The Purebred German Shepherd Dog
The GSD represents the perfect balance of strength and agility. Its exceptional training ability and natural instincts to protect make them beloved family dogs.
When looking for a purebred German Shepherd Choose breeders who are concerned about the health of their dogs and practice ethical breeding. Requesting pedigree papers as well as previous health clearances can help you identify reputable breeders.
Characteristics
German Shepherds are intelligent, powerful dogs that are easy to train. They are extremely loyal to their families and are fearless guardians of them. The breed standard says that the GSD must be stable of temperament, confident and brave. It must also be respectful and willing to be obedient.
The breed is medium-sized with a slight elongation and is muscular. It has a distinct double coat made up of a hard outer layer and a soft undercoat. The almond-shaped eyes of the dog are dark and slightly set. Its ears are wide at the base and pointed. The tail is slender and extends down to the hocks below when the dog is in a relaxed state. The neck of the breed is long and slightly sloping. The chest is broad and deep. The spine is solid and the ribs are well-sprung.
In general the breed is healthy however, serious issues include roached backs and long pasterns that hinder correct movement. Its hindquarters should be powerful but not overly exaggerated. The rear leg should never go forward of the point where the forefoot leaves an imprint.
As working dogs, GSDs have naturally high drives. These are behaviors and needs that include territorial protection as well as the pursuit of prey. If these high-drives are not satisfied in some way, such as through play or work and it can lead to aggressive behavior. Show-type German Shepherds are bred in a manner that helps dampen these drives, but they still require lots of positive reinforcement training, physical exercise and mental stimulation to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
GSDs are usually reserved around strangers and may be suspicious of them at first. This protective trait makes GSDs excellent guard dogs, but requires proper training to avoid overreactions. They make wonderful family pets when properly socialized from a young age, and they're generally great with children.
The GSD has an extremely high threshold for pain and is resilient against illnesses, but it has certain health conditions that can affect its quality of living. These include seizures and epilepsy, bleeding disorders, and immune-mediated diseases. The best way to prevent these diseases is to limit your dog's exposure to UV radiation and ensuring that it is vaccinated regularly can aid.
Temperament
German Shepherds are smart, eager to learn, and extremely capable of training. They are an active dog breed that excels in a variety of tasks, including herding, police work and search and rescue. They also excel at bomb and drug detection and aiding blind people. They also make excellent pets for families. However, this powerful and confident breed requires a clear sense of purpose and the attention of an assertive owner to harness their energy and strength positively. They require a lot of space and exercise and might not be suited to apartments or other living spaces.
The ideal German Shepherd is balanced and confident, with a strong and stable temperament. They are loyal, vigilant and sceptical of strangers. If they are not socialized properly and trained in this manner, their protective and vigilant behavior can become aggression. These dogs are often intelligent and independent, yet easily bored. They must find an avenue to satisfy their curiosity.
Max von Stephanitz, the founder of the breed, employed shorthaired and longhaired German Shepherds in his breeding program. This resulted in an animal that is friendly and obedient. He did not agree with those who wanted German Shepherds to be a display dog, and he made sure that his dogs were stable in their temperaments with strong herding instincts and sound body structure. He also refused to breed with dogs that had temperaments that were unstable or had sharp angles in their croups and front and rear pasterns, because he believed that these characteristics would undermine the breed's ability to do its job as it is.
In addition to the hereditary disorders that can plague any dog breed, German Shepherds are prone to cancers such as Hemangiosarcoma. It is a cancer that typically affects blood-rich organs like the liver and spleen. They can also develop lung, bone or intestinal cancers.
You can prevent these diseases by maintaining the physical well-being of your German Shepherd. This means giving him a balanced diet and regular exercise. Make sure he gets plenty of opportunities to exercise and play outdoors in a safe space away from traffic and other dangers. Regularly brush his double coat with a deshedding tool or an undercoat rake. You should also make sure that you take him to the veterinarian regularly to have regular health checks.
Health
German Shepherds have a good health record, but some health issues are present. They are prone to ear infections, and can develop conditions that affect their ears and eyes such as degenerative amyelopathy. Related Home Page may suffer from an inherited disease called hereditary von Willebrand's disorder, which impacts their ability to clot blood. It can be found in both male and female dogs.
GSDs are a working breed and as such, they go through strenuous training. In the process, they may develop joint issues. Hip dysplasia is a common condition that causes lameness, pain and other signs. It's not a serious condition but can be painful for the dog.
Reputable breeders X-ray their dogs and use the results to make breeding decisions. The x-rays help determine the health and genetic history of the puppy, which includes how likely it is to develop dysplasia. Dogs who are at a high chance of developing the disorder aren't breeding.
Like many large breeds, German Shepherds also suffer from panosteitis, which causes the bones to expand rapidly and unevenly, causing pain and stiffness in the limbs. This condition is most prevalent in German Shepherd puppies and dogs younger than 18 months who are experiencing a large growth spurt.
The dogs need an enriched diet rich in protein with a generous mix of omega-fatty acids and balanced vitamins to maintain skin and coat health. They will benefit from a diet with joint support, such as glucosamine or chondroitin. Dogs younger than 18 months age should exercise moderately including multiple walks and, if they are compatible with another dog, playing together, but they should not be allowed to run at a high speed, as this can damage growing joints.
Avoid feeding table food or animal bone because they can cause vomiting, digestive upsets, anorexia, and pancreatitis. Adult dogs and puppies can benefit from a probiotic supplement to aid digestion, and from digestive enzyme supplements that aid with breaking down proteins. Mineral and vitamin supplements are not required in the sense that a well-formulated and approved AAFCO diet should provide the proper amount of these nutrients.
Training
German Shepherds are intelligent, highly trainable dogs who thrive when they're under the direction of a skilled handler. They are an excellent choice for police and military tasks, search and rescue and therapy dog roles, and many other specialized jobs. Their dedication to their job makes them a wonderful pet to have when properly trained and socialized.
Socialization is the first step towards creating a well-adjusted GSD. From an early age expose your puppy different animals and people. Take them on frequent walks and play games. Visit local dog parks. This will help them feel more confident and comfortable and teach them to trust people from a young age.
It requires patience, consistency and positive reinforcement to train the German shepherd. Avoid negative reinforcement methods such as yelling or physical punishment that could cause fear-based aggression. Use clicker training and reward-based training to teach your German Shepherd the basic commands.
It is also crucial to ensure that you provide your German Shepherd with a regular dose of enrichment. Exercises for mental stimulation can be just as important as physical exercises for an GSD, especially in a chaotic or busy household. This can help them to keep their attention and focus so they are less likely to be distracted by noises from the street storms, other dogs in the park or crowds at competitions or public events.
German Shepherds are prone to various health issues such as Hemangiosarcoma (cancer of the bones, lungs, and intestinal tract), pannus (superficial Keratitis) and cancer. All of these ailments can be prevented through responsible breeding and lifestyle accommodations.
Despite their fearsome reputation German Shepherds are loving family pets. When they are around children at a young age, they can be friendly and gentle with smaller pets such as cats. They are formidable guardians due to their size and strength, but they should be supervised when they are around young children. They may also show indications of a genetic predisposition to aggression if not provided with appropriate training and socialization opportunities. It is recommended that you enroll your German Shepherd in a puppy class or obedience classes to ensure that they receive the training and socialization they need to flourish.