Looking at a dog German Shepherd, few people stop to think that he was bred to herd and guard herds. Most people see in the German Shepherd a police dog, the endearing friend of children, the faithful companion capable of giving his life for his family, the guide who watches over his blind friend, the rescuer who risks his life for people he doesn't know and the quintessential canine hero.
Although the origins of the German Shepherd are associated with herding, this breed has shown such versatility and intelligence that today it cannot be classified solely as a herding dog. Even though it continues to serve as a herder in certain places, it would be more appropriate to say that the German Shepherd is an "all-terrain" dog.
In addition, this lupoid morphology dog is one of the most beautiful representatives of the canine species. It is not just a dog that adapts well to different jobs, but a living work of art capable of fulfilling the most demanding and difficult jobs.
Continue reading this page on our site to find out everything about the characteristics, character or he alth of the German Shepherd:
Origin of the German Shepherd
The history of the German Shepherd dates back to 1890, when cavalry captain Max Emil Frederick von Stephanitz began following his dream of developing a working breed of noble appearance. In 1899, this cavalry captain found Hektor Linkrshein, the dog that would become the founder of the breed, at a dog show.
Later, and with the help of Artur Meyer, von Stephanitz founded the first German shepherd club. Hector was the first registered dog, albeit under the new name of Horand von Grafrath. The German shepherd gained great notoriety for his performance in the two world warsSo great was the impression he made that even enemy armies admired him.
Perhaps the most famous German Shepherd of all time was Rin Tin Tin, a puppy rescued by an American corporal after a bombing raid. Rin Tin Tin starred in several movies and catapulted the German Shepherd to worldwide fame.
Currently the German shepherd is used in endless activities, from the search and rescue of lost people, to working as a police dog. Its qualities as a companion have not been ignored and that is why the German Shepherd is one of the most popular dogs in the world.
German Shepherd Characteristics
The beautiful appearance of the German shepherd, his incomparable character and his great intelligence, have made the German Shepherd the most popular dog of all time.
The German Shepherd's broad, wedge-shaped head is its most distinctive and striking feature. Medium-sized, erect and pointed ears are implanted on top of it, giving this dog a wolfish appearance. The eyes, arranged obliquely on the skull, express security and confidence and should be the darkest color possible.
The powerful teeth, which must be strong, he althy and complete (42 teeth), allow the German Shepherd a strong scissor bite. When properly trained, these dogs have a firm, sure bite.
The body of the German Shepherd Dog is longer than it is tall and the topline is sloping, sloping slightly from a raised withers to a croup that is at a lower height. The loin is wide and muscular and the croup is long and slightly sloping. The chest, which is moderately broad, has a depth ranging between 45 and 48% of the height at the withers and an elongated and very noticeable sternum.
The tail of the German Shepherd is long, reaching at least to the hock when hanging at rest. However, it should not exceed the middle of the metatarsal. The German Shepherd carries it hanging down when at rest and raised when active, but never carries it above horizontal.
The German shepherd's coat has been the cause of controversy for a long time, since there are three varieties However, according to the official standard of the German shepherd, the correct coat corresponds to a double coat with inner fleeceThe outer coat must be as dense as possible, straight, hard and close to the body. Coat length varies slightly on different parts of the body, but the German Shepherd is not a long-haired dog.
The German Shepherd standard accepts several colors for the breed. These colors include: solid black, black and tan, yellowish to light gray and gray in various shades. The nose must be black. White fur is not accepted in the official breed standard.
Height at the withers is 60 to 65 centimeters for male German Shepherds, and55 to 60 centimeters for females. The weight of the males is between 30 and 40 kilograms The weight of the females is between 22 and 32 kilograms
German Shepherd Character
The character of the German shepherd is balanced, secure and reliableThe courage of these dogs is legendary, as is their defensive instincts. This is why the German shepherd is one of the most requested dogs for guard and protection, since he has a natural predisposition for these tasks.
But courage and defense are not the same as aggressiveness and danger. Although the German Shepherd tends to be somewhat wary of strangers, it is not an aggressive dog by nature. On the contrary, he tends to be alert but does not attack without reason. Of course, the socialization of the puppy is essential to avoid problems in the future, since no dog has the character guaranteed only by his genes. The German Shepherd is an easy-to-train dog and adapts very well to any training technique. However, he reaches his full potential when trained using positive reinforcement.
Due to its versatility and adaptability, this breed has been able to perform successfully in different activities. The German shepherd stands out as: canine sportsman, search and rescue dog, guide dog, police dog and therapy dog. He is also a excellent companion to any familythat provides him with good care
German Shepherd care
The German shepherd can adapt to living in an apartment, but needs plenty of exercise and walks long This dog agile and active needs to exercise his muscles outdoors. A small garden can help, but it never replaces the walks and play sessionsthat he must have. Playing a canine sport, such as agility, can help keep your dog he althy. The training of the dog is also important to help develop the dog's brainpower.
It is not very difficult to keep German Shepherd coats in good condition, since they do not require special cuts. However, this breed constantly sheds, so daily brushing is important. The bath should not be very frequent because it damages the natural protection of the hair.
German Shepherd Education
The German Shepherd is an excellent dog to work with Educationand Obedience His natural predisposition and his great intelligence make it inevitable that we want to discover and explore all of his abilities. Discover more on our site about the education of a German shepherd.
As with all existing dog breeds, the education of the puppy will have an important impact on the future of the adult German Shepherd. For this reason, it will be essential to work promptly on the dog's development: socialization, stimulation of the sensesand the intelligence games A good education will help us avoid the appearance of behavioral problems.
In the adult stage it will be essential to work obedience and tricks on a very regular basis to keep the dog mentally he althy. It is very important to consider this point before adopting a German Shepherd. We are facing a very intelligent dog that should be able to enjoy a proper life. The physical exercise of the German shepherd here also plays an important role in preventing stress. In the education and training of him we must include many sessions of environmental enrichment.
German Shepherd He alth
Unfortunately, the great popularity of the German Shepherd has led to the indiscriminate breeding of German Shepherds for purely commercial purposes. This indiscriminate breeding has had a negative impact on the he alth of the German Shepherd. Therefore, the German Shepherd Dog is prone to some hereditary diseases such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, digestive problems, epilepsy, chronic eczema, keratitis (inflammation of the cornea) and dwarfism.
However, taking good care of this great dog, visiting the vet every 6 months and following his vaccination schedule will ensure be able to enjoy it for a long time. His current life expectancy is around 13.
