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Introduction
The German Shepherd Dog is a wonderful, happy dog that originated from the old breeds of herding and farm dogs. This dog has been associated for centuries with man as a servant and companion. Always known to be a working dog, this breed was developed by Captain Max Von Stephanitz, and he and others founded the parent club in Germany on April 22, 1899. Although the breed's roots went much further back than the foundation of the club, the breed was refined under von Stephanitz from the 1890s to World War I.
The German Shepherd is also known as the Alsatian, which means “Jack of All Trades.” Its keen intelligence and high trainability, as well as its nobility, loyalty and desire to please, means this breed can do just about anything you want it to do. (Except, of course, be a lap dog –they are pretty large dogs, after all!)
To be truly happy, the German Shepherd needs a task or "purpose" in life. The breed is so intelligent and learns so readily that it has been used in many varieties of service, including as a sheep dog, guard dog, in police work, as a guide for the blind, in search and rescue service, and in the military. The German Shepherd also excels in many other dog activities including schutzhund, tracking, obedience, agility, flyball, and ring sport. His fine nose can sniff out drugs and intruders, and can alert handlers to the presence of underground mines in time to avoid detonation, or gas leaks in a pipes buried 15 feet underground. First, last and ALWAYS a working dog, the German Shepherd Dog has been developed both temperamentally and structurally through selective breeding (deriving from old herding and farm dog breeds in Germany) and through specialized training.
How do you know if a German Shepherd is right for you? Read more about its traits and decide if YOU are right for a German Shepherd.
The Beauty of the German Shepherd
The German Shepherd is a handsome, well proportioned and very strong dog breed. Their coat in shades of black with tan, sable, or all black. The nose is black most often black but, blue or liver still do sometimes occur, but is considered a fault can not be shown. It has a sturdy, muscular, slightly elongated body with a light but solid bone structure. Its head should be in proportion to its body, and the forehead a little convex. It has a strong scissors bite, ears wide at the base, pointed, upright, and turned forward (the ears of puppies under six months may droop slightly). The eyes are almond-shaped, and dark with a lively, intelligent expression and its tail is tall and bushy. It has round feet with very hard soles. There are three varieties of the German Shepherd: rough-coated, long rough-coated, and the long-haired.
The Character of German Shepherds
Often used as working dogs, German Shepherds are direct and fearless, eager and alert. Bold, cheerful, obedient and eager to learn. Known for their tremendous loyalty and courage. Calmly confident, but not hostile. Serious and almost human in his intelligence. They have a high learning ability.
German Shepherds love to be close to their families, but they are wary of strangers. This breed needs his people and should not be left isolated for long periods of time.
Shepherd only bark when it is necessary, making them excellent watch dogs and guard dogs. They have a very strong protective instinct, so they should be extensively socialized to prevent over-guarding when they are an adult. Aggression and attacks on people are largely due to poor breeding, handling and training.
A well bred, well-adjusted, and trained dog is for the most part generally good with other pets and excellent with children in the family. They must be firmly trained in obedience from an early age.
The German Shepherd is also a popular show and family companion.
The German Shepherd’s Ideal Environment
The German Shepherd will do okay in an apartment if you give them plenty of exercise and play time. They do best in a place with a good size yard
German Shepherd Dogs love strenuous activity. They love to have good training and challenging work; they are high preferably combined with training of some kind, for these dogs are very intelligent and crave a good challenge.
The German Shepherd’s Companions
You do NOT make friends with a German Shepherd Dog -- he looks you over, considers you carefully, and chooses whether or not to be your friend. But once you have been admitted to his select circle of friends, you remain a friend for life.
They are lively, playful and devoted, but should be socialized well when they are young to avoid a tendency for timidity. They do well with families and children; but because of their size, they should always be supervised around young children.
The German Shepherd is not only a friend but a companion and protector as well. The females are territorially protective, as a general rule, and will guard their home and property faithfully, while the males are more inclined toward personal protection, guarding and protecting "their" humans with their lives, if they need to. German Shepherds are some of the most protective, loyal dogs around.
Grooming the German Shepherd
This breed sheds bits of hair constantly, but is worse during the cold seasons. They should be brushed daily to help ease the intensity of their shedding. They only should be bathed once or twice a year.
The German Shepherd’s Health
The average life span for this breed is 13 years. German Shepherds inherit an array of hereditary diseases such as hip and elbow dysplasia, blood disorders, and digestive problems, as well as a propensity for epilepsy and skins disorders such as eczema.
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