Description

The German Shepherd is a strong and noble dog. Its appearance showcases strength in the muscular build. It has a very distinguished jaw and head with almond shaped dark eyes. The ears are erect when the dog is alert and focused. The long muzzle, black nose and scissor bite make up the sturdy head. It has a deep chest, strong legs and compact feet.

The German Shepherd is longer than it is tall. Females look distinctly more delicate than the male. It should always be easy to tell a make from a female in this breed. The true German Shepherd will be black and tan in color. There is an American breed that has a slight difference in appearance from the German Shepherd.

Coat Description

The German Shepherd has a thick, coarse coat. The true bred German Shepherd will be tan and black in color. The coat is a medium length and can shed heavily at times. The legs and neck areas may have longer hair that needs good brushing to prevent matting.

History

The German Shepherd is a descendant of the German Sheepdog. They were altered to be used by the military. There are three regions of German that are known for breeding the German Shepherd – Wurttemberg, Thurginia and Bavaria. These three regions each produced a variety of appearances in this breed.

Captain Max Von Stephanitz is credited with shaping the breed into the reliable dog we know today.

Breeding has always been important to the German Shepherd. Good breeding is critical to a good, healthy dog. From the intensive breeding by Captain Max Von Stephanitz to the focused breeding today, the German Shepherd is a dog that depends on good breeding to survive.

Temperament

The German Shepherd is best known as a working dog. They are regularly used by police and for security. They can also be used as a herding dog or a guide dog. They have very good behavior and listen well. They will be loyal and trustworthy. They are also eager to please and will try very hard to accomplish tasks they are given.

The German Shepherd’s personality is one of confidence, fearlessness and loyalty. They are a dog who is extremely protective and will never back down from a fight. They may take time to make new friends and can seem standoffish to strangers. They do make a good companion and a great family pet. They love to interact and crave attention. They are wonderful with children and have a calm nature that just makes them a good overall dog.

Health Problems

Breeding is the main cause for the prominent health problem of German Shepherds. Good breeding goes a long way towards a healthy dog. Poorly bred German Shepherds may suffer from hip dysplasia. They can also be prone to blood disorders, digestive disorders and skin problems. Care should be taken when choosing a dog so that good breeding is assured.

Grooming

The German Shepherd is not really demanding as far as grooming. The biggest concern is shedding that needs to be controlled through good grooming. This dog should be brushed two times a week. During the shedding period a shedding blade should be used to help the process and prevent too much shedding. Regular brushing will also help to prevent matting of the undercoat which can be common.

The German Shepherd should be bathed one to two times a year. It should not be bathed too often for this strips the natural oils in the für that help keep it healthy and shiny. A bath when given should be finished off with drying with a chamois cloth. The dog can also be sprayed with mink oil to encourage shine.

The only other needs for the German Shepherd are trimming of long hairs around the feet and back of hocks to prevent matting.

Exercise

Regular exercise is important for this muscular breed. They do well with daily running workouts. They also love to learn and be challenged. They will do well with agility training and obedience training.

Training

The German Shepherd is an easy to train breed. Their intelligent, good humored and have many wonderful physical traits. They need to be trained early ort they will develop their own sense of training due to their high intelligence. They should be praised often or they could end up acting stubborn during training. Training should be consistent and done in a patient manner to get the best results.

The German Shepherd lobes a challenge and they love to play games. They are good when training is interactive and fun. They are great runners and have a high energy level which makes playing games with them fun and exciting for them.

Care must be taken during training to not install aggressiveness in the breed. They are not aggressive by nature and need to be socialized to prevent wariness of strangers. It is important to recognize that the breed is not aggressive and this is a taught behavior. Any German Shepherd that displays aggressiveness is learning so through training. If this is a behavior that you do not desire then a different training manner may be necessary.