German Shepherd Dog

German Shepherd Dog

The German Shepherd, also known as the Alsatian, is probably the world's best-known breed. It is one of the most versatile working dogs ever developed, and in modern times is still used as a companion, home guardian, flock herder, army dog, police dog, drug detector dog, guide dog for the blind, and search-and-rescue dog. German Shepherds have also made it big in the movies, with dog stars such as Rin-Tin-Tin in the 1920s and Bullet (Roy Rogers' companion) in the 1950s.

History:

The German Shepherd is, as its name suggests, of German origin, was first described in the late 1800s. However, there is still debate over the exact ancestry of the breed of german shepherd. It was originally used as a farm dog, but the german shepherd proved its versatility during the First World War and was introduced to the US and Commonwealth by returning soldiers. The pseudonym Alsatian was given to the breed after the War, because members of the Allied countries were uncomfortable with the word German shepherd; however, the official name remains German Shepherd. The breed was first exhibited at a show in Hanover, Germany, in 1882, and today is one of the most numerous dogs at shows, in both obedience and conformation

Physical characteristics:

The German Shepherd is a medium-sized, deep-bodied dog, and gives the impression of elegance with a noble attitude. Height: 22 - 26 in (56 - 66 cm). Weight: 75 - 95 lb (34 - 43 kg). The head is moderately long and broad and is finely chiseled, with no excess skin. The eyes are almond-shaped and dark brown, and give the dog an intelligent, alert expression. The nose is always black. The ears are triangular, in proportion to the head, and are set on top of the head.

A well-known characteristic of the German Shepherd is that the ears are erect, although this only develops as the young pup matures. The front legs are strong and straight, and the rear legs are well muscled. The body is long and slopes from the shoulders to the tail, which is medium-length, moderately feathered, and is carried low.

The outer coat is course and of medium length with a thick undercoat. There is a longer coat type that sometimes occurs, but it is not favored for the show ring. The acceptable colors of the German Shepherd range from black-and-tan to sable to all black. White, liver, blue, and near-white all occur, but are highly undesirable.

Behavior:

The German Shepherd is a large confident dog when it reaches maturity. This dog is renowned for its intelligence, and is highly trainable. Its alert manner, powerful bark, imposing size, and ability to act on its own make the German Shepherd ideally suited for its role as a guard dog. Many agencies have taken german shepard attributes even further and provided the dog with highly specialized training.

Although any large and intelligent dog may be suitable for pre-training selection, Customs Services have been able to develop German Shepherds into very efficient "sniffer dogs" (drug detector dogs). Police forces use German Shepherds both for crowd control and for disarming or immobilizing offenders.

German Shepherds generally get along well with other dogs but owners should be aware that they may initially provoke fear in smaller dogs. If they have been properly socialized with people, German Shepherds can make excellent companions. These large dogs can be expected to be boisterous and highly active up to a year old. Although owners will need a degree of tolerance with their dog as it matures, they should not allow it to become bossy with them under any circumstances. Naturally, small children should not be left alone with these big dogs. German Shepherds may have congenital problems such as hip dysplasia, so it is advisable to purchase them from reputable breeders. The German Shepherd is a truly magnificent all-purpose dog.