- Extremely trainable
- Loyal
- Good guarding dog
- Affectionate
- Energetic
- Handsome, natural-looking, athletic
- Thrives on challenging activities and exercise
- Highly intelligent and versatile – can learn almost anything
Disadvantage
- Need space
- not getting along with other pets
- Maybe aggressive if not properly trained
- Can be hard to find one with a family-oriented temperament and a decent chance of staying healthy
- Needs careful socialization
- Constant shedding
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