German Shepherd Dog Temperament

The German Shepherd Dog is a very popular breed as reflected by his position on the AKC popularity list. This is an alert, lively, loyal, and very intelligent breed. He is often used as a military, police or search and rescue dog. These dogs are obedient and very quick to learn. He is one of the easiest of all breeds to train due to his high intelligence. The German Shepherd is active, full of energy, courageous, confident, and independent. In fact, The high intelligence and responsive nature of the breed makes this one of the easiest dogs to train. Some German Shepherd Dogs can be quite aloof and serious, and some can be dominant and sharp. However, these are very capable dogs, and are eager to please their owners, although their personality makes them best suited to those with some experience of dog ownership. You will need to ensure that you provide your German Shepherd with physical and mental stimulation, and these dogs do not fare well when isolated or neglected.

The German Shepherd will need regular exercise, including daily walks and regular runs, although this should obviously be either in a safe and secured area or on the leash. The German Shepherd is known to get along very well with children, although you should bear in mind his size if you have younger children. Early socialization is important if you have other pets, as these dogs may chase smaller animals such as cats, and can also be aggressive or dominant with other dogs of the same sex. Whining can be a problem with the German Shepherd, as some will whine a lot. The German Shepherd is known for its protectiveness too, and therefore makes a very affective watchdog and will not back down if he feels that he or his loved ones are being threatened.

History
The German Shepherd Dog originates from Germany, and was originally used for herding. However, the intelligence, watchfulness, obedience, and protectiveness of the breed saw the German Shepherd Dog become a very popular choice in professions such as police work and military work, guard dogs, search and rescue, etc. The bred was registered with the AKC in 1908.


Appearance
The German Shepherd Dog is a handsome and powerful creature, with a well built, athletic body, an alert expression, and tall, erect ears. His coat is straight, hard, and medium in length, and he also has a dense undercoat. The coloring of the German Shepherd Dog can vary and includes black and tan, sable, and black. The German Shepherd Dog weighs in at 60-80 pounds for females, and 75-100 pounds for males.


Grooming
The grooming requirements for the German Shepherd Dog are not excessive, and brushing his coat every couple of days should help to control shedding, although you will need to step up the grooming at certain times of the year when he is shedding more heavily. That said, the German Shepherd Dog is a heavy shedder all year round, and is therefore not well suited to allergy sufferers.

Health
The life expectancy of the German Shepherd Dog is around 12 years, and there are a number of health problems that are associated with this breed. This includes spinal problems, bloat and torsion, HD and elbow dysplasia, OCD, epilepsy, pancreas problems, and eye problems. The parents of the German Shepherd Dog puppy should have OFA and CERF certificates.

Coat
The ideal dog has a double coat of medium length. The outer coat should be as dense as possible, hair straight, harsh and lying close to the body. A slightly wavy outer coat, often of wiry texture, is permissible. The head, including the inner ear and foreface, and the legs and paws are covered with short hair, and the neck with longer and thicker hair. The rear of the forelegs and hind legs has somewhat longer hair extending to the pastern and hock, respectively. Faults in coat include soft, silky, too long outer coat, woolly, curly, and open coat.

Head
The head is noble, cleanly chiseled, strong without coarseness, but above all not fine, and in proportion to the body. The head of the male is distinctly masculine, and that of the bitch distinctly feminine.

Chest
Commencing at the prosternum, it is well filled and carried well down between the legs. It is deep and capacious, never shallow, with ample room for lungs and heart, carried well forward, with the prosternum showing ahead of the shoulder in profile. Ribs well sprung and long, neither barrel-shaped nor too flat, and carried down to a sternum which reaches to the elbows.

Forequarters
The shoulder blades are long and obliquely angled, laid on flat and not placed forward. The upper arm joins the shoulder blade at about a right angle. Both the upper arm and the shoulder blade are well muscled. The forelegs, viewed from all sides, are straight and the bone oval rather than round. The pasterns are strong and springy and angulated at approximately a 25-degree angle from the vertical. Dewclaws on the forelegs may be removed, but are normally left on.

Hindquarters
The whole assembly of the thigh, viewed from the side, is broad, with both upper and lower thigh well muscled, forming as nearly as possible a right angle. The upper thigh bone parallels the shoulder blade while the lower thigh bone parallels the upper arm. The metatarsus (the unit between the hock joint and the foot) is short, strong and tightly articulated. The dewclaws, if any, should be removed from the hind legs. Feet as in front.

Disqualification
CROPPED OR HANGING EARS, DOGS WITH NOSES NOT PREDOMINANTLY BLACK, UNDERSHOT JAW, DOCKED TAIL, WHITE DOGS, ANY DOG THAT ATTEMPTS TO BITE THE JUDGE.

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