Information German Shepherd

About This Breed

The German Shepherd is as intelligent as it is versatile. It was originally developed to guard and herd a shepherd’s flocks, though today it makes for an ideal companion.

Physical Characteristics

The German Shepherd has a long lean body, which gives the dog its strength, agility, and elegant strides.

COLOR(S)

The German Shepherd is usually seen in tan and black, or red and black in color. Other rarer color variations include all-black, all-white, liver and blue.

COAT

Medium

Personality and Temperament

ACTIVITY LEVEL

Moderate to High

POSITIVES

The German Shepherd is an immensely versatile dog, displaying a keen intelligence while dutifully performing its tasks.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

The German Shepherd is very protective and devoted to its family and home, but it can be suspicious of strangers and dominating towards other dogs.

Care

IDEAL LIVING CONDITIONS

The German Shepherd fares well in the city or country.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

The German Shepherd requires frequent training or exercise sessions to keep its mind and body active. Additionally, because the breed sheds throughout the year, its coat should be brushed once or twice a week to encourage turnover as well as to minimize buildup in the home.

Health

The following conditions are commonly seen in German Shepherds:

History and Background

The German Shepherd over the years has served in many different capacities: police dog, guide dog, guard dog, war dog, explosives-and-narcotics-detecting dog, search-and-rescue dog, show dog, and most notably as a shepherd.

Although it slightly resembles a wolf, it is actually a recently-developed breed and no more related to the wolf than any other dog breed. Developed primarily for the purpose of guarding and herding a shepherd’s flocks, there have been few other breeds with such a versatile repertoire.

In 1899, the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (or roughly translated into the Society for the German Shepherd Dog) was formed to advance the breed’s standard. They sought a herding dog that could perform a variety of chores which required intelligence, athleticism, and courage. Of course, the German Shepherd proved to be just what they needed, and with subsequent breeding, its abilities as a fearless and astute companion and guardian were perfected.