SILVER GERMAN SHEPHERDS

Sorry, NO picture of a Silver German Shepherd.
The Picture Shows A male white German Shepherd Dog.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One of the most popular pets in the world is the German Shepherd dog and they come in a wide variety of colors and sizes. The largely known and general appearance of the German Shepherd is large, strong and good-looking.  It can also have a long or short coat, usually with a double fur in colors of cream and white, but can also be of solid black. The less popular colors of the German Shepherd include white and silver.  In most dog shows, German Shepherds with white or silver fur are disqualified.  However, there are some enthusiasts who like these "color challenged" dogs.

History of the German Shepherd

The German Shepherd came from a line of the sheepdogs originally meant for herding sheep and as a faithful companion to the shepherd.  With industrialization taking place, the need for herding sheep became less and less and other potentials for dogs in helping humans with their work were speculated on.  In the late 19th century, it was Captain Max von Stephanitz who saw the potential of developing a breed of the sheepdog to maximize its potentials. He came upon one very strong, intelligent, and beautiful dog which he named Horand v. Grafrath.

This dog was registered as the first German Shepherd.  He created an official governing body that restricted breeding dogs to only those who came up to standards. This allowed the rapid development of the German Shepherd breed. After World War 1, British and American soldiers were very impressed by the breed that they took some of them home to their own countries.

Color genetic

Today, breeding between German Shepherds is maintained to protect the breed.

There are now different lines such as the International Working Line, International Show Line, and the North American Show Line. However, "mutations" within the breed still do happen like in the case of German Shepherds with white or silver fur. Some purists do not consider these "mutations" acceptable and they argue that the white and silver-furred German Shepherds should not be considered pure.  In most dog shows, white and silver-coated German Shepherds are disqualified because their fur is seen as a genetic "fault."

There are clubs who try to support these kinds of German Shepherds like the White and Silver German Shepherd Club. They lobby for the white and silver-coated dogs to be recognized as a standard. Color is widely genetic. White and silver fur usually comes from the line of tan and yellow. However, color genetic and pigmentation in dogs are not yet fully understood.

By Ken Marlborough - Article Source: EzineArticles

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GERMAN SHEPHERD - Dogs of the World

GERMAN SHEPHERD - Dogs of the World

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The GERMAN SHEPHERD Dog

Buck - A Fine Example Of A German Shepherd (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dogs called German Shepherds were first exhibited at shows in Germany towards the end of the nineteenth century but they were hardly Shepherds as we know them today is rough coated, short-tailed and rather resembling mongrels. The German Shepherd Dog as we now know it didn't really appear until after the Second World War.

The breed has grown enormously in popularity and is now one of the most popular pedigree breeds in the UK as a pet, it is still the favourite working breed for many forces especially the police and they are widely used for security purposes. 

It is a fine sight to see a well-trained GSD with his handler, working well to serve and protect. Unfortunately one of the saddest sites is the poor GSD used to guard premises often chained up alone in some dismal filthy yard with a lifetime of incarceration and little stimulation to look forward to.

The German Shepherd is a highly intelligent beast who will show undying devotion to his master but he is a dog that needs company and stimulation to be at his best.

If you are thinking of buying a German Shepherd as a pet and you have not previously owned one, it is important to research the breed and talk to experienced owners so that you fully understand what you are taking on. 

GSD's do indeed make wonderful family pets but it is important to remember that this is a working breed and that they do have certain characteristics that can make them more difficult than your average Retriever, Labrador or Collie.

The characteristics of a good working GSD should be firmness of nerve, attentiveness, unshockability, tractability, watchfulness, reliability, and incorruptibility together with courage tenacity and hardness.

A German Shepherd is naturally protective and territorial which is something to bear in mind if you have lots of visitors to your house when careful introduction may be required to assure your pet that the visitor is not a threat to his family.

This is also a breed that requires a lot of time, stimulation, training and exercise - you will never wear them out, they will always be ready for more. A bored, lonely GSD can be very destructive and can cause an awful lot of damage to property in a short space of time.

Perhaps some of the less endearing traits of this breed are the tendency to be very vocal which can be a big nuisance and may be a problem with neighbours. They also shed hair in copious amounts all year round so your vacuum cleaner will work overtime and it's unlikely that your clothes and furnishings will ever be free of dogs hairs again as well as what you are eating invariably being contaminated with that stray hairs.

The biggest problem with the German Shepherd Dog is the fact that to a large extent the breed is being spoilt by irresponsible breeding by inexperienced back street breeders who care nothing about preserving the breed but only about making money from the selling of puppies, Health and temperament problems are all too common, so it is important to take expert advice and try and find a reputable source if you are contemplating buying a puppy.

Consider first taking on a rescue German Shepherd Dog from a reputable rescue that should be able to give you a good assessment of a particular dog. Remember too that an older GSD will be a very rewarding addition to the family and will be housetrained, won't chew, well behaved, probably require less exercise than a young dog and will be very loyal and grateful.

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GERMAN SHEPHERD 101 - German Shepherd Puppies

9-week-old German Shepherd puppy. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There are fewer things in life more irresistible than a German Shepherd puppy. But you should never bring one home on impulse. This needs to be a careful decision. Bringing a German Shepherd puppy home is the same as bringing a human child home (except German Shepherds mature faster and are more loyal). Although German Shepherd puppies are a big responsibility, they are priceless in their friendship.

German Shepherds, on average, will cost about three thousand dollars a year in food, grooming supplies and vet care. This is far less than your car, but still, something to keep in mind. Because of how fast they grow, German Shepherd puppies need their diets to be closely regulated to avoid many potential health problems. They will also need positive reinforcement from day one. Never train a German Shepherd puppy by force. Most dog bites are from dogs that are scared, not dogs that are attacking.

Never buy a German Shepherd puppy from a pet store or from an Internet site that will ship a pup to you without asking you any questions beyond, "Check or charge?" These puppies will be from puppy mills. They will not only be sickly, but they will have missed a major learning period for basic training and will be harder to train and more uncontrollable. The best German Shepherd puppies are from breeders, from animal shelters or from German Shepherd rescues. One of the times German Shepherds are most abandoned is when they are six months old and past the cute stage.

Encourage the German Shepherd puppy to lie down and sleep to lessen the shock of a car ride. Go to the vet within 24 hours of bringing the puppy home, even if the puppy has passed a vet's inspection at a shelter. When you get the German Shepherd puppy home, take it where you want it to relieve itself. Praise the puppy highly when they go in the right place. Keep using that place for toilet training and use verbal commands.

Small puppies have small bladders. They will need to go outside to try and toilet every two hours until they are about six months old when they can start holding their bladders for seven hours. When a German Shepherd puppy has an accident, it is not trying to be bad. They often can't hold it. German Shepherd puppies usually walk in circles sniffing when they need to go. However, once they learn, it's learned.

This might sound like a lot, and it is, but it can be done if you are committed to raising a German Shepherd puppy. You will find training easier by giving your puppy a German Shepherd name that easily attracts the puppy's attention. Don't have it sound too similar to commands they hear all the time like "Stay" or "Heel". German Shepherd puppies are smart enough to respond to name changes. Don't use their registered name - it's too long and won't grab their attention.

By Jan Ryan - Article Source: EzineArticles

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GERMAN SHEPHERD. Protective Noble Breed. His Highness The German Shepherd Dog

The History of the German shepherd

German shepherd (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The German shepherd dog is known to be one of the most beautiful and devoted dogs around today. With its toughness and nobility, the breed can sometimes, unfortunately, get judged unfairly; though, despite that, it still remains one of the most popular breeds of dog around today.

The History of the Breed

The German shepherd has not actually been around for a long period of time. It was developed in the late 1880’s when a man named Captain Max von Stephanitz decided to standardize the breed.

He saw a wolf-like dog at a show in Western Germany and he noticed just how energetic, tough, steady and intelligent the dog actually was. It was medium in size and the dog was also a natural sheepherder which knew exactly what to do. So Captain Max von Stephanitz bought the dog and named him “Horand von Grafrath”.

That was the first ever registered German shepherd dog.

So the main purpose of the breed was to herd cattle and sheep. The main priority was to develop a dog which was intelligent and stable. The looks of the dog were not as important; just as long as the breed could herd really well that was all that mattered. If a dog was born that was not intelligent and which would not obey its owner then it was automatically classed as being useless.

At first, mistakes were made with inbreeding. Captain Max von Stephanitz would breed the pups with their half-sisters and the daughters of dog’s sons. This created a lot of problems with the breed and eventually, dogs were brought in that were not related by blood.

Another problem also occurred which needed to be addressed and that was the fact that the pastoral era had started to decline. As the main purpose of the German shepherd was to herd, the fact that the pastoral era was declining meant that it was likely that the breed would no longer be needed.

German Shepherds were then introduced into police dog roles as well as for tracking and guarding purposes.

Throughout the war, the breed was even used as a Red Cross dog and they were also used partially as messenger dogs, too. So they certainly had a wide range of purposes throughout the war period. As time went on, various breeders started to experiment with the German shepherd and a newer version of the breed was developed.

However, it had a faulty temperament and Captain Max von Stephanitz was horrified. The breed may not have been around for a large amount of time, but for the time it has been developed, it has changed quite a lot.

Its popularity after World War II meant that Americans became interested in the German Shepherd and they were developed completely differently to the German standard.

These days the German shepherd is mainly a companion dog but it is also widely used as a police dog and a guarding dog, too. Its temperament has changed over the years, though it still has a fantastic working instinct.

Submitted by: John E Adams About the Author: copyright John Adams. Dog Breeds Explained. Choose the right dog for you. Compare the German Shepherd to every other dog breed German Shepherd explained Source: www.isnare.com Permanent Link: https://www.isnare.com/?aid=205784&ca=Pets

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GERMAN SHEPHERD Dog History and Characteristics

German Shepherd Dog from 1915 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The German Shepherd Dog Is Also Known By These Other Names: Alsatian, Deutscher Schaferhund, GSD.

German Shepherd Dog Temperament

The German Shepherd dog is amongst the most intelligent of dogs and its versatility and excellence in performing all manner of activities has secured its eternal position in the hall of fame when it comes to policing duties, search and rescue, military functions such as bomb-sniffing and even as sight-seeing dogs for people who are blind or those with impaired eyesight. The German Shepherd is a quick study and due to their innate high intelligence are very easy to train.

These dogs are active, alert and like many other animals of a high intelligence and active nature, the German Shepherd needs to be constantly challenged and stimulated both physically and mentally to avoid becoming a nuisance. That said, this dog breed makes a great companion and is both brave and loyal. Though some dogs tend to be somewhat aloof and wary by and large this dog breed makes for a great family pet and they generally get on well with children. Occasionally certain dogs may become a tad domineering with children which may manifest in the form of the German Shepherd trying to herd them about; in keeping with its breeding pedigree.

German Shepherd dogs have excellent watchdog ability and are typically wary of both strangers and other dogs. Early socialization is a must if your dog is going to be around other animals. As far as climate tolerance is concerned these dogs adapt fairly well to moderate cold as well as moderate heat, though extremes in either direction don't go down well.

German Shepherd Dog Grooming & Exercise Requirements

The German Shepherd boasts a high energy level and thus this dog breed requires plenty of exercise on a daily basis. Its grooming requirements, however, are not quite as demanding and its coat only requires brushing once or twice a week. The German Shepherd is a moderate to heavy shedder and thus is perhaps not the best choice of dog for allergy sufferers.

German Shepherd Dog Appearance

The body of the German Shepherd dog is typically longer than it is tall and in the modern variant when the animal is standing the body slopes downwards as though the dog is poised to spring off of its hind legs. This was not always the case, the early variant of the German Shepherd dog having a squarer body and less slanting haunches. The tail is usually bushy and hangs with a slight curve.

This dog breed boasts an athletic build and erects ears atop a head with a pointed snout which enhances the alert appearance of the dog. Coat color may vary and includes the following: black, black and tan and sable. From a show dog perspective, white-coated dogs are not allowed although of recent there is a movement for such specimens to be represented in their own sub-category.

This dog breed has a double coat with a thick outer coat comprised of close-lying medium-length hair that may be straight or slightly wavy.

Weight: Males: 75 - 100 pounds

Females: 60 - 80 pounds

Height: Males: 24 - 26 inches

Females: 22 - 24 inches

German Shepherd Dog Health Issues/Life Expectancy

This dog breed on average has a lifespan of 10 - 12 years. Due to rather intense in breeding over the years the German Shepherd dog suffers from a number of genetic disorders which include the following:

Major Concerns:

CHD

Elbow Dysplasia

Minor Concerns: Panosteitis; vWD; Degenerative Myelopathy; Cauda Equina; Skin Allergies; Hot Spots; Neoplasms; Pannus; Cataract; Gastric Torsion; Perianal Fistulas; Cardiomyopathy; Hemangiosarcoma

German Shepherd dogs are also extremely susceptible to a potentially fatal systemic infection from the fungus Aspergillus.

German Shepherd Dog History

The modern German Shepherd dog is the end result of a concerted effort in the late 19th century to breed the perfect German sheep herding dog. Up until that time, each district boasted its own distinct herding dog. To achieve the perfect herding dog various dog breeds from the north were crossbred with those from the central district ultimately resulting with the forbearer of the modern German Shepherd.

The goal of the German Shepherd dog breeding program was to produce a dog that could watch out for and control straying sheep from the rest of the flock without spooking the entire flock. Thus unlike cattle herding dogs, it was undesirable for the German Shepherd dog to exhibit leg nipping and neither could it control its wards by barking at them because either one of those attributes would more than likely cause the entire flock to panic!

In essence, the German Shepherd dog breeding program had to come up with an extremely intelligent, versatile, swift and independent thinking breed of dog that executed its duties in a precise, swift, calm and steady manner.

Between 1899 and 1901 a specialist breed club was established and was originally headquartered in Stuttgart before moving to Munich and then finally ending up in Berlin. This club was known as Der Verein Fur Schaferhunde (SV for short), and this organization's primary goal and purpose was to oversee the continued positive development of the German Shepherd dog breed.

Within a decade of its breeding, the German Shepherd dog had soon become one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. Its rising star in popularity was slightly marred by the occurrence of the two world wars, when it was considered prudent in both Britain and France to refer to the dog breed as either an Alsatian or simple the Shepherd Dog to avoid the inevitable backlash at the time associated with the word German incorporated in the dog breed's name.

By Kayyne Nynne - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Health Problems in the GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG

German Shepherd

As with most pedigree breeds, there are certain hereditary conditions that can be a problem in the German Shepherd as well as other health issues that are more prevalent in this breed which need to be considered if you are thinking to acquire a GSD.

If you are buying a German Shepherd puppy it is important to ensure that you only purchase a healthy dog from a reputable breeder and a good idea would be to contact the breed council who should be able to provide you with a list of such breeders. Most reputable breeders don’t need to advertise but if they do they tend not to use free papers or other general advertising media but will usually place their advert in a specialist dog magazine or paper. The Kennel Club will provide a list of breeders but this does not signify that they are reputable only that they register their puppies with the KC.

There are a number of common conditions seen in this breed, some of which have a better prognosis than others but all of which are expensive to treat – so ensure your German Shepherd Dog as soon as you get it.

Inherited conditions such as hip dysplasia are becoming more common largely because of irresponsible breeding so you should look for a puppy whose parents are both hip scored and the lower the score the better – ideally less than ten. This is a distressing and painful condition for a GSD as well as the costs for treating being prohibitive if the animal is not insured. Elbow dysplasia is also a common hereditary condition.

Bloat or gastric torsion is a real emergency and a life-threatening condition, which has become more common in deep chested dogs over the years. Experts are divided but good tips for reducing the risk are that it is best to feed 2 small meals rather than one large meal a day and to avoid feeding your GSD before strenuous exercise.

Anal furunculosis is a distressing autoimmune condition which can be controlled with expensive drugs for a while but will inevitably progress as is the condition CDRM which is a degenerative disease which will ultimately lead to the loss of use of the dogs back legs and then bowel/urinary incontinence.

For whatever reason, there seems to be an increasing number of GSD’s suffering from PI – pancreatic insufficiency, which presents as chronic watery diarrhoea and failure to thrive. This condition is treatable with expensive pancreatic enzymes and a low-fat diet but the regime must be strictly adhered to.

Epilepsy is also more common these days and although it can be controlled by drugs, usually tolerance eventually occurs which will often result in the loss of control of the fits and the likelihood of brain damage as a result of prolonged uncontrolled fitting.

To protect your new puppy and in order to try to minimize long-term or future health problems, it is vital that a high-quality feeding regime is adopted from the start. German shepherds often have digestive problems so it is important to find a quality food that your dog likes and one that doesn’t upset the digestion. If in doubt ask your vet for advice or contact German Shepherd Rescue UK.

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My Favorite GERMAN SHEPHERD

A German Shepherd dog Polski: Owczarek niemiecki (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I have a lot of fond memories of my childhood years. My family shared great times of vacationing and of enjoying our annual winter trip to the mountains for skiing. We shared every Saturday morning's breakfast together and we even liked to play games together on Friday nights. I truly loved my growing up years and I loved being a part of my family. My absolute favorite memory of childhood, however, is not a memory of my family at all, it is my memory of my favorite German Shepherd dog.

I got my German Shepherd as a birthday gift on my tenth birthday, so I guess you could say that the memory is in some way connected to the family who purchased Ruffy (as I named him) for me. I loved that dog. I had been asking for one ever since I was in first grade, and I guess by the time I was turning ten my parents realized that I was serious about wanting a German Shepherd and that I probably wouldn't stop asking until they gave me one. So all of my childhood dreams came true the day I turned ten and came home from school to discover a brand new German Shepherd puppy waiting just for me.

My four siblings were not thrilled about the birthday gift my parents had chosen. Apparently, they had each asked for an animal in the past and had never received anything more than a small tank of fish. I felt pretty good about the fact that I was the first one to receive a German Shepherd for my birthday, even though I know it was only due to my nagging that my parents finally melted and agreed. I was very generous, for the most part, about sharing my German Shepherd with my brothers and sisters. We spent countless hours that summer playing with Ruffy, trying to teach him new tricks, and of course, teaching him when and where to go to the bathroom.

I guess my German Shepherd became my best friend in a way that no one else had. I had some trouble fitting in with the other kids at school and so I quickly became attached to my German Shepherd enough that it didn't matter what anyone else thought of me because I had Ruffy to go home to at the end of a long day.

Ruffy and I spent the next thirteen years getting along great. When it was time for me to head off to college, I left my German Shepherd in the care of my mother, who did a fabulous job with him. I have nothing but fond memories of my German Shepherd.

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GERMAN SHEPHERD Puppy - Puppies of the World

German Shepherd Puppy - Puppies of the World

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GERMAN SHEPHERD - The facts every owner of this dog breed should know

Photo  by juan_e 

Also known as the Alsatian, the German Shepherd is a 'young' breed, having only been recognized as a distinct breed in the last 90 years. The German Shepard can trace its roots back to a range of shepherding dogs in Germany, and some groups tried to informally breed this dog. This effort failed but in 1899, a new group formed. Der Verein fur Deutsche Schaeferhunde was founded by Max von Stephanitz, who wanted to breed an all-purpose working dog.

The German Shepherd came to the United States in 1908 with soldiers impressed by the courage and abilities of this dog. German Shepherds will reach an average height of 22 to 26 inches, a weight of 77 to 85 pounds and live an average of 13 years. There are a wide variety of coats in this breed. Some German Shepherds are longhaired and some are shorthaired. The color is most often black and tan, but can also be sable, all black, blue and liver, and white.

The one thing all German Shepard coats have in common is that they shed profusely, and shed worse during their shedding season. Daily brushing usually helps combat the shedding, and German Shepherds should only be bathed occasionally. Almost all German Shepherds are described as self-confident and loyal.

German Shepherds are highly intelligent and often times used as police dogs, rescue dogs, and guide dogs. German Shepherds make excellent guard dogs and are very loyal to their family. They make excellent protectors, barking when someone unfamiliar is approaching. German Shepherds do make good family pets and will guard the children of 'their' family. They will tolerate the poking and prodding children are prone to do. However, they are sometimes unaware of their size and power relative to a small child and may indiscriminately knock them over.

A German Shepherd and child should always be watched to avoid this. German Shepherds can survive apartment living if given enough exercise regularly and given enough activities. If left alone too long or not stimulated enough, German Shepherds will become bored and destructive. They enjoy being in the company of their human family but not other pets. As a working dog that likes to please, a German Shepherd will do very well with obedience training. German Shepherds are prone to some genetic disorders including hip and elbow dysplasia, blood disorders, digestive problems, epilepsy, chronic eczema, keratitis (inflammation of the cornea), dwarfism and flea allergies.

By Robert W. Benjamin - Copyright © 2007

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Training Your GERMAN SHEPHERD Dog

German Shepherd Dog - Photo   by Bad Apple Photography 

The German Shepherd Dog truly is a wonderful animal and not only do they make good working dogs, they also make superb family pets. They are however very different from other pet breeds and need to be handled and trained with a different approach to say your average labrador or poodle for instance.

The GSD is a large, strong athletic dog, which needs a lot of mental stimulation and exercise but a well-trained shepherd can learn to do almost anything. These dogs positively thrive on challenging activities and they are so willing to serve their master and please. As a working dog used by most police forces, the very look of a GSD is usually enough to act as a deterrent but when called into action there are few dogs that can match the German Shepherd as an all-rounder.

If you are considering becoming an owner of a GSD then you need to consider the commitment to training in order that you have happy, well behaved German Shepherd dog that you can take out safely in public.

If you haven't previously owned one of these dogs then please do not take on a youngster lightly. Being involved in GSD rescue I have lost count of the number of young dogs I have had to re-home because owners bought them without doing a bit of research first.

As youngsters, they can be very boisterous and can easily knock over children or elderly relatives, especially if you do not discourage the dog from jumping up when excited. A bored GSD can be very destructive and if left alone will trash your house and contents with ease using their big teeth and claws. Unfortunately, these dogs don't really mature until they are about 3 years old so you are in for the long haul to get through the puppy and adolescent stage

The German Shepherd needs to be well socialized from an early age and needs plenty of exposure to people and other dogs so that they do not develop aggressive tendencies as they mature.

Joining a dog training class from an early age is a good idea and most clubs will accept dogs into the puppy classes from about 4 months onwards. This should be good fun for your puppy and allows him to play and to socialize but it also serves the purpose of teaching him or her what is acceptable and what is not. This will prove invaluable grounding for your German Shepherd training.  

When choosing a dog training class do check out a few first as not all classes make German Shepherds welcome and if any club asks that you muzzle your dog, please give it a miss and move on and find another club. No reputable dog training class would require a dog to be muzzled. If your dog is aggressive towards other dogs there are better ways of controlling the dog safely such as by using a Canny Collar which is a simple effective head collar similar to those used on horses.

The earlier you start training and socialization the better as GSD's often develop a tendency to be aggressive towards other dogs and also towards strangers and they can become very protective towards their owners and property.  

Another important part of training your German shepherd is to get him used to be groomed because they shed copious amounts of hair and although they only molt once a year, it lasts for 365 days. So be prepared for dog hair all over your house, your clothes, in your food and buy yourself a very good vacuum cleaner.

Training your German Shepherd should be very much part of everyday life and it should be fun to stick with it because it really will be worth it in the end.

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Traits and Characteristics of GERMAN SHEPHERDS

If you are considering German Shepherd puppies for sale, you should know the benefits of having your dog professionally trained. 

Max von Stephanitz stabilized the German Shepherd dog breed, a breed that would become one of the most valued dogs in history. 

German Shepherd - Photo  by      haroldmeerveld  (cc)

The German shepherd dog is very intelligent, easy to train, powerful and elegant. 

The German shepherd dog is medium to large size with erect pointed ears, a long body, and a weather resistant coat. A thick stiff outer coat covered by a softer inner one makes the German shepherd readily able to withstand extreme climates. German Shepherd's range in color from black and tan to black and red, while the white German Shepherd is being seen more often these days. White German Shepherds are known as loyal family dogs and fearless guardians of the home that excel in obedience work. 

Originally trained as a herder, the breed is still used in this capacity in some areas. The German Shepherd also excels in many other dog activities including tracking, obedience, agility, fly ball, and ring sport. Through it all, the German Shepherd is also a wonderful family member and a dog of distinction. 

To this day, the German Shepherd Dog is considered one of the most, if not the most, intelligent and versatile breeds in existence. The German Shepherd is exceptionally trainable and works well as a police, guide, search, rescue dog. Though relatively calm and quiet indoors, the German Shepherd needs lots of outdoor exercises to maintain condition. German Shepherds require some active exercise each day and should not really be confined to a small yard. German shepherds do not require any special care.

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Health Problems in the GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG

As with most pedigree breeds, there are certain hereditary conditions that can be a problem in the German Shepherd as well as other health issues that are more prevalent in this breed which need to be considered if you are thinking acquiring a GSD.

9-week-old German Shepherd puppy. 

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you are buying a German Shepherd puppy it is important to ensure that you only purchase a healthy dog from a reputable breeder and a good idea would be to contact the breed council who should be able to provide you with a list of such breeders. Most reputable breeders don’t need to advertise but if they do they tend not to use free papers or other general advertising media but will usually place their advert in a specialist dog magazine or paper. The Kennel Club will provide a list of breeders but this does not signify that they are reputable only that they register their puppies with the KC.

There are a number of common conditions seen in this breed, some of which have a better prognosis than others but all of which are expensive to treat – so insure your German Shepherd Dog as soon as you get it.

Inherited conditions such as hip dysplasia are becoming more common largely because of irresponsible breeding so you should look for a puppy whose parents are both hip scored and the lower the score the better – ideally less than ten. This is a distressing and painful condition for a GSD as well as the costs for treating being prohibitive if the animal is not insured. Elbow dysplasia is also a common hereditary condition.

Bloat or gastric torsion is a real emergency and a life threatening condition, which has become more common in deep chested dogs over the years. Experts are divided but good tips for reducing the risk are that it is best to feed 2 small meals rather than one large meal a day and to avoid feeding your GSD before strenuous exercise.

Anal furunculosis is a distressing auto immune condition which can be controlled with expensive drugs for a while but will inevitably progress as is the condition CDRM which is a degenerative disease which will ultimately lead to the loss of use of the dogs back legs and then bowel/urinary incontinence.

For whatever reason there seems to be an increasing number of GSD’s suffering from PI – pancreatic insufficiency, which presents as chronic watery diarrhoea and failure to thrive. This condition is treatable with expensive pancreatic enzymes and a low fat diet but the regime must be strictly adhered to.

Epilepsy is also more common these days and although it can be controlled by drugs, usually tolerance eventually occurs which will often result in the loss of control of the fits and the likelihood of brain damage as a result of prolonged uncontrolled fitting.

To protect your new puppy and in order to try to minimise long term or future health problems, it is vital that a high quality feeding regime is adopted from the start. German shepherds often have digestive problems so it is important to find a quality food that your dog likes and one that doesn’t upset the digestion. If in doubt ask your vet for advice or contact German Shepherd Rescue UK.

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WHITE GERMAN SHEPHERD - Dogs of the World

White German Shepherd - Dogs of the World

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Large GERMAN SHEPHERDS

Through breeding experiments, breeders have been able to create variations of the German Shepherd. Such experiments gave way to new kinds of German Shepherd dogs, one of which is the white German Shepherd. But in spite of these great results, there are some people who wish to stick to its roots by breeding old-style German Shepherds which are larger than your usual German Shepherd. These purists argue that though these experiments can produce German shepherds with special attributes, the qualities which gave the breed its reputation such as intelligence may disappear.

A German Shepherd yawning.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The different lines of German Shepherds

For those who do not know anything about German Shepherds, you may think that all of these dogs are one and the same. They are not. In fact, there are many lines of this breed and the old-style is just one of them. Each line was created for a specific purpose and these are:

- International working line. This line of German Shepherds is bred mainly to gain the working traits rather than the looks. Because of this, the appearance of these dogs may differ.

- International show line. This line was designed for breeders who are after the appearance of the dog rather than its working traits.

- North American show lines. This line was designed also more for the looks of the dog but with certain variations. These include sloped backs and sharper angulations. There are now debates on whether this line should be considered as a different breed of dog altogether. But breeders of this line argue that though there are great changes in the appearance of the dog, the working attributes have not been changed.

Appearance

Aside from the lines stated above, there is also another line which is called the old-style German Shepherd. The goal of the breeders of this line is simply to bring back the German Shepherd dogs to the way it was before. They aim to produce a line of dogs that looks and acts the same as its first ancestors. The old-style German Shepherd differs from the regular German Shepherd simply by its sheer size. A normal German Shepherd is around 24 to 26 inches tall. The old-style German Shepherds dwarf them by four more inches. So an old-style German Shepherd is about 30 inches in height and would weigh around 124 lbs. or 54 kg. Though the features on the face are the same with regular German Shepherds, the old-style dogs have larger heads. The other physical attributes of this kind of breed include a straighter back, big bones, and no extreme angulations on the legs, giving it a noble and more poised look.

By Ken Marlborough Article Source: EzineArticles

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The GERMAN SHEPHERD Dog Breed - DDR, Czech and British Lines

In past articles I expressed that the German Shepherd dog breed has several varieties and types consistent with the standard of the breed and that in some scenarios it is possible to identify their place of origin by their physical features. In this article I will name a few I know of, just to demonstrate the point.

A couple of the most familiar ones are the German Shepherd dogs of German lines and the German Shepherd dogs of American lines. I have already explained the predominant differences in structure and temperament between these two lines in another article, so I will not bore you with their detailed description again. If you are interested, look for my article; "The German Shepherd Dog Breed- Difference Between German Lines and American Lines".

Two German Shepherd Dogs. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A few other lines that fall in this category are:

East German Lines (DDR)

They were designed in the German Democratic Republic (Deutshe Demokratishe Republik) informally called East Germany, from those dogs that stayed in the East after World War II.

The DDR was a socialist state, which was founded in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany and in the portion of East Berlin which was occupied by the Allied forces. Geographically, it comprised of northeast Germany rather than all of eastern Germany. Its dissolution began with the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989 and ended in October 1990 with the German reunification.

It has been 20 years since the reunification of Germany. However, even today a break down still exists between the German Shepherd bloodlines recovered after the World War II.

The DDR no longer exists today, but the DDR German Shepherd Dog still does, although in my viewpoint it's a "dying breed". Before the fall of the Berlin Wall, East German dogs were kept secluded from West German dogs and because of that, they preserved their own different characteristics. Although they came from the same original stock before the war, the division prevented the mixing of bloodlines and they developed relatively differently. Nowadays German Shepherd dogs of pure East German Lines are pretty unusual and many lines are extinct.

True DDR bloodlines are limited to four decades of breeding in former East Germany, but their bloodlines may be found in the pedigrees of German Shepherds around the world today.

DDR dogs have a strong, solid, lean, muscular body, heavy bone construction and a large massive head. They have dark pigmentation and are not as angulated as West German show dogs. These dogs have a strong temperament, great working capacity and are well suited for Schutzhund, police work, search and rescue and many other tasks. Most importantly, DDR German Shepherds have a very low rate and severity of hip dysplasia.

Czechoslovakian Lines (Czech)

They were bred in communist Czechoslovakia as state working dogs. These dogs were usually developed from DDR lines and are essentially the same.

Czechoslovakia existed as a sovereign state from 1918 to 1992. In 1939 though, Czechoslovakia was forcefully subdivided and to some extent incorporated to Nazi Germany, and this lasted until 1945, when the Soviet Union took over the eastern part of Carpathian Ruthenia, which afterwards became part of the Slovak Republic. From 1939 to 1945 the state didn't really exist, although the Czechoslovakian government did continue to exist in exile. On January 1st 1993 Czechoslovakia peacefully separated into the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Before the revolution in Czechoslovakia and the fall of their communist government in 1989, German Shepherds bred in Czechoslovakia were primarily working dogs used for the protection of their borders. What is extraordinary is that their breeding was done in just one kennel founded in 1955, which was owned by the Czechoslovakian Army's Border Patrol. The dogs used for breeding were chosen mostly from the East Germany (DDR) and the breeding program centered on solid nerves, working ability, strong bones and dark pigmentation.

The DDR and Czechoslovakia were members of the Soviet Bloc and they both produced working bloodlines to be used as help to border guards and as police protection dogs. Because of the intimate affiliation between the two, both lines are pretty much the same bloodline.

A German Shepherd Dog (Alsatian) swimming. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

British Lines (Alsatians)

These lines are descendants of old lines that were imported into the British Isles before the post-war German lines.

Around 1908 the first German Shepherds showed up in Great Britain. In 1917, after America entered World War I, everything associated with Germany acquired a negative connotation. The American Kennel Club changed the name of the breed from the German Shepherd dog to the Shepherd Dog. On the other hand in England, the breed was renamed Alsatian, after the French-German border area of Alsace, Lorraine. The name Alsatian was never actually used anywhere else, except for England, and it was changed back to the German Shepherd dog in 1977.

These dogs developed a little differently than German Shepherds from other locations. They have heavier bone structure, a long body type, uniform shoulders and an even top line. They come in a number of colors, being black and tan, black and red, sable, bi color and black the most common.

English Lines German Shepherds have a soft temperament and they vary in drive. They make remarkable family companions, particularly for first time owners, but they also function well as service dogs, therapy dogs and guide dogs.

Nowadays, it's very hard to find German Shepherds of pure East German, Czechoslovakian or British Lines; in fact, even finding pictures of true representatives of these lines is difficult. The German Shepherd dog breed has evolved in many diverse ways since it's creation and it will continue to; hopefully for the better.

By Enrique Navarro The author's website features original articles about the German Shepherd dog breed. Article Source: EzineArticles

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Things to Know About a GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG

A sound temperament is a must in a German Shepherd Dog (GSD). By sound, I mean a disposition where one minute you can let a protection trained GSD play alone with your 5-year old child, pull on its ears, pet its head, tug on its tail and NEVER-EVER be in harms way; while the next minute, it should turn into the "terminator" and crush its enemies as soon as it senses an intruder.

German Shepherd - Photo by Lucid Nightmare 

There are three conventional methods of dog training that you can choose from in order to train you German Shepherd Dog (GSD). They are training with treats, training with treats and clickers, and training with praise. All three methods of training will work; however, there is one that stands out from the rest. That is, oral praise. Why? Because you want your dog to listen to your commands even when you don't have any toys, clickers, and/or food. Imagine you dog wanting to jump at your every command simply because it wants your praise and love and not because you are going to bribe it with treats. Once your dog gets used to getting treats for performance, it will cease to perform when you don't have any more treats left. So, treat your GSD with kindness, and train it with praise!

Training a GSD which has not been genetically selected for working ability is that much more difficult than one that has already been selected for that trait. In my opinion, the age-old debate about beauty vs. functionality of the pure-bread GSD dog was settled by the founder of the German Shepherd Dog breed, Captain Max Von Stephanitz, when he said in his book,"...Utility is the true criterion of beauty..." (The German Shepherd Dog in Word and Picture, pg. 163). Many American GSDs today have been selected for beauty rather than functionality in order to win dog shows. In many of these dog shows, obedience and showmanship are separate events and a dogs' working ability is never considered in events where the dogs are required to meet breed standards. Hence, you have the decline of the traits for which the breeds were originated for in the first place. So when you set out to buy your dream GSD, look for temperament, health, and working ability first, and beauty last.

The importance of beauty, however, should not be ignored when it comes to posing your dog for a memorable photograph. Unlike other breeds, GSD's are shown differently in the breed ring. The proper method for posing your GSD for the breed judges is called a "stack". "Stacking" is the method whereby one allows the forequarters of a dog to be shown parallel to one another when looking through the viewfinder of a camera and when one allows the hindquarters of the GSD to be arranged so that the limb facing the camera is placed backward while the limb facing away from the camera is placed forward. Most professional handlers who pose their GSD's for photographers walk them into a "stack" instead of artificially manipulating them into it. If you plan to stack your GSD for a professional snapshot, remember to compose the image in such a way as to depict it from the tip of its nose to the tip of its hindquarters; NO MORE, NO LESS (please visit my web site to view photographs of how a GSD is stacked for the camera).

These topics cover just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to knowing the German Shepherd Dog breed. You can learn more about the GSD by visiting my web site or by getting involved in breed organizations like the German Shepherd Dog Club of America (GSDCA). With a little more reading, you can become familiar with this wonderful breed and all that it has to offer. And then perhaps you can decide whether this is the right breed for you or not.

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