The Purebred German Shepherd Dog

The GSD embodies the ideal combination of strength and agility. Its high trainability and natural instincts to protect make them beloved family dogs.

When shopping for purebred german shepherd dogs Look for breeders who have a commitment to ethical breeding and who are concerned about the health of their animals. Requesting pedigree documents and previous health clearances will help you identify reputable breeders.

Characteristics

German Shepherds are smart, powerful dogs that are easy to train. They are extremely affectionate to their families and can be fearless protectors of them. The breed standard states that the GSD must be steady of temperament, self assured and brave. It must also be obedient and willing to please.

The breed is medium-sized, slightly elongated, and muscular. It has a double coat made up of an outer layer of hardness, and a soft undercoat. Its almond-shaped eyes are dark and slightly set. The ears are wide at the base and pointed. The tail is bushy and extends down to the hocks below when the dog is lying down. The neck of the breed is long and sloping slightly. The chest is large and deep. The ribs are well-sprung and the spine is strong.

The breed is generally sound, but it has serious issues, like roached-backs and long pasterns, which interfere with the correct movement. The hindquarters of the dog should be strong but not overly so. The rear leg should never go beyond the point at which the foot leaves an impression.

As working dogs, GSDs naturally have high-energy drives. These are behaviors and desires that include territorial protection and chasing of prey. If these high-drives are not fulfilled in a particular way, like through work or buy A german shepherd playing or playing, it can result in aggression. Show-type German Shepherds are bred in a way which helps to reduce these drives but they require a lot of positive reinforcement training, physical exercise and mental stimulation in order to maintain an enlightened lifestyle.

GSDs are typically shy around strangers and can be cautious at first. This is a characteristic that makes them excellent guard dogs, however it requires proper training to prevent overreactions. They make wonderful family pets when properly socialized at a young age and are generally good with children.

The GSD is resilient to illness and has a high threshold for pain, however certain health conditions can impact the quality of life. These include seizures, schäferhundwelpen kaufen epilepsy and bleeding disorders. By taking precautions, reinrassiger Deutscher schäferhund such as limiting the dog's exposure to harmful UV rays, and ensuring it receives routine vaccinations should reduce the chance of developing these conditions.

Temperament

German Shepherds are smart and eager to learn. They are also capable of training. They are a working dog breed that excels at many tasks, including police work, herding and search and rescue. They also excel in detection of explosives and drugs, and helping blind people. They are also excellent pets for families. However, this strong and confident breed requires an unwavering sense of purpose and the attention of an assertive owner to use their strength and energy in a positive way. They require plenty of space and exercise and may not be suitable for apartments or other living spaces.

The ideal German shepherd is well-balanced and confident with a strong and stable temperament. They are loyal, vigilant, and Blaue schäferhunde suspicious of strangers. If they aren't properly socialized and trained, this protective and watchful behavior can become aggression. These dogs can be intelligent, independent and easily bored. They must find a way to satisfy their curiosity.

Founder Max von Stephanitz used herding and farm dogs, longhaired and short-haired German Shepherds in his breeding program to develop the responsive and obedient breed that we see today. He did not agree with those who believed that German Shepherds should be a display dog, and he ensured that his dogs had stable temperaments with strong herding instincts and a solid body structure. He also refused to breed some of his dogs who had unstable temperaments or steep angles in their croups and rear and front pasterns as he believed these traits could hamper the breed's ability to do its job as it is.

German Shepherds are also prone to cancers. Hemangiosarcoma is the most common cancer that affects the liver and spleen organs that have a high blood supply. They also can develop lung, bone, or intestinal cancers.

You can prevent these diseases by ensuring the physical health of your German Shepherd. This includes giving him a balanced diet and regular exercise. You should allow plenty of time to run and play in a safe area free of traffic. Keep him looking neat by brushing his dense double coat on a regular basis by using a de-shedding tool or an undercoat rake to get rid of hairs that are loose. Also, make sure that you take him to the vet on a regular basis for his routine health checks.

Health

German Shepherds have a healthy health record, but health problems do exist. They are susceptible to ear infections and reinrassiger deutscher schäferhund may develop conditions that affect their ears and eyes such as degenerative amyelopathy. Both male and female can be affected by hereditary von Willebrand disease, a genetic disorder that hinders the ability of clotting blood.

GSDs are a working breed and consequently, they are subject to strenuous training. This means that they are prone to developing joint issues. Hip dysplasia is a common condition that can cause pain, lameness and other symptoms. It is not a major condition but can be painful to the dog.

Breeders with a good reputation have their dogs X-rayed and use the results for breeding decisions. The x-rays can help determine the health of the puppy as well as its genetic background, including the possibility that it could develop dysplasia. Dogs with a high risk of developing dysplasia are not breeding.

Like many large breeds, German Shepherds may be affected by panosteitis, which causes the bones to grow rapidly and unevenly, which causes pain and stiffness in the legs. This condition is most common in German Shepherd puppies and dogs younger than 18 months who are going through an enormous growth spurt.

These dogs require an enriched diet rich in protein and a large mix of omega fatty acids and balanced vitamins for a healthy coat and skin. They may benefit from joint-support in their food, such as glucosamine and chondroitin. Dogs who are less than 18 months should get moderate exercise, such as walking and playing with another dog if they are compatible. However it is not recommended to run at a high speed, as this could damage their joints that are growing.

Table food or animal bones should be avoided, because they can cause vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, and reinrassiger deutscher schäferhund pancreatitis. Puppies and adults can benefit from probiotic supplements to aid digestion, as well as digestive enzyme supplements that aid in breaking down proteins. A well-formulated AAFCO approved diet should have the appropriate amount of vitamins and minerals.

Training

German Shepherds are highly trainable, biddable dogs that thrive under a knowledgeable handler's guidance. They are a great choice for military, police, search and rescue and therapy dog roles. Their unwavering loyalty makes them an excellent pet, if properly trained and socialized.

Socialization is the first step in raising a well adjusted GSD. Introduce your puppy to variety of people and animals at an early age, by taking them on frequent walks, playing games and visiting local dog parks. This will help them feel secure and at ease in a new environment and ensure that they learn to trust humans from an early age.

It requires patience, consistency, as well as positive reinforcement to train to train a German shepherd. Avoid methods of negative reinforcement such as yelling or physical punishment, which could lead to fear based aggression. Instead, you should use reward-based training and clicker training to teach your German Shepherd basic commands.

Daily enrichment is crucial for your German Shepherd. Exercises for mental stimulation are as essential for an GSD as physical exercise, especially when you have an area with a lot of activity. This can help them stay focused and less likely to be distracted by road sounds or storms, other dogs at the park, or crowds during competitions and other public events.

Some health conditions that are specific to German Shepherds include hemangiosarcoma and cancer of the bones as well as the lungs and intestinal tract and pannus (superficial keratitis). All of these conditions can be prevented through responsible breeding and lifestyle changes.

German Shepherds are loyal family dogs, despite their reputation for being feared. When they are around children as young as they can be affectionate and gentle towards smaller animals like cats. They are extremely effective guardians due their size and strength, however, they must be monitored when they are around children. They may also show indications of a genetic predisposition towards aggression if not given the proper training and socialization opportunities. Enrolling your German Shepherd into a puppy obedience or school will ensure that he receives the training and socialization that he needs to be successful.