German Shepherd Dog

Can't go wrong on this one; Karlsruhe, Germany. The German Shepherd Dog is the result of a concerted effort to round up fine herding qualities (e.g. intelligence, athletic, independent, etc) in a single breed. Led by retired Capt. Max von Stephanitz of the German Calvary, the efforts also steered the breed's employability from the fading farm work to police work and military service, where the German Shepherd Dogs excelled. Though its name varied in the U.S.A (Shepherd Dog) and England (Alsatian Wolf Dog) due to its association with Germany (think World War I), the respective kennel clubs adopted the original name in 1931 (AKC) and 1977 (KC).

Military and guard dog; sheepherding; farm work.

Confident, loyal, versatile, hardy, intent, responsive, protective.

Graceful, strong, agile, active. German Shepherds are highly territorial; very protective of their families; makes good watchdog and guard dog. Some poorly bred individuals may be shy or inappropriately aggressive. Best with experienced owners, because they may challenge their owners for leadership.

German Shepherd Dogs stand between 56 and 66 cm tall, and weighs from 31.5 to 43 kg. Males are usually larger than females. Excessive size is not desirable in this breed. Chiseled head, bushy tail. Colours are black-and-tan, grey sable, red sable, black, black-and-red, black-and-cream, black-and-silver, solid black.

Double coat, medium length; outer coat dense, undercoat downy. Coats can go from short to long, but long coats are a fault in the show ring. Moderate to high maintenance; needs brushing two or three times a week. Professional grooming is optional. German Shepherds shed heavily constantly.

German Shepherd Dogs are generally healthy, but are predisposed to some health conditions. While not all German Shepherd Dogs will get all or any of these conditions, it is important to be aware, especially if you have or are considering this breed. Orthopedic problems (hip and elbow dysplasia, panosteitis, hypertrophic osteodystrophy, OCD), eye problems (cataracts, Collie eye anomaly), heart problems (SAS, PDA, cardiomyopathy), enteritis, ear infections, skin problems (nodular dermatofibrosis, food allergies, acral lick dermatitis), gastritis, epilepsy, cancer (osteosarcoma), von Willebrand’s, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, arthritis.

High; The German Shepherd needs lots of exercise and a lot of room. If he doesn’t get enough exercise, he can become neurotic and even aggressive.

German Shepherds are not suited for apartment life, unless he receives an enormous amount of exercise.

Very good with children he knows. Wary of strangers. Usually good with other pets once he accepts them as part of the family.

High, but needs early training and socialisation. It is extremely important to get a German Shepherd puppy of the right temperament from a reputable breeder. Obedience training is a must to teach him basic canine manners.

Obedience, guide dog for the blind, herding, Schutzhund, agility, drug detection, therapy dog, search and rescue, police work.