As their name implies, German Shepherds were bred as herding dogs. As such they were bred to work closely with people and to control large moving masses. Herding dogs were bred to work and need work; if you don't provide them with it they will find their own work to do. Also bred to think independently at times, these dogs can be smart problem solvers.
From their background as herders, you can expect these dogs to chase moving objects like bicycles and cars. They also have a tendency to nip at running children the same way they would nip at the heels of livestock. This is known as movement-stimulated nipping.
German Shepherds are very intelligent and versatile. They can be trained to be police dogs, guide dogs, seeing-eye dogs, protection dogs and so on. They can make wonderful companions. Even though highly trainable, German Shepherds require professional assistance at least for the first two years. They need constant, daily training and socialization sessions. Intensive early socialization is required to offset the problems of shyness and noise sensitivity that is common among all herding breeds. One should definitely not reward aggression or cowardice in this breed. Male German Shepherds should be neutered early.
German Shepherds have been an extremely popular breed for many years which has led to problems associated with overbreeding and poor breeding. Widespread genetic and temperament problems has left the Shepherd breed abounding with dogs who suffer from health and behaviour problems, excessive shyness and aggression. German Shepherds often become over attached to their owners which leads to separation anxiety, over protectiveness and fear of new situations.
The average height of a German Shepherd is between 22-26 inches and their average weight ranges from 65-100 pounds. Some, of course, can get much larger than this. Most Shepherds are black and tan in colour, but some can be solid black, white, or gray. These dogs are double-coated breeds and as such shed profusely. When shedding occurs, usually in the spring and fall, German Shepherds need to be brushed daily. Shedding lasts a couple of weeks, during which time the dogs will shed an amazing amount of hair.
As previously mentioned, these dogs need work and that translates into plenty of exercise. At least two sessions per day would be a minimum requirement. Daily training sessions would also be highly recommended.
Due to the high volume of breeding over the years, the behaviour of German Shepherds around children and other pets can be quite unpredictable. Some dogs can be fantastic around kids and pets and others can be the opposite. Some of this behaviour can be attributed to inherited traits but training and early socialization also play an important role here.
German Shepherds are prone to a vast array of health concerns. Here is a small list: hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, spinal degeneration, auto-immune disease, thyroid dysfunction, subaortic stenosis, skin disorders and gastrointestinal problems. Poor temperament has now become so common that a stable, confident and calm Shepherd is a very pleasant surprise.
At their best, German Shepherds are second-to-none for their companionship and devotion. They can be trained to do almost anything. It is a sad situation that these good specimens are hard to find with so many unhealthy and unstable dogs out there.
The German Shepherd is what the name implies. These dogs originated in Germany, the result of selective breeding of several shepherding breeds. The goal was to create a dog that could withstand the rigors required to be good shepherd dogs along with the intelligence to understand their training. That goal seems to have been met and the German Shepherd is an excellent working dog. But these dogs are also often used as both companions and family pets, and as watch and guard dogs for individuals and businesses.
The German Shepherd is sometimes known as Alsatian or the Dutch Shaferhund. These dogs have been officially recognized for more than a century, though there may be an additional recognition on the horizon. Traditionally, the coat of these dogs are silver, black and cream, though some additional colors are also possible and are generally accepted by canine organizations Solid white has traditionally been a disqualifying feature, but there is a movement by breeders and German Shepherd enthusiasts to recognize white German Shepherds as a separate breed.
Remember that these dogs were bred to withstand the harsh conditions of the German countryside. They have a thick double coat and shedding can be a real problem for these dogs. They may also have a serious shedding episode at specific times of the year, aggravating those with allergies. Regular grooming will help keep the shedding to a minimum. There are three distinct types of German Shepherd, based on the type of coat ? rough, long and rough-long coats are individually recognized.
These dogs have a reputation for facing several serious health issues. In fact, the potential for those health problems depends largely on the breeding lines and some lines are quite healthy. It's a good idea to check into any hip problems that the parents may have had. Good breeding practices can produce healthier pups, but you should be wary of purchasing German Shepherds from puppy mills that have mass production of pups as their only goal.
When choosing a puppy, some people may be disappointed that the ears don't stand at attention. This is common in young dogs, but most learn to hold their ears at attention ? a distinctive feature of the German Shepherd. No docking or other procedures are necessary to accomplish this.
German Shepherds are very smart dogs. They tend to learn new things quickly and do well when called on to use their natural instincts. This makes them a natural choice for guarding, tracking, obedience and agility trials. Many law enforcement agencies have used these dogs over the years ? the reason some people call them German Police Dogs. Remember that these dogs tend to want new challenges. They love to find that something new is expected of them and will generally rise to meet the challenge with an alertness and intelligence that some say approaches that of a person.
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