Description

German Shepherds are very popular among pet lovers. You will find this dog at many houses in your neighborhood. The long muzzled face with either a black or a brown nose and large ears are some of the distinct features of this breed of dogs. This dog is also popular by the name of Alsatian. A German Shepherd, when full grown, can reach a height of 26 inches and it can have a weight of about 88 pounds.

German Shepherds have strong jaws. The most popular among these dogs are the ones that have a tan-black and red-black color. It is not completely unusual to see a totally black German Shepherd, though this is not a common color. This dog is sometimes also available in colors like white, blue, liver, and sable. The white ones of this breed are better known as the American White Shepherd. However, these dogs were not even considered as German Shepherds earlier.

A German Shepherd can live till the age of 15 years. Its neck is very strong and matches quite well with the proportion of the rest of its body. These dogs also have large chest and powerful legs. The rest of its body too is pretty agile and powerful. No wonder that a German Shepherd is a symbol of power and energy.

Coat

The German Shepherd can be divided into three different groups depending on the type of its coat. These groups include the dogs with rough coat, long rough coat, and long hairs. All these groups have double coats. The outer coat is dense while the undercoat is thick. As far as shedding is concerned, the outer coat sheds sometimes and the inner coat sheds two times a year. Of the three types, the long haired ones are not accepted by the American Kennel Club. But this group is recognized by the kennel clubs in Germany and in the UK. Based on the season, a German Shepherd can shed more or less of its coat hair.

History

German Shepherds originated in Germany. They were bred from the German dogs used to guard sheep in the mountains. The ancestors of German Shepherds have also served in the military. The date of its origin can be put around 1880. Generally German Shepherds were bred in three regions of the country, which were Wurtemberg, Thurginia, and Bavaria. It is Captain Max Von Stephanitz who is referred to as the “Father of the German Shepherd”. It was he who registered the first German Shepherd or Deutsche Schaferhunde, as it is known in German, in 1899. The name of the dog was Horand Von Grafrath. He also authored the book “The German Shepherd Dog in Word and Picture” in 1925.

It was under his supervision and instructions that the training of German Shepherds happened till 1935. Perhaps this is the reason that even now, people believe this dog to behave according to its specific nature, thanks to the stringent breeding program followed by Stephanitz.

After the WWII, the popularity of German Shepherds dwindled along with some other German dogs. It was around this time that the dog got its new name “Alsatian”, courtesy the British. It was changed further to Alsatian Wolf Dog at a later stage.

It was in 1913 that America’s German Shepherd Dog Club was established. The UK Kennel Club, on the other hand, accepted the breed in 1919. The name of the first registered German Shepherd in the US was Queen of Switzerland. It was by 1993 that this breed ranked third in the popularity chart of dogs in America. Though both long and short coat German Shepherds were presented in exhibitions at that time, presently we only find the short coat variations in various shows.

Temperament

These are active dogs. They are intelligent and are known for their great response to training. That is why you will find them being recruited by police forces even today. However, they can gel well with familiar children too. They are ready to learn. According to some reports, though they may show aggression, they are still quite popular in the US. If your pet shows unnecessary aggression, you can control it through training. These dogs are obedient and will listen to their trainer or their owners without much fuss.

They will need time to adjust with new people. They are not much friendly to strangers. Apart from being a good guard dog, German Shepherds, especially the well trained ones, can be a good family companion. These dogs are always ready to please their masters. The physical construction of these dogs makes them a great fit as working dogs.

Health

The primary health issues that a German Shepherd may suffer from include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, spinal stenosis, ear infections, and bloating. It is believed that most of these problems usually occur as a result of wrong breeding. Inbreeding is responsible for many of these diseases. Hip dysplasia is one disease that plagues almost 19.1% of this dog. This is revealed by a research done by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. While buying a German Shepherd, it is better if you could check whether it has an OFA certification or not.

German Shepherds have long large ears that remain quite unprotected all the time. This makes the ears pretty prone to various infections. A regular check on the ears is necessary in order to make sure that they are healthy.

German Shepherds also tend to suffer from spinal stenosis and the ones affected by the ailment will no longer be able to serve in the police force or in the army. Apart from these diseases, other genetic disorders that can affect these dogs are chronic eczema, epilepsy, and keratitis. The last one is a kind of inflammation that attacks the cornea. These problems can be controlled through more healthy breeding. Due to their long dense hairs on the coat, German Shepherds may also develop flea allergies. To control bloating problems in your dog, take good care of its meals.

They can also suffer from various kinds of blood disorders. Make sure that you are buying your dog from a certified and reputed breeder. Only this can assure that your German Shepherd would be a healthy one.

Grooming

A German Shepherd needs regular brushing of its coat as this dog sheds quite often. Brush its undercoat and under its neck. Lack of regular brushing entangles the hairs in these parts and creates mats. So, you should ensure a regular routine of brushing. Brushing your pet regularly will also keep your dog in good humor.

Remember - the shedding will increase or decrease with season. So, you should be prepared to handle the same. It is advised by dog grooming experts that you use a shedding blade while grooming your German Shepherd during these times. Shedding graces can be used in order to massage the dog’s skin.

Bathing is not a regular necessity for a German Shepherd. However, you will need to trim some of its hair around its neck and toe. Bathe your dog once or twice a year and that will be good enough. Regular bathing may destroy the natural shine of the coat and bring a dull look instead. You should also inspect the ears of your dog for any infections.

While indoors, keep your dog under adequate shade. It would be better if the atmosphere indoors is cool and comfortable.

Exercise

German Shepherds need a lot of exercise. These are active dogs and love a lot of outdoor action. You should take them to walk or for running regularly. German Shepherds are strongly built and love to play. You can play Frisbee and other outdoor games with them. These dogs also need mental challenges that will make them use their intelligence to work. However, while on a walk, keep them under leash as they have a tendency to attack someone they consider a threat to you. You can take your pet out in the early morning or in the evening. Remember - lack of good exercise regime can turn it destructive or depressed. So, give it proper exercises, which will keep it in good mood and also help it in digesting the food.

Training

German Shepherd is one of the most intelligent and obedient dogs. This dog is eager to learn and please its owner. If you give it enough love and care, you can rest assure that it will never make you feel sorry for your choice of buying a German Shepherd. Once you have established your status as the master with it, you can start training it for house breaking. Discourage too much aggressiveness. Let it socialize with all family members. A well trained German Shepherd can be a great companion indoors. In fact, inside the house, they usually tend to stay calm. Take good care of their diet. As they can suffer from bloating, you should make sure that they eat just as much as they need. Encourage your pet with rewards whenever it successfully accomplishes some tasks. Be consistent while training a German Shepherd. Your family members should also know about the routines of the dog and how they should behave with it. Remember - aggressiveness can be controlled through training. Only those that are not well trained become aggressive without reason. It is true that they are skeptical about strangers. But these dogs are not fierce attackers. Let them understand how much is too much. You will have to patient while training them.

The playing and training sessions with your dog will help you understand it better. These are good way of bonding too. A German Shepherd that gets enough mental and physical care will be a great asset for a family and turn out to be a happy dog.