The German Shepherd, occasionally also known as an Alsatian, is a type of canine that came from the European land of Germany. It is a new dog type but an increasingly popular as well. The canine's extreme loyalty and work ethic means that it is a perfect candidate for police and service work. German Shepherds are also recognized by their large stature, distinct bark, and strong herding abilities.
The practices of standardizing breeds of canines began in the eighteen hundreds. Back then, larger shepherds were bred in Germany for their intelligence, sense of smell, strength, sheep herding skills, and other important traits. A large shepherd who was the final product of generations of breeding techniques was dubbed the first official registered German Shepherd in 1899.
The big dogs are usually about thirty inches tall and they can weigh at up to eighty five pounds. They have curved heads, long square muzzles, long tails, and big ears that stand up. The most recognizable of the breed are a mixture of black and tan but the canines can be other fur hues as well, such as mixes of red, black, and white. Other types like blue and silver are more rare and, in most cases, are considered reasons for disqualification from the registry.
The breeds are also known for their thick double coats, which make them prone to shedding year round. The outer coats can either be long or short, with the former being a recessive and rarer trait. Long hair is accepted by German and English kennel clubs but are considered to be faults by Americans.
They possess a reputation for safe behavior, contrary to popular beliefs. The canine is not innately violent but will show aggression to strangers when protecting their pack members or masters. And even though it isn't known to bite, the dog should still receive proper socialization and training as its bite has over two hundred pounds of sheer force behind it.
The animal also possesses an eagerness to learn brand new behaviors that no other breed can come close to. Alsatians, when they are introduced to a work or home environment, will develop strong bonds with people it regularly sees but it will take longer to warm up to most strangers. If not trained and socialized early enough, the breed will develop a bad tendency of being fiercely overprotective of its human family.
Because of the dog's early ancestor's inbreeding, today's Shepherds are more prone to arthritis, elbow dysplasia, and other ailments than other breeds. Due to their large stature and erect ears, the animals are more susceptible to bloat and inner ear infections as well. Many people have begun breeding their Alsatians with other large dogs, such as labs and rottweilers, in order to prevent these genetic disorders, even though that means the resulting canines will be unable to join official breeding registries.
Their strong sense of smell and intelligence make the dogs great working dogs and are often ideal candidates for drug detection, servicing the handicapped, and rescue work as well.
The practices of standardizing breeds of canines began in the eighteen hundreds. Back then, larger shepherds were bred in Germany for their intelligence, sense of smell, strength, sheep herding skills, and other important traits. A large shepherd who was the final product of generations of breeding techniques was dubbed the first official registered German Shepherd in 1899.
The big dogs are usually about thirty inches tall and they can weigh at up to eighty five pounds. They have curved heads, long square muzzles, long tails, and big ears that stand up. The most recognizable of the breed are a mixture of black and tan but the canines can be other fur hues as well, such as mixes of red, black, and white. Other types like blue and silver are more rare and, in most cases, are considered reasons for disqualification from the registry.
The breeds are also known for their thick double coats, which make them prone to shedding year round. The outer coats can either be long or short, with the former being a recessive and rarer trait. Long hair is accepted by German and English kennel clubs but are considered to be faults by Americans.
They possess a reputation for safe behavior, contrary to popular beliefs. The canine is not innately violent but will show aggression to strangers when protecting their pack members or masters. And even though it isn't known to bite, the dog should still receive proper socialization and training as its bite has over two hundred pounds of sheer force behind it.
The animal also possesses an eagerness to learn brand new behaviors that no other breed can come close to. Alsatians, when they are introduced to a work or home environment, will develop strong bonds with people it regularly sees but it will take longer to warm up to most strangers. If not trained and socialized early enough, the breed will develop a bad tendency of being fiercely overprotective of its human family.
Because of the dog's early ancestor's inbreeding, today's Shepherds are more prone to arthritis, elbow dysplasia, and other ailments than other breeds. Due to their large stature and erect ears, the animals are more susceptible to bloat and inner ear infections as well. Many people have begun breeding their Alsatians with other large dogs, such as labs and rottweilers, in order to prevent these genetic disorders, even though that means the resulting canines will be unable to join official breeding registries.
Their strong sense of smell and intelligence make the dogs great working dogs and are often ideal candidates for drug detection, servicing the handicapped, and rescue work as well.
About the Author:
German shepherds make awesome guard dogs but they are much more than that. If you look at the history of this breed, you will find that they are also great family dogs. They are very interesting.
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