Looking for a German Shepherd?

   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.