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 Origin:
Germany
Height: 22-26 inches at
the shoulder
Weight: 48-88 pounds with
males weighing substantially more
Exercise Needs: High
Grooming Needs: Medium
Life Expectancy: 12-14
years
Good With Kids: Good,
though some can be "one-person dogs"
Trainability: Very Easy
Common Misspellings: German Shepperd, German
Sheppard
Alternate Names: Alsatian
One of the most beautiful and
easily-recognizable breeds in the AKC, the
German Shepherd has long captivated us with his
noble and wolfish appearance, his loyalty, and
his versatility. Able to learn and adapt to
almost any new task set before him, he is a
master of many trades, some of which include
herding, assisting those who are blind or
disabled, protection and guard duty, acting in
television and movies, and assisting the police
force. Whether you meet one in person or see him
on the silver screen, the German Shepherd is a
noble breed and one that is sure to capture your
heart.
The German Shepherd is a descendant of a
variety of different German herding and farm
dogs. In 1891, a group of dog fanciers joined
together with the hopes of fostering and
promoting some of the various dog breeds of
Germany. Called the Phylax Society, and lasting
a mere 4 years, they are often credited for
having helped to develop the German Shepherd dog
that we know today.
Capt. Max von Stephanitz also plays a major
role in the development and preservation of the
German Shepherd dog. Long an admirer of the
German sheepdog breeds, von Stephanitz was
attending a dog show with his friend, when he
came upon a dog that possessed all of the traits
that he desired in a dog - strength,
intelligence, and incredible versatility. So
impressed with this animal (originally named
Hektor Linksrhein, though his name would later
be changed to Horand v Grafeth), that he
promptly purchased the dog and quickly formed
the Verein fur deutsche Schaferhunde (SV), a
society for the German Shepherd dog. By the turn
of the twentieth century, the SV had become the
largest dog breed club in the world.
Von Stephanitz was very dedicated to the
German Shepherd breed and, noting that with the
turn of the century came changing times, he
began to look to the future. Knowing that there
would not always be a place for this magnificent
dog in the countryside, he focused on placing
his sheepdog to work in various government jobs.
During the first World War, the German Shepherd
would be employed as a sentry dog, guard animal,
rescue dog, and as a deliverer of messages. When
the United States servicemen saw this noble dog
in action, many were impressed and the German
Shepherd dog would soon make his way to US soil.
By 1919, the American Kennel Club would
recognize and register this unique breed of
German sheepdog and von Stephanitz's dream would
be fulfilled.
A very proud and noble breed, both in
attitude and appearance, the German Shepherd
form boasts strength, speed and agility. They
are best described as being "10-to-8 1/2" in
length-to-height, meaning that they are slightly
longer than they are tall. This adds to their
sleek and streamlined look, coupled with the
dog's uniquely tapered topline and sloping hips.
Designed to cover a great deal of ground, this
different build allows the dog to maintain his
smooth flowing gait for long periods of time, as
well as giving him powerful forward thrust,
thereby granting him great sprinting and jumping
ability.
The German Shepherd comes in a wide variety
of colors, though the black-and-tan, sable, and
solid black are the most common. When talking
color, it's important to note that the American
Kennel Club does not recognize white German
Shepherds and, in fact, considers this color a
disqualification. First bred as a herding
animal, white German Shepherd puppies would have
been rejected, due to the fact that a white dog
would blend in with the sheep that it was
herding, making work much more difficult for his
handler. In addition to this, a white dog would
stand out far too easily, and be easy prey for
various predators. While work is being done to
get the white German Shepherd recognized as its
own breed, it is important that you be informed
and wary of those selling "registered white
German Shepherds."
A very dedicated and determined worker, the
German Shepherd dog possesses a get-up-and-go
attitude towards most everything that he does.
Very athletic, he loves to be on the move and
active. In addition to his athletic side, the
German Shepherd can also be very devoted,
particularly to his main care-taker. Quite
often, they can show favoritism and will become
one-person dogs, turning a cold shoulder to
anyone else who tries to befriend them.
Nevertheless, most German Shepherds do very well
in a family environment and, while they may
favor one particular person, they are generally
protective of their entire "pack" of humans.
Towards others, one can often expect an aloof
mannerism - the German Shepherd does not give
his friendship to just anyone - his respect is
earned.
The German Shepherd is a natural athlete and,
for this reason, they need room to move. While
they can adapt to living in an apartment, anyone
who considers getting one had best realize that
they will have to be going out for frequent
walks, as well as regular trips to the local dog
parks. Ideally, this is a dog that needs a
fenced-in yard and a lot of room to run.
While not as bothersome as some of the
longer-coated dogs, the German Shepherd is still
prone to heavy shedding, particularly during
warm weather. Ideally, you will want to brush
him a couple times per week, more if he is
shedding profusely. Bathing should be done once
a month or as needed, dependant upon your dog.
Aside from this, keeping his nails trimmed and
teeth cleaned should be all you need to maintain
a happy (and gorgeous) German Shepherd dog.
This is a surprisingly keen breed of dog and
one that can adapt to nearly any task set before
him. Trained for detection, assistance, guard
duty, and a host of other jobs, he is an
extremely quick and willing learner. However,
with this quick wit can also come a game of
"who's smarter" and it's important not to let
your German Shepherd get the upper hand. For
best results, start him in obedience as early as
possible, be consistent, and be sure to reward
your dog for positive behavior.
As with many pedigreed breeds of dogs, there
are a variety of hereditary conditions that may
affect your pet, as well as other various health
issues that are more common amongst the German
Shepherd dogs. These are not limited to, but may
include the following:
- Hip dysplasia
- Bloat
- Anal furunculosis
- Epilepsy
- Pancreatic insufficiency
With a beauty and nobility unmatched, many
are captivated by the beauty and strength of the
German Shepherd breed. Others are moved by his
wolfish appearance and seek him out as a
domestic alternative to his wild cousins, and
some choose German Shepherd puppies for their
versatility and loyalty. Whatever the reason for
considering getting a German Shepherd puppy,
it's important to realize that this breed can be
a lot of work. Requiring a great deal of
exercise and brushing, they are not the ideal
dog for someone with a very busy lifestyle, and
it's important to note their tendency to bond
with a single person.
A German Shepherd can make a wonderful family
pet, however. The key to this is to always
supervise your German Shepherd when small
children are about, and be sure to introduce him
to other pets and family members gradually.
Taking the extra time and effort with this breed
will ensure that you have a lasting friend for
many years to come.
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There are a wealth of resources online that can help you learn
more about the German Shepherd dog breed. We've compiled a list of
German Shepherd information sites to assist you in quickly locating
quality information about the German Shepherd dog breed, while
avoiding the "garbage" sites that are nothing more than poor
attempts to capitalize on the popularity of dog breeds in general.
If you know of a German Shepherd information site that offers
unique, quality information and photos of the German Shepherd breed,
please contact us with the URL and a brief description so that our
editors can consider it for inclusion in our list below.
German Shepherds are a very photogenic dog breed. By looking at
German Shepherd pictures, you can usually gain more insight into
what these dogs and puppies are like as a breed, and this can help
you decide if you really want to become a German Shepherd owner. The
following sites below offer pictures of German Shepherd dogs, German
Shepherd puppy photos, funny German Shepherd photos and more. Enjoy!
Now that you have decided that the German Shepherd is the right
breed for you, it's time to start the process of finding a
responsible German Shepherd breeder from which to buy a healthy,
well-socialized puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there are good
breeders - and bad breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the first
German Shepherd puppy you find at the cheapest price available! To
buy a puppy from a responsible German Shepherd breeder, you may need
to pay more and wait longer. The additional money and waiting time
will be well worth it. Buy a puppy in haste from a newspaper ad, pet
store or "backyard breeder", and you'll likely also purchase a great
deal of additional expense and heartache, since you will likely end
up falling in love with a puppy with health and behavioral problems
that will likely need special care, plenty of veterinary visits,
regular medication - or even euthanasia. But do your homework and
find a responsible, caring German Shepherd breeder who home-raises
their puppies with love, screens their breeding dogs for health
problems, offers a health guarantee and post sale support, and who
genuinely loves the German Shepherd breed and is in it for the love
of the breed, rather than profit, and you can be fairly well assured
of getting a healthy, happy, long lived and affectionate family
companion that will provide you and your family with many years of
joy, laughter and companionship.
Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...
Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These
sites attempt to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders
listed are responsible and sell healthy, home-raised German Shepherd
puppies to carefully screened buyers. There are many, many sites now
online that advertise dog breeders - many are a Mecca for puppy
mills and backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer clear of
these resources in favor of sites that are more selective in the
breeders whom they allow to advertise.
We Highly Recommend:
German Shepherd clubs and rescues web sites can help you learn
even more about the German Shepherd dog breed, help you locate a
responsible German Shepherd breeder, or help you find a German
Shepherd dog or puppy in need of a second chance for a loving,
forever home. We've compiled the following list of German Shepherd
clubs and German Shepherd rescues web sites for your convenience:
Choosing a name for your German Shepherd puppy can be a daunting
task! There are so many names to choose from that it can take a lot
of thought and research to find just the right name for your German
Shepherd. Usually, it's best to get to know your puppy for a few
days or weeks. Often your puppy's personality will help you decide
on just the right name to choose. Does he have a sense of humor? A
serious side? A goofy way of cocking his head to one side? A strange
love of cantaloupe? By observing your new German Shepherd puppy over
the first days or weeks, you should at least have a clue about what
type of name you want to give. There are a ton of dog names and pet
names web sites on the internet. Some are wonderful information
resources, while others, unfortunately, are just "garbage" sites set
up with the sole purpose of cashing in on visitor hits for this
popular subject.
We recommend the following sites to assist you in choosing a name
for your new German Shepherd puppy. These sites offer inventive,
unique, original and creative pet names suggestions that have helped
thousands of new puppy owners in selecting just the right name for
their new baby!
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