The Purebred German Shepherd Dog

The GSD is the perfect balance of speed and strength. Their ability to train and their protective instincts make these dogs cherished family pets.

When shopping for a purebred german shepherd Look for breeders who have a commitment to ethical breeding and who are concerned about the health of their animals. You can identify trustworthy breeders by requesting documents on pedigrees and prior health clearances.

Characteristics

German Shepherds are incredibly strong intelligent dogs that are highly capable of being trained. They are loyal to their family and are able to be fierce guardians. Breed standard states the GSD must be confident and courageous, as well as possess a calm and steady temperament. It must also be respectful and willing to be obedient.

The breed is strong, medium-sized and slightly extended. It has a double coat consisting of a hard outer layer, and a soft undercoat. The almond-shaped eyes are dark and obliquely set. The ears are pointed and wide at the base. When the dog is lying down, the tail is bushy. It is a little below the hocks. The dog's long neck, with a slight slope, is characteristic. The chest is broad and deep. The spine is solid and the ribs are well-sprung.

In general the breed is healthy, but serious faults include roached backs as well as long pasterns that hinder proper movement. The hindquarters of the dog should be strong but not overly exaggerated. The rear leg should never pass forward of the point where the forefoot leaves an imprint.

As working dogs as well as working dogs, the GSD has naturally high drives (behavioral propensities and desires toward things like territorial protection and chasing prey). If these high drives are not satisfied in a certain way, for example through play or work or playing, it can result in aggressive behavior. Show-type German Shepherds have been developed to reduce these drives. However, they require lots of positive reinforcement, physical exercise and mental stimulation in order to keep a balanced life.

GSDs tend to be reserved and suspicious towards strangers initially. This is a characteristic that makes them great guard dogs, but requires proper training to prevent overreactions. When socialized properly from a young age, they make wonderful pets for the family. They're also great with kids.

The GSD has a high pain threshold and is able to fight off illness, however it is also susceptible to certain health conditions that can affect its quality of life. These include seizures and epilepsy, bleeding disorders, and immune-mediated diseases. Preventing these conditions by limiting your dog's exposure to UV radiation and ensuring that it is vaccinated regularly can help.

Temperament

German Shepherds are intelligent and eager to learn, and extremely capable of being trained. They are a working breed and excel in a variety of tasks, such as herding, police work including search and rescue as well as drug and bomb detection and guiding blind people. They are also excellent companions for families. This powerful and confident breed requires a clear goal as well as the attention and focus of a confident owner to channel their strength and energy positively. They need a lot of exercise and space and may not be suitable in apartments or smaller living spaces.

The ideal German shepherd is well-balanced and confident, with a firm temperament. They are loyal and alert and they are sceptical of strangers. This watchful and protective behavior can escalate into aggression when they are not properly trained, socialized, and managed. Dogs with these traits can be smart, independent and easily bored. They need to find an avenue to satisfy their curiosity.

Max von Stephanitz, the founder of the breed, employed longhaired and shorterhaired German Shepherds in his breeding program. This created a breed that is responsive and respectful. Max von Stephanitz disagreed with those who wanted to use German Shepherds to be a showpiece. He made sure his dogs had stable temperaments, strong herding impulses, and a sound body structure. He even resisted breeding with dogs that were temperamentally unstable or had steep angles in their croups as well as front and rear pasterns as he believed these traits could hamper the breed's ability to perform its traditional work.

In addition to the hereditary diseases that can affect any dog breed German Shepherds are also prone to cancers, such as Hemangiosarcoma. It is a cancer that typically affects blood-rich organs such as the liver and spleen. They can also develop lung, bone, or intestinal cancers.

You can avoid these ailments by maintaining the physical health of your German Shepherd. This means providing him with a healthy diet and regular exercise. You should allow plenty of time to run and play in a safe place away from traffic. Make sure to regularly brush his double coat, using a deshedding tool or reinrassiger deutscher schäFerhund an undercoat rake. You should also bring him to the vet regularly for routine health checks.

Health

German Shepherds are generally healthy dogs, however they do have some health issues. They are susceptible to ear infections and can develop conditions that affect their ears and eyes such as degenerative amyelopathy. Female and male can be affected by hereditary von Willebrand disease, a genetic condition that limits the ability of dogs to clot blood.

As a breed that is primarily used for work, GSDs often engage in vigorous training and they can suffer from joint issues as a result. Hip dysplasia is an extremely common condition that can cause lameness, pain, and other symptoms. It's not always a serious issue, but it can be painful for the dog.

Breeders who are trustworthy X-ray the dogs they breed and use the results to make breeding decisions. The x-rays can aid in determining the health of the puppy as well as its genetic background, including the probability that it will develop dysplasia. Dogs with a high risk of developing the disorder aren't bred.

Like many large breeds, German Shepherds can suffer from panosteitis, which causes the bones to expand rapidly and unevenly, causing pain and stiffness in the joints. This condition is more common in German Shepherd puppies or dogs younger than 18 months who are experiencing rapid growth.

The dogs need an enriched diet rich in protein with a generous mix of omega-fatty acids and balanced vitamins for skin and coat health. These dogs are able to benefit from a diet with joint support, such as glucosamine or chondroitin. Dogs younger than 18 months age should be exercising moderately like walking on a regular basis and, if they are compatible with another dog, reinrassiger schäferhund deutscher schäferhund beschützerinstinkt züchter (homepage) playing together, but should not be allowed to run at full speed as this can damage growing joints.

Feeding table food or bones from animals should be avoided, since they can trigger digestive upset, vomiting, anorexia, and pancreatitis. Adults and puppies can benefit from probiotic supplements to aid digestion, as well as digestive enzyme supplements to aid in breaking down proteins. A well-formulated AAFCO approved diet should include the proper amount of vitamins and minerals.

Training

German Shepherds are highly-trainable and biddable dogs that thrive under a skilled guide's supervision. This makes them an excellent choice for military and police tasks in search and rescue and therapy dog roles, and a myriad of other specialized roles. Their unwavering loyalty also makes them a great pet to have when properly trained and socialized.

Socialization is the first step to creating a well-adjusted GSD. As a puppy expose your puppy to different animals and people. Take your dog for walks frequently and play games. Visit local dog parks. This will help them feel comfortable and secure in a new place and will help them learn to trust humans at an early age.

Training a German Shepherd requires patience, consistency and positive reinforcement. Avoid negative reinforcement methods such as yelling, or physical punishment, which could cause fear-based aggression. Instead, opt for rewards-based training and clicker training to teach your German Shepherd basic commands.

It is also essential to give your German Shepherd with a regular dose of enrichment. Mental stimulation exercises are just as important to an GSD as physical exercise, particularly when you have an area with a lot of activity. This will help them stay focused and less likely to be distracted by road noises or thunderstorms, other dogs at the park, or crowds at competitions or public events.

Some health conditions that are unique to German Shepherds are Hemangiosarcoma, cancer of bones lung, lungs, and the intestinal tract, as well as pannus (superficial keratitis). All of these conditions are preventable through responsible breeding and lifestyle accommodations.

German Shepherds are loving family dogs despite their reputation as a feared breed. When they are around children from a young age, they can be friendly and gentle with smaller pets such as cats. They are powerful guardians due to their size and strength, however, they must be monitored when they are around children. If they aren't sufficiently exposed to socialization and training they could show signs of aggression. It is recommended that you enroll your German Shepherd in a puppy class in the preschool or obedience to ensure that they are receiving the proper training and socialization they require to flourish.