German Shepherds – Important Things to Know About This Great Dog Breed
Description and General Appearance
German Shepherds are one of the most popular working dog breeds. They have a slightly long body and a solid bone structure. Their colorsare either black and tan, sable, and sometimes even all black; there also times when a pup in the litter comes in blue, white, and liver colored, but these are considered as faults; the white German Shepherd Dogs are even categorized as a different breed altogether.
Their ears are wide at the base and ends pointed, upright, and always facing forward, and their long, bushy tail can reach below their thighs and never goes up even when they are excited.
Basic Temperament
German Shepherds are very smart and obedient, which makes them the one of the best working dog breeds around. They are also extremely loyal and protective of their human masters, which also makes them great household pets that double as guard dogs. The German Shepherd characteristics of being very intelligent and eager to learn makes training them very easy.
Care Required
German Shepherds can live happily in a small house or apartment, granted that they are given enough exercise. The breed is also known to shed heavily, which is why their coats need to get brushed on a constant basis. These dogs should also not be given too many baths as it will cause their skin to dry and develop irritations. This is the most important thing you need to remember about basic German Shepherds.
Exercise Requirements
German Shepherds are working dogs so they need to participate in strenuous activities on a daily basis. You should take them out with you when you go for a run, jog, or even ride your bike. You can also take this opportunity to train them to heel and allow you to lead them and not the other way around. If you do not have much time to go for long walks, you can get rid of their excess energy by playing a couple of rounds of fetch or Frisbee; ten to fifteen of these games and a short walk is enough exercise for a German Shepherd.
Training Tips
These are very intelligent dogs, making German Shepherd training a relatively easy process. And even though they are known for their aggression, when the Shepherd is conditioned at an early age to learn to live with its human family, then there will be no further problems down the line. They respond very quickly to consistent training and will quickly become loyal guard dogs for their family owners.
Height and Weight
German Shepherds are large dogs; they usually grow to be as tall as 25 inches at the shoulder.
The acceptable German Shepherd weight is around 60 to 85 pounds, any more over 85 pounds and the dog is considered overweight, making it susceptible to various diseases.
Health and Longevity
There are a couple of German Shepherd health issues that you need to be aware of, one of which is hip and elbow dysplasia, which if left untreated will cause the dog to develop arthritis as it gets older. Shepherds are also prone to ear infections because of their large and open ears. However if they are well taken care of, they can live up to 15 years.
Suitability as A Pet
Even though they are quite large and aggressive, German Shepherds still make wonderful pets. They are extremely loyal to their human family, and they are even known to give up their lives for the sake of their masters. Saying that it is great having a German Shepherd as a pet is an understatement, because they are more like real family members.
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Other Informative Articles:
• SAVE 42% off the normal price of DIY Dog Training for German Shepherds
• Fur Galore–Minimising Heavy Shedding With German Shepherds
• The Best Dog Food for Raising a Healthy German Shepherd
• Dog Aggression in German Shepherds – Training Strategies
They contain some great German Shepherd information.
All the best.
