About German Shepherd Origin and History of the Breed Shepherd dogs from Bavaria, Thurginia, and Wurtemberg are in the background of the German Shepherd Dog. These dogs included a variety of coat types: long-haired, short-haired, and wire-haired. In April 1899 the first German Shepherd Dog was registered. Until 1915 both long-haired and wire-haired were exhibited. Most countries only recognize the short-haired for show purposes today.

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Check Your German Shepherd’s Temperament

Training your German Shepherd will be fast, easy and simple, if you know
whether your Dog is aggressive, docile or friendly.

A General Appearance of the Dog

The German Shepherd Dog is one of the most popular and
recognizable breeds around the world. German Shepherd Dogs are
well-proportioned, muscular yet trim dogs with pricked (stand up) ears. It is
agile and quick. The noble-looking German Shepherd (Alsatian) is well-balanced,
longer than it is tall. The German Shepherd is a black and tan dog predominantly
but can be gray (called blue) or brown (called liver) with varying amounts of
those colors. (Blue, liver and white cannot be shown in AKC.) He is usually
lighter on the legs and face with dark accents on the ears. He has almond-shaped
eyes with a lively, intelligent expression. His bushy tail hangs down.

The German Shepherd is a trotting dog who moves smoothly and
rhythmically, covering a lot of ground quickly. Its stride is long, quick, and
easy. The hindquarters seem to deliver a power thrust that propels the front end
forward. The dog can easily spring from its hindquarters, jumping up or forward
to quite a distance.

Personality

Temperament of the Dog

German Shepherds love to be close to their families and are
very loyal and protective of their families. They are very eager and alert. They
have a high capacity for learning and love to learn. They are obedient and
cheerful and very seldom show any stubbornness because they are eager to please.

German Shepherds should not be left alone for long periods of
time. They must be thoroughly socialized and firmly obedience trained from an
early age and throughout their lives. A very firm yet loving attitude is
necessary with a Shepherd throughout its life. Normally, Shepherds are not
barkers but will bark as a warning of perceived danger.

The German Shepherd Dog does not give affection lightly; it is
also known as a “one-man” breed for its tendency to display serious loyalty and
fidelity, especially to its owner or main caretaker. He is a bold and punishing
fighter if he needs to be.

German Shepherds are used for guard work and search and rescue
because they are fearless, direct, calm, confident, and intelligent. Aggression
and attacks are usually a result of poor breeding or poor adjustment, handling,
or training.

If you start young and teach your puppy its order in your
“pack” (all members of the family have to be Alpha), problems with training will
be minimized. However, German Shepherds tend to have more dominant personalities
than some breeds. Classes are extremely helpful. A German Shepherd Dog that
thinks it’s the Alpha member of the pack can be difficult to handle or have as a
family member.

German Shepherds love jobs. They are used as guard dogs, in
police work, to sniff out drugs, as guides for the blind and deaf, in search and
rescue, and for military work. As a family dog, your German Shepherd will enjoy
obedience, agility, flyball, tracking activities, and schutzhund. Alsatians
regularly win advanced obedience and field trials.

Research carefully before getting a German Shepherd. Get to
know both parents and any other relatives to make sure of the personality.
Unfortunately some breeders are offering shy and nervous Alsatians for sale.
These dogs should be avoided at all costs as they can be dangerous. Also, assess
the diseases in the lineage.

Better suited to an indoor or outdoor
lifestyle?

A German Shepherd can be kept in an apartment, but much prefers
living where he has a fenced yard for exercise. He will enjoy a brisk, long walk
each day – or, after he is a year old, he can job or go with you when you bike
or rollerblade. If he is underexercised, he will become destructive (especially
as a youngster). He can be outdoors a large part of the day as long as he has
sufficient time with his family.

Are they suited to homes with kids?

A well-bred German Shepherd will do fine in a household with
children, especially older children. He will need daily exercise and some
activity to keep his mind busy. Children should be taught how to handle the dog
and not to hit or yell at him.

 

Activity
Level

How active is the Breed?

The German Shepherd is very active throughout his life;
however, he is fairly quiet when indoors. He will need daily exercise and some
activity to keep his mind busy.

Exercise Need

German Shepherd puppies will be pretty rambunctious. Outdoor
play and some training (like obedience) will help to keep his body and mind
busy. He will enjoy a brisk, long walk each day – or, after he is a year old, he
can job or go with you when you bike or rollerblade. If he is underexercised, he
will become destructive (especially as a youngster).

 

Training your German Shepherd can be fun and a rewarding experience for both
you and your dog.

Grooming

All three coat types are shed throughout the year with heavy
shedding in spring and fall. Weekly brushing is a must with daily brushing
during the spring and fall.

Grooming
your dog yourself, at your home and at your convenience will help you build
a strong bond with your German Shepherd. You will not only save yourself the
hassle of taking him to a groomer regularly, you save some money too.

Coat Color

The German Shepherd is a black and tan dog predominantly but
can be gray (called blue) or brown (called liver) with varying amounts of those
colors. He is usually lighter on the legs and face with dark accents on the
ears.

Note: White German Shepherds are now
considered a separate breed called the American White Shepherd.

Coat Type

There are three coat types: rough (relatively short with
undercoat), long rough (longer with undercoat), and long-haired (without
undercoat).

The correct German Shepherd Dog coat is relatively short with
an obvious undercoat. This is quite waterproof. Some dogs are born with long
coats which usually, though not always, are devoid of undercoat. Such coats are
more difficult to groom, but many pet owners seem to like the long-coated
version. The normal coat is dominant to the long version, so there are three
kinds of coat: normal, normal but carrying the long coat gene, and long. About
10% of the pups are born long-coated.

Health and
Care

Genetic Problems

Hereditary diseases include hip and elbow dysplasia (OFA
certification of good on both parents is essential), blood disorders, digestive
problems, epilepsy, chronic eczema, eye inflammation, dwarfism and
allergies.

Unfortunately some breeders are offering shy and nervous
Alsatians for sale. These dogs should be avoided at all costs as they can be
dangerous.

Breeding the Dog and any Cautions

You will want to have your dog’s hips and elbows certified
before breeding.

 

Litter Size: 8 – 12 puppies

Life Span: 12-14 years.

Weight

75-90 lbs

Height

Males: 24-26 inches
Females: 22-24 inches

Group: AKC Herding Dog Group, KCGB Pastoral Group

Ranking: 4 in AKC, 4 in KCGB

Also Known As: Alsatians, German Shepherd,
Shepherds.