The Purebred German Shepherd Dog
The GSD is the perfect balance of speed and strength. Their high trainability and protective instincts make these dogs cherished family pets.
If you are looking for a purebred german shepherd dog, look for breeders who adhere to ethical breeding practices and are committed to the health of their dogs. You can determine reliable breeders by asking for pedigree papers and previous health clearances.
Characteristics
German Shepherds are powerful, intelligent dogs that are easy to train. They are loyal to their family and can be a formidable guardian. The breed standard states that the GSD must be steady of temperament, self assured, and courageous. It must also be able to be handled and willing to be a pleasure to.
The breed is strong, medium-sized and slightly extended. It has a double coat that consists of a hard outer layer, and a soft undercoat. Its eyes are dark, almond-shaped, and positioned in a oblique manner. The ears are wide and pointed at the base. The tail is bushy and reaches to the hocks below when the dog is in a relaxed state. The breed's long neck with a slightly sloping slope is distinctive. The chest is wide and deep. The ribs are well-sprung, and the spine is solid.
The breed is generally sound, but it has serious issues, like roached-backs and long pasterns, which hinder proper movement. Its hindquarters should be powerful but not overly exaggerated. The rear leg should never go forward of the point where the forefoot makes an impression.
As working dogs, GSDs naturally possess high drive. These are behaviors and desires that involve territorial protection and chasing of prey. If these drives aren't satisfied in some way through play or work, it can lead to aggressive behavior. Show-type German Shepherds are bred in a way which helps to reduce these drives however they still require lots of positive reinforcement training, physical exercise and mental stimulation to live a balanced life.
GSDs tend to be reserved and suspicious towards strangers initially. This trait of protection makes GSDs excellent guard dogs, but requires proper training to prevent overreactions. They make wonderful family pets when properly socialized from a young age and they're generally great with children.
The GSD has an extremely high threshold for pain and is resilient against illness, but it has certain health conditions that may affect its quality of living. These include epilepsy/seizures and bleeding disorders as well as immune-mediated diseases. To prevent these conditions, limiting your dog's exposure to UV rays, and ensuring you get regular vaccinations will help.
Temperament
German Shepherds are intelligent and eager to learn, and extremely capable of being trained. They are an active dog breed that excels at a variety of tasks, including police work, herding, and search and rescue. They also excel in the detection of drugs and bombs, as well as aiding blind people. They also make great family members. This ferocious and confident breed requires a clear and precise goal and the attention and focus of a responsible owner to harness their energy and strength in a positive way. They need a lot of exercise and space, and may not be a good fit in smaller living spaces.
The ideal German shepherd is well-balanced and confident with a strong and stable temperament. They are loyal and alert, and they are suspicious of strangers. If they aren't properly socialized and trained in this manner, their protective and vigilant behavior can turn into aggression. These dogs are very intelligent and can be very self-sufficient and easily bored, which is why they require a good outlet for their curiosity.
Founder Max von Stephanitz used herding and farm dogs, as well as longhaired and shorthaired German Shepherds in his breeding program to create the obedient and responsive breed that we know today. He was opposed to those who believed that German Shepherds should be a showpiece and he made sure his dogs were stable in their temperaments with strong herding instincts and a sound body structure. He even refused to breed with dogs that had unstable temperaments or sharp angles in their croups, as well as front and rear pasterns as he believed these traits would undermine the breed's ability to do its job as it is.
In addition to the hereditary diseases that can plague any dog breed German Shepherds are also susceptible to cancers, such as hemangiosarcoma, which most commonly affects blood-rich organs such as the liver and spleen. They also can develop lung, bone, or intestinal cancers.
You can prevent these conditions by ensuring the physical health of your German Shepherd. reinrassiger schäferhund includes providing him with a nutritious diet and regular exercise. You should allow plenty of time to play and run around in a secure area free of traffic. Keep him clean by brushing his thick double coat on a regular basis, using a de-shedding tool or a rake undercoat to remove hairs that have fallen off. It is also important to ensure that you take him to the vet on a regular basis for his routine health check-ups.
Health
German Shepherds have a good health history, however some health issues are present. They are prone to ear infections, and they can develop ailments that affect their eyes and ears such as degenerative amyelopathy. They may also suffer from an inherited disease called von Willebrand's disease that is hereditary which affects their ability to clot blood and is found in both male and female dogs.
GSDs are a working breed and consequently, they are subject to strenuous training. As a result, they may develop joint issues. Hip dysplasia is a common condition that causes pain, lameness and other signs. It's not a serious condition but can be painful for the dog.
Reputable breeders X-ray their dogs and utilize the results to make breeding decisions. The x-rays aid in determining the health and genetic background of the puppy, as well as the likelihood to develop dysplasia. Dogs at high risk of developing dysplasia do not breed.
Like many large breeds, German Shepherds may be affected by panosteitis, which causes the bones to grow rapidly and unevenly, which causes stiffness and pain in the joints. The condition is especially common in German Shepherd puppies and dogs under 18 months of age who are experiencing the midst of a massive growth spurt.
These dogs need food that is rich in protein, and an abundance of omega fatty acids and balanced vitamins to maintain healthy coat and skin. They can benefit from joint support in their food like glucosamine and chondroitin. Dogs under 18 months of age should exercise moderately including multiple walks and, if compatible with other dogs playing together, but they should not run at a high speed, as this could cause damage to joints that are growing.
Foods that are table-based or contain animal bones should be avoided because they can cause vomiting, digestive upset anorexia, pancreatitis, and vomiting. Puppies and adults can benefit from probiotic supplements to aid digestion as well as digestive enzyme supplements that help break down proteins. Mineral and vitamin supplements are not necessary in the sense that a well-formulated and approved AAFCO diet should contain the right amount of these nutrients.
Training
German Shepherds are highly trainable and biddable dogs who thrive under a knowledgeable handler's guidance. They are a great choice for police, military, search and rescue and therapy dog roles. However, their unwavering loyalty also makes them a great pet to have when properly trained and socialized.
The first step in raising an appropriately adjusted GSD is socialization. From a young age expose your puppy different people and animals. Take your dog for walks frequently and play games. Visit local dog parks. This will help them feel more secure and confident and teach them to trust people at an early age.
It requires patience, consistency as well as positive reinforcement to train the German shepherd. Avoid negative reinforcement methods such as yelling, or physical punishment, which can lead to fear based aggression. Instead, you should use reward-based training and clicker training to teach your German Shepherd basic commands.
Daily enrichment is important for your German Shepherd. The stimulation of the mind is equally important as physical exercise for a GSD, especially in a chaotic or busy household. This can help them to keep their attention and focus so they are less likely to get distracted by noises from the street storms, other dogs in the park or crowds at sporting events or public events.
Some health conditions that are exclusive to German Shepherds are Hemangiosarcoma, cancer of bones, lungs, and intestinal tract, as well as pannus (superficial keratitis). All of these diseases are preventable through responsible breeding and lifestyle choices.
German Shepherds are loving family dogs, despite their reputation for being feared. When they are exposed to children as young as, they can be friendly and gentle with smaller animals like cats. Their size and strength make them formidable guardians, and they should always be watched over children younger than them. If they aren't being exposed to enough training and socialization and are not properly socialized, they could exhibit signs of aggression. It is recommended to enroll your German Shepherd in a puppy class in the preschool or obedience to ensure they are receiving the proper training and socialization they require to flourish.