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"The poor dog, in life the firmest friend, the first to welcome, foremost to defend." LORD BYRON
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| Breeder of Quality Companions for Over 50 Years |
NOTE: Much of the information contained on this page is relevant to other breeds as well as the German Shepherd Dog. Some of the information is breed-specific.
- German Shepherds are in the AKC Herding Group.
- Their country of origin is Germany.
- Their life expectancy is around 13 years.
- A German Shepherd Dog in Germany is a Deutsche Schäferhunde which translates as "German Shepherd Dog" in English. Unlike other breeds, the word Dog is actually part of the breed's name.
- Registrations of German Shepherds according to 2003 AKC registrations:
- 1. Labrador Retriever (144,934)
- 2. Golden Retriever (52,530)
- 3. Beagle (45,033 moving up one place from 2002)
- 4. German Shepherd Dog (43,950)
- 5. Dachshund (39,473)
- 6. Yorkshire Terrier (38,256)
- 7. Boxer (34,136)
- 8. Poodle (32,176)
- 9. Shih Tzu (26,935 moving up one place from 2002)
- 10. Chihuahua (24,930)
- The German Shepherd's correct coat is a straight, harsh outer coat with a thick undercoat.
- The natural gait of the German Shepherd is a powerful, outreaching trot.
- The German Shepherd sheds a goodly amount daily and they are seasonal heavy shedders. A quick brushing every day is beneficial. It is impossible to escape the dog hair that gets all over you, your house, your clothes, and your car. If you are bothered by dog hair, it is likely that you would be happier with another breed. German Shepherds should be bathed only when necessary because bathing removes essential oils from the skin.
- Puppies have teeth, sharp ones, when they are little and bigger teeth with powerful jaws when they're grown. Children should not be left alone with either puppies or dogs, regardless of the breed.
- The German Shepherd, and all other breeds, are animals. They have basic drives and instincts and those contemplating the purchase of a dog should have a basic understanding of dog behavior. There are many books on the subject available.
- A puppy chasing a small child is no different than a puppy chasing a butterfly or a kitten chasing a ball of yarn. German Shepherd puppies exhibit prey drive when nipping at the heels of a child or at clothing. Never allow a child to tease a dog, any dog. The tendency of a child to jump toward a child and then away elicits prey drive in the dog. Prey drive is also what prompts your puppy to chase a ball or stick.
- Vicious behavior in any dog, including the German Shepherd, is uncontrolled behavior, usually seen in an untrained, poorly trained, or mistreated dog. A vicious dog is not synonymous with a protective dog.
- "Fear biters" are dogs of any breed who have weak character and have no place in the relationship between humans and dogs.
- Always walk your German Shepherd on a leash unless you have put him or her through extensive obedience training. Even then, a leash provides a high safety factor.
- Always get permission to pet someone's German Shepherd. Do not be hesitant about cautioning someone who wishes to pet yours.
- Never approach a German Shepherd (or other breed) in a vehicle.
- Never let your German Shepherd chase wild or domestic livestock.
- Do not allow your German Shepherd to ride in the back of an open pick-up
truck. Deaths and injuries resulting from transporting dogs this way are completely preventable.
- Never leave your German Shepherd (or any other breed) in a locked car on a warm day. Even on an 80-degree day, the temperature inside a car can get up to 130 degrees fairly quickly and your dog can die within a matter of minutes. Leaving the windows cracked does not prevent heat build-up. Dogs do not sweat. They pant to get rid of built-up body heat. It's better to leave him at home and take him for a nice stroll when you get back.
- Many dogs do not know when to quit exercising. They love playing Frisbee or fetch so much that they will continue to the point of exhaustion. It is up to the owner to use good judgment and decide when play should stop. Wait until the evening when it is cooler to play with your dog.
- Never leave your German Shepherd alone in a car during very cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death
- Never let your German Shepherd off leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm. Dogs can lose their scent and become lost. More companion canines are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure yours is tattooed and always wears ID tags. Microchipping your puppy or dog is also a very good idea. Visit Dog Owner's Guide (©NORMA BENNETT WOOLF) for information on microchips.
- Thoroughly wipe off your dog’s legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow, or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze, or other chemicals while licking his paws, and his pads may bleed from encrusted snow or encrusted ice.
- Avoid walking your German Shepherd in areas that you suspect have been sprayed with insecticides or other chemicals. Be alert for coolant or other automotive fluid leaking from your vehicle. Animals are attracted to the sweet taste, and ingesting just a small amount can be fatal. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-4ANI-HELP if you suspect that your dog has been poisoned
- Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain less toxic propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol.
- Unless you are buying a German Shepherd for the purpose of breeding, the male should be neutered and the female spayed to prevent unwanted pregnancies and also to alleviate possible behavioral problems.
- As many as 10 million unwanted dogs enter shelters each year.
- Only four out of every fifty dogs born will find homes that last for their lifetime.
- 65%-85% of shelter dogs are euthanized each year. As many as 2.9 million dogs have been euthanized annually in recent years.
- It would take 444,000 homes to take care of the offspring of 1000 female dogs.
- Euthanasia is the #1 killer of companion animals in this country simply because of overpopulation and unwanted animals.
- A German Shepherd who is left alone all day will become bored and likely engage in destructive behavior. While willing to spend short spans of time alone, the German Shepherd is a companion and requires attention and mental stimulation.
- The German Shepherd can be strong-willed and his or her person must be able to be firm when necessary or encouraging when necessary.
- The German Shepherd is good with children, but children must be taught that the dog is not a plaything. Children and dogs must be taught respect for each other.
- Which breeds of dogs will bite? Any and all of them. Responsible dog ownership of all breeds is the key to dog bite prevention. Dog owners must take responsibility for their pets. Dogs who receive proper socialization, exercise, and attention, adequate food, water, shelter, and veterinary care, are neutered, and are trained humanely and confined safely present little risk to the community. HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES
- How large is the German Shepherd Dog? The AKC Standard states that females will be 22-24 inches in height and males will be 24-26 inches in height. The Standard does not specify weight, but one should expect a female to weigh about 70-80 pounds and a male to weigh about 80-95 pounds.
- The German Shepherd is the only breed for which there is a world-wide umbrella organization engaged in matters relating to the breed. Based in Germany, the WUSV has more than a half million members in sixty countries.
- White German Shepherds are not registrable as German Shepherd Dogs in the AKC, but can be registered under the American White Shepherd Association. White German Shepherds can compete in agility, tracking, herding, and obedience trials but are not allowed to compete in confirmation classes because white is considered a disqualifying fault in the Standard.
- German Shepherds require daily exercise to maintain physical and mental fitness.
- German Shepherds, as well as other breeds, should not allowed to run free but should be confined in a house, a fenced yard, or a kennel run. Never chain or tie a dog, and make sure that a German Shepherd receives adequate exercise and mental stimulation.
- Training is an essential part of responsible German Shepherd (and dogs in general) ownership and establishes a strong bond between a German Shepherd and his or her person.
- German Shepherds tend to be consistent in behavior, but poor breeding practices can produce unexpected temperaments and behavioral responses. Buy from a reputable breeder.
- Throughout the world there are many organizations which promote the breed and host associated activities. Included is the Sieger show each year in Germany - the largest show held for any breed in the world. The Sieger show attracts hundreds of thousands of people and involves an entry in excess of one thousand German Shepherds.
- In North America, similar systems exist although on a smaller scale. Many conformation shows are held each year as well as obedience trials, tracking trials, temperament tests, Schutzhund trials, herding trials, agility events, French ring trials, police dog trials, and others.
- Read more about Rin Tin Tin hereThe original Rin Tin Tin was a mere puppy of 10 days old when Corporal Lee Duncan insisted that his battalion in Lorraine, France, check out a bombed war dog kennel during World War I. What Duncan found on that fateful day of September 15, 1918, was a mother German Shepherd Dog and her litter, the only survivors of the bomb dropped. .
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