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German Shepherd Dog
The German Shepherd, also
known as the Alsatian, is probably the world's best-known
breed. It is one of the most versatile working dogs ever
developed, and in modern times is still used as a companion,
home guardian, flock herder, army dog, police dog, drug
detector dog, guide dog for the blind, and search-and-rescue
dog. German Shepherds have also made it big in the movies,
with dog stars such as Rin-Tin-Tin in the 1920s and Bullet
(Roy Rogers' companion) in the 1950s.
History:
The German Shepherd is, as its
name suggests, of German origin, was first described in the
late 1800s. However, there is still debate over the exact
ancestry of the breed. It was originally used as a farm dog,
but it proved its versatility during the First World War and
was introduced to the US and Commonwealth by returning
soldiers. The pseudonym Alsatian was given to the breed after
the War, because members of the Allied countries were
uncomfortable with the word German; however, the official name
remains German Shepherd. The breed was first exhibited at a
show in Hanover, Germany, in 1882, and today is one of the
most numerous dogs at shows, in both obedience and
conformation
Physical
characteristics:
The German Shepherd is a
medium-sized, deep-bodied dog, and gives the impression of
elegance with a noble attitude. Height: 22 - 26 in (56 - 66
cm). Weight: 75 - 95 lb (34 - 43 kg). The head is moderately
long and broad and is finely chiseled, with no excess skin.
The eyes are almond-shaped and dark brown, and give the dog an
intelligent, alert expression. The nose is always black. The
ears are triangular, in proportion to the head, and are set on
top of the head.
A well-known characteristic of
the German Shepherd is that the ears are erect, although this
only develops as the young pup matures. The front legs are
strong and straight, and the rear legs are well muscled. The
body is long and slopes from the shoulders to the tail, which
is medium-length, moderately feathered, and is carried low.
The outer coat is course and
of medium length with a thick undercoat. There is a longer
coat type that sometimes occurs, but it is not favored for the
show ring. The acceptable colors of the German Shepherd range
from black-and-tan to sable to all black. White, liver, blue,
and near-white all occur, but are highly undesirable.
Behavior:
The German Shepherd is a large
confident dog when it reaches maturity. This dog is renowned
for its intelligence, and is highly trainable. Its alert
manner, powerful bark, imposing size, and ability to act on
its own make the German Shepherd ideally suited for its role
as a guard dog. Many agencies have taken its attributes even
further and provided the dog with highly specialized training.
Although any large and
intelligent dog may be suitable for pre-training selection,
Customs Services have been able to develop German Shepherds
into very efficient "sniffer dogs" (drug detector dogs).
Police forces use German Shepherds both for crowd control and
for disarming or immobilizing offenders.
German Shepherds generally get
along well with other dogs but owners should be aware that
they may initially provoke fear in smaller dogs. If they have
been properly socialized with people, German Shepherds can
make excellent companions. These large dogs can be expected to
be boisterous and highly active up to a year old. Although
owners will need a degree of tolerance with their dog as it
matures, they should not allow it to become bossy with them
under any circumstances. Naturally, small children should not
be left alone with these big dogs. German Shepherds may have
congenital problems such as hip dysplasia, so it is advisable
to purchase them from reputable breeders. The German Shepherd
is a truly magnificent all-purpose dog.
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