The
German Shepherd Dog is also known as the Alsatian.
It is handsome, well proportioned and very strong.
The coat most often comes in black with tan,
sable or all black, but also can come in blue,
liver and white, but those colors are considered
a fault according to most standards. White is
not an acceptable color for the German Shepherd,
however they are now being recognized as a separate
breed, called the American White Shepherd. 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, never
protruding, dark, with a lively, intelligent
expression. Its bushy tail reaches almost to
its hocks and hangs down when the dog is at
rest. Its front legs and shoulders are muscular;
its thighs thick and sturdy. 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.
Temperament
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 very wary
of strangers. This breed needs his people and
should not be left isolated for long periods
of time. They only bark when they feel it is
necessary. German Shepherds 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. It is extremely important to purchase
your German Shepherd from a reputable breeder.
Some are timid and skittish and may be prone
to fear biting. Research a puppy's lineage carefully.
To be successful pets, these dogs should be
trained and socialized from an early age with
a firm and loving hand. Coercive or angry training
does not succeed well with these dogs. To be
truly happy, the German Shepherd needs a task
in life. The breed is so intelligent and learns
so readily that it has been used as a sheepdog,
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.
The German Shepherd is also a popular show and
family companion.
Indiscriminate
breeding has lead to hereditary diseases such
as hip and elbow dysplasia, (be sure both parents
have had their hips certified at least OFA good)
blood disorders, digestive problems (probably
due to nerves), epilepsy, chronic eczema, keratitis
(inflammation of the cornea), dwarfism and flea
allergies.
Living
Conditions
The
German Shepherd will do okay in an apartment
if sufficiently exercised. They are relatively
inactive indoors and do best with at least a
large yard.
Exercise
German
Shepherd Dogs love strenuous activity, preferably
combined with training of some kind, for these
dogs are very intelligent and crave a good challenge.
They need to be taken on a daily, brisk, long
walk, jog or run alongside you when you bicycle.
If under-exercised, this breed can become restless
and destructive.
Life
Expectancy
Around
13 years.
Grooming
This
breed sheds bits of hair constantly and is a
seasonally heavy shedder. A quick daily brushing
is best unless hair in the house is not a problem.
They should be bathed rarely, only once or twice
a year to avoid skin oil depletion.
Origin
Using
long-haired, short-haired, and wire-haired local
shepherd dogs from Wurtemberg, Thurginia, and
Bavaria, von Stephanitz and other dedicated
breeders produced a responsive, obedient, and
handsome German Shepherd. In April 1899, Capt.
Max von Stephanitz registered a dog named Horan
as the first Deutsche Schäferhunde, which
means German Shepherd Dog in English. Until
1915, both long-haired and wire-haired varieties
were exhibited. Today, in most countries, only
the short coat is recognized for show purposes.
It was presented at Hanover in 1882, and the
short-haired variety was first presented in
Berlin in 1889.
