All About
German Shepherd Dogs
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German Shepherd Complete Profile
by Dooziedog.com
http://dooziedog.com/dog_breeds/german_shepherd/
Key Facts about German Shepherds:
Size: Large
Height: 56 - 66 cm (22 - 26 inches)
Weight: 42 - 52 kg (92 - 115 lb)
Life Span: 13 years
Grooming: Medium
Exercise: Demanding
Feeding: Medium
Temperament: Protective & highly trainable
Country of Origin: Germany
AKC Group: Herding
Other Names: Alsatian, Deutscher Schäferhund
Physical Characteristics of German Shepherds:
General Appearance: Proud, powerful and dignified.
Color: Black, black/tan or grey with or without shadings. Small
white markings on the chest or inside of the legs is permitted.
Coat: The outercoat is thick, harsh and straight. The undercoat
is thick and short on the head.
Tail: Set low, bushy and never carried about the level of the
back.
Ears: Medium size, broad at the base, set high, carried erect and
pointed forward. The ears of the puppies may stay hanging until
around 6 months or older and don't become erect until the
replacement of the baby teeth.
Body: The chest is deep but not too broad. The shoulders are
long, oblique and well laid back. The back is straight and the
ribs are long and well sprung.
Temperament of German Shepherds:
Active, bold, determined and watchful. German Shepherds make
excellent watchdogs, as they are naturally suspicious of
strangers and very protective of their family. This breed gets on
well with children but can be territorial with other dogs. They
are extremely intelligent and trainable dogs and make ideal
household companions.
Grooming for German Shepherds:
Minimal attention is needed for the coat. During molting use a
comb to remove the dead and loose hairs.
Exercise for German Shepherds:
It is important that owners do not overlook the fact that German
Shepherds are keen to work for their handler and that simply
being companions in the home is insufficient. Ideally these dogs
would be involved in activities such as obedience, agility,
police trials or whatever else that can keep them both mentally
and physically healthy.
History of German Shepherds:
It was in Germany in 1899 that the German Shepherd became a
distinctive breed. They had been used as guard dogs, but when
livestock began being transported by rail and there were fewer
wolves, the German Shepherd's abilities had to move into other
fields. The most valued dogs were those that could fulfill the
greatest number of tasks and due to the excellent versatility of
these dogs they became an extremely popular breed throughout the
world.
Additional Comments:
In the past some strains of this breed were nervous,
overprotective or had an unreliable temperament, due to
inbreeding. However these days after careful breeding these
difficulties have been greatly reduced. It is important to buy
from a reputable breeder to ensure the dog will have a good
temperament.
This breed would have to be one of the best known in the world.
The German Shepherd has been used as a guide dog and worked with
the police, armed services, drug officers and private protection
agencies.
The German Shepherd is the only breed for which there is a
worldwide organization set up for matters relating to this breed.
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