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German Shepherd Dog Puppies for Sale
German Shepherd Dog
(Alsatian) (Deutscher Schaferhund)
Meika (right) and her friend Gwen (left), who is a service dog, playing at
the lake.
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Pronunciation |
German
Shepherd Dog |
Description |
The German Shepherd Dog is also known as the
Alsatian. It is handsome, well proportioned and very strong. The coat most often
comes in black with tan, sable or all black, but also can come in blue, liver
and white, but those colors are considered a fault according to most standards.
White is not an acceptable color for the German Shepherd, however they are now
being recognized as a separate breed, called the American
White Shepherd. The nose is black most often black but, blue or liver still
do sometimes occur, but is considered a fault can not be shown. It has a sturdy,
muscular, slightly elongated body with a light but solid bone structure. Its
head should be in proportion to its body, and the forehead a little convex. It
has a strong scissors bite, ears wide at the base, pointed, upright, and turned
forward (the ears of puppies under six months may droop slightly). The eyes are
almond-shaped, never protruding, dark, with a lively, intelligent expression.
Its bushy tail reaches almost to its hocks and hangs down when the dog is at
rest. Its front legs and shoulders are muscular; its thighs thick and sturdy. It
has round feet with very hard soles. There are three varieties of the German
Shepherd: rough-coated, long rough-coated, and the long-haired. |
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Temperament |
Often used as working dogs, German Shepherds are
direct and fearless, eager and alert. Bold, cheerful, obedient and eager to
learn. Known for their tremendous loyalty and courage. Calmly confident, but not
hostile. Serious and almost human in his intelligence. They have a high learning
ability. German Shepherds love to be close to their families, but they are very
wary of strangers. This breed needs his people and should not be left isolated
for long periods of time. They only bark when they feel it is necessary. German Shepherds
have a very strong protective instinct, so they should be extensively socialized
to prevent over-guarding when they are an adult. Aggression and attacks on
people are largely due to poor breeding, handling and training. A well bred,
well-adjusted, and trained dog is for the most part generally good with
other pets and excellent with children in the family. They must be firmly
trained in obedience from an early age. It is extremely important to purchase
your German Shepherd from a reputable breeder. Some are timid and skittish and
may be prone to fear biting. Research a puppy's lineage carefully. To be
successful pets, these dogs should be trained and socialized from an early age
with a firm and loving hand. Coercive or angry training does not succeed well
with these dogs. To be truly happy, the German Shepherd needs a task in life.
The breed is so intelligent and learns so readily that it has been used as a
sheepdog, guard dog, in police work, as a guide for the blind, in search and
rescue service, and in the military. The German Shepherd also excels in many
other dog activities including schutzhund, tracking, obedience, agility, flyball,
and ring sport. His fine nose can sniff out drugs and intruders, and can alert
handlers to the presence of underground mines in time to avoid detonation,
or gas leaks in a pipes buried 15 feet underground. The German Shepherd is also
a popular show and family companion. |
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Height, Weight |
Height: Dogs 24-26 inches (60-65cm.) Bitches 22-24
inches (55-60cm.)
Weight: 77-85 pounds (35-40kg.) |
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Health Problems |
Indiscriminate breeding has lead to hereditary
diseases such as hip and elbow dysplasia, (be sure both parents have had their
hips certified at least OFA good) blood disorders, digestive problems (probably
due to nerves), epilepsy, chronic eczema, keratitis (inflammation of the
cornea), dwarfism and flea allergies. |
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Living Conditions |
The German Shepherd will do okay in an apartment
if sufficiently exercised. They are relatively inactive indoors and do best with
at least a large yard. |
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Exercise |
German Shepherd Dogs love
strenuous activity, preferably combined with training of some kind, for these
dogs are very intelligent and crave a good challenge.
They need to be taken on a daily, brisk,
long walk, jog or
run alongside you when you bicycle.
If under-exercised, this breed can become
restless and destructive. |
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Life Expectancy |
Around 13 years. |
Grooming |
This breed sheds bits of hair constantly and is a
seasonally heavy shedder. A quick daily brushing is best unless hair in the
house is not a problem. They should be bathed rarely, only once or twice a year
to avoid skin oil depletion. |
Origin |
Using long-haired, short-haired, and wire-haired
local shepherd dogs from Wurtemberg, Thurginia, and Bavaria, von Stephanitz and
other dedicated breeders produced a responsive, obedient, and handsome German
Shepherd. In April 1899, Capt. Max von Stephanitz registered a dog named Horan
as the first Deutsche Schäferhunde, which means German Shepherd Dog in English.
Until 1915, both long-haired and wire-haired varieties were exhibited.
Today, in most countries, only the short coat is recognized for show purposes.
It was presented at Hanover in 1882, and the short-haired variety was first
presented in Berlin in 1889. |
| Group |
Herding, AKC Herding |
Recognition |
CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB, CKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC,
GSDCA, APRI, ACR |
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CKC = Continental
Kennel Club
FCI = Fédération
Cynologique Internationale
AKC = American
Kennel Club
UKC = United Kennel
Club
KCGB = Kennel
Club of Great Britain
CKC = Canadian
Kennel Club
ANKC = Australian
National Kennel Club
NKC = National
Kennel Club
NZKC = New Zealand
Kennel Club
GSDCA = German
Shepherd Dog Club of America
APRI = American Pet Registry
Inc.
ACR = American Canine Registry |
German Shepherd Shirts!
German Shepherd Posters and Prints!
Photo Courtesy
of Vom
Haus Drage Kennel & Pet Resort
Lupo, the long haired German Shepherd at 9 months
See Lupo Growing-up
Kaiser, the black German Shepherd Dog at 11 months old
Pajdo and Linda with their litter of puppies
Prudy, the German Shepherd is about 5 years old in this picture and, as always,
chasing a tennis ball.
German Shepherd Pictures Page 1
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