Like
with many dogs owner now days, we are focusing in getting a dog
because of it looks, social status or “I heard is the best dog to
have for...” but we really not focusing in the reality of what the
dog breed was created for and the needs for that breed. Owning a dog
is not a toy that we can put on a shelf and use it when we want to
show it or play with it, it is years of responsibility and care for a
living being that need daily attention. We tend to overlook health
issues, temperament, training and socialization required and forget
to focus on providing the care needed to get the best out of our dog.
Today
we going to pick the German Shepherd and expand on the responsible
and successful way to choose and care of this amazing breed.
GERMAN
SHEPHERD DOG:
German
Shepherd Dog
(sometimes
abbreviated as "GSD")
is
a breed of large-sized working dog that originated in Germany. Weighs
75-95 pounds, with males usually larger than females. Males should be
24-26 inches at the withers (top of the shoulder blades), and females
22-24 inches. The German Shepherd requires an active lifestyle, and
makes for an ideal companion and protector and has a life expectancy
of approximately of 13 years. Often used as working dogs, German
Shepherds are courageous, keen, alert and fearless, cheerful,
obedient and eager to learn. Also tranquil, confident, serious and
clever. GSDs are extremely faithful, and brave and they will not
think twice about giving their lives for their human pack. German
Shepherds love to be close to their families, but can be wary of
strangers.
HISTORY:
Max
von Stephanitz, the first official breeder of German Shepherd Dogs,
was attracted to the shepherding dogs used by Germans and, noting
that there were many different types of shepherd dogs, concluded that
a breed standard needed to be introduced. He was most fond of the
shepherd dogs that had a wolfish appearance, with the strong upper
body and prick ears, and that also had sharp minds and a willingness
to work. In 1889 he bought a shepherd dog that met his ideal, changed
the dog's name from Hektor Linkrshein to Horand von Grafrath (named
for the nearby town of Grafrath), registered the dog under a new
breed registry, and set about creating a standard, with Horand as the
genetic basis for the breed. In that same year, the Verein für
Deutsche Schäferhunde (roughly translated into the Society for the
German Shepherd Dog) was formed by Stephanitz and Artur Meyer to
advance the German Shepherd Dog's breed standard. There is some
debate as to how much wolf is actually a part of the German Shepherd
breed but it was said that Horan was part wolf, and that Stephanitz
used wolves in the crossbreeding. In Stephanitz's stud book there are
four entries for wolf crosses at different points in the breed's
development. However, some point out that at the time, many breeders
use the term "wolf" to generically describe a pattern that
is currently referred to as "SABLE". Other accounts suggest
that Stephanitz did use pure wolf genes, he was able to aquire the
genetic input from wolves that were housed in a zoo but in his book
published in 1923 (The
German Shepherd in Word and Picture)
he strongly advised against using wolves for crossbreeding.
Stephanitz focused on the breeds strength, intelligence and an
ability to work well with people throughout, and succeeded so well
that the German Shepherd Dog grew steadily in popularity.
During
World War I, the breed was selected as a war sentry by various
countries. At the same time, the American Kennel Club (AKC) chose to
alter the name of the breed from German Sheepdog to Shepherd Dog,
while Britain renamed it the Alsatian Wolfdog, both in an attempt to
separate the breed from its German roots. In 1931, the AKC reverted
the dog back to its original name: the German Shepherd Dog, since
then, popular German
Shepherds have
been on the silver screen, including movie stars Rin Tin Tin and
Strongheart and has become a mainstay in the American home
maintaining a position as one of the ten most popular dogs in the
U.S. and even ranking at number one in many American cities.
PURPOUSE:
The
German Shepherd over the years has been bred as a versatile working
dog and served in many different capacities such as: police dog,
guide dog, guard dog, war dog, explosives and narcotics detecting
dog, search and rescue dog. Also excels in many other dog activities
including tracking, obedience, agility, flyball, show dog and most
notably as a sheep-herding dog. Developed primarily for the purpose
of guarding and herding there have been few other breeds with such a
versatile repertoire.
TEMPERAMENT:
The
AKC Standard says the German Shepherd "has a distinct
personality marked by direct and fearless, but not hostile,
expression, self-confidence, and a certain aloofness that does not
lend itself to immediate and indiscriminate friendships. The dog must
be approachable but quietly standing its grounds.
BREED
STANDARD:
The
first impression of a good German Shepherd Dog is that of a strong,
agile, well muscled animal, alert and full of life. It is well
balanced, with harmonious development of the forequarter and
hindquarter. The dog is deep-bodied, and presents an outline of
smooth curves rather than angles. It looks substantial and not
spindly, giving the impression, both at rest and in motion, of
muscular fitness and nimbleness without any look of clumsiness or
soft living.
The
desired height
for
males at the top of the highest point of the shoulder blade is 24 to
26 inches; and for bitches, 22 to 24 inches.
The
German Shepherd Dog is longer than tall, with the most desirable
proportion
as
10 to 8½. The length is measured from the point of the prosternum or
breastbone to the rear edge of the pelvis. The head
is
noble, cleanly chiseled, strong without coarseness, but above all not
fine and in proportion to the body.
The
withers are high and sloping into the level back. The back is
straight, very strongly developed without sag or roach, and
relatively short. The whole structure of the body gives an impression
of depth and solidity without bulkiness.
Chest
commencing at the prosternum, it is well filled and carried well down
between the legs. It is deep and capacious, never shallow, with ample
room for lungs and heart, carried well forward, with the prosternum
showing ahead of the shoulder in profile.
The
German Shepherd Dog varies in color, and most colors are permissible.
Strong rich colors are preferred.
HEALTH
ISSUES:
Indiscriminate
breeding has led to hereditary diseases such as hip and elbow
dysplasia, blood disorders, digestive problems, bloat, epilepsy,
chronic eczema, keratitis (inflammation of the cornea), dwarfism and
flea allergies. Also prone to splenic tumors (tumors on the spleen),
DM (degenerative myelitis), EPI (endocrine pancreatic insufficiency),
perianal fistulas and Von Willebrand's disease.
SELECTION:
Know
what to look for in your potential new German Shepherd puppy.
Consider
different possibilities for getting the puppy.
Do
all your research carefully.
Find
a reputable breeder or a trusted adoption center.
Ask
the breeder or shelter about shots, dewormings and exams the puppy
may have already have had.
Research
the history of incidence of all diseases in the puppy's parents and
further down in its lineage.
TRAINING:
Training
a German Shepherd puppy should
start as soon as you bring your puppy home, but only if your German
Shepherd puppy is
old enough to be socialized with people and other dogs. If your
puppy’s behavior doesn’t seem to provide sufficient indication,
then 10 weeks is usually the age where you would expect that a German
Shepherd puppy is
ready for training,
although it may be a bit earlier or later in some cases.
At
this point, start with basic house
training a puppy.
Untrained German Shepherds can be quite stubborn at a young age, so
it is recommended you use “puppy crate training” at home as much
as possible to observe your pups and to establish familiarity. House
training a puppy
can
take slightly longer if you have a German
Shepherd,
but once they are broken a German
Shepherd puppy is
extremely careful not to violate its home. When you have established
these basics, start creating an environment in which you are the
clear alpha
leader.
You may also want to consider “clicker dog training”
because
it works particularly well for training
German Shepherd puppies.
Training
German Shepherd puppies not
to bite or nip is easier using suitable German
Shepherd
toys and
a noticeable whining sound to demonstrate that it hurts.
German
Shepherd puppy training should
slowly move into the obedience phase between month 3 and 6, focusing
on basic dog commands
like
lying down, sitting, staying, focusing on you, coming when called,
waiting inside doors and on the street, and not pulling on the leash.
You will find that in general a German
Shepherd puppy is
very adept at picking up on these cues, but may not initially want to
follow your lead due to its slightly stubborn nature. An upbeat
attitude and consistency on your side is key and you will have more
fun with your dog than you can currently imagine. However, to realize
all these benefits and pleasures of owning a German
Shepherd puppy,
you must lay down the rules early and consistently to ensure your GSD
puppies follow
your instructions in the future without that daily struggle.