German shepherd Dog

The history of the German Shepherd dates back to 1890 , when cavalry captain Max Emil Frederick von Stephanitz began to follow his dream of developing a noble-looking working breed. In 1899, this cavalry captain met Hektor Linkrshein , the dog who would become the founder of the breed, at a dog show.

Later and with the help of Artur Meyer, von Stephanitz founded the first German Shepherd Club. Hector was the first dog to be registered, although under the new name Horand von Grafrath. The German Shepherd, also known as the German Shepherd, gained great notoriety for its performance in the two world wars . So great was the impression he made that even the enemy armies admired him.

Perhaps the most famous German Shepherd dog of all time was Rin Tin Tin , a puppy rescued by an American corporal after a bombing raid. Rin Tin Tin starred in several films and catapulted the German Shepherd to global fame.

Currently, the German Shepherd is used in a multitude of activities, from search and rescue of lost people to working as a police dog . His qualities as a companion have not been ignored and that is why the German Shepherd is one of the most popular dogs in the world.

We tell you more details about ” The story of the German Shepherd ” in the following AnimalWised post.

The beautiful appearance of the German Shepherd dog, its incomparable character and its great intelligence, have led the German Shepherd to be the most popular dog of all time. The height at the withers is 60 to 65 centimeters for male German Shepherd dogs, and 55 to 60 centimeters for females. The weight of the males is between 30 and 40 kilograms . The weight of the females is between 22 and 32 kilograms .

Some of the most notable characteristics of the German Shepherd are the following:

• The head of the German Shepherd , wide and wedge-shaped , is its distinctive feature and the one that draws the most attention: on the upper part of it are implanted the medium-sized ears, erect and ending in a point, which give the This dog has a wolfish appearance . The eyes, arranged obliquely on the skull, express security and confidence and should be of the darkest color possible.
• The powerful teeth , which must be strong, healthy and complete (42 teeth): allow the German Shepherd a strong scissor bite. When trained correctly, these dogs have a firm, confident bite .
• The body of the German Shepherd dog is longer than it is tall and the top line is sloping: descending slightly from a raised withers to a lower rump. The loin is wide and muscular and the rump is long and slightly inclined. The chest, which is moderately broad, has a depth that ranges between 45 and 48% of the height at the withers and an elongated and very noticeable sternum.
• The German Shepherd’s tail is long : reaching at least the hock when it hangs at rest. However, it should not exceed the middle of the metatarsus. The German Shepherd carries it hanging when at rest and raised when active, but never carries it above horizontal.
• The coat of the German Shepherd has long been the cause of controversy, as there are three varieties : however, according to the official standard of the German Shepherd, the correct coat corresponds to a double coat with undercoat . The outer coat should be as dense as possible, straight, hard and close to the body. Hair length varies slightly on different parts of the body, but the German Shepherd is not a long-haired dog.

Colors of the German Shepherd dog or German Shepherd

The German Shepherd standard accepts several colors for the breed. These colors include: solid black, black and tan, yellowish to light gray and gray in various shades. The nose must be black. The white coat is not accepted in the official breed standard. For more information you can consult the ” Types of German Shepherd ” below.

The character of the German Shepherd is balanced, confident and reliable . The courage of these dogs is legendary, as is their defense instinct. This is why the German Shepherd is one of the most requested dogs for guarding and protection, since he has a natural predisposition for these tasks.

But courage and defense are not the same as aggression and danger. Although the German Shepherd tends to be somewhat suspicious of strangers, he is not an aggressive dog by nature. On the contrary, he tends to be alert but does not attack without reason. Of course, the socialization of the puppy is essential to avoid problems in the future, since no dog has its character guaranteed solely by its genes. The German Shepherd is an easy dog ​​to train and adapts very well to any training technique. However, he reaches his full potential when trained by taking advantage of positive reinforcement .

Due to its versatility and adaptability, this breed has been able to perform successfully in different activities. The German Shepherd stands out as: canine athlete, search and rescue dog, guide dog, police dog and therapy dog . He is also an excellent companion for any family who will provide him with good care.

We tell you ” How to get into a dog in 10 steps? ” in the following article.

The German Shepherd can adapt to living in an apartment, although it doesn’t hurt to know some of the more specific care for the German Shepherd dog.

• Diet : Being a large breed of dog, the German Shepherd or German Shepherd will need a large dose of protein in their diet, since they are carnivorous animals (like all dogs). In order to meet your dietary needs, we will have to offer you at least 22% protein with 5-8% fat.
• Exercise : The German Shepherd dog is a dog that needs a lot of exercise and long walks . This agile and active dog needs to exercise his muscles outdoors. A small garden can help, but it never replaces the walks and play sessions you should have. Practicing a dog sport, such as Agility , can help maintain your dog’s health. Dog training is also important to help develop the dog’s intellectual ability. We give you more details about ” How to walk your dog correctly? ” in the following AnimalWised post.
• Hygiene : It is not very difficult to keep the German Shepherd’s coat in good condition, since it does not require special cuts. However, this breed sheds constantly, so daily brushing is important. Bathing should not be very frequent because it damages the natural protection of the hair.

The German Shepherd is an excellent dog to work with on education and obedience. His natural predisposition and the great intelligence he possesses make it inevitable that we want to discover and explore all of his capabilities. Find out more about ” How to train a German Shepherd? ” below on AnimalWised.

As with all existing dog breeds, the puppy’s education will have a major impact on the future of the adult German Shepherd. For this reason, it will be essential to work promptly on the dog’s development: socialization , stimulation of the senses and intelligence games . A good education will help us avoid the appearance of behavioral problems.

In the adult stage it will be essential to work on obedience and tricks very regularly to keep the dog mentally healthy. It is very important to consider this point before adopting a German Shepherd. We are faced with a very intelligent dog that should be able to enjoy an adequate life. The physical exercise of the German Shepherd here also plays an important role in preventing stress . In his education and training we must include many environmental enrichment sessions.

Unfortunately, the great popularity of the German Shepherd has led to the indiscriminate breeding of German Shepherds for purely commercial purposes. This indiscriminate breeding has had a negative impact on the health of the German Shepherd. For this reason, the German Shepherd dog is prone to some hereditary diseases such as hip dysplasia , elbow dysplasia , digestive problems, epilepsy , chronic eczema, keratitis (inflammation of the cornea) and dwarfism.

However, offering good care to this great dog, visiting the vet every 6 months and following its vaccination schedule will ensure that we can enjoy it for a long time. His current life expectancy is around 13 years .

The German Shepherd Dog or German Shepherd is one of the most popular dogs that exist. Both because of his physique and his character, there are many dog ​​guardians who want to have the company of this great furry dog. Even so, at ExpertoAnimal we want to position ourselves against the buying and selling of animals, so if you are thinking of having a German Shepherd, the best option is to look for an animal shelter or shelter near where you live. Another option would also be to go to a breed club.