It is a muscular dog, short-haired and large (it can weigh up to forty pounds), but beautiful. The German shepherd is the most popular and well-known guard dog: but it is not a function that it performs blindly, mechanically. Thanks to its intelligence, it is a ductile dog, ready to be trained, and is employed in many different ways.
Affectionate, intelligent, and brave. He loves life in the open air very much. You can buy him or even better adopt him.
GERMAN SHEPHERD: THE CHARACTERISTICS
A dog with a muscular body, the German shepherd is an excellent guard dog and companion. Intelligent, with short or long hair of different colors. The muzzle is cone-shaped, the tail is hanging, the neck is powerful, it enjoys good health also because it is particularly energetic.
The weight of the males can reach 40 kg while the females reach a maximum of 32 kg. The height goes from 60 to 65 cm in males and from 55 to 60 in females.
HOW THE GERMAN SHEPHERD BEHAVES
A dog that is certainly intelligent, sweet, and brave. But also combative and very balanced. It is not by chance that it is considered an excellent guard dog. Not for this reason unsuitable for family life, on the contrary! The German Shepherd is also very fond of children, with whom he loves to play, proving to be very patient. Being energetic, it does not like a sedentary life but prefers to spend a lot of time outdoors.
To recap, here are its character traits:
Intelligent
Sweet
Brave
Combative
Balanced
Playful
Energetic
HISTORY OF THE GERMAN SHEPHERD
It was born about 100 years ago in Bavaria, where it was used as a guard dog for the flocks. It was Captain Max Von Stephanitz to select it among many German shepherd dogs, after numerous crossings between the Thuringian and the Wurttemberg. The breed standards date back to 1899, the period of the foundation of the Union of the German Shepherd Dog.
HOW TO BUY A GERMAN SHEPHERD
The cost of a puppy is in the medium range, between 800 and 1500 euros. The puppies must be purchased from serious breeders recognized by ENCI (National Authority of Italian Cynophilia). They will provide you with the information you need and you will avoid running into unreliable breeders. And pay attention to those who sell puppies on classified sites at bargain prices.
Or, instead of buying it, it would be even better to adopt it. There is no shortage of specimens that need help. Where to find them? For example on the FB group
GERMAN SHEPHERD PROS AND CONS
There are a lot of pros since it is such a sweet, brave, and reliable dog. The cons, if anything, concern the cost of maintenance because the German Shepherd, although enjoying good health, requires periodic checks, a high-quality diet, and a lot of dedication. Like any other dog.
HOW MUCH DOES A GERMAN SHEPHERD COST
The German shepherd usually costs between 800 and 1500 euros. A price that falls within the medium range. Care and maintenance of these dogs require a lot of expenses for the breeder and therefore the cost is not so high. Keep in mind that, apart from the initial price, the German Shepherd must be fed with quality food and constantly monitored in terms of health. Additional expenses must be put into account.
WHERE TO BUY GERMAN SHEPHERDS?
German shepherds can be bought at authorized breeders, recognized by ENCI (Ente Nazionale Della Cinofilia Italiana). Breeders of this type will give you various certificates and pedigrees. Buying online from classified sites is to be avoided because it can hide little serious breeders, who do not take care of the animals if not even illegal trafficking of puppies.
PATHOLOGIES OF THE GERMAN SHEPHERD
We said that it is a healthy dog, without major health problems. However, it may happen that in the course of life it is affected by some pathologies, here are the most frequent:
Hip dysplasia, a disease due to a malformation of the hip joint.
Degenerative myelopathy, which causes a malfunction of the hind legs.
Gastric dilatation and torsion, which can be fatal if not treated immediately.
Itchy eczema with scab formation and hair loss.
HOW TO CARE FOR THE GERMAN SHEPHERD
In terms of hygiene, remember that it is very important to brush him daily, especially when he changes his coat. Since he is very energetic, it is important to take him outside often and let him run. In this way, you will also avoid the risk of being overweight, since he loves to eat a lot.
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