The Purebred German Shepherd Dog

The GSD embodies the ideal combination of strength and agility. Their high trainability and the ability to protect make them loved family pets.

If you are in search of a purebred German Shepherd dog select breeders who value the health of their dogs and reinrassiger schäFerhund practice ethical breeding. You can find reputable breeders by requesting pedigree documents and previous health clearances.

Characteristics

German Shepherds are strong, intelligent dogs that are easily capable of training. They are loyal to their families and can be fearless guardians. The breed standard states that the GSD should be self-confident, courageous, and schäferhund beschüTzerinstinkt have a calm and steady temperament. It must also be tractable and willing to please.

The breed is medium in size slightly elongated, and muscular. It has a double coat made up of a hard outer layer, and a soft undercoat. Its almond-shaped eyes are dark and obliquely set. Its ears are wide at the base and pointed. When the dog is resting in a shady position, the tail is large and bushy. It is a little below the hocks. The neck of the breed is long and slightly sloping. The chest is broad and deep. The ribs are well-sprung, and the spine is firm.

In general the breed is sound however, serious issues include roached backs as well as long pasterns that hinder proper movement. The hindquarters of the dog should be strong, but not excessively exaggerated. Likewise, the rear leg should never go forward of the point where the forefoot leaves a footprint.

As working dogs, belgischer schäferhund welpen kaufen österreich (check over here) the GSD has high-drives that are naturally present (behavioral propensities and desires toward things like territorial protection and hunting prey). If these drives are not satisfied in a certain way, like through work or playing and it can lead to aggression. Show-type German Shepherds are bred in a manner that can help reduce these urges, but they still require a lot of positive reinforcement training, physical exercise, and mental stimulation in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

GSDs are usually cautious around strangers and could be suspicious of them at first. This protective trait makes GSDs excellent guard dogs, but requires proper training to avoid overreactions. They make wonderful family pets when properly socialized from a young age and are generally good with children.

The GSD has an extremely high threshold for pain and is resistant to illness, but it is also susceptible to certain health conditions that can affect its quality of life. These include seizures, epilepsy and bleeding disorders. The best way to prevent these diseases is to limit your dog's exposure to UV rays and making sure it receives regular vaccinations can help.

Temperament

German Shepherds are smart and eager to learn. They are also highly trainable. They are an active breey. They can also develop lung, bone or intestinal cancers.

To avoid these ailments to avoid them, you must maintain your German Shepherd's physical health by feeding him a proper diet and exercise. Make sure that he has plenty of opportunities to run and play outdoors in a secure area free of traffic and other hazards. Keep him looking neat by scrubbing his dense double coat regularly and using a de-shedding device or undercoat rake to remove hairs that are loose. Also, make sure that you take him to the vet on a regular basis for his routine health check-ups.

Health

German Shepherds are generally healthy dogs, but they do have some health issues. They are prone to ear infections and may develop conditions that affect their eyes and ears such as degenerative amyelopathy. Both male and female can be affected by hereditary von Willebrand disease, a genetic disorder that hinders the ability of clotting blood.

GSDs are a working breed, and as such, they undergo rigorous training. This means that they may develop joint issues. One of the most common is hip dysplasia, characterized by the inadvertent growth and development of the cartilage and Belgian shepherd dog puppies for sale Austria joint, leading to discomfort, lameness and other signs. This is not a serious condition, but it can be painful to the dog.

Reputable breeders X-ray their dogs and take the results into consideration when making breeding decisions. The x-rays can aid in determining the health of the puppy and its genetic history, which includes the possibility that it could develop dysplasia. Dogs with a high risk of developing dysplasia do not breeding.

Like most large breeds, German Shepherds may suffer from panosteitis. This causes bones to grow quickly and unevenly, which causes stiffness and pain in the legs. The condition is particularly prevalent in German Shepherd puppies and dogs less than 18 months old who are experiencing the midst of a massive growth spurt.

The dogs need food that is high in protein with a generous mix of omega fatty acid and balanced vitamins to ensure a healthy coat and skin. They will benefit from joint support in their diet including glucosamine as well as chondroitin. Dogs who are less than 18 months old age should have moderate exercise like walking on a regular basis and, if they are compatible with other dogs, playing together, but should not run at full speed as this could cause damage to joints that are growing.

Avoid feeding bone from animals or table food, as they can cause vomiting, digestive upsets anorexia, and pancreatitis. Adults and puppies can benefit from probiotic supplements to aid digestion as well as digestive enzyme supplements that help break down proteins. Vitamin and mineral supplements aren't necessary in the sense that a well-formulated and approved AAFCO diet should provide the proper amount of these nutrients.

Training

German Shepherds are smart high-trained dogs who thrive under the direction by a knowledgeable handler. This makes them a great choice for police and military tasks such as search and deutscher schäferhund lebenserwartung rescue and therapy dog roles, and a myriad of other specialized roles. However, their dedication to their job makes them a great family pet when properly trained and socialized.

Socialization is the first step in creating a well-adjusted GSD. Introduce your puppy to a range of people and animals at an early age, by taking them on frequent walks, playing games, and even visiting local dog parks. This will help them feel secure and at ease in a new place and help them develop trust in humans from a young age.

Training a German Shepherd requires patience, consistency and positive reinforcement. Avoid negative reinforcement methods such as yelling or physical punishment, which could lead to fear based aggression. Use clicker training and reward-based training to teach your German Shepherd the basic commands.

It is also important to give your German Shepherd with a regular dose of enrichment. Mental stimulation exercises can be equally important as physical exercise for an GSD especially in a hectic or busy household. This will help them stay focused and less likely to be distracted by road sounds or storms or other dogs in the park, or crowds during competitions and public events.

Some of the health issues that are exclusive to German Shepherds are hemangiosarcoma, cancer of the bones, lungs, and intestinal tract, and pannus (superficial keratitis). All of these diseases are preventable through responsible breeding and lifestyle changes.

Despite their reputation for being a savage breed German Shepherds are loving family pets. When they are exposed to children from a young age they can be tender and loving towards smaller pets like cats. Their size and strength make them excellent guardians, and they should always be supervised around younger children. They could also display indications of a genetic predisposition toward aggression if they are not exposed to appropriate training and socialization opportunities. Enrolling your German Shepherd into a puppy obedience or school will ensure that he gets the training and socialization he requires to be successful.