German shepherd: all the information about this excellent dog breed

Looking at a German shepherd, Few people would think he was raised to drive and protect a flock. Most people see a police or rescue dog, a guide dog, a friend of the children and a faithful companion in the German shepherd.

Although the origins of this race were linked to grazing, it has proven to be A versatile and intelligent dog. Today he continues to perform this type of activity, but he is also chosen and trained to help man in various tasks such as those indicated above.

Characteristics:

• Size: Big
• Weight: Between 22 and 40kg.
• Hair type: Abundant
• Character: Sociable, affectionate, intelligent.
• Health: Prone to develop hereditary diseases

History and origin of the German pastor dog

Around 1880 Different races of shepherd dogs lived in several regions of Germany. At that time, different grazing breeds were attempted. The dogs were raised to preserve the features that highlighted in their sheep's grazing work and predators protection. In Germany, this was practiced in local communities, where the shepherds selected and raised dogs that had the necessary skills to shepherd sheep; such as intelligence, strength, speed and acute senses of smell. The results were dogs that could perform such tasks, but that were significantly differentiated from one locality to another, both in capacities and apparently.

To unify these differences, the PHylax society was founded in 1891, with the intention of creating standardized dogs. The company dissolved only three years later due to conflicts related to the features that dogs promoted by society should have. Some members believed that dogs should be raised only for work purposes, while others believed that dogs should also be raised by appearance. While they failed in its objective, the Phylax society had inspired the standardization of dog breeds evenly.

Max von Stephanitz, a former cavalry captain of the German army and former student of the “Berlin Veterinary College”, he was one of the members of PHylax society. He firmly believed that dogs should be raised to work. In 1899, Von Stephanitz attended a canine exposure when they showed a dog called "Hektor Linksrhein." Hektor was originally from some generations of selective parenting and fully complied with what Von Stephanitz believed that he should be a work dog. I was excited about the strength of the dog and captivated by intelligence, loyalty and beauty of the animal. So much so, that he bought it immediately. Subsequently, he changed his name to "Horand von Grafath" and founded the "Verein Für Deutsche Schäferhunde " (Society for German shepherd) in 1899. Horand was declared the first German pastor dog and added to the company's breed record.

Horand became the central point of parenting programs and was crossed with dogs belonging to other members of society that showed similar features. Although it generated a large offspring, the most successful puppy of Horand was "Hektor von Schwaben." Hektor was crossed in an endogamically crossed with another of the young of time, of which "Beowulf" was born, which later engendered a total of eighty -four puppies, mainly through the other offspring of Hektor. The Beowulf's progeny was also insogamous and is one of these puppies, that all German shepherds draw the same genetic link. It is believed that society achieved its goal thanks to the firm and uncompromising leadership of Von Stephanitz. For all this, he is considered as The creative father of the German shepherd canine race.

Physical characteristics of German shepherd dog

The beauty, he Affable character and the intelligence are the characteristics that led the German pastor to be one of the most famous dogs of all time. The head This dog is wide and wedge -shaped. The ears in the upper part are medium size, erect and pointed, which make it look like a wolf. Dark eyes, in an oblique position, transmit security and trust. Powerful teeth must be strong, healthy and complete with the 42 teeth to guarantee the power of the scissors of this dog.

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He body From the German shepherd is longer than high, the upper line is inclined down, so the cross is higher than the rump. The chest, slightly wide, has a depth that oscillates between 45 and 48% of the height to the cross And the sternum is long and well notable.

The line It is long and reaches the hook when it is at rest, but it should not exceed half of the metatarsal. When it is at rest, the German shepherd has the tail hanging down, while keeping it high when it is active, even if it never exceeds the horizontal line. He fur It has been subject to controversy because there are three varieties. However, the official standard of the race provides the breeding of the variety of long hair and short hair, both with inner layer. In the case of short hair, it is thick and adherent to the body and can be thicker and longer in the neck. For the variant of long hair, it is thick but, unlike the other variant, it is not adherent. However, the hair is expected to be longer and thicker in the neck than in the short hair variant. He race standard It admits several colors, which include solid black, black with reddish tones and several tones of gray. The nose must be black. The height on the cross varies from 60 to 65 centimeters for males and 55 to 60 centimeters for females. The weight of males ranges from 30 and 40 kilos, while that of the females ranges from the 22 and 32 kilos.

Different German pastor dog lines

The Race versatility It allows different lines oriented to different tasks, functions and purposes. Lines that have their own features, origins and history. Let's see what these German sheep lines are.

 

• Western German demonstration line: This is the original standard of Max von Stephanitz and the most uniform, recognizable and popular guy.
• American and Canadian demonstration line: Firm structure and lateral march, this line is characteristic of the demonstrations of the national clubs of German pastor in North America since the 70s.
• Western German work line: Also considered as the original type created by Max von Stephanitz, these shepherds stand out in the work of guard, rescue, grazing and as an excellent family pet. All this is thanks to an effort to correct the capacity, impulses and work structure.
• East German work line: Raised under the Government of Eastern Germany after World War II, this line is characterized by a rigid control of blood. They are dogs known for their temperament, solidity and excellent genetics.
• Czech work line: Mainly developed for military and police work from communist Czechoslovakia, they are very defense and keeping dogs.

Character and personality of the German shepherd dog

He German pastor's character and personality It is stable, safe and proud. The value of these dogs is known by all, as well as their defense instinct. Given this natural instinct, they are among the most requested dogs for defense and protection. However, it should be noted that courage and defense are not synonyms for aggression and danger. The German shepherd tends not to give confidence to strangers, even if there are no imminent dangers and, above all, never attacks without reason. Obviously, a correct socialization when it is a puppy is essential to avoid problems in the future, because character does not depend only on genes. It is an easy race to train with positive reinforcement, like many other dog races.

Thanks to its great adaptation capacity, this race has been used successfully in various activities. The German shepherd stands out in canine sports, as a search and rescue dog, such as guide dog, police dog or in pet therapy. And of course, it is exceptional as a company dog. The puppy that will be part of the family must be educated with love, but also firmly. These simple precautions are the best guarantee for a relationship of affection and friendship with an animal that asks nothing more than putting its notable qualities at the service of its owner. However, you must remember that it can be sweet and affectionate with children, but it is not always able to measure their strength. For this reason, it may not be the ideal playmate for the little ones in the house. To be really happy, the German shepherd needs the presence and affection of its owner. Although he looks like a pet, his work dog instinct makes him generally proactive. Therefore, it will be necessary to make sure you always feel useful. You should not hesitate to spend several hours a day by proposing physical activities that allow you to progress and fully.

Gestation and puppies of the German shepherd dog

The Gestation of a German shepherd dog It is approximately 2 months and 7 days, that is, 67 days. During this time, the constant care of a veterinarian is indispensable. It is advisable, especially at birth, to have the veterinarian next door, to be able to help in case of complications. The number of puppies can vary Between 4 and 10 puppies per litter. If the Pastor bitch becomes a mother for the first time, one can count on a smaller number of puppies.

Two weeks before birth, the dog gets used to the birth zone. This must be well designed with blankets and soft paper, since the dog loses a lot of blood and amniotic liquid during childbirth. From a week before the scheduled date, the female body temperature is measured daily. Approximately 24 hours before birth, the temperature drops to 2 degrees. The birth of a puppy consists of three phases; During the opening phase, strong contractions occur when the delivery channel is opened. In the abortion phase, the puppy is expelled. This is followed by the placenta that the dog itself eats. It contains many nutrients and the puppy is released through breast milk. Now comes the third and final phase of this wonder of nature. Since the puppy comes out in a small amniotic sack at birth, this is bitten by the bitch, and the breeding emerges from the umbilical cord. The amniotic bag also eats it. These three phases are repeated every time a puppy is born. The time interval between the birth of 2 puppies can be 15 minutes to 2 hours. The puppies come to the blind and deaf world. Only his sense of smell develops to find his mother's breasts. In the next 2 weeks his routine consists only of eating and sleeping. After this time, his eyes open and develop the sense of the ear. After approximately 3 weeks They get their milk teeth and become more active. A month after their birth, they begin to explore the area and learn to interact with other pets, such as cats. From the second month the socialization phase begins. Here, puppies learn the basic concepts of coexistence. During this time, it is important to familiarize puppies with all the things and sounds of everyday life. From the eighth to the twelfth week he gradually removes breast milk. As puppies are able to take solid foods and no longer depend on the mother, it is the ideal time for separation between mother and puppies.

The new owner must ensure that the dogs were vaccinated or dewormed. There must also be a veterinary certificate of the state of health. One of the typical diseases of the best known race in German shepherd dogs is hip dysplasia. It is a hereditary disease and that leads to serious hip articulation and the posterior skeletal muscle system of the dog. When choosing the puppy pays attention to having healthy self -esteem, that is curious and shows a good alert state. In addition, puppies must have a healthy distrust of everything new. Anxious animals are not suitable for use as a service dog. The dogs are generally quieter and reserved. At the age of approximately 3 months, the puppies move to their new home. From here you start with the education and training of the dog. Contact with other dogs is very important to learn social behavior.

How to feed a German shepherd dog

A adequate nutrition from the first months of life is crucial to ensure that your German shepherd develops a good state of health. When you acquire a puppy you should eat alone and be completely weaned. The puppy's age should never be less than 3 months.

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The first advice is to ask the breeder what food he used for weaning and possibly gives us a sample, in order to provide our dog with a food already known to avoid problems with change. Especially during the growth phase it is important to provide a nutritious, adequate and well -balanced diet. The German shepherd, like all dogs, is mainly carnivore. Some foods needed for us, can harm or, at best, do not create any nutritional principle. For this reason it is advisable to choose a good I think like that of the entire range Blue Wolf, suitable for human consumption and based on top quality raw materials For 100% natural nutrition. The German shepherd is a dog that, like many medium and large dogs, can be subject to certain diseases. With good nutrition you can reduce the risk of suffering them and ensures iron health for your pet.

German shepherd dog care

The German shepherd can get used to living in an apartment, but in this case he will need many walks and exercise to strengthen his muscles. Have a garden helps, but you don't have to completely replace walks and game sessions outside the home. It allows a dog sport to practice, since it helps to drain accumulated energies and stay fit. Training is also useful to help you develop your intelligence.

Taking care of German shepherd's fur is not very difficult Because it is not necessary to cut it frequently. However, since it tends to lose a lot of hair, brushing it every day is very important. You should not bathe it often to avoid damaging the natural protection of the mantle.

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HEALTH AND DISEASES OF THE German Pastor Dog

Unfortunately, the great popularity of the race has encouraged indiscriminate breeding for purely commercial purposes. Indiscriminate reproduction has had a negative impact on the health of the race. It is for this reason that The German shepherd is prone to developed hereditary diseases such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, digestive problems, epilepsy, chronic eczema, keratitis (cornea inflammation) and dwarfism.

It is important to take the dog to the veterinarian every 6 months and respect the vaccination calendar. The life expectancy of the German shepherd is approximately 13 years.

Education and training of German shepherd dog

As the German shepherd is a Smart, careful and disciplined dog, your training does not present particular difficulties. However, if you are not an expert, it is good to consult a professional. The education of the German pastor must begin around 7 or 8 months. To adequately train a German shepherd, they are enough 10 lessons, during which, always accompanied by its owner, but under the orders of the training, the dog will learn the essential notions that an educated partner will do. Behavior with a belt, calling to the foot, the habit of responding to the own name and traditional commands, but no less necessary.

When the dog has correctly assimilated these first routines, the training will continue the process of perfecting. First on the track, where the German shepherd learns to jump, bark at the passage of a stranger, etc. Then in the field and in the forest (we must not forget that if the Belgian pastor is considered the sprinter of the track, the German shepherd is more powerful in open spaces). Finally, work in the urban area, where you will have to get used to the noise of cars, come and go from people, etc. In summary, it will be inserted in all the environments in which it will have to develop and adapt. Then the defense exercises can begin where the training will instruct the dog to keep a house, a farm, defend the children, etc.

 

All training coincides in the same message, All training must be understood as a pleasure for the animalotherwise the result can be opposed to the desired one. In 10 hours, the young German shepherd will become a balanced and effective defense dog. In fact, a guard dog should never be an aggressive dog. Contrary to popular belief, aggressiveness is not part of the nature of this race. The training mission is to teach him to dissuade anyone malicious, not to attack him. Only after all this can the competition begin and assume its main tasks, from a long list of roles that supports with great success (army, police, customs, disabled people, mountain rescue and disasters, etc.).

Conclusion and tips to acquire a German shepherd dog

Always try Find a serious and professional breeder, in order to guarantee healthy puppies with a health registration and first vaccines. You must also request a guarantee of a few months, in case the puppy comes to present hereditary health problems. Logically, the puppy will have to have at least 3 months of life to be able to take it home.

It is also preferable that they show you parents, so you can get an idea as it will be adult. When it comes to choosing the proper puppy of a litter, it is necessary to choose wisely. However, choosing the correct puppy is never an exact science and requires a bit of attention, so as not to risk the breeder to make a totally random or interested decision. Most people tend to base their choice simply on the physical appearance of the puppy, instead of taking the time to know their individual characteristics. This can lead a person to make the wrong decision.

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