How the German Shepherd appeared, the appearance of the breed, characteristic behavior and health, features of care: walking, diet, training, interesting facts. Puppy price. The German Shepherd is one of the most popular and loyal service dogs. This is a confident, beautiful, physically strong dog. She is in touch with outsiders and perfectly fulfills the functions of the protector of her guide. She has a strong nervous system. And yet, it is a true friend of man. Admirers of the German Shepherd are countless. Because in their history, four-footed people have confirmed that having made a choice in their favor, you will never be disappointed.
How did the German Shepherd breed come about?
The history of the creation of the German Shepherd, or german shepherd, is not as long as that of some other canine species, but the result is amazing. At the end of the 19th century, cynologists in Germany, which included Sparvasser and Wachsmut, were worried that the extinction of the country's sheep breeding would lead to the extinction of herding dogs with very ancient and valuable genes. The breeders had the idea of creating a new companion dog with watchdog and protective qualities, which would be perfectly needed in the modern, industrial world.
The main individuals that became the root of the breed were the dogs that guarded the flocks of sheep. For this, the creators took the Wittengberg Shepherd Dog (strong and powerful), and the Thuringian Shepherd Dog (slender and graceful). The results of the work turned out to be not so ideal, if we pay attention to the versatility of the dogs. But, given the typical behavior of the new dogs, everything went very well. All specimens showed poise, tenderness with owners and seriousness with outsiders. This work turned out to be successful for commerce, but was not sufficient to form a resilient breed.
The captain of the German army, Max von Stefanitz, was inspired and fired up with the idea of further working on the selection of these dogs. Then he bought, as for that time, a beautiful male with excellent parameters. This gray dog was called Hector Linkshrine. But, in the new breed book, started by Stefanitz, the dog is recorded as Horanz von Grafrant.
The formation of the German Shepherd was at the beginning of the 20th century. Over the course of a hundred years, this variety has been created. Such a time frame for history is just one moment, considering that many other canine breeds have evolved and formed over the millennia. If Horanz gives the impression of a beautiful mongrel, then the champions of the twenties and thirties, already dogs of almost a modern type.
A genuine, first-class race in German Shepherd breeding took place in the early seventies. Then, almost simultaneously, three worthy, breed specimens were born. As you know, there are practically no dogs with ideal parameters. Those people who know a little about dog breeding know how hard it is to create a decent breeder.
The three Seventies stars born at almost the same time - Moots, Kanto and Kwanto - were unique. But, with their merits, they also had flaws. By a happy coincidence, what one of the three dogs did not have was fully compensated by others. And, the offspring of these males, took over their best genes. Moots rewarded his "children" with a powerful and compact torso, but they did not have perfect body angles. Well, the puppies from Quant, inherited the perfect front torso.
The breeders of those years created a cocktail of valuable properties of dogs. Its highlight was the characteristics of the Kanto. This dog gave the breed the gloss it lacked. The combination of all the qualities of these three dogs, brought the breed to the best level. But, nevertheless, the shepherd dogs lacked uniformity.
Over this flaw, they began to work in the early eighties. Then, for some reason, it was believed that females were not so important in genetics and their pedigree was not taken into account. Having reconsidered their misconceptions and realizing the mistakes, the breeders received stable, excellent results. As a result, the world has such a popular breed at this time - the German Shepherd.
Description of the external standard of the German Shepherd
The representative of the breed is a large, muscular, but graceful dog with an elongated body structure and a proportional head. Height at the withers in males from 60 cm to 65 cm and bitches from 55 cm to 59 cm. Weight in males 32–40 kg and bitches 22–30 kg.
- Head wedge-shaped, neither rough nor very light. The skull is moderately broad at the top. The frontal part is slightly protruding. The frontal furrow is narrow or not prominent.
- Muzzle - rectangular, tapers towards the nose. The bridge of the nose is slightly convex. Stop, sharp. The lips are dark, close tightly. Flew picked up. The jaws are powerful. The teeth slide over each other when they are closed.
- Nose - developed, convex, black.
- Eyes German Shepherd Dogs are placed obliquely, almond-shaped, medium-sized, brown or square-black.
- Ears high carriage, triangular, erect. They always stick up, giving a serious expression to the muzzle.
- Neck - strong, muscular. The withers are pronounced. There is no suspension.
- Frame - stretched shape. The highest point is at the withers, then the line of the back descends slightly to a slightly sloping croup. Chest of moderate width and sufficient length. No ribs stand out. The loin is powerful. The belly is tucked up.
- Tail - located low. Has a soft bend.
- Front limbs - strong, erect. The hind ones are slightly set back. The thighs and lower legs are of the same length.
- Paws - rounded, fingers are slightly tucked up.
- Coat German Shepherd, sometimes long and slightly shorter. The guard hair is dense, straight, coarse. The undercoat is dense and soft.
- Color - black individuals with tan (red-brown, brown, yellow) or light gray markings are widespread. Solid black, and gray with a dark tint. It is possible to have a black cloak and mask.
Typical German Shepherd behavior
German Shepherds are full of life of joy and strength. These are very social dogs that go into close contact with people. In the family circle, they feel like full members of it. They treat children with special thrift. Incredibly loyal to their owners. Dogs tend to adopt the emotions of their master in relation to strangers.
Ideal German Shepherds should be brought up in such a way that they do not pose a danger to strangers and other animals, and always, if necessary, be protection for their owner.
These restless dogs constantly interact tirelessly with people. They love to play, learn and, of course, play sports. The worst thing for a shepherd is separation from its owner, and even worse, separation for good. New owners will have to work hard to help the dog regain human trust.
German Shepherd Dog Health
Representatives of this breed are strong and hardy dogs. Their average life span is eleven to twelve years. The main problem with the health of a shepherd dog is one that is inherited - dysplasia of the hip joint. This is a very serious illness. A “German” who has a congenital pathology of the hip joint, after several years of his life, may become disabled.
Therefore, the main recommendation advice to future owners is to take puppies from parents who have imaging tests for dysplasia. This is certainly not a 100% guarantee, but the opportunity to buy a healthier four-legged friend. To detect dysplasia earlier, the dog must be shown to the veterinarian every six months and x-rays taken.
An adult dog should be vaccinated once a year. Vaccination will protect against such terrible diseases as: plague, leptospirosis, rabies, and so on. Also, you need to be vigilant with the onset of the first heat and treat the pet from ticks. These "bloodsuckers" are carriers of dangerous diseases. If the dog is bitten by a tick, then immediately take it to the clinic.
First, you may not always be able to remove the parasite yourself so that parts of its body do not remain in the skin. Secondly, if the tick is the carrier of the disease and the dog is infected, then the count may already go not for hours, but for minutes. Such a dog requires emergency medical attention so that he does not die. For the prevention of fleas and ticks, there are special sprays, drops to the withers and collars.
Features of caring for a German shepherd
- Wool these shepherd dogs generally need to be brushed carefully. They comb it out at least twice a week, paying special attention to the abdomen - the wool there can get tangled. Well, during the period of changing the "coat", the pets are combed out every day. To prevent thick wool from lying around in your house, carry out the manipulation on the street. A slicker or furminator is suitable for the procedure. You need to bathe the shepherd dog twice a year, so the wool will not lose its shine. Well, and of course just before the exhibition, using shampoo and conditioner. After each soaping, the dog must be thoroughly rinsed. Show dogs must be dried with a hair dryer so that the coat lies properly.
- Teeth German Shepherd Dogs are large and beautiful. But, in order to maintain their excellent condition until the elderly years of the animal, they need to be looked after. This means cleaning them once or twice a week. You need to teach a dog to manipulate from an early age. They can be cleaned with soft brushes with flavoring pastes, or with regular activated carbon. The charcoal needs to be slightly moistened and rubbed over the dog's dentition. The preventive effect of plaque can be created by the absorption of dry food by the dog or by chewing pressed bones and rubber toys for dogs.
- Ears German Shepherds are erect and have excellent ventilation. This means that they are not prone to stagnation of sulfur and mud deposits. From time to time, check their condition by conducting an inspection. Once every two weeks, clean them with lotion, after dropping the product into the auricle.
- Eyes you do not need to wipe it all the time. But, the owner must be vigilant and constantly inspect them. If the mucous membrane of the eye has redness, then, most likely, foreign particles or dust have got there. In this case, the eyes must be wiped with an herbal-based bactericidal agent. Then irritation will be removed from the mucous membrane of the eyes. More serious problems are best dealt with in a veterinary clinic by an ophthalmologist.
- Claws German Shepherd Dogs need to be sheared as soon as they grow back. Excessive length of the claws will prevent the dog from fully moving. The length is removed with the help of claws, without going behind the living layer of the claw. But, you can perfectly do without this procedure if your pet is actively walking.
- Feeding a shepherd dog, directly depends on its owner. If you prefer ready-made food, then you need to know how to choose the right one. Despite the high energy costs associated with the size and mobility of German Shepherds, the same food is suitable for them as for other dog breeds, whose weight is more than ten kilograms. It is important to pay attention to age. Feeding a puppy and an adult dog has significant differences. Because organisms of different ages require different nutrients and minerals. Now, there are many professional foods, which are divided into series: for small, medium and large breeds. They differ from each other. The concentrate, which is intended for a large dog, contains all the vitamins and minerals that allow you to grow a full-fledged and beautiful animal. A puppy needs calcium and vitamin D. An adult dog needs vitamins A, E and iron. Pay attention to their availability when choosing feed. With such feeding, the dog should constantly have water in the bowl. Bowls with food and water should be placed on special stands, at the level of the dog's chest, so that the dog does not lean lower than it should be and does not spoil its exterior. The raising of the bowl is adjusted as the pet grows.
- Walking - German Shepherds, must be active. Do not forget that this is a mobile breed that cannot live without exercise. Movement is her life. If you work with a dog, it leads a full, normal life. Even some minimal shortcomings of the musculoskeletal anatomy, which are laid down, but they are not yet visible, are compensated for due to good muscle pumping and full walking in the dog. It is possible to keep a German shepherd in an apartment, but it must have its own corner, which will only be its territory.
German Shepherd training
Representatives of the breed are quite versatile animals. They do an excellent job of hunting in a loot to the owner. They perform excellent search work, protect people, possessing an excellent sense of smell, courageous character, as well as excellent intuition and high intelligence. Dogs are easy to train and quickly learn commands.
There is a misconception that German Shepherds have a knowledge of commands and job skills at birth. This is not entirely true. Of course, these dogs have good genetics, developed conditioned reflexes and a predisposition to training. But in order to manifest positive qualities, you need a systematic and regular training.
According to European standards, training should begin at two months, when the puppy is taken to the house. In the apartment, the owner must establish the rules of behavior for the dog. What is forbidden should not be allowed by any person living in the family and vice versa. For example, you cannot climb on sofas, give the dog pieces from your table, and so on.
If you plan to train your dog according to the old, Soviet methodology, which was developed seventy years ago, then you bring your dog to the training area no earlier than seven to eight months. It begins with a course of obedience and only after one year of age, you can begin training your pet for protection.
Interesting facts about the German Shepherd
German Shepherds, thanks to their beautiful, pedigree exterior, have long been considered real movie stars. A dog named "Sharik" from the movie "Four Tankmen and a Dog", the famous law enforcers "Mukhtar" and "Rex" from television series and more than a hundred more films in which the shepherd played the main role.
German Shepherd puppies price
People who love and respect shepherd dogs should not forget that, first of all, these are dogs intended for service. An excellent service dog must be handsome and smart at the same time. For cynology, beauty is, first of all, functionality, and the mind is the balance of the psyche. Alas, there is a great danger here.
Today's dog handlers, wishing to recreate at once a beautiful and intelligent dog, as a result get two different dogs. At this time, workers "campaigners" have an average or ugly appearance. Show dogs lose their sharp intellect. Breeders should try to combine these qualities in one animal. Therefore, future owners need to take into account that working puppies will not be so beautiful, and show puppies will not have the qualities of the previous ones. But, you need to educate both those and others worthy of German shepherds.
If you want to get a "German", then you should know that: this is a social breed, perfectly knows the art of friendship, has excellent intuition, learns well and requires constant physical activity.
When communicating with the breeders of the breed, you should find out all the necessary data about the puppies. The very first thing is the pedigrees of their parents and check the certificates for the absence of genetic diseases. Next, it is checked how many times the puppy has been vaccinated and whether antiparasitic procedures have been carried out. The cost for German Shepherd puppies will be from $ 300 to $ 500.
More about the features of the German Shepherd breed in the following video:
