What are the common health problems for German
Shepherd dogs? German Shepherds are prone to elbow and hip
dysplasia and are also prone to bloating. There is also a
considerable number of them who develop Von Willebrand's disease
and skin allergies. The average life span for the German Shepherd
dog is 12 years.Is the German
Shepherd a dangerous breed?
The perception that German Shepherds are a
dangerous breed may come form the fact that they are largely used
as police or military dogs, giving them a "bad" reputation. Their
strong jaw and large teeth can also look scary. Although German
Shepherd are largely loyal and obedient to their owners, they can
be trained to attack upon command. When not trained properly, they
can be aggressive. They also have short temperaments. They are
also a target for Breed Specific Legislation in some countries and
are perceived as inherently dangerous. Many people are working to
outlaw BSL, as it unfairly targets larger dogs who are quite
docile and well behaved when trained by responsible owners. So
long as you are a responsible dog owner, a German Shepherd is not
an inherently dangerous dog.
Who are some of the famous/infamous German
Shepherds?
German Shepherds have become one of man's
most favorite dogs throughout history. Some of the more famous of
them include movie and TV stars like Bullet, the Wonder Dog,
Charlie from the movie All Dogs Go To Heaven, and Jerry-Lee a
sidekick police dog for the films K-9 and K-911. Some are pets of
famous people and have shared in the limelight of their owners.
These include Clipper, JFK's dog and Major, the pet of Franklin D.
Roosevelt.
What are the disqualifying faults in German
Shepherd dog shows?
Standards for shows vary widely in country
and governing bodies. The most common disqualifying factors
however include floppy ears that never stand up completely, also
called the "friendly-tipped" dogs. This fault is caused by ear
cartilage damage usually occurring in pups under 12 months, but is
not genetic. Another disqualifying fault is when the tail stands
vertically and exposes the anus. A German Shepherd is also
disqualified when its muzzle is not predominantly black. In a lot
of shows, white fur in German Shepherds is disqualified, but is
admitted in some.
