Passion German Shepherd dog: how to recognize the pure breed? new 1

German Shepherd dog

The bond that unites man and dog has existed since the dawn of time. It is difficult to establish with certainty which has been the fundamental historical moment in which the bond has effectively come to consolidate.

The bond that unites man and dog has existed since the dawn of time. Difficult to establish with certainty which has been the fundamental historical moment in which the bond has effectively come to consolidation. In this case, it is wrong to think of the dog as an animal that has always been linked to man. Like any other animal, the dog has always been guided mainly by instinct. What is not clear is why (and how) the human being has been able to tame a similar beast.

Of all the existing breeds of dog, it is probably the German shepherd dog to show the most solid and indissoluble bond with the man. Gifted with great intelligence, German shepherds are dogs able to carry out an infinity of tasks and duties: besides being widely used in the pastoral field, as it can be guessed from the name of the breed itself, German shepherds offer extraordinary protection towards their masters, children included.

However, it is not at all easy to recognize a pure German Shepherd. Those that, at first sight, could resemble in all and for all to a German shepherd could be the children of a coupling between a shepherd and a dog of another race, with the consequent result of the birth of a mutt. In this regard, we are going to discover the essential distinctive factors to be considered for the recognition of the breed in question.

German Shepherd dog: some historical notes

Before delving into the meanders of the peculiarities of the German shepherd, it is interesting to dwell in the first instance on some historical facts about the breed. Existing since time immemorial, the first true German shepherd was registered officially only in 1899. The registration took place by the need to create a single standard, related to the breed in question, which refers to the classification of the dog, to be used in pastoral and breeding. And, if the actual registration took place in the last year of the nineteenth century, the creation of the actual standard took place about two years after that of the first German shepherd dog registered unofficially.

It was July 28, 1901, when, following a meeting of an association composed of specialists in the field of dogs, in Frankfurt am Main, was drawn up a specific standard characterized by the presence of eleven different points. Over the years, the standard has been slowly improved, mainly because of the deepening of the studies of specialists about the characteristics and behaviors of the breed.

How to recognize the pure breed: physical characteristics standard
Like any other purebred dog breed, the German Shepherd also has well standardized physical characteristics. First of all, the adult German Shepherd has a height at the withers between 60 and 65 centimeters, in the case of males, and between 55 and 60 centimeters for females. Outside these specific and selective measures, it is not possible to speak of a real German shepherd, but rather of a mutt, son of the cross between the shepherd and another dog breed.

From the point of view of weight, the breed can exceed 40 kilograms in males and touch 30 kilograms in females: also in this case, we are talking about particularly selective values, essential for the effective recognition of the pure breed. As for the hair of the dog, the pure German shepherd dog generally has short hair. Also, specimens with long hair can be considered German Shepherds, provided they have the undercoat at the same time. In both cases, the coloring of the coat is mainly black or tending to gray/gold.

Particularly interesting is the discourse related to the shapes of the dog’s body: the head of the pure German Shepherd must be perfectly proportioned to the rest of the body, with a large black nose prominent forward. As for the ears, the pure breed must show them perfectly rigid and straight: the specimens with partially bent ears cannot be considered German shepherds . Finally, it must be underlined that the pure German Shepherd has a back always straight, except for a slight curvature located at the height of the hind legs.

Behavioral characteristics: temperament

The pure German shepherd dog can also be recognized by its strong temperament. It is a dog that is extremely loyal to its owner, as well as being intelligent and endowed with a strong sense of smell. And it is not by chance that, because of its incredible olfactory capabilities, the breed in question is also used by the canine units of the Police Forces.

Among the other characteristics of its temperament, we must also praise the strong sense of protection shown towards the houses where it is hosted. And the same goes for the entire family unit to which the dog is made to belong. In addition to all this, the pure German Shepherd is always obedient and loving, while showing a dominant character towards other breeds.

The feeding of the pure German Shepherd dog

Although the German Shepherd appears to be larger than small dogs, its diet is anything but demanding: the dog prefers protein meals, which also contain minerals and vitamins, essential elements to keep it strong and healthy. From this point of view, the classic croquettes for dogs represent the ideal choice for the diet of the breed. As it is a carnivorous animal, it is good to prepare a steak or a slice of meat for the shepherd from time to time. By doing so, the dog will be able to absorb all the iron needed for its sustenance.

Training of the German Shepherd dog

Finally, it is worth taking a look at the various ways of training the German shepherd dog. The breed in question can learn without problems both verbal commands and manual commands, allowing the master to perform them individually or combined. Also for the training of the dog, the role of the owner will be almost essential: if the owner will behave in an unavailable way with the dog, appearing frustrated or unable to get in tune with his feelings, the German shepherd dog will notice it immediately. The result of such a behavior will bring the dog not so much to disobey, but rather not to learn the commands that you tried to give him.

Summarizing, therefore, for quality training it is necessary:

appear available and easy-going with your German Shepherd;

Show empathy towards the dog;

do not neglect the importance of the game;

do not disdain the classic prize in cuddles and morsels of food.

An obedient and strongly protective dog, therefore, but also extremely playful and in need of love and attention.