German Shepherd At A Glance
- Group: Herding
- Height: Females, 22 to 24 inches tall; males, 24 to 26 inches
- Weight: 75 to 80 pounds
- Uses: Herding, law enforcement, search-and-rescue, protection, and performance sports.
- Color: Usually black-and-tan “saddle.” Also acceptable: black, black and silver, black and red. Blues, livers, and washed-out colors are faults. White is a disqualifying fault in AKC conformation, although it is accepted at UKC conformation shows.
- Coat: Double coat of medium length desirable; dense outer coat, downy undercoat.
- Grooming: Brush daily, trim nails regularly, and bathe and clean ears as necessary.
- Life Span:10 to 12 years
History
German Shepherds were originally found on German farms in Germany, and its type was standardized in the 1890s by a German cavalry officer, Capt. Max Von Stephanitz, whose aim was to perfect a superior herding dog of elegant appearance.
The breed was first imported to North America early in the 1900s and got its most significant boost in popularity after World War I, mainly because of the screen exploits of Rin Tin Tin.
The breed makes a loyal family dog and fearless guardian of the home. German Shepherds are now renowned for their intelligence.
Their intelligence and strength make the breed desirable as police, rescue, search and guard dogs. They are pretty adaptable to learning new tasks quickly and interpret instructions better than other large breeds.
Breed Overview
The German Shepherd has a domed forehead, a long square-cut muzzle, and a black nose.
They have strong jaws with medium-sized brown eyes. The ideal height for males is 25 inches at the shoulder, ranging from 75 to 80 pounds.
Females are somewhat smaller. German Shepherds can be a variety of colors, the most common of which are the tan/black and red/black varieties.
Puppies have floppy ears that stand erect by six or seven months of age. Some dogs have ears that never stand.
German Shepherd comes in a wide variety of colors such as black and red, black and cream, all black, all white, sable (with various colorations), black and silver, liver and blue. The fur can range from short and coarse to long and soft in the German Shepherd.
Health and Training
Exercise is also a consideration for the German Shepherd.
Exercise is essential for the German Shepherd’s physical and mental well-being.
It provides this athletic breed with much-needed activity, plus it helps him feel like he has a purpose.
Without regular exercise and activity, the breed is foremost susceptible to rheumatism, the symptoms of which are similar to those seen in humans: swelling and stiffening of the affected joints and pain in movement.
Because some of the symptoms of this condition are shared by much more severe hip dysplasia, prompt, professional attention is necessary when signs are first displayed.
Skin problems are also frequent in the breed. As opposed to the short burst of scratching associated with fleas, slow, constant scratching is a sign of skin trouble. If observed early, most of these problems can be reduced quickly by veterinary care and diet.
Reliable Working Dogs
German Shepherds are very popular for their use as working dogs.
GSDs are known for being police dogs, tracking criminals, anti-riot dogs, patrolling troubled areas, and detecting and holding a suspect.
Additionally, 1000’s of German Shepherds were used by the military. Often trained for scout duty, they are used to warn soldiers of the presence of enemies or booby traps, or other hazards. Military groups have trained german Shepherds to parachute from aircraft.
[ Check Out German Shepherd Pros and Cons Here ]Final Thoughts:
German Shepherds exhibit a very gentle temperament, and they are very confident. They always listen and obey their master’s orders.
They are curious about their surroundings and highly intelligent. They are quite vigilant, and that’s why they are the number 1 dog breed used by the police around the world.
There are many dog breeds globally, but the German Shepherd is considered one of the most reliable and most impressive of all working dogs.
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