 |
| Entertainment for Dogs... And Their Humans! | |
|
|
| Come! Sit! Stay!... The  website! |
Important: This information is collected from a variety of sources and is presented as general thoughts about the breed. It is sugggested that you use our information with that of your own to make any decisions. We suggest you DO NOT make any decisions about a family pet based solely on these pages. Keep digging!
| Breed: German Shepherd | Group (AKC): Herding |  |
|
|
| Country of Origin | Germany, newer breed |
| Type of coat | Medium length, coarse shedding, soft undercoat |
| Grooming | Regular brushing, ear cleaning, nail trimming |
| Average height | 22-26 inches |
| Average weight | 60-110 pounds |
| Activity level | High |
| Watchdog | Excellent, very territorial |
| Protection | Excellent |
| Intelligence | Very high |
| Trainability | High |
| Compatibility with children | OK but no rough housing, chase games or teasing, strong bonding with family, can be overly protective |
| Character | Cautious, suspicious |
| Ideal home environment | Fenced secluded yard, daily exercise |
| Ideal owner | Strong, confident, emotionally stable leader, good for families if bred and trained properly |
| Suggestions: | Early obedience training and socialization recommended. There is a distinction between the show and working lines. Show line dogs look great but have little ability for obedience. The working line dogs are more active and stable temperamentally. Larger dogs in general are slow to mature typically taking three to three and a half years. |
| Links and resources | |
Additional notes:
This is one of the most versatile dogs. It has been used as a guide dog, in bomb detection, protection, sled dog, working dog, police dog, military dog, narcotics, companion dog, etc.
A short history:
The German Shepherd is a "natural dog". It was first named the Alsatian Wolf-Dog but it was not truly bred with a wolf or even in Alaska. The German Shepherd was developed in Germany in the 1880's as a herder. It is known for its intelligence and ability to work independently without direction or instruction. It is considered the best guard dog in the world and is in demand for use in military and police operations. It is forceful and positive in manner with strength and courage. It has a direct, and fearless gaze and is highly regarded as a companion, protector, and friend. The ideal dog is nimble and fit with a self-confident but somewhat aloof air. The dog appears strong, agile, well-muscled, alert, and full of life. There is a look of quality and nobility in the well-bred German Shepherd.
