The Purebred German Shepherd Dog

The GSD is the perfect blend of strength and speed. Their high trainability and protection instincts make them cherished family pets.

If you are in search of a purebred German Shepherd dog select breeders who value the health of their dogs as well as practice ethical breeding. Requesting pedigree papers as well as previous health clearances can help you determine reputable breeders.

Characteristics

German Shepherds are strong, intelligent dogs that are highly capable of being trained. They are loyal to their families and can be fearless guardians. The breed standard states that a GSD must be confident, courageous, and have a steady temperament. It must also be tractable and willing to please.

The breed is medium-sized slightly elongated, and muscular. It has a double coat that consists of a hard outer layer, and a softer undercoat. Its eyes are dark and almond-shaped, and positioned slightly obliquely. The ears are large at the base and pointed. When the dog is resting, the tail is bushy. It is a little below the hocks. The dog's long neck, with a slight slope, is a characteristic. The chest is broad and deep. The spine is strong and the ribs are well-sprung.

In general the breed is healthy, but serious faults include roached backs and lengthy pasterns that hinder proper movement. The hindquarters of the dog must be strong but not overexaggerated. The rear leg should never extend beyond the point where the foot leaves an impression.

As working dogs As working dogs, the GSD has high-drives that are naturally present (behavioral propensities and desires toward things like territorial protectiveness and the pursuit of prey). If these high drives are not fulfilled in a particular way, for example playing or at work or playing, it can result in aggressive behavior. Show-type German Shepherds are bred in a way that can help reduce these urges however they still require a lot of positive reinforcement training, physical exercise and mental stimulation in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

GSDs are usually shy around strangers and can be suspicious of them at first. This makes them excellent guard dogs and requires appropriate training to avoid overreactions. When properly socialized at a young age they can make great pets for families. They also make great children.

The GSD has an extremely high threshold for pain and is resistant to illness, however it does have certain health issues that could affect its quality of life. These include seizures and epilepsy and bleeding disorders as well as immune-mediated diseases. Preventing these conditions by limiting your dog's exposure UV rays and ensuring that you get regular vaccinations will aid.

Temperament

German Shepherds are smart and eager to learn. They are also capable of being trained. They are a working breed and excel at a variety of jobs, including herding, SchäFerhundwelpen Kaufen police work, search and rescue, drug and bomb detection and guiding blind. They also make excellent family companions. However, this powerful and confident breed requires an unwavering sense of purpose and the attention of a confident owner to harness their energy and strength positively. They require a lot of space and exercise. They may not be suitable for apartments or other smaller living spaces.

The ideal German Shepherd is balanced and confident, with a solid and steady temperament. They are loyal and vigilant, and are sceptical of strangers. If they are not socialized properly and trained in this manner, their protective and vigilant behavior can turn into aggression. Dogs with these traits can be smart, independent and easily bored. They must find an avenue to satisfy their curiosity.

Max von Stephanitz, the founder of the breed, utilized longhaired and shorterhaired German Shepherds in his breeding program. This led to an animal that is friendly and well-behaved. Max von Stephanitz disagreed with those who wanted to use German Shepherds to be used as a showcase and ensured that his dogs were calm, had strong herding instincts, reinrassiger deutscher Schäferhund welpe and an ideal body structure. He even refused to breed certain dogs that had temperaments that were unstable or had sharp angles in their croups, as well as front and rear pasterns, as he believed these traits could hamper the breed's ability to do its job as it is.

In addition to the hereditary disorders that can affect any dog breed German Shepherds are also susceptible to cancers such as Hemangiosarcoma, which typically affects blood-rich organs, such as the liver and spleen. They can also develop lung, bone, or intestinal cancers.

You can prevent these conditions by maintaining the physical well-being of your German Shepherd. This means providing him with a healthy diet and schäferhund Welpen kaufen schweiz regular exercise. You should give him ample time to play and run outdoors in a safe place free of traffic. Regularly brush his double coat with a deshedding tool or an undercoat rake. It is also important to ensure that you visit the vet on a regular basis for routine health check-ups.

Health

German Shepherds are typically very healthy dogs, but they do have certain health issues. They are prone to ear infections, and they can develop eye conditions and ears, like degenerative myelopathy. They may also suffer from an inherited disease called von Willebrand's disease that is hereditary which affects their ability to clot blood and can be found in females and males dogs.

As a working breed GSDs often engage in vigorous exercise during their training, and they may suffer from joint issues as a consequence. Hip dysplasia is an extremely common condition that can cause lameness, pain, and other symptoms. It's not always a serious problem, but it can cause pain for dogs.

A reputable breeder will X-ray their dog and utilize the results to make breeding decisions. The x-rays can help determine the health of the puppy as well as its genetic history, which includes the likelihood that it will develop dysplasia. Dogs with a high risk of developing dysplasia aren't bred.

Like many large breeds, German Shepherds may suffer from panosteitis, which causes the bones to grow rapidly and unevenly, which causes pain and stiffness in the limbs. This condition is more prevalent in German Shepherd puppies or dogs younger than 18 months who are experiencing an increase in growth speed.

The dogs require an diet rich in protein, as well as an abundance of omega fatty acids as well as balanced vitamins to maintain a healthy skin and coat. They can benefit from joint support in their food including glucosamine as well as chondroitin. Dogs under the age of 18 months should get moderate exercise like walking and playing with another dog if they are compatible. However it is not recommended to run at a high speed, because this can damage the joints they are developing.

Feeding table food or animal bones should be avoided, as these can cause vomiting, digestive upset anorexia, pancreatitis, deutscher Schäferhund kaufen schweiz and vomiting. Adult dogs and puppies can benefit from a probiotic supplementation to aid digestion, and from digestive enzyme supplements that aid in breaking down proteins. A properly-formulated AAFCO approved diet should include the proper amount of vitamins and minerals.

Training

German Shepherds are intelligent, highly trainable dogs who thrive when they're under the supervision by a knowledgeable handler. They are therefore a good option for military, police, search and rescue and therapy dog roles. However, their dedication to their job makes them a great pet to have when properly trained and socialized.

The first step in raising an appropriately adjusted GSD is socialization. Introduce your puppy to variety of people and animals at an early age, taking them for frequent walks, playing games and even visiting local dog parks. This will help them feel confident and comfortable in a new place and help them develop trust in humans from a young age.

Training a German Shepherd requires patience, altdeutscher schäferhund kaufen consistency, and positive reinforcement. Avoid methods of negative reinforcement like yelling or physical punishment, which could lead to fear based aggression. Use clicker training and rewards-based training to teach your German Shepherd the basic commands.

It is also crucial to provide your German Shepherd with daily enrichment. Mental stimulation exercises are as essential for a GSD as physical exercise, especially in the case of a busy household. This will help them stay focused and less likely to be distracted by street noises or thunderstorms, other dogs at the park, or crowds at competitions and other public events.

Some health conditions that are exclusive to German Shepherds are hemangiosarcoma, cancer of the bones lung, lungs, and the intestinal tract as well as pannus (superficial keratitis). All of these diseases can be avoided through responsible breeding practices and proper lifestyle adjustments.

German Shepherds are loyal family dogs, despite their reputation as a feared breed. When they are around children from a young age, they can be friendly and gentle with smaller pets like cats. Nonetheless, SchäFerhundwelpen their size and strength make them formidable guardians, and they should always be observed around children who are younger. They could also display indications of a genetic predisposition toward aggression if they are not provided with appropriate training and socialization opportunities. It is recommended to enroll your German Shepherd in a puppy class in the preschool or obedience to ensure they receive the training and socialization they need to thrive.