The German Shepherd was created in Germany in the 1899s by Max Von Stephanitz. The captain wanted to create a breed that would replace the many other specialized breeds used by farmers to lead and keep their herds.
He dreamed of having a versatile dog, capable of working as a sheepdog, protecting farms from wild animals, defending the shepherd and his family while being a playmate for their children. Determined to reach his goal, he set out to find the best dogs that demonstrated the desired qualities, and he set up a precise breeding program.
Von Stephaniz was a methodical man, guided by a precise plan, he worked out detailed documentation in order to guide the breeders of dogs. He created a test to ensure that all German Shepherds used for breeding have a good temper, a strong working instinct and a good structure to make them able to do their job.
Who is the German Shepherd?
It is a working dog par excellence. Always ready to please his human, the German Shepherd is a strong, courageous, agile dog filled with devotion to his human. A “good” German Shepherd should not be anxious or show signs of anxiety.
This breed is divided into 2 “large” lines, that of work and that of German conformation as well as the Canadian / American lines. The working lines are generally more energetic dogs with stronger temperaments and are usually black, sandy, bicolored or black and tan in color. Their morphology is straight and they are very agile.
The lines of German conformation are often black and red or black and tan, demonstrating a lot of energy and are easier to train. They have a well balanced and harmonious morphology. As for the Canadian / American lines, the dogs are calmer and are well angulated. They are super good family dogs and for agility sports, obedience classes and others.
The temperament of this sheepdog
The German Shepherd is a super-intelligent dog and sometimes even too much … This quality sometimes becomes a defect! His human must be careful of what he teaches his dog.
“It was not very brilliant to teach my dog to open and close doors, now she goes out as she wants and since I made this little trick fun for her, well she uses it now when she wants! ”
I would also add that a German Shepherd can be an excellent family dog, generally, they love children!
As they tend to be a little fearful of strangers, it will be important to socialize your shepherd very early on with them as well as on animals of different species to avoid him chasing them!
The German Shepherd for what type of family?
As I mentioned above, the German Shepherd is an energetic dog that demands a good dose of physical activity every day! Rain, snow, wind or even your headache and your big day at work will not prevent him from wanting to go out and move around for a good 2 hours.
Dog harness sports, frisbee, and odor detection are examples of activities that your dog will love and that will allow him to channel his energy. This will probably save you from behavioral problems with your canine companion!
Remember to make it work mentally too! You can train the Clicker, feed it in interactive games or teach your dog new tricks and tricks.
They are always ready to work and team up with you. These are dogs that require some experience or at least be well guided with it so as not to make mistakes on the basis of its education and during the period of socialization of your puppy. Different group courses for dogs could help you with this!
On the other hand, an excessive expenditure of energy when a puppy can have big repercussions on its development in its bones, joints, and muscles. This damage will be irreversible when he is an adult.
Puppy, favor several periods of games over short moments (maximum 15 minutes). Besides, our article on physical exercise in puppies could interest you!
Health care of this German dog
Elbow and hip problems, as well as degenerative myelopathy, are 3 common health problems in this breed. Make sure you choose a breeder who does all the necessary health tests for their breeders.
Beware of hairs! Do not be afraid of the coat in the house, because the German Shepherd has 2 good molts during the year, so he will lose a lot of hair in these periods. This requires a good daily brushing and a good bath to avoid feeling like in a western house with the hairballs rolling on the floor in your living room!
On the other hand, whether it is a German Shepherd with short hairs or with long hairs, it does not require mowing. Do not shave them because their undercoat will keep them as cool as they are warm! It helps regulate their temperature.