Origin

In 19th century Max Von Stephanitz created the German Shepherd. This is a versatile breed, very intelligent and so good a companion that they are called the support of the blind. At the present date the German Shepherd is the most common and famous breed in the earth.

General Description

This is a strong and muscular dog and it is large in size. They can also be bulky if not fed properly. The German Shepherd always have a gentle and aristocratic appearance. Its body is longer than its height. They have a wide muscular neck and a long tail covered with fur. The German Shepherd has a broad chest which touches the shoulders. Their head is large and flat at the top and it has a long, sharp and broad muzzle with a black big nose on the tip. this breed ahs big triangular ears standing straight on their head and straight boned limbs. They have sharp teeth enough for a scissors bite. It has padded paws as cats. They have a thick double coat and found in colours like red, fawn with markings of black.

Character

The German Shepherd is not at all lazy and loves to work always. It is one of the best active dogs ever found. They are very brave, willing to work, and very alert by nature. They are also extremely obedient which makes training them easy. They are very serious and confidant at any job and they are also excellent learners. This breed is very much devoted and loyal to its family. They love human interaction a great deal and love to stay with the family always. But they do not mix with the strangers well. This makes them accurate guard dogs. They are too much protective of their community and family so early training is needed to socialize them well. They can be too much aggressive if not trained or bred properly. German Shepherds are very friendly to children and they are also cool to other pets.

Temperament

This breed looks after the live stock well and they are very brave, gentle, capable of hard work. They are also very alert by nature which makes them excellent watch dogs. The German Shepherd is mainly famous for its devotion to master and bravery. They love interaction of human beings a great deal and love to stay with the family. They should not be left alone for a long time as they may behave abnormally in such situations. German Shepherds do not mix well with strangers. They are generally good to other pets if socialized properly. As they are herding dogs they have a tendency of nipping at anything moving. Not at all recommended for in experienced owners.

Training

Early socialization and training classes are required. Harsh training methods should not be applied. As the German Shepherd is very intelligent and quick learner it is easy to train them. Consistent, fair and firm training is required. If trained properly they are used for police works, military activities etc.

Health

This breed can be affected by hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. They can also suffer from digestive problems, blood related diseases etc. Their average life span is 13 years.