German Shepherds Life
The German shepherd breed can be traced back to the late 19th century. As one of the most intelligent breeds, along with their strength, courage and natural protective instincts they have been regarded as the perfect working dog. Since then they have demonstrated their capabilities working as guide dogs for the blind, as guard dogs, search and rescue, drug and explosive searches and tracking by the police and military. They are well known for their devotion and loyalty to their handlers.
A typical male would stand at 24 - 26 inches, and weigh around 65 - 85 pounds, with the female slightly smaller. There are short and longer haired varieties, with the black and tan coat being the most common. But all black, all white, and golden are also popular. They need regular brushing as they can shed hair quite heavily. Health wise they can be prone to hip displasia as well as spine and joint problems.
To a lot of people the German shepherd breed comes with a fearsome reputation. Which is understandable as they are often used as a deterrent and for crowd control where they are not trained to be friendly, in some cases a €mean streak€ is encouraged. Also there has been a stereotypical image of them in film and television, which is unfortunate because a properly trained and socialized German shepherd makes a great companion and family pet.
German shepherds are generally very affectionate with children and people within the family home. They can also get along well with other dogs and cats if socialized early. However, great care needs to be taken when introducing a new member into the family - whether it is a baby or another pet. German shepherds have strong pack instincts and to them some things can be seen as a threat to their position in the pack.
They can be very much a one man or one family dog, and they are often indifferent and aloof toward other people and wary of strangers, and protective of their territory. While some of these can be desirable qualities in a dog, they still need to be kept in moderation. A German shepherd should be in no doubt about who is in charge and their own place in the pack. This shouldn't be a problem as they respond well to kind training and confident leadership.
German shepherds are large powerful dogs that require a lot of exercise, which means long walks, and games like chasing a ball or fetching sticks. They should not be left on their own for long periods.
German shepherds have a life expectancy 10-12 years. Some time and effort in selecting a good breeder, giving your dog a healthy diet, keeping all vaccinations etc. up to date, plenty of exercise and mentally stimulating training will go a long way to making a very happy, healthy and rewarding time for both the dog and owner.
For more information on German shepherds, breeders and puppies, training and insuring your pet please visit my website -
http://germanshepherdslife.com/
A typical male would stand at 24 - 26 inches, and weigh around 65 - 85 pounds, with the female slightly smaller. There are short and longer haired varieties, with the black and tan coat being the most common. But all black, all white, and golden are also popular. They need regular brushing as they can shed hair quite heavily. Health wise they can be prone to hip displasia as well as spine and joint problems.
To a lot of people the German shepherd breed comes with a fearsome reputation. Which is understandable as they are often used as a deterrent and for crowd control where they are not trained to be friendly, in some cases a €mean streak€ is encouraged. Also there has been a stereotypical image of them in film and television, which is unfortunate because a properly trained and socialized German shepherd makes a great companion and family pet.
German shepherds are generally very affectionate with children and people within the family home. They can also get along well with other dogs and cats if socialized early. However, great care needs to be taken when introducing a new member into the family - whether it is a baby or another pet. German shepherds have strong pack instincts and to them some things can be seen as a threat to their position in the pack.
They can be very much a one man or one family dog, and they are often indifferent and aloof toward other people and wary of strangers, and protective of their territory. While some of these can be desirable qualities in a dog, they still need to be kept in moderation. A German shepherd should be in no doubt about who is in charge and their own place in the pack. This shouldn't be a problem as they respond well to kind training and confident leadership.
German shepherds are large powerful dogs that require a lot of exercise, which means long walks, and games like chasing a ball or fetching sticks. They should not be left on their own for long periods.
German shepherds have a life expectancy 10-12 years. Some time and effort in selecting a good breeder, giving your dog a healthy diet, keeping all vaccinations etc. up to date, plenty of exercise and mentally stimulating training will go a long way to making a very happy, healthy and rewarding time for both the dog and owner.
For more information on German shepherds, breeders and puppies, training and insuring your pet please visit my website -
http://germanshepherdslife.com/
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