Your Online Guide To Everything German Shepherds
Breed Brief -
History - Appearance -
Temperament - Exercise -
Grooming - Training - Health
Is Breed Right For Me? -
Breeders/Puppies For Sale - Dog Names -
Pictures - Further Info -
Clubs/Rescues
A typical adult German Shepherd Dog
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.
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 for German Shepherds
Germanshepherds, German Shepherds,
German-Shepherds, German Shepherds,
German Sheperds, German Sheppards,
Germanshepherds, Germansheperds, German Shepperd, German Sheppard
Alternate Names For German Shepherds
Alsatians, Alsations
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.
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:
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!
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 an German Shepherd owner.
The following sites below offer pictures of German Shepherd dogs,
German Shepherd puppy photos, funny German Shepherd photos and
more. Enjoy!
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 an 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 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 an 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:
- German Shepherd Dog Club of America
- GSDCA organization and breed information, events calendar, show results,
temperament test details.
- German Shepherd Dog Club of Canada -
Provides information on the breed, shows, events calendar, and member
information and application. Arthur, Ontario.
- German Shepherd Dog League of
Great Britain - Membership information, show dates and results,
newsletter, and articles.
