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German Shepherd Dog
The
German Shepherd Dog or Alsatian is a kind of dog breed and
belongs to a herding group. They are very intelligent, alert, and well-suited
to active working environments. The German Shepherds are often used as police
work, guarding, search and rescue, and in military. They can also become guide
dogs for the blind. They excel in many other dog activities including schutzhund,
tracking, obedience, agility, fly ball, 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 Shepherds are also a popular show and family companion. Regardless
of their suitability for such work, they can also make loyal and friendly pets
too. They enjoy being around with people and other animals because of their
well-suited behavior.
Temperament
As wild as it can appear in attack, the German Shepherd Dog is a sensitive being
and a player dog which loves children particularly. They must be firmly trained
in obedience from an early stage in order to prevent aggression and attacking
people. These breed become truly happy when they have tasks in life. The ideal
dog is a working animal with an incorruptible character combined with body and
gait suitable for the tough work that constitutes its primary purpose.
Size Category
Large
Height/Weight
Height: Male 24-26 inches (60-65cm.) Female 22-24 inches (55-60cm.)
Weight: 77-85 pounds (35-40kg.)
Living Conditions
This breed will do okay in an apartment if adequately exercised. They are comparatively
inactive indoors and do best with at least a large yard.
Exercise and Activities
German Shepherd Dogs love strenuous activity preferably combined with training
of some kind, for these dogs are very intelligent and desire a good challenge.
Life Expectancy
13-15 years
Grooming
This breed sheds bits of hair frequently 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.
Health Problems
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.
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.
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