Among the most popular and intelligent of all dog breeds, the German Shepherd loves a job to do but is equally happy acting as a devoted companion for active families…
The German Shepherd Dog (also called the Alsatian or just the German Shepherd) is a strong, obedient, handsome and courageous breed of dog that is among the most intelligent and popular of all breeds. The breed first appeared in the late 1800s, and they were first bred for the chief goal of protecting and herding sheep.
Some of their more identifiable traits can be described as their intelligence, dependability, courage and adaptability – which help make the German Shepherd Dog a common dog for police work, movie roles, guide dogs for the blind, search and rescue dogs, show dogs or as companions for active families. Here are a handful of fast German Shepherd Dog facts:
Trainability & Intelligence:
Friendliness With People:
Compatible With Animals:
Daily Exercise Required:
Grooming Requirements:
Suitable For A Family Pet:
Suitability As A Guard Dog:
Origins Of The German Shepherd Dog
The German Shepherd Dog is known to have originated in Germany during the late 1800s and their creation is largely credited to Max von Stephanitz whose ambition was to see them acting purely as working dogs to herd and guard flocks of sheep. They are alleged to be the product of crossing a mixture of local German herding and farm dogs from Wurtemberg, Thurginia and Bavaria.
Average Size Of The German Shepherd Dog
German Shepherd Dogs are termed as a large-sized breed. The suggested standard size for the German Shepherd Dog male is 24-26 inches high from paw to shoulder and a weight of 75-95 pounds, while the recommended size for female German Shepherd Dogs is 22-24 inches tall from paw to shoulder with a weight of 60-70 pounds.
Temperament Of The German Shepherd Dog
The German Shepherd Dog is legendary for their fearless and protective (though not hostile) nature. They are typically suspicious with unfamiliar people, which can mean they are highly suitable as a guard dog.
The German Shepherd Dog is also accepted to be extremely intelligent – scoring 3rd in comparison with other dogs when taking into account their capacity to be taught obedience commands. They are additionally renowned to be great with kids – which means they are very suitable as a family pet. The German Shepherd Dog is quite friendly with other pets such as cats and dogs if they are introduced at an early age.
Grooming Requirements Of The German Shepherd Dog
Grooming the German Shepherd Dog is a fairly time-consuming chore. They require a high amount of brushing each day to remove excess hair as well as weekly cleaning of their ears and full grooming every 8 to 10 weeks. The procedure for completely grooming the German Shepherd Dog can be explained as:
- Brush the entire coat with a slicker brush by starting with the head.
- Use a shedding blade to remove matted hair in the undercoat during seasons they are shedding more heavily.
- Use medicated ear powder to clean the ears and remove any stray hair from inside.
- Wipe the eyes with a cotton ball moistened with eye drops to clean them and remove stains around the eyes.
- Use a large nail clipper to clip the tips of the nails.
- If desired, use scissors to trim the whiskers around the muzzle, chin, sides of the face and above the eyes.
- Place a cotton ball inside each ear to prevent water entering and bathe then cage dry them.
- Brush the coat using a slicker brush and follow up with a metal comb to remove the loose hair.
- Trim the hair between the foot pads with scissors for a neat appearance.
Living Requirements For The German Shepherd Dog
The German Shepherd Dog is best with a large yard to give them room to run, but are just as happy to remain indoor-only dogs and they are suitable for apartment life just as long as they are given daily exercise.
Health & Life Expectancy Of The German Shepherd Dog
Similar to a large number of large-sized dogs, the German Shepherd Dog is typically shorter-lived with a life expectancy of 9-12 years. The main health problem for German Shepherd Dogs is commonly known to be hip and elbow dysplasia in around 20% of dogs due to excessive breeding. They can also be vulnerable to conditions that include blood disorders, digestive problems and chronic eczema – but when you buy from a reputable breeder there should be minimal inherited health problems.
Exercise Needs For The German Shepherd Dog
The German Shepherd Dog gets pleasure from pastimes which include agility, tracking, running, playing games or chasing after balls and frisbees. They possess a medium degree of energy and need daily exercise in the shape of long walks or jogs and play sessions to stop them becoming restless or destructive due to a lack of physical and mental stimulation.
Who Should Own The German Shepherd Dog?
The German Shepherd Dog can be the right dog for active owners and families or anyone with a job to give them. They are appropriate to anybody who is ready to commit to a large level of grooming and allocate time to provide them with early socialization, obedience training and ongoing mental challenges as well as take them on long walks each day and give a high quantity of company and attention. Though they could be to some extent inappropriate for those with less active lifestyles, if you are able to meet their need for mental stimulation and close human contact then the German Shepherd Dog can be the ideal breed of dog for you.
Posted by Brent McCoy on November 30, 2011