The German Shepherd.

Beautiful Colin.

Also known as the Alsatian or GSD, the German Shepherd is a well-proportioned, very strong (both mentally and physically) dog. They are very sturdy with a muscular frame, they have an elongated body and light, yet solid bone structure.
There are 3 varieties of the GSD, double coat, plush coat and long haired coat. The coat comes in black with tan, all black or sable but can also come in white, blue and liver – though these colours are considered a fault to most standards. The White Shepherd is recognised as its own breed, being known as the American White Shepherd.

The German Shepherd originated in Karlsruhe, Germany from Captain Max von Stephanitz and other dedicated breeders who produced an obedient and handsome dog. They did this by mixing longhaired, shorthaired and wire haired herding and farm dogs locally from Wurtemberg, Thurginia and Bavaria.
They were first presented in 1889 in Hanover with the shorthaired variety first seen in Berlin in the same year. In April 1899, von Stephanitz registered a dog named Horan, the first Deutsche Schäferhunde, which in English translates to ‘German Shepherd Dog.’ Until 1915, both the wire haired and longhaired varieties were shown. The first GSD to be shown in American wasn’t until 1907.

Today, the German Shepherd makes a great family companion but are also ideal working dogs. They are very courageous and fear nothing, they will put their own life on the line for the family. They are a keen, alert and very smart dog, making training simple for the right owner. As all dogs, they require a strong and firm pack leader otherwise can be a destructive pet. They need a stable environment and consistent training. They simply will not listen if they feel at any point that they are stronger and have the upper hand. They are one of the smartest and most trainable breeds and need to be well understood.
Their natural protective instinct makes them great for families and ideal for the line of work as Police Dogs. They bond very close to their family and can be wary of strangers. They will only bark when they feel necessary and require good socialization from a young age. Any behavioral issues are a clear indication of poor handling and training.
They require a high level of mental and physical daily stimulation and should not be left on their own for long periods of time. They are not a breed they will enjoy being locked in the back yard or laze around the house all day. Their mind needs to be kept busy and complete ‘jobs’ that are set for them.
They do excellent in tracking and obedience as well as agility work.

Sadly, bad breeding is common today and hereditary problems such as hip and elbow dysplasia are being seen more. Being a large dog they are prone to bloat and for this reason, feeding should be well monitored. Breeders should be thoroughly researched prior to the purchase of a pup.
They are generally a large size dog, with males growing up to 65cms and females to 60cm. Their coat requires some upkeep as they are heavy shedders. Daily brushing is ideal and bathing only when necessary.

The GSD makes a great pet and work mate but needs to be well understood before being considered. They need an owner who is able to put in the time and effort and in the end, be rewarded with a best mate for life.

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