Appearance
The German Shepherd’s coat is generally a mixture of black, fawn and gold. Dogs may also have pure black or pure white coats but the true colour of a German Shepherd is not known until the puppy coat is shed and the full adult coat has grown. In general these dogs can weigh between 28kg – 44kg and grow to be 56cm – 66cm tall.??Male dogs weigh more and are taller than bitches.
Temperament
German Shepherds that have been bred properly are loyal, intelligent dogs and they adore and protect their family.??They are willing to do anything for the people they love to the point of giving their own lives. The dogs are energetic and boisterous and, because of their size, can be a handful. A few decades ago the breed had a bad reputation that resulted from a bad gene in the breed which resulted in ‘fear biting’ problems; however, it is said that this gene has been now been bred out of all dogs bred by German Shepherd Dog League members. If you are considering keeping a German Shepherd it is important to find out if the dog was bred by the GSDL. Contact your local breeder organization for details.
Origin
The German Shepherd originated in, you guessed it, Germany. In 1890 Rittmeister Max von Stephanitz founded the German Shepherd Dog Association and named himself the ‘father’??of the breed.??The breed evolved from herding dogs that were used to tend and protect sheep but their??usefulness as guard and attack dogs was apparent and now they are often involved in the police and the military.
Fun Facts
A German Shepherd, the beloved Rin Tin Tin, was the original canine celebrity.??The Rin Tin Tin films were immensely popular and his films made??Warner Bros.??studios a success. In 1929, Rin Tin Tin may have received the most votes for the first??Academy Award for Best Actor, but the Academy determined that a human should win.
Advice to Owners
German Shepherds are intelligent and responsive to training. They need obedience training early in life, particularly those that are boisterous, strong minded and dominating. As they are strong and do have a boisterous nature German Shepherds should not be left alone with children.??Minimal grooming is required, however, they require a brushing when their winter coat is shed and you will need to us a rubber brush specifically designed for the job.??The German Shepherd has a lifespan of approximately 12 years.??If you are considering keeping a German Shepherd it is important to find out if the dog was bred by the GSDL.??Contact your local breeder organization for details.
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