Table of Contents
German Shepherd Characteristics or also called by other names is ductile. It is used as:
shepherd dog;
police dog;
guard dog;
guide dog;
companion dog.
Defined as the third most intelligent dog in the world, it is active, lively, and playful. It is not very aggressive but if provoked it could also attack the ill-intentioned person. Faithful and bound to its owner, it is a dog for the whole family.
It particularly loves children and is very sweet towards them if the little ones know how to respect it without making it become their puppet. Sessions to educate him can be done through games, but be careful not to excite him too much, he cannot be controlled.
It may be suitable for novices given its docility, but it is not made for the sedentary and panto elderly.
Of medium-large size, it has all the credentials to be defined as an excellent companion dog. As majestic as it is intelligent, the German Shepherd has all the qualities that make him the perfect companion dog. It is one of the most appreciated and adopted dogs all over the world.
German Shepherd Characteristics dog
The character of this dog is docile, calm, quiet, aggressive only when it has to be. Very intelligent, it obeys orders quickly and without learning problems.
Type of use: Shepherd dog, service dog, utility dog
Size: Large
Average Life: 10-12 years
Male height: 60-65 cm
Female height: 55-60 cm
Male weight: 30-40 Kg
Female weight: 20-32 Kg
Recognition: ENCI
Character and lifestyle
Even though it is a docile dog if trained in the right way it can also be a guard dog for the property. It is necessary to pay attention to this role because the dog becomes aggressive if it sees danger. It is a playful dog with small children and prefers to stay with the family. The family environment appreciates it very much, but it also prefers to be in the open air such as in city parks.
It adapts to life in the city or the mountains among woods and pine forests or even in a rural environment as the companion. It prefers a house with a garden in the city where it can vent its energy and not narrow apartments where it cannot move with familiarity.
Weather changes are not a problem, indeed the heat does not prevent him from shining in the different disciplines for which he is gifted. In winter, his double fur allows him to have good protection against the weather.
Cohabiting with felines is possible if you do it from puppyhood. Unlike cohabitation with his peers that need early socialization. It is not afraid, indeed it is very brave, even working as a police dog. It is not wary of strangers but knows how to understand the ill-intentioned.
Price: How much does a German Shepherd puppy cost?
The cost of a German Shepherd breed puppy varies according to its origin, sex, and age. A puppy with a pedigree is around 900/1000 euros, but we go up in price if we talk about selected genealogical lines and can reach 2000 euros.
The monthly budget for the sustenance of the dog is 60 euros.
The appearance of the German Shepherd
The dog also called Alsatian is of medium-large size with a very powerful structure, muscular and robust bone.
The gait in walking is more similar to a trot, but despite its size, it is not coarse.
Head and neck
The head has the shape of a cone but is proportionate to the body. The skull is large with a slightly rounded forehead. The truffle is small but completely black.
The eyes are almond-shaped, slightly slanted with a color ranging from brown to dark shades.
The ears are triangular, well erect, and without sloping to the sides or the front. The neck is powerful, vigorous, and muscular, without the presence of dewlap.
Trunk and tail
The trunk is massive with a lot of muscles. The back is straight and has a long and slightly curved croup. The thorax is of medium size with sloping ribs.
The tail reaches the hock, has a medium hairline, and is double from base to tip. It falls in a pendulous manner and when it is in motion a small curve is seen in the final part.
Limbs
The forelimbs are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground. The arm and scapula are the same length and have powerful muscles. The forearms are massive.
The hind limbs have a thigh and leg that are nearly the same size. The feet are round with curved nails and dark in color for digging in the ground.
Hair and coat of the German Shepherd
The coat is thick, hard, and compact with no bushy or frizzy result. It is not equal on the whole body, on the contrary on the head, on the front part of the limbs, and on the feet, it is shorter, instead of on the neck and the thighs it is longer.
The colors of the coat can be:
black with red-brown foci;
brown-yellow foci;
all black;
black and grey.
As the dog ages, it may have silver-gray undertones.
Ideal owner for the German Shepherd dog
Already from his city of origin we can understand the master of this breed as he must be. Quiet, orderly, with the right discipline without being vague or omitting something during training sessions.
A dog for the whole family, playful with children and affectionate with adults, but it is advisable not to treat him with a toy or disturb him while he is in his kennel. Then there are some breeds of dogs with which he gets along very well.
Teaching him warning signals or other commands will not be difficult given his keen intelligence. It can be purchased by an inexperienced four-legged dog as all that is needed is patience and gentleness, and you can help with rewards given his strong temptation for food and snacks.
In case it is difficult to manage it, maybe you can contact a professional who will know how to manage your German puppy with a few tips.
It is advisable to educate him when he is a puppy or when he enters the house. It is preferable not to keep him with sedentary or elderly people because of his energy and desire to be in movement.
It is an excellent sporting dog, in fact it must be able to carry out activities such as freestyling, agility, canicross, tracking or mantrailing. Being a working dog immediately gets boring if not stimulated and could become destructive.
Its size is not in its favor for being transported and following the master, but the absence of the master can manage it if it is not prolonged.
Feeding of the German Shepherd
It is a greedy dog and rather greedy it must do a lot of physical activity to keep fit without getting fat. A wet or dry meal is preferred.
The feeding of the puppy
As a puppy, it must be able to eat three times a day until the first three months. From here it is possible to reduce to two portions a day, preferably six hours apart, therefore one in the morning and one in the evening.
The other important thing to remember is that the bowl with the water must not remain within his reach all day.
Grooming
The coat of this breed is very delicate it is necessary to avoid giving it many baths because they could ruin the coat. To have a healthy coat it is necessary to comb it frequently.
It must be accustomed to grooming as a puppy so as not to have problems in adulthood. Throughout the year there are hair losses, during the molting period the fall is more frequent and insistent.
Pathologies of the German Shepherd
This breed, even if regularly vaccinated and cared for, may be more prone to some diseases:
Hip Dysplasia;
Otitis;
Deafness;
Von Willebrand Disease;
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA);
Stomach dilation syndrome;
Hypothyroidism;
Anal Fistulas;
Epilepsy;
Hemangiosarcoma (aggressive malignant tumor);
Osteosarcoma.
Historical notes
It can be interesting to know the history and the curiosities of this breed. The origins of the breed can be found in Germany, it was not a dog imported from other countries. Its ancestors are different shepherd breeds coming from the central and southern parts of the country.
At the end of the XIX century, a group of expert German dog lovers decided to select the most precious breeds of shepherd dog to create a dog easy to take care of and with excellent qualities. The goal to aim for was a strong, intelligent, and ductile breed. The specimen we all know was born from the crossing between Württemberg and Thuringian Shepherds.
From here they started to breed it, precisely in 1899. A few years later, in 1901, on July 28, the first standard of the German shepherd dog was written.
It has been called many roles: shepherd dog, police dog, wolf dog, or Alsatian dog.
It also participated in World War II alongside the Germans. By now the breed is widespread throughout Europe, including in Italy. The most important dog show for this specimen is held every year in Germany and is the ‘Bundessiegerzuchtschau’.
Most used names for German Shepherd
This dog, known by all for its international fame, is spectacular and is defined as the third most intelligent dog in the world, after the Border Collie and the Poodle.
Given its diffusion in Italy, we preferred to be carried away by Italian traditions and culture, giving it an Italic name. Here you can find the list of names for dogs that will help you to choose the most beautiful and suitable name for your four-legged friend.
Female: Tosca and Guenda
Male: Soldo and Ruben
The German Shepherd dog: a true actor
This breed is among the most popular in the world, loved by young and old alike.
The German Shepherd dog is the protagonist of many television series or movies at the cinema. This breed started the cinematographic chain to employ dogs in movies because the first dog to become a movie star was a German Shepherd called Von Etzel Oeringen known by everyone as Strongheart.
Several films see the German shepherd breed as a protagonist, among the most famous are: Rin Tin Tin; Commissioner Rex; A Four-legged Policeman; The Fall-The Last Days of Hitler; The Return of White Fang.
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