German Shepherd Dogs: A guide to dogs and puppies of the German Shepherd Dog breed

The German Shepherd Dog!

The German Shepherd Dog, who also goes by the name of Alsatian, is a medium-sized dog with a strong and muscular body, thanks to its solid bone structure. It has a sturdy head with a slightly convex forehead, dark almond-shaped eyes, wide and upright ears and teeth that form a strong scissor bite. The German Shepherd Dog has thick and muscular legs, round feet with hard soles and a long, hairy tail that almost reaches until its hocks. The dog comes in three varieties: rough-coated, long rough-coated and long-haired.

Some Quick Facts:

Life Expectancy:
11-13 years

Energy Level:
Average.

Living Conditions:
Flexible, though needs time outdoors.

Barking:
Higher than average.

Exercise Needs:
Long walk; daily yard play..

Breed Group:
Herding

Size:
Large

Height:
22-26 inches

Weight:
77-85 pounds

Standard Hair Colors:
Variety of strong colors; black, tan and white are common.

National breed club:
German Shepherd Dog Club of America

German Shepherd Dog Skills

The German Shepherd Dog is a mixture of various dog breeds from Wurtemberg, Thurginia and Bavaria. A dog named Horan, developed by Captain Max von Stephanitz, was officially registered as the first German Shepherd Dog in April 1899. Both the long and short-haired varieties were allowed to join dog exhibitions until 1915. Nowadays, however, only the short-haired variety is being recognized. The German Shepherd dog is a very talented dog that is adept in activities such as tracking, schutzhund, fly ball and other ring sports. The breed also has an excellent sense of smell – it can sniff out well-concealed drugs and can even detect the presence of underground mines as well as alert authorities about gas leaks in underground pipes.

German Shepherd Dog Personality

The German Shepherd Dog is a breed that is known for its loyalty and courage. It is a very intelligent breed, having the ability to learn things quickly, so much so that they have been utilized for police and military work as well as guides for blind people. It becomes truly happy when it is assigned a specific task to work on. The German Shepherd Dog also loves to be around people and should not be left alone for long periods of time. However, because the breed has strong protective instincts, the German Shepherd Dog must be socialized with other dogs early on in its life, because it has the tendency to become over protective of its owner and his family, which may result in fear biting.

Exercise Needs

Being an active dog, the German Shepherd Dog requires a high level of exercise. It loves to run around and play in the backyard. German Shepherd Dog also loves to go on a nice long, stroll.

Living Conditions

The German Shepherd Dog can adapt to slightly confined living quarters since it is quite inactive indoors. However, it needs to receive a moderate amount of exercise, preferably in a large yard.

Grooming Requirements

The coat of the German Shepherd Dog requires daily brushing to remove dead hair. However, it should only be bathed when needed to avoid oil depletion from the skin.

Health Issues

The German Shepherd Dog is prone to elbow and hip dysplasia, digestive problems, blood disorders, chronic eczema, epilepsy, flea allergies, dwarfism and keratitis (inflammation of the cornea).

If you liked this dog…

...you may also take a fancy to the Norwegian Elkhound. Not only are they generally friendly with people, they can also live together with other pets, even of the non-canine variety.