German Shepherd: Character, Care, and Adoption

A muscular, short-haired, large dog (it can weigh up to forty kilos), yet beautiful. The German Shepherd is the most popular and well-known guard dog, but it doesn't perform this role blindly and mechanically. Thanks to its intelligence, it is a versatile dog, ready to be trained, and in fact, it is used in a variety of ways. Courageous, intelligent, and reliable, the German Shepherd is a balanced and confident dog. Patient with children, very strong and physically resilient.

Index of topics

Origins

The German Shepherd originated about 100 years ago in Bavaria, where it was used as a livestock guard dog. Captain Max von Stephanitz selected it from among numerous German Shepherds, after numerous crosses between the Thuringian and Wuttermberg breeds. The breed standards date back to 1899, the founding of the German Shepherd Dog Union. In the past, it was used as a working dog, both for pulling carts and herding livestock. During the First World War, it was also used for military duties, searching for the wounded, and carrying messages.

Appearance

Dog from muscular bodyThe German Shepherd is an excellent guard dog and companion dog. Intelligent, with short or long hair, of different colors.

The muzzle is conical.
The head is dry and quite broad.
The eyes are medium sized and almond shaped.
The ears are set high.
The tail is hanging.
The neck is powerful.
Males can weigh up to 40 kilograms, while females can weigh up to 32 kilograms.
Height ranges from 60 to 65 centimetres in males and from 55 to 60 centimetres in females.

the mantello

The German Shepherd's coat is short, smooth, shiny, and fine. It is brindle, seal, or black in color with white markings, such as the white stripe around the muzzle, between the eyes, and on the chest.

Main varieties

The breed is bred in two main varieties: the hard, compact variety known as the "Stockhaar," and the long, compact variety known as the "Langstockhaar." The coat color in both cases is black with brown, light gray, yellow, or reddish-brown markings, but it can also be solid black or gray with some shading.

The Stockhaar coat is hard, close-fitting, and has a thick undercoat that protects it from the cold.
The Langstockhaar coat is long and compact, soft and not close-fitting.

White German Shepherd

White puppies also appear in some litters, even though the FCI breed standard has not permitted white since 1933. In 1968, the Shepherd Dog Club of America, responsible for the American Kennel Club's standard, also backed down. The Canadian Kennel Club remains an exception, continuing to allow white dogs in its pedigree. Since 2011, the FCI has designated the "white shepherd dog" as a distinct breed under the name White Swiss Shepherd.

Character

The German Shepherd Dog is intelligent, sweet and brave. But also combative and very balancedIt's no coincidence that it's considered an excellent guard dog. This doesn't mean it's unsuitable for family life, on the contrary! The German Shepherd he also becomes very fond of children, He loves to play with them and is very patient. Being energetic, he doesn't like a sedentary lifestyle but prefers spending a lot of time outdoors. Thanks to his qualities, the German Shepherd is the most suitable dog for guiding the blind. He was introduced to this activity by the American Doroty Eustis, who founded a column in the weekly magazine The Saturday Evening Post dedicated specifically to the abilities of German Shepherds as guide dogs. To recap, here are his personality traits:

Go beyond
Desserts
Courageous
Combative
Balanced
giocoso
Energetic

Cure

For hygiene, remember that it's very important to brush your dog daily, especially when he sheds his coat. Because he's very energetic, it's important to take him out often and let him run. This will also help prevent him from becoming overweight, as he loves to eat. Despite his short coat, the German Shepherd is a dog that suffers greatly from excessive heat in the summer and, due to his short nose, must be protected from heatstroke. In the winter, he can suffer from excessive cold.

What does he eat?

Since this is a dog with a high energy expenditure, its diet must be abundant compared to that of more sedentary and sedentary breeds. Protein, minerals, and vitamins, which are essential for healthy development, must be present, and the most important source of protein remains meat. In the case of the German Shepherd, this can represent up to 70 percent of its diet. However, combine this with 20 to 30 percent fruit and vegetables.

Illnesses

The German Shepherd does not have any particular health problems, but it can happen that during the course of its life it is affected by some pathologies, here are the most frequent ones:

Hip dysplasia, disease due to a malformation of the hip joint.
Degenerative myelopathy, which causes the hind legs to malfunction.
Gastric dilatation and torsion, which can be fatal if not treated immediately.
Itchy eczema with crusting and hair loss.

They love to eat. The German Shepherd's semi-long coat requires regular brushing and a bimonthly bath, especially if the dog lives indoors.

Hip problems

The German Shepherd's true Achilles heel is the hips, and hip dysplasia can also be the result of hereditary factors. This breed's weak hips are due to its rectangular build, the slope, and the angulation of its croup, which make it a tireless trotter. However, if overused, or if there is a congenital malformation, the femoral head can drift away from the acetabulum.

Pros and Cons of the breed

There are many pros considering that this is such a sweet, courageous and reliable dog. The cons, if anything, concern the maintenance costs. Because the German Shepherd, despite enjoying good health, requires regular checkups, a high-quality diet, and a lot of dedication. Like any other dog, the German Shepherd, in fact the most popular and widespread guard dog in the world, is an animal that requires a lot of attention. since he was a puppy, and some experience in training and caring for it. Furthermore, it doesn't particularly enjoy the presence of strangers (this too requires training), and it easily suffers from separation anxiety if its owner leaves it for even a short period. In short: the German Shepherd is not a dog for everyone.

How much

The German Shepherd usually costs between 800 and 1500 eurosA price that falls into the medium range. The care and maintenance of these dogs requires considerable expenditure on the breeder, and therefore the cost is not that high. Keep in mind that, aside from the initial price, the German Shepherd must be fed quality food and constantly monitored for health, starting from puppyAdditional expenses that must be taken into account.

Adoption

German Shepherds are bought at authorized breeders, recognized by ENCI (Italian National Kennel Club). Breeders of this type will provide you with various certificates and pedigrees. Online purchases from classified ad sites should be avoided because they may be hiding unscrupulous breeders who don't truly care for the animals, or even illegal puppy trafficking. Alternatively, rather than buying it, it would be even better to adopt it. In fact, there is no shortage of specimens who need help. Where can you find them? For example, on the Facebook group "SOS German Shepherd Puppies and Baby Animals".

Training

The German Shepherd needs to be trained and educated from an early age. Otherwise, he risks becoming overbearing, aggressive, and unpleasant company. To train a German Shepherd puppy, who will arrive at home as large as a poodleThere are a few things to pay attention to. First, don't let him play inappropriately, or at the wrong times, such as after meals. Second, commands should be few and clear. Third, don't always be strict, and alternate strictness with gentleness. This will help soften the German Shepherd's temper.

What he loves to do

German Shepherds love long walks because they're very active. So, try to take them for walks several times a day, engaging them in games if possible.

When it calms down

German Shepherd puppies, like those of other breeds, tend to be quite agitated until they're about a year or a year and a half old. After that, they become adults and their temperaments stabilize.

German Shepherd: character, breed and adoption