The Purebred German Shepherd Dog
The GSD is the perfect balance of strength and speed. Their exceptional training capabilities and protective instincts make these dogs cherished family pets.
When looking for a purebred German Shepherd dog Choose breeders who are concerned about the health of their dogs as well as practice ethical breeding. You can find trustworthy breeders by requesting pedigree papers and previous health clearances.
Characteristics
German Shepherds are strong intelligent dogs that are highly trainable. They are incredibly loyal to their families and are fearless guardians of them. The breed standard says that the GSD must be steady of temperament, confident, and courageous. It must also be obedient and willing to please.
The breed is medium-sized with a slight elongation and is muscular. It has a distinct double coat made up of a hard outer layer and a soft undercoat. The eyes are dark, almond-shaped, and positioned obliquely. Its ears are wide at the base and pointed. When the dog is resting on its back, the tail becomes large and bushy. It extends below the hocks. The breed's long, slightly sloping neck is a characteristic. The chest is wide and deep. The spine is firm and the ribs are well-sprung.
The breed is generally healthy however, it does have some serious faults such as roached-backs and long pasterns that hinder proper movement. The hindquarters of the dog should be strong but not exaggerated. The rear leg should never extend beyond the point where the foot leaves a mark.
As working dogs, the GSD has high-drives that are naturally present (behavioral tendencies and desires for things like territorial protection and hunting prey). When these high drives aren't fulfilled in some way through play or work and it leads to aggressive behavior. Show-type German Shepherds are bred in a manner that can help reduce these urges but they require a lot of positive reinforcement training, physical exercise, and mental stimulation to live an enlightened lifestyle.
GSDs are typically cautious around strangers and could be suspicious of them at first. This makes them great guard dogs. It requires proper training to avoid overreactions. When socialized properly from a young age, they make wonderful pets for families. They're also great with children.
The GSD has a high pain threshold and is resilient against illness, however it has certain health issues that could impact its quality of life. These include seizures, epilepsy as well as bleeding disorders and immune-mediated diseases. Making sure to limit the dog's exposure to harmful UV rays and ensuring that it receives routine vaccinations should help reduce the risk of developing these diseases.
Temperament
German Shepherds are intelligent and eager to learn and highly capable of being trained. They are an active breed that excels at a variety of jobs, such as police work, herding and search and rescue. They also excel in detection of explosives and drugs, and aiding blind people. They also make great family companions. This strong and confident breed requires a clear and precise goal as well as the attention and focus of a confident owner to channel their strength and energy positively. They require a lot of exercise and space, and might not be suited for smaller living spaces.
The ideal German Shepherd is balanced and confident, with a solid and steady temperament. They are loyal and vigilant, and they are sceptical of strangers. This watchful and protective behavior can turn into aggression when not properly trained, socialized, and supervised. These dogs can be intelligent and independent, yet easily bored. They need to find an avenue to satisfy their natural curiosity.
Max von Stephanitz, the founder of the breed, employed shorter and longer-haired German Shepherds in his breeding program. This led to a breed that is responsive and well-behaved. Max von Stephanitz disagreed with those who wanted German Shepherds as a showpiece and made sure that his dogs were calm, had strong herding impulses, as well as an ideal body structure. He even refused to breed certain dogs that had temperaments that were unstable or had sharp angles in their croups as well as rear and front pasterns as he believed these traits would undermine the breed's ability to perform its traditional work.
In addition to the hereditary ailments that can plague any breed of dog German Shepherds are also susceptible to cancers, including Hemangiosarcoma, which typically affects blood-rich organs such as the spleen and liver. They also can develop bone, lung, or intestinal cancers.
You can avoid these ailments by maintaining the physical well-being of your German Shepherd. This means providing him with a healthy diet and regular exercise. It is important to give plenty of time to play and run outdoors in a safe area away from traffic. Keep him clean by brushing his thick double coat on a regular basis, using a de-shedding tool or an undercoat rake to get rid of hairs that have fallen off. Also, make sure that you take him to the vet on a regular basis to have regular health check-ups.
Health
German Shepherds have a healthy health record, but some health issues are present. They are susceptible to ear infections and can develop ailments that affect their eyes and ears, like degenerative myelopathy. Both female and male dogs are susceptible to suffering from hereditary von Willebrand disease, a genetic condition that limits the ability of clotting blood.
As a working breed GSDs are often involved in strenuous training and they may suffer from joint issues as a consequence. A common one is hip dysplasia. It is characterized by a lack of growth and development of cartilage and joint that can result in pain, lameness and other signs. This is not a serious condition but can be painful for the dog.
A reputable breeder will X-ray their dog and use the results to make breeding decisions. The x-rays can help determine the health of the puppy and its genetic history, which includes the probability that it will develop dysplasia. Dogs with a high risk of developing dysplasia do not bred.
Panosteitis can affect German Shepherds. deutsche schäferhundwelpen causes bones to grow rapidly and unevenly. This can lead to pain and stiffness. This condition is most common in German Shepherd puppies and dogs less than 18 months old who are going through an enormous growth spurt.
They require an enriched diet rich in protein with a generous mix of omega fatty acid and balanced vitamins to ensure a healthy coat and skin. They will benefit from joint support in their diet, such as glucosamine and chondroitin. Dogs under the age of 18 months must be given moderate exercise like walking and playing with a different dog if they are compatible. However, they should not run at a high speed, because this can damage the joints they are developing.
Avoid feeding animal bone or table food because they can cause vomiting, digestive upsets anorexia, and pancreatitis. Puppies and adults can benefit from probiotic supplements to aid digestion, as well as digestive enzyme supplements to aid in breaking down proteins. Mineral and vitamin supplements are not required since a well-formulated AAFCO-approved diet should provide the proper amount of these nutrients.
Training
German Shepherds are highly-trainable, biddable dogs that thrive under a knowledgeable trainer's guidance. They are therefore a good choice for police, military, search and rescue and therapy dog roles. Their unwavering loyalty makes them a great pet, if properly socialized and trained.
Socialization is the first step towards raising a well-adjusted GSD. Introduce your puppy to a variety of people and animals from a young age, taking them for frequent walks, playing games and visiting local dog parks. This will help them feel more confident and comfortable and will teach them to trust people from an early age.
Training a German Shepherd requires patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement. Avoid methods of negative reinforcement like yelling or physical punishment, which can lead to fear based aggression. Instead, opt for rewards-based training and clicker training to teach your German Shepherd basic commands.
Daily enrichment is essential for your German Shepherd. Exercises for mental stimulation can be as important as physical exercise for the GSD especially in a chaotic or busy household. This can help them stay focused and less likely to be distracted by street noises or storms or other dogs in the park, or crowds during competitions or public events.
German Shepherds are at risk of a number of health conditions, including hemangiosarcoma (cancer of bones, lungs, and intestinal tract), pannus (superficial Keratitis) and cancer. All of these conditions can be prevented by responsible breeding and lifestyle choices.
German Shepherds are loyal family dogs, despite their reputation as being fearsome. They are often affectionate with children and gentle with smaller pets, like cats, if exposed to them at a young age. Nonetheless, their size and strength make them formidable guardians, and they should always be watched over children younger than them. They may also show signs of a hereditary tendency towards aggression if not given the proper training and socialization opportunities. It is recommended that you enroll your German Shepherd in a puppy class or obedience classes to ensure that they are receiving the proper training and socialization they require to flourish.