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German Shepherd Dog
The German Shepherd Dog (known also as the Alsatian) is an intelligent breed of dog. Because they are eager to please, they are easily trained in obedience and protection. German Shepherd Dogs are often used as working dogs in many capacities, including search and rescue (SAR), military, police or guard dogs.
German Shepherds are valued around the world for their work as police dogs, trackers, drug detection dogs, search and rescue dogs, seeing eye dogs , mine detection dogs ,armed services dogs ( Army ,Navy ,Airforce ) and Security dogs.
When provided with regular training and attention, the German Shepherd can also make a great family pet. They are very loyal and protective of their own family, but tend to be a bit suspicious of strangers, especially when not in the company of their master.
In America you will find two distinct types of German Shepherd Dogs: the American line and the German line. While there is notable controversy between breeders of the two types, in general, the American line is considered to have strayed from the original herding function to create a more graceful dog with a flying trot, while the huskier German line is considered to emphasizes the original "working dog" capabilities which include sheep herding and protection.
Photo courtesy of Von Ravenwolf Shepherds
German Shepherd Dog Breed Outline
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Country of Origin: | Germany |
| Classification FCI: |
Group 1: Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs (except Swiss Cattle Dogs). Section 1: Sheepdogs. With Working Trial. |
| Utilization: |
Sheep Herding - Sheep Guardian |
| AKC Registration: |
Herding Group |
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Size: | Large |
| Height: | 22-26 inches
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| Colors: |
Base color should be black with markings of brown, red-brown, blonde and light gray. Alternatively a gray base-color with "clouds" of black markings and a black "saddle" and "mask". Inconspicuous white markings on the chest, and "brighter" shades on the under - and inner sides of the dog are permitted but not desirable. |
| Other Names: | GSD, Alsatian |
| Average Litter Size: | 9 |
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Life Span: | 10-12 years |
| Personality: | Highly intelligent, highly adaptable, extremely responsive to training, devoted, protective and fearless. These dogs are known to build a strong bondage with their owners.
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| Grooming Requirements: |
The GSD is a "double-coated" dog with an undercoat and guard hairs. The guard hairs will be shed all year. The undercoat is "blown" twice a year. German Shepherds shed heavily all year round and need weekly brushing. As a matter of fact, the more you brush the less they shed. |
| Shedding: | Heavy all year round. |
| Social skills: |
When not properly socialized at an early age, GSDs can develop unruliness or lack of self-confidence. |
| Suitable for Children: | Good with children of their family, but because they are naturally wary of strangers, they need close supervision when introduced to visiting children and adults. They are reserved but not aggressive toward strangers. |
| Exercise Needs: | GSDs are high energy dogs and need 2 hours vigorous daily exercise, preferably 3-4 times a day. |
| Train Ability: | Extremely responsive to training, especially to voice commands. If well-trained, they can
do almost anything. |
| Health: | Most common diseases are hip dysplasia, bloat, aortic stenosis |
The German Shepherd is a trotting dog and his structure has been developed to best meet the requirements of his work in herding. A long, effortless trot which shall cover the maximum amount of ground with the minimum number of steps. The proper body proportions, firmness of back and muscles and the proper angulation of the fore and hindquarters serve this end. This enables the dog to propel himself forward by a long step of the hindquarter and to compensate for this stride by a long step of the forequarter. The high withers, the firm back, the strong loin, the properly formed croup, even the tail as balance and rudder, all contribute to this same end.
In America, show German Shepherds tend to have so much rear angulation that it has become a great source of concern regarding the dog's ability to perfom the tasks for which it has been bred.
The Evolution of the German Shepherd Dog
Champion BODO OF BROWVALE
Son of Ch. Nox of Ruthland, Browvale Kennels, 1952
American Best in Futurity
Woodsides The Real Deal, 2005
German Shepherd Dog Anatomy
- 1. Stop
- 2. Withers
- 3. Neck
- 4. Back
- 5. Cheek
- 6. Croup
- 7. Lower thigh (gaskin)
- 8. Hock (ankle)
- 9. Brisket
- 10. Hindfoot
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- 11. Knee
- 12. Upper Thigh (femur)
- 13. Shoulder (with shoulder blade or scapula)
- 14. Elbow
- 15. Forefoot
- 16. Flews
- 17. Nose
- 18. Forearm
- 19. Pastern
- 20. Stifle
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Dog Terms
Angulation: The angles of the bony structure at the joints, particularly of the shoulder with the upper arm (front angulation), or the angles of the stifle and the hock (rear angulation). Rear angulation has been the source of a great deal of disagreements in the German Shepherd dog breed. With extreme rear angulation, the position of the leg is so far behind the body that even though it creates a long and powerful stride at the same time it leaves the dog with a lack
of balance and loss of agility. Show dogs have more angulation than the working ones.
The dogs which are bred with the emphasis on the so called "flying trot", or fast trot, type of gait have a lot of health problems.
More on the dog movement [...]
More on GSD rear angulation [...]
Brisket: The breast or lower part of the chest in front of and between the forelegs, sometimes including the part extending back some distance behind the forelegs.
Croup: The rear of the back above the hind limbs; the line from the pelvis to the set-on of the tail.
Flews: The chaps; pendulous lateral parts of the upper lips.
Pastern: The part of the foreleg between the fetlock (or pastern joint) and the foot that consists of five metacarpals (cylindrical bones). The front pastern and lower segment correspond to the wrist and hand of humans.
Stifle (or stifle joint): The joint next above the hock, and near the flank, in the hind leg; rear hock joint bends backwards only.
Stop: The point between the eyes where the muzzle ends and the forehead starts.
Withers: The part between the shoulder bones at the base of the neck; the point from which the height of the dog is usually measured.
Comments
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Posted by Guest_1826 on Saturday, February 25, 2012
i got my first GSD from a bad home at 6 weeks old, stinky, holes in her fur and malnourished, she is now a healthy 85 pound(not fat at all) loving and protective best friend,at 27 inches at the whithers she is sometimes mistaken as a male because of
i got my first GSD from a bad home at 6 weeks old, stinky, holes in her fur and malnourished, she is now a healthy 85 pound(not fat at all) loving and protective best friend,at 27 inches at the whithers she is sometimes mistaken as a male because of her large size. They are THE BEST DOGS, but i am biased by my girl, Love the breed.....
Posted by Guest_5359 on Monday, December 19, 2011
Thank you a very informative article
Thank you a very informative article. I was interested because many have said that our latest GSD (I was brought up with a succession of them) is not a thorough-bred GSD. Main points seemed to be the stance and a longer snout.
It appears that the stance is the original, as her back is almost horizontal. Her ears are bigger than would be accepted at a show, and the tail not bushy enough. Interestingly her trot is very bouncy indeed, the most of all GSDs we have had. It is a great pleasure to watch - like a show pony!
To me she seems the 'classic' GSD in colouring and stance, and that is what counts to us.
Posted by Guest_5228 on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
German Shepherd a Extremely intelligent and a first-class companion, obedience worker, and guard dog
German Shepherd a Extremely intelligent and a first-class companion, obedience worker, and guard dog. They are also known as the Alsatian, the German Shepherd is a large dog weighing between 77 and 85 pounds. The dog will measure 24 to 26 at the withers, and the bitch 22 to 24 . This dog is very energetic in work. Mainly three kinds of coated dog are found in this breed. straight-haired coarse , long straight-haired coarse, and long-haired wavy. The usual coat colors are of two colors or only black. This breed is very smart, brave and has a protective instinct. If we will trained them from childhood, they can be good and protective family dogs breeds. For more details visit www.mydogneeds.com
Posted by Guest_5177 on Thursday, June 23, 2011
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