German Shepherd, German Shepherds, German Shepherd Puppies - What you must know about This Dog!

All the credit for the development of this highly intelligent, loyal and obedient breed goes to Max von Stephanitz. It was exclusively his idea that fused a great range of sheep herding dogs into one single breed. He envisaged a dog of principled character, wise working ability, faithful and extensively trainable. Shepherd dogs used to be the true working dogs during 18th and 19th centuries. In Germany, the shepherds used their dogs to guide their group of sheep or domestic animals. These dogs did not have any particular origin. For those dogs, the only necessity was their working ability, but not their looks.

During late 19th century a movement initiated in the process of guiding sheep, which was led by Captain von Stephanitz with an idea to establish his organization, Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde for breeding dogs combining both talents and looks. In his breeding technique, although the primary emphasis was given on improving the working efficiency, Max von Stephanitz also put his effort to improve beauty of the German Shepherd.
History witnessed that the developmental journey of the German Shepherd was not always hassle-free. In fact, there were several ups and downs in the demand of shepherd dogs in earlier times. By that time, von Stephanitz shifted his idea into a new direction and trained the German Shepherd for the purpose of police service, where these dogs once again proved their robust efficiency. However, later in 19th century and early phases of the 20th century, the increasing number of dog shows made the breeder think about both the efficiency and appearance of the German Shepherd.

Continuous involvement of Captain von Stephanitz and the formation of Verein made the development of the modern German Shepherd possible. During the First World War the German Shepherd was discovered by the British people and they brought this dog to England under the name of the Alsatian. During that phase, all the breeding techniques and policies were regulated by Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde in Germany. In the post World War II phase, Germany was ruined totally, the same happened with different organizations including Verein. It is assumed that North American was acclaimed for the best the German Shepherd of that time.
However, in the late 19th century, von Stephanitz tried to find out new arenas of breeding German Shepherd dogs with the help of his extensive experience and application of knowledge. He kept his faith about many ideas used in England by that time. During 1899, von Stephanitz participated in a dog show, where he bought Horand von Grafrath. This is the time when Verein was founded and it was Horand who took his entry in the studbook as the first registered German Shepherd. Captain von Stephanitz was most impressed by the qualities of Horand.

Horand was a medium size dog with a blend of liveliness and activity. An obedient, brave, defensive and energetic type of dog was mostly adored for its mental alertness. Additionally, it had beautiful lines all over the body. These were the qualities that made the German Shepherd acquire such a universal acceptance. In modern days, German imports of German Shepherds are highly desirable to everyone for their incredible sense of smell, extraordinary obedience, sound temperament, and excellent physical structure and working efficiency.

The German Shepherd is the perfect combination of action and elegance. It is widely accepted for its obedience, physical activity and working ability. If you are in need of historical German Shepherd information, this article will provide it for you.

What qualities would you look for in a friend? You would hope they would stick by your side through good times and bad. You pray that they will never betray your secrets. You wish that they would help you out when you needed help. You can find all of these qualities in a German Shepherd dog. And, as added benefit, they won't sue you, either.

You need to do your part in this friendship, as well, in order for it to work out. You have to be patient, have a sense of humor and learn all you can about the German Shepherd breed. You have to be committed to exercising your German Shepherd dog every day, with a walk and play. They need to be active, or else they get a bit hyperactive. They also need regular trips to the vet for inoculations and check ups. Purebred German Shepherds are more inclined to have genetically caused problems than many other breeds of dog. You must be willing to pay any and all medical costs for your friend.
German Shepherd dogs are loyal, alert, emotional and probably more intelligent than most people. They are capable of learning very complex behaviors and can solve problems. German Shepherds are even capable of learning commands in two languages. Once they learn something, it sticks. They are known to be very easy to housebreak. Once they have gotten the idea, any accidents are usually due to illness and require a trip to the vet to be easily cured.

This incredible ability to learn and remember can get the German Shepherd in trouble. One director of an English German Shepherd rescue had a desperate phone call from a woman clearly at her wit's end. "My son taught the dog to turn in circles and he won't stop!" When reminded that she shouldn't have let the son teach this trick to the dog, she wailed, "He's 37!" Patient and persistent retraining are the only ways to get a German Shepherd to give up a bad habit.
A German Shepherd dog needs regular exercise, attention and grooming. Getting them spayed or neutered will also not only lengthen their life span, but also make them more willing to pay attention to you. German Shepherds really are not suitable for apartment life, unless they get a lot of outdoor exercise. They learn to leash train very well (and can often be voice trained), whether their owners are walking, jogging, riding a bike or riding a horse.

Hopefully, armed with this German Shepherd information about their basic personality, you will know if a German Shepherd dog is right for your home and lifestyle. There are variations in each dog's individual personality, as there are with each dog's physical traits. Some are more timid than others. Some are more serious than others. Some seem more psychic than others. But they need a lot of activity and attention in order to really become a member of your family.

This author hopes that one day humans will act as good as German Shepherd dogs. New dog owners should know basic German Shepherd information before bringing home a German Shepherd rescue dog.

You need to know as much information as you can about any breed of dog before you adopt one. And, since the German Shepherd is a lot of dog, you need to know a lot of German Shepherd information before adopting or purchasing one! Not all dogs are alike. If you've never lived with a large dog or a very active dog before, then you are going to be in for a surprise with a German Shepherd. Hopefully, this will be a welcome surprise.

German Shepherds are not a placid, sedentary breed like the cavalier King Charles Spaniel. In order to be healthy, happy and respond to training, they need to be exercised regularly every day - including a walk of at least a half hour, plus a romp in the yard. You live in an apartment? Then you really should consider another dog. Otherwise, they will damage your apartment in boredom and to burn up excess energy.
Daily life with a German Shepherd should include a lot of interaction and fuss with your family and your dog. They love to be in the center of the action and are strong enough to force their way to the center of the action if not supervised. Keeping the dog exercised, including games and playing in the yard will help to keep his or her energy levels down. German Shepherds are not vicious by nature, but they can play rough, just like puppies do.

You will need to brush your German Shepherd every day to keep out tangles and to keep shedding to a minimum. Most German Shepherds have thick, double layer coats, although there are many with single layer coats. Bathing the German Shepherd Dog too often can result in shedding and dandruff production beyond belief so only bathe when absolutely necessary. Train your dog to be still when brushed and do it after exercise.
German Shepherd dogs have thick coats that shed a lot. They need to be brushed every day. This is often not a problem for most dog lovers, but some people cannot stand a shedding dog. German Shepherds also need regular exercise every day, or else they get a bit hyper and mischievous. They have been bred for centuries to work all day, not sleep all day.

German Shepherds are incredibly intelligent and will find things to do, whether or not they are good for you or the dog or not. They need a job, even if the job is family pet. If they are a family pet they need to be involved with the family and not tied to a post and left outside. They are strong dogs, which can surprise people not ready for the power of big dogs. By knowing all of this German Shepherd information, you can now decide if this magnificent but demanding dog can fit in your life.

Many people love collecting anything and everything having to do with German Shepherd dogs. This author is considered one of the nation's most articulate advocates for the advancement of accurate German Shepherd information.

The American Kennel Club (AKC), which establishes standards for all breeds of dog recognized in the United States, has established standards for the German Shepherd breed. Dogs that match this standard may win best of breed contests and may even be crowned champions in American Kennel Club dog shows. A German Shepherd that does not live up to the standard can still make a wonderful pet, but it will never win a dog show.

The standard of the breed calls for a well muscled, strong, and agile appearance, well balanced with a substantial appearance at rest and in motion. The ideal dog looks graceful and nimble and presents a curved, as opposed to angular, profile. A good German Shepherd has a fearless, confident personality: approachable but not overly friendly. The German Shepherd is poised and ready on a moment's notice to go to work as a guardian, guide dog, police dog, herding dog, or beloved family pet.
According to the AKC standards, the proper size for German Shepherd males is twenty four to twenty six inches tall at the shoulder; the proper size for German Shepherd females is twenty two to twenty four inches tall at the shoulder. The German Shepherd head should have a noble, strong appearance, in good proportion to the body. Sex should be obvious, with males looking masculine, and females looking feminine. The German Shepherd face features very dark eyes, moderately pointed ears (never cropped or hanging) and a long, strong muzzle. The nose must be predominantly black or the dog will be disqualified from competition. The German Shepherd's neck should be relatively long, very strong and muscular, carrying the noble head high and facing forward. The body should be deeper than it is long, with long ribs, a taut abdomen, and a high, bushy tail. The forequarters are strong and well muscled, ending in short, compact feet. The upper thigh and the shoulder blade are parallel, and the lower thigh bone and the upper arm are parallel. The hindquarters are broad, and under the American Kennel Club standard, dewclaws removed from the hind legs.
The German Shepherd standard of the breed calls for a short, double coat with an extremely dense outer coat on the main body and a short coat on the head, legs and paws. German Shepherds with soft, silky, wooly and curly coats are disqualified. Variations in color are permissible, although a white dog must always be disqualified. Rich colors are preferred, and a tan face with black body is a commonly accepted color combination. A good German Shepherd, according to the American Kennel Club, trots without effort while smoothly covering territory with minimal effort. Faults of the gait are serious and can lead to disqualification.

These are the American Kennel Club standards of the German Shepherd breed against which show dogs are judged. Many of these traits have no bearing whatsoever on what kind of pet a German Shepherd will make. Usually, German Shepherds who don't meet American Kennel Club standards make excellent pets and working dogs.

The American Kennel Club standards for a German Shepherd promote good breeding practices that produce healthy dogs. If German Shepherd information interests you, go to a dog show to meet German Shepherd breeders and see dozens of German Shepherds that meet the standard of the breed, all in one place.