German Shepherd Dog - German Shepherd Dog

German Shepherd Dog Temperament

The German Shepherd Dog is a very popular breed as reflected by his position on the AKC popularity list. This is an alert, lively, loyal, and very intelligent breed. He is often used as a military, police or search and rescue dog. These dogs are obedient and very quick to learn. He is one of the easiest of all breeds to train due to his high intelligence. The German Shepherd is active, full of energy, courageous, confident, and independent. In fact, The high intelligence and responsive nature of the breed makes this one of the easiest dogs to train. Some German Shepherd Dogs can be quite aloof and serious, and some can be dominant and sharp. However, these are very capable dogs, and are eager to please their owners, although their personality makes them best suited to those with some experience of dog ownership. You will need to ensure that you provide your German Shepherd with physical and mental stimulation, and these dogs do not fare well when isolated or neglected. The German Shepherd will need regular exercise, including daily walks and regular runs, although this should obviously be either in a safe and secured area or on the leash.

The German Shepherd is known to get along very well with children, although you should bear in mind his size if you have younger children. Early socialization is important if you have other pets, as these dogs may chase smaller animals such as cats, and can also be aggressive or dominant with other dogs of the same sex. Whining can be a problem with the German Shepherd, as some will whine a lot. The German Shepherd is known for its protectiveness too, and therefore makes a very affective watchdog and will not back down if he feels that he or his loved ones are being threatened.
German Shepherd Dog Appearance

The German Shepherd Dog is a handsome and powerful creature, with a well built, athletic body, an alert expression, and tall, erect ears. His coat is straight, hard, and medium in length, and he also has a dense undercoat. The coloring of the German Shepherd Dog can vary and includes black and tan, sable, and black. The German Shepherd Dog weighs in at 60-80 pounds for females, and 75-100 pounds for males.
German Shepherd Dog Grooming

The grooming requirements for the German Shepherd Dog are not excessive, and brushing his coat every couple of days should help to control shedding, although you will need to step up the grooming at certain times of the year when he is shedding more heavily. That said, the German Shepherd Dog is a heavy shedder all year round, and is therefore not well suited to allergy sufferers.
German Shepherd Dog Health Problems and Life Expectancy

The life expectancy of the German Shepherd Dog is around 12 years, and there are a number of health problems that are associated with this breed. This includes spinal problems, bloat and torsion, HD and elbow dysplasia, OCD, epilepsy, pancreas problems, and eye problems. The parents of the German Shepherd Dog puppy should have OFA and CERF certificates.
German Shepherd Dog History

The German Shepherd Dog originates from Germany, and was originally used for herding. However, the intelligence, watchfulness, obedience, and protectiveness of the breed saw the German Shepherd Dog become a very popular choice in professions such as police work and military work, guard dogs, search and rescue, etc. The bred was registered with the AKC in 1908.

# AKAAlsatian, Deutscher Schaferhund
# SizeLarge
# Ease of trainingHigh
# GroomingLow
# SheddingHigh
# Exercise neededDaily walk and a run
# Energy levelMedium
# ProtectionHigh, will bark and attack
# Good with childrenYes
# Health clearancesOFA, CERF
# Popularity3/155