Other names: Berger Alsacien, Deutscher Schäferhund, German Shepherd Dog
The German Shepherd is a robust, athletic and enduring dog. He has a very harmonious body built for physical effort. For 10 years, he has reigned supreme on the 1st place of the podium of the favorite dogs of the French. The German Shepherd is a complete dog, tireless, docile, vigilant and very attached to its owner.
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 Hair type |
Short |
|---|---|
 Origin |
Germany |
 Template |
Big |
 Head shape |
Long |
 Weight and size |
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| Sex | Weight | Cut |
|---|---|---|
| Female | From 22 kg to 32 kg | From 55 cm to 60 cm |
| Male | From 30 kg to 40 kg | From 60 cm to 65 cm |
History of the breed
Methodical breeding started in 1889. This breed was created by Captain Max Fréderic Emile Von Stephanitz from the crossing of sheepdogs from central and southern Germany. The goal was to create a very intelligent and physically strong utility dog for herding herds.
It was not until the late 19th century and the industrial revolution in Germany as the first German Shepherds are high. Then, Captain Von Stephanitz defines the breed. A German Shepherd is essentially a working dog . A versatile dog, the German Shepherd is useful in many areas. During the First World War, he accompanied the German army and in particular intended to help wounded soldiers.
As the herds disappeared, the evolution of the breed pushed man to use the faculties of the German Shepherd to make a police dog, war dog, guide dog or sanitary.
Video presentation of the German Shepherd
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Physical features
His hair : short and hard is very dense. Lined with a supplied undercoat, the hair remains lying along the body.
Its color : the most common is black and tan. It can also have black with undertones of brown, reddish brown or yellow to light gray.
His head : well proportioned to the size of the dog with a reasonable width between the ears. It is not too heavy or too elongated. General in appearance, the head has a pronounced and powerful muzzle.
His ears : are medium in size and wide at the base. Symmetrical, they are carried very straight and end in a point.
His eyes : remain almond shaped and should be as dark as possible.
His body : rather elongated and quite straight, gives way to a muscular and slightly plunging back. It has a slightly oblique rump. A pure trotter, it has a harmonious look with ample movements
Its tail : must at least reach the hock. On its inside, the hair is longer. It is carried drooping, but when in action or excited it rises considerably without going above the horizontal.
Behavior and character
| Affectionate | |
|---|---|
| Calm | |
| Protective | |
| Independent | |
| Hunter | |
| Barks / howls |
Behavior with others
| Cohabitation with children | |
|---|---|
| Sociable with other animals | |
| Love strangers |
Very cheerful and playful, he is endowed with great intelligence. He remains faithful and attached to his master . Patient and courageous, he is also a protective dog with children . With a fairly flexible temperament, he is nonetheless lively and quite domineering. Affectionate and naturally peaceful, he needs to exercise every day. He is unfailingly devoted to his owner. It is a very sensitive animal, who appreciates congratulations after a good deed.
He is a very athletic and very playful dog. He is an easy dog on a daily basis provided you are careful with him. If he is very grateful for the time spent with him and the love received, he may feel abandoned, abandoned.
The German Shepherd
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Education
| Clever | |
|---|---|
| Obedient |
The German Shepherd Dog perfectly embodies versatility. Working dog par excellence, it can be trained as a police dog , herd, tracker and guide dog for the blind. As a companion dog, his wary nature towards strangers and his past as a sheepdog make him a good guard since he naturally defends his territory.
For education, he turns out to be very docile and very intelligent , even if he recognizes only one master. It is important to socialize him and get him used to strangers or public places, because his distrust of the unknown is important to take into account. In addition, this breed can sometimes suffer from separation anxiety and you will often be required to do most of your travels with it.
Living conditions
| Suitable for apartment living | |
|---|---|
| Good for new masters | |
| Love it hot | |
| Love the cold |
Very active, the German Shepherd Dog can stay outside in all seasons. It is more suited to country life . However, life in the city and in an apartment is not impossible as long as you take it out frequently and offer it regular physical activities. It is also a dog who does not support loneliness . If he feels lonely, bored or not exercised enough, he will show his frustration by chewing everything he can or barking excessively.
Health
| Solid | |
|---|---|
| Ease of gaining weight |
Hardy by nature , the German Shepherd, like all medium and large dogs, is genetically prone to hip or elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and von Willebrand disease. The screening and selection of animals during breeding greatly reduced the risks. Apart from that, his life expectancy is good (12 years).
Hypoallergenic breed
No
Litter size
Between 4 and 9 puppies
| Major concerns |
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| Minor concerns |
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| Occasional concerns |
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| Suggested tests |
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To protect you from these risks and insure your companion in the event of health problems, Woopets recommends German Shepherd dog insurance .
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Life expectancy
Minimum: 10 years
Maximum: 12 years
The life expectancy of a German Shepherd Dog is, on average, between 10 years and 12 years.
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Maintenance and hygiene
| Ease of maintenance | |
|---|---|
| Cost of maintenance | |
| Hair loss |
| Drool level | |
|---|---|
| Ease of grooming |
The German Shepherd is a dog made to live outdoors even if he likes to come and go freely in the house or in the garden.
It undergoes a moult twice a year (in spring and in autumn) in connection with the change of luminosity at these periods. Dogs living indoors shed their hair all year round with stronger periods in spring and fall. Due to its high density of hair, the German Shepherd must be brushed every day during the moulting period. Outside of this period, this dog can be satisfied with a good brushing twice a week to have a softer and shinier coat.
Too frequent washing can be harmful . Indeed, the bath eliminates the layer of sebum on the dog’s skin and it is this oily substance that protects him against rain and cold. The frequency of washing may vary between dogs living outside in the country ( every 2 months ) and those in an apartment. The latter can be satisfied with a good brushing to have the hair softer and shinier.
Try to cut his nails carefully regularly with a nail clipper, in fact, they know a very fast growth. The ears should be checked to rule out the risk of wax buildup or debris that can cause infection. Teeth require regular brushing to prevent tartar build-up.
Price and budget
Purchase price
The purchase price of a German Shepherd is between 600 € and 1200 €.
Annual maintenance cost
The annual maintenance cost of a German Shepherd is between € 1,400 and € 1,500.
Name ideas for a German Shepherd
| Male |
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| Female |
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None of these proposals suit you? Use our tool to find your German Shepherd’s name!
Food
Generally, it is recommended to serve the equivalent of 3 to 4 cups of kibble per day and of premium quality from industrial merchants. It is advisable to follow the instructions on the packaging of the package. Of course, it is recommended to adapt the rations according to the age, metabolism and physical activity of your dog.
For a German Shepherd puppy , growth is very strong between the age of 4 and 7 months , so he needs a high quality diet low in calories and measured levels of protein and fat to avoid too rapid growth.
A German Shepherd should ingest at least 3000 calories per day . This number can double if it is active all day, especially if it belongs to a gendarmerie brigade.
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Physical activity
| Athletic | |
|---|---|
| Energy level | |
| Potential to play |
This breed needs to explore several territories. Whether he lives in an apartment or a house, this dog cannot be satisfied with a simple 5-minute outing for the needs. Being blocked in a garden is not for him. He therefore needs a daily walk . Originally, he is a dog bred to lead herds, so he needs a lot of activity during the day.
Famous German Shepherd Dogs
Competitions
| Classifications & Standards |
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Others
| Master character <span class="btnTooltip qTip2" title="- Calm: the master must be gentle and know how to show patience. – Active: the owner must be energetic and dynamic to live in harmony with his dog. – Hyperactive: the owner must be stimulating and very restless to suit the temperament of his dog.”> |
Calm |
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Owner’s words
The German Shepherd is a versatile dog. With my 2 German Shepherds, I do beauty contests, biting and herding work. German Shepherds love to please their master. On the domestic side, they are Man’s best friends, they are loyal, cuddly, playful and above all intelligent.
They are excellent dogs when it comes to safety, tracking, rescue and visitation dogs.
What everyone has forgotten is that the German Shepherd is a Shepherd therefore very gifted for the flock, whether it is sheep, cows, etc.
Ben P. (Souvigné, France)
My princess dog is 3 months old and is learning very quickly. She is playful, cuddly and gets along very well with all the dogs in the house who are all of different breeds. She goes to dressage because she needs to exercise. She is super nice, very affectionate and social with people.
Laly F. (Sousceyrac, France)
FCI Information
FCI No.
166
FCI Group
Group 1: Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs (except Swiss Cattle Dogs)
Recognized by FCI
Since 1955
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