As their name implies, German Shepherds were
bred as herding dogs. As such they were bred to work closely with
people and to control large moving masses. Herding dogs were bred
to work and need work; if you don't provide them with it they will
find their own work to do. Also bred to think independently at
times, these dogs can be smart problem solvers.
From their background as herders, you can
expect these dogs to chase moving objects like bicycles and cars.
They also have a tendency to nip at running children the same way
they would nip at the heels of livestock. This is known as
movement-stimulated nipping.
German Shepherds are very intelligent and
versatile. They can be trained to be police dogs, guide dogs,
seeing-eye dogs, protection dogs and so on. They can make
wonderful companions. Even though highly trainable, German
Shepherds require professional assistance at least for the first
two years. They need constant, daily training and socialization
sessions. Intensive early socialization is required to offset the
problems of shyness and noise sensitivity that is common among all
herding breeds. One should definitely not reward aggression or
cowardice in this breed. Male German Shepherds should be neutered
early.
German Shepherds have been an extremely
popular breed for many years which has led to problems associated
with overbreeding and poor breeding. Widespread genetic and
temperament problems has left the Shepherd breed abounding with
dogs who suffer from health and behaviour problems, excessive
shyness and aggression. German Shepherds often become over
attached to their owners which leads to separation anxiety, over
protectiveness and fear of new situations.
The average height of a German Shepherd is
between 22-26 inches and their average weight ranges from 65-100
pounds. Some, of course, can get much larger than this. Most
Shepherds are black and tan in colour, but some can be solid
black, white, or gray. These dogs are double-coated breeds and as
such shed profusely. When shedding occurs, usually in the spring
and fall, German Shepherds need to be brushed daily. Shedding
lasts a couple of weeks, during which time the dogs will shed an
amazing amount of hair.
As previously mentioned, these dogs need
work and that translates into plenty of exercise. At least two
sessions per day would be a minimum requirement. Daily training
sessions would also be highly recommended.
Due to the high volume of breeding over the
years, the behaviour of German Shepherds around children and other
pets can be quite unpredictable. Some dogs can be fantastic around
kids and pets and others can be the opposite. Some of this
behaviour can be attributed to inherited traits but training and
early socialization also play an important role here.
German Shepherds are prone to a vast array
of health concerns. Here is a small list: hip dysplasia, elbow
dysplasia, spinal degeneration, auto-immune disease, thyroid
dysfunction, subaortic stenosis, skin disorders and
gastrointestinal problems. Poor temperament has now become so
common that a stable, confident and calm Shepherd is a very
pleasant surprise.
At their best, German Shepherds are
second-to-none for their companionship and devotion. They can be
trained to do almost anything. It is a sad situation that these
good specimens are hard to find with so many unhealthy and
unstable dogs out there.
