El German shepherd it is one of the most popular breeds. He is a very noble, very intelligent and very affectionate dog who loves to do a lot of exercise together with the person who takes care of him. In addition, he gets along very well with children, with whom he will spend endearing moments and whom he will protect day after day, thus preventing them from getting hurt.
They are obedient and easy to train, what more could you ask for? Keep reading to know the history, behavior, care, ... in short, All about this magnificent breed.
History of the German Shepherd
This incredible dog originates from Germany in the XNUMXth century. At that time in the country a program of breeding dogs was carried out to guard and protect the herd of rams, since the wolves often attacked them. In 1899 the Association of Friends of the German Shepherd was created, and from then on, the specimens that would end up improving the breed were selected.
The first of them was a dog named Jack, who had a wolfish appearance and a firm character, with grayish hair. These characteristics were inherited by the successor dogs. But the selection and breeding process continued, as it was not enough that they had inherited them, but it was also sought to prevent them from disappearing. A) Yes, Maximilian von Stephanitz, who is considered the father of the breed, always wanted to maintain the zootechnical functionality of the animal; that is, he wanted them to continue being sheepdogs, working dogs, and not so much company.
The problem arose when humans began to live in an increasingly industrialized world, so Von Stephanitz, concerned about the survival of the breed, persuaded the German government to agree to take these dogs and, thus, they did work of policeman. A job in which they did not take long to stand out, and in fact, they did it so well that today they are still used as police dogs.
Currently, German Shepherds are one of the most admired by all those dog lovers.
Characteristics
The German Shepherd is a large-sized dog, with a weight of 30 to 40kg for males, and from 22 to 32kg for females. The height at the withers is between 60 and 65cm in them, and between 55 and 60cm in them. They have a robust, elongated, and muscular body, with wide legs and a long tail. The mouth is elongated, and the ears are large, triangular in shape.
As for the hair, the most common is the one that has it brown with black spots, but there is also that they have it completely black, reddish and black, saber. The length of the hair can be short or long.
His life expectancy is 13 years.
Black german shepherd
These dogs are usually used mainly for work, and very few kennels are dedicated to reproducing them. But it must be said that has a slightly more stable behavior if possible that one that has brown fur, and is very easy to train. In addition, he is a great companion and protector.
Does the White German Shepherd Exist?
Although there is a dog that looks a lot like our protagonist but has white hair, it is not recognized as this breed, but as »swiss white shepherd». This beautiful breed is originally from Switzerland and, contrary to what you might think, it is not an albino dog, but the white color is due to genetic factors.
German Shepherd behavior
This dog is Very noble, and it is always careful to everything that happens around him. Communication y affectionateAlso comprehensive. He is usually always very confident, a characteristic that has made him one of the most beloved dogs to do search work, both for people and for drugs or explosives.
He gets along very well with children, although it is essential that both they and the dog learn to respect each other's personal space.
Care
The German Shepherd Dog is an animal that needs a lot of exercise. You can live without problems in a house, as long as he is taken for walks and runs often. Also, it is important that it is played with him daily with interactive games that you will find for sale in pet stores so that he can learn and have fun at the same time.
Like any other dog, you will also need a quality diet and veterinary care. But we can't forget about training either. It is important that they begin to educate them from the first day they live with humans, teaching basic commands (sit, paw, etc.), and walk on the leash without pulling. Think of it as a large dog, and the sooner it learns to behave, the better. For this, it is advisable to use positive training; In this way we will get him to learn to think for himself, since he is a dog that will live happily by your side.
German Shepherd Health
Being a highly demanded breed, it is being bred in excess. Thus, the problems derived from selection and breeding mean that there are more and more German Shepherds with hip and elbow dysplasia, eye problems, stomach twisting o joint problems.
Buying tips
Would you like to live with a beautiful German shepherd? If so, you sure don't regret it. Take note of these tips:
Buy in hatchery
This is a breed that, as we have seen, can have significant health problems, so in addition to making sure that the kennel is really serious and professional, it is important to also ask about the health of the parents of the puppy that we want to take home. Here are the keys to recognize them:
- When you visit it, you must find the facilities clean.
- Dogs they must be healthy and active.
- The one in charge must answer all questions that you have.
- You must be able know the history of the puppy family, and above all, if they have or have had any disease.
- The owner of the center will not give to puppies less than two months old.
- When the appointed day comes, will deliver your new friend with all the documentation in order (passport and pedigree).
Buy from a pet store
If you choose to buy it in a pet store, you should know that You will not know which parents it comes from nor will they give you the pedigree. So you can take home a dog that could have a health problem. Still, the price is lower.
Buy from an individual
You have to be very careful with online adsWell, there are many (too many) that have been posted by people who want to scam those who are looking for a furry friend. How then to identify those who are really serious?
- The advertisement must be written in only one language. It may seem obvious, but many people have been misled into believing that this "norm" was being met. You should know that often these people write a text in their language, translate it with the help of an online translator, and copy and paste that text in the ad. Web translators have improved a lot, but they continue to make mistakes, so if you read a word that is not very coherent (or not at all), be suspicious.
- In the ad contact information should be seen of the person, at least the phone number and the province.
- You must to be able to meet her to see the puppies, and thus be able to make sure that they are well cared for and therefore, that their health is good.
- This person will not give you the puppies with less than two months of age.
- They won't ask you for money up front.
Price
The price of the German Shepherd will vary depending on where you buy it. For example, if it is from a farm, the price is around 800 euros; On the other hand, if it is in a pet store or a private individual, it can cost about 300-400 euros.
Adopt a German Shepherd
Despite being a pure breed, it is very easy to find several specimens in kennels, and protective, usually adults. For this reason, if you want to help an animal that has lived for many years with someone who has ended up abandoning it, from here I encourage you to adopt.
Photos
We leave you with a few photos of this wonderful dog:
I have just adopted a 6-year-old female and with her pedigree card and I am singing, I live in an apartment and she is very obedient, calm, playful with the kitten and with the girl she is a good girl, attentive to everything, very protective, ( Before adopting her, I was with two dogs and they did not mind me and they destroyed the silo) and with this German shepherd I am very delighted, I finally found my loving protective companion, one more of the family, welcome moon?
Hi! I love this breed! 6 days ago my Jack died, a beautiful specimen and he has left me devastated since I took care of him with all the love from 2 months old to 11 years 6 months that he had when he died. I encourage you to adopt a puppy of this breed, they are the best company, although they break your heart when you die, as it happened to me.