The Purebred German Shepherd Dog
The GSD is the perfect combination of strength and speed. Its training capabilities are high and its natural instincts to protect make them loved family dogs.
If you are looking for a purebred German Shepherd dog select breeders who value the health of their dogs as well as practice ethical breeding. Requesting pedigree papers and prior health clearances will help you find reputable breeders.
Characteristics
German Shepherds are intelligent, powerful dogs that are easy to train. They are extremely affectionate to their families and are fearless guardians of them. The breed standard states that a GSD must be confident, courageous, and have a steady temperament. It must also be tractable and willing to be a pleasure to.
The breed is muscular, medium-sized, and slightly elongated. It has a double coat that consists of an outer layer of hardness, and a softer undercoat. Its eyes are dark and almond-shaped, and positioned in a oblique manner. Its ears are pointed and wide at the base. The tail is long and extends down to below the hocks when the dog is lying down. The neck of the breed is long and sloping slightly. The chest is broad and deep. The ribs are well-sprung and the spine is strong.
In general the breed is healthy However, it has some serious flaws. These include roached backs and lengthy pasterns that interfere with correct movement. The hindquarters of the dog should be strong but not overly so. The rear leg should never extend beyond the point where the foot leaves an impression.
As working dogs, the GSD has high-drives that are naturally present (behavioral tendencies and desires for things like territorial protectiveness and the pursuit of prey). When these high drives aren't fulfilled through work or play this can result in aggressive behavior. Show-type German Shepherds are developed to reduce these urges. However, they require lots of positive reinforcement, physical exercise and mental stimulation to keep a balanced life.
GSDs are generally cautious around strangers and could be initially suspicious of them. This trait of protection makes them great guard dogs and requires proper training to avoid overreactions. They are wonderful pets for families when properly socialized at a young age and are generally good with children.
The GSD is resistant to illness and has a high threshold for pain, but certain health conditions can impact the quality of its life. These include seizures, epilepsy and bleeding disorders. Making sure to limit the dog's exposure to harmful UV rays and ensuring that regular vaccinations are given to the dog will reduce the risk of these conditions.
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 tasks, such as herding, police work, search and rescue drug and bomb detection and guiding blind. They also make great family members. However, this powerful and confident breed requires a clear sense of purpose and the attention of a confident owner to use their strength and energy in a positive way. They require a lot of space and exercise. They might not be suited to smaller living spaces.
The ideal German shepherd is confident and well-balanced, with a strong temperament. They are loyal and alert and they are sceptical of strangers. If they aren't properly socialized and trained to be vigilant and protective, this behavior can become aggression. These dogs can be intelligent and independent, yet easily bored. They must find ways to satisfy their curiosity.
The founder Max von Stephanitz used herding and farm dogs, longhaired and shorthaired German Shepherds, in his breeding program to create the kind of dog that was obedient and responsive that we have today. Max von Stephanitz was not one of those who wanted German Shepherds to be used as a showcase and made sure that his dogs had stable temperaments, strong herding impulses, as well as solid body structure. He did not breed dogs with unstable temperaments, or with a steep angle on their croups or front and rear pasterns. He believed that these traits would undermine the ability of the breed to carry out its traditional tasks.
German Shepherds can also be prone to cancers. Hemangiosarcoma is the most common cancer that affects the liver and spleen organs that have a high blood supply. They may also develop lung, bone 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. Make sure that he has plenty of opportunities to exercise and play outdoors, in a safe area free of traffic and other dangers. Keep him groomed by brushing his dense double coat on a regular basis by using a de-shedding tool or an undercoat rake to get rid of hairs that have fallen off. Also, make sure that you visit the vet on a regular basis for routine health checks.
Health
German Shepherds have a good health record, but health issues are present. They are susceptible to ear infections and can develop ailments that affect their eyes and ears, like degenerative myelopathy. They may also be affected by an illness that is genetic, known as hereditary von Willebrand's disease which affects their ability to clot blood and is found in females and males dogs.
GSDs are a working breed and as such, they undergo rigorous training. This means that they may develop joint issues. One of the most common is hip dysplasia, which is characterized by a lack of growth and development of cartilage and joint which can cause lameness, pain and other signs. It is not a major condition but can be painful to the dog.
Breeders who are reputable X-ray their dogs and utilize the results to make breeding decisions. The x-rays aid in determining the health and genetic history of the puppy, as well as the likelihood that it will develop dysplasia. Dogs who are at a high risk of developing dysplasia are not breed.
Like many large breeds, German Shepherds can be affected by panosteitis, which causes bones to expand rapidly and unevenly, which causes pain and stiffness in the joints. This condition is more common in German Shepherd puppies or dogs younger than 18 months who are experiencing an increase in growth speed.
The dogs require food that is rich in protein, and a generous blend of omega fatty acids as well as balanced vitamins to help maintain healthy coat and skin. They may benefit from joint-support in their food like glucosamine and chondroitin. Dogs who are less than 18 months old age should have moderate exercise including multiple walks and, if compatible with other dogs playing together, but should not be allowed to run at a high speed, as this could cause damage to joints that are growing.
Feeding table food or animal bones should be avoided, as these can cause vomiting, diarrhea anorexia, vomiting, and pancreatitis. Puppies and adults can benefit from probiotic supplements to aid digestion, as well as digestive enzyme supplements that aid in breaking down proteins. A well-formulated AAFCO approved diet should contain the right amount of vitamins and minerals.
Training
German Shepherds are highly trainable and biddable dogs who thrive under a skilled trainer's guidance. They are therefore a great choice for military, police search and rescue and therapy dog roles. Their inexplicably loyal nature makes them a great family pet when properly trained and socialized.
The first step in establishing a well-adjusted GSD is socialization. Introduce your puppy to a variety of people and other animals at an early age, taking them on frequent walks, playing games, and going to local dog parks. This will make them feel more secure and confident and teach them to trust people from 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 lead to fear based aggression. Use clicker training and reward-based training to teach your German Shepherd the basic commands.
It is also important to provide your German Shepherd with daily enrichment. Mental stimulation exercises can be as important as physical exercise for an GSD particularly in a chaotic or busy household. This can help them to keep their attention and focus so that they are less likely to be distracted by street noises, thunderstorms and other dogs in the park or crowds at competitions or public events.
Some of the health issues that are unique to German Shepherds are hemangiosarcoma, cancer of the bones as well as the lungs and intestinal tract and pannus (superficial keratitis). deutscher schäferhund zu verkaufen of these ailments are preventable with responsible breeding practices and the right lifestyle choices.
Despite their fearsome reputation German Shepherds are loving family pets. When they are exposed to children at a young age they can be friendly and gentle with smaller pets like cats. Nonetheless, their size and strength make them formidable guardians, and they should always be watched over children younger than them. If they're not sufficiently exposed to socialization and training and are not properly socialized, they could exhibit signs of aggression. It is recommended to enroll your German Shepherd in a puppy preschool or obedience classes to ensure they are receiving the proper education and socialization they require to flourish.