The Purebred German Shepherd Dog
The GSD embodies the ideal balance of agility and strength. Their high trainability and the ability to protect make them loved family pets.
When shopping for a purebred german shepherd, look for breeders who have a commitment to ethical breeding and who are concerned about the health of their dogs. Requesting pedigree documents and prior health clearances can help you identify reputable breeders.
Characteristics
German Shepherds are powerful, intelligent dogs that are easy to train. They are loyal to their family and are able to be fearless guardians. The breed standard states that a GSD should be self-confident, courageous, and have an unwavering temperament. It must also be obedient and willing to please.
The breed is medium-sized, slightly elongated, and muscular. It has a double coat consisting of an outer layer of hardness and a softer undercoat. The almond-shaped eyes of the dog are dark and slightly set. Its ears are wide at the base and pointed. When the dog is resting on its back, the tail becomes large and bushy. It reaches below the hocks. The breed's neck is long and slightly sloping. The chest is broad and deep. The ribs are well-sprung, and the spine is firm.
The breed is generally healthy, but it has serious issues, like roached-backs and long pasterns that hinder proper movement. Its hindquarters should be powerful but not overly exaggerated and the rear leg should never go ahead of the point at which the forefoot leaves an imprint.
As working dogs, GSDs naturally possess high-energy drives. These are behaviors and desires that involve territorial protection and the pursuit of prey. If these high drives are not fulfilled in a particular way, like through play or work or playing, it can result in aggression. Show-type German Shepherds are bred in a manner that helps dampen these drives but they require lots of positive reinforcement training, physical exercise, and mental stimulation to maintain a balanced life.
GSDs tend to be reserved and suspicious towards strangers initially. This makes them great guard dogs and requires proper training to avoid overreactions. When socialized properly from a young age they can be wonderful pets for families. They also make great children.
The GSD has an extremely high threshold for pain and is resilient against illness, but it does have certain health issues that could affect its quality of living. This includes seizures and epilepsy, as well as bleeding disorders. Making sure to limit the dog's exposure to harsh UV rays and ensuring that regular vaccinations are given to the dog will reduce the risk of developing these diseases.
Temperament
German Shepherds are smart and eager to learn, and highly trainable. They are a working breed that excel at a variety of jobs, including herding, police work, search and rescue detection of drugs and bombs, and guiding the blind. They are also excellent pet for families. However, this powerful and confident breed requires a clear sense of purpose and the attention of an assertive owner to harness their energy and strength in a positive way. They require plenty of exercise and space and might not be suited in smaller living spaces.
The ideal German Shepherd is balanced and confident, with a solid and steady temperament. They are loyal, vigilant, and suspicious of strangers. This watchful and protective behaviour can become aggressive if not properly trained, socialized, and supervised. deutsche schäferhunde welpen kaufen österreich Süßer Deutscher Schäferhund are often intelligent, independent and easily bored. They must find a way to satisfy their curiosity.
Founder Max von Stephanitz used herding and farm dogs, longhaired and shorthaired German Shepherds in his breeding program to create the kind of dog that was obedient and responsive that we see today. Max von Stephanitz did not agree with those who wanted to use German Shepherds to be a showpiece. He ensured that his dogs were calm, had strong herding instincts, and an ideal body structure. He did not breed dogs with unstable temperaments, or with sharp angles on their croups, front and rear pasterns. He believed that these traits would undermine the ability of the breed to fulfill its traditional tasks.
In addition to the hereditary diseases that can affect any breed of dog German Shepherds are also susceptible to cancers, such as Hemangiosarcoma, which typically affects blood-rich organs, such as the spleen and liver. They also can develop lung, bone, or intestinal cancers.
You can prevent these conditions by maintaining the physical well-being of your German Shepherd. This means giving him a balanced diet and regular exercise. It is important to give him ample time to run and play in a safe area free of traffic. Keep him clean by scrubbing his dense double coat on a regular basis, using a de-shedding tool or a rake undercoat to remove hairs that are loose. It is recommended that you bring him to the vet regularly for regular health check-ups.
Health
German Shepherds have a great health record, but health issues are present. They are prone to ear infections and can develop conditions that affect their eyes and ears such as degenerative amyelopathy. They may also suffer from an illness that is genetic, known as hereditary von Willebrand's disorder that affects their capacity to clot blood. It is present in both female and male dogs.
As a working breed, many GSDs undergo strenuous exercise during their training and they may suffer from joint problems as a result. The most frequent is hip dysplasia, which is characterized by improper growth and development of cartilage and joint, leading to discomfort, lameness, and other symptoms. It's not a serious condition but can be painful to the dog.
Reputable breeders X-ray their dogs and take the results into consideration when making breeding decisions. The x-rays can help determine the health and genetic background of the puppy, including the likelihood that it will develop dysplasia. Dogs with a high risk of developing dysplasia are not breeding.
Like all large breeds, German Shepherds can suffer from panosteitis, which causes the bones to grow quickly and unevenly, which causes stiffness and pain in the legs. This condition is most frequent in German Shepherd puppies and dogs less than 18 months old who are going through a large growth spurt.
The dogs require food that is rich in protein, with a generous blend of omega fatty acids and balanced vitamins to help maintain healthy coat and skin. These dogs can benefit from food with joints-supporting ingredients, such as the glucosamine or chondroitin. Dogs who are less than 18 months old age should be exercising moderately including multiple walks and, if compatible with other dogs playing together, but should not run at full speed, as this can damage growing joints.
Avoid feeding animal bone or table food, as they can cause vomiting, digestive upsets anorexia, and pancreatitis. Adult dogs and puppies can benefit by a probiotic supplementation program to aid digestion, as well as digestive enzyme supplements to aid in breaking down proteins. Vitamin and mineral supplements aren't necessary since a well-formulated AAFCO-approved diet should provide the proper amount of these nutrients.
Training
German Shepherds are intelligent and highly trainable dogs that thrive when they're under the direction of a knowledgeable handler. They are a great choice for police, military search and rescue, and therapy dog roles. Their unwavering loyalty makes them a wonderful pet, if well-socialized and properly trained.
The first step to raising a well-adjusted GSD is socialization. From an early age expose your puppy to different people and animals. Take them for frequent walks and play games. Visit local dog parks. This will help them feel secure and at ease in a new setting and ensure that they develop trust in humans from an early age.
It requires patience, consistency, as well as positive reinforcement to train to train a German shepherd. It is essential to avoid negative reinforcement methods like physical and verbal punishment, as they can lead to fear-based aggression. Use clicker training and rewards-based training to teach your German Shepherd the basic commands.
Daily enrichment is important for your German Shepherd. Mental stimulation exercises can be equally important as physical exercise for the GSD especially in a busy or chaotic household. This helps them remain focused and less likely to be distracted by road noises or storms or other dogs in the park, or crowds at competitions or public events.
Some of the health issues that are unique to German Shepherds are hemangiosarcoma and cancer of the bones, lungs, and intestinal tract as well as pannus (superficial keratitis). All of these conditions are preventable with responsible breeding practices and appropriate lifestyle adjustments.
German Shepherds are loyal family dogs, despite their reputation for being feared. They are usually loved by children and are gentle with smaller pets, such as cats, if they are exposed to them at a young age. Their size and strength make them formidable guardians and they should be observed around children who are younger. If they are not sufficiently exposed to training and socialization they could show signs of aggression. It is recommended to enroll your German Shepherd in a puppy class in the preschool or obedience to ensure that they receive the training and socialization they need to thrive.