Is The German Shepherd The Perfect Dog For You?
Originating from the Bavaria region, the German Shepherd was bred from local Shepherd dogs and originally contained a wire haired version as well. This dog was first registered in 1899 and has been a popular family pet and show dog ever since.
A large dog, weighing in at around 90/100 pounds, the German Shepherd is perhaps one of the most recognized of dog breeds. Typically having black and tan markings, the German shepherd has a large triangular head with wide upright years and almond shaped. His tale is bushy underneath and hangs halfway down his legs. while most people recognize the short coated variety, the German Shepherd actually comes in three types, the long-haired, the rough coated, and the long rough coated. Colors can be the typical black and tan, all-black, blue or white and liver. The white German Shepherd Is actually not a German shepherd breed but a separate breed called the American White Shepherd.
Of all the dog breeds, the German Shepard may be the hardest working. Due to his high intelligence and keen interest in learning he is often used for police work, to aid the blind, and search and rescue missions, and as guard dogs. As a family pet, he can be a loyal and loving friend. Most German shepherds get along well with children and other pets but you need to be sure that you pick your shepherd from a good breeder. this dog can be a bit protective of his family so you want to make sure he Is trained and socialized properly from the get-go.
The German Shepherd likes to be kept active and have a job to do. This means that you will want him to be an active part of your family and enjoyed outings with you. To keep him busy you might think about entering him and agility contests at which he will probably excel. As they are smart and eager to please, they usually quite easy to train.
Hip dysplasia can be a problem in these dogs but this is due mostly to bad breeding so you need to be sure that you take a good look at the parents of the shepherd and be sure that they guaranteed not to have hip or elbow problems. this dog breed can also be prone to skin problems such as eczema and flea allergies as well as I problems like keratitis, dwarfism and epilepsy.
The German Shepherd does not have any excessive grooming requirements although he is a heavy shedder and does need to be brushed every day.
Although the German Shepherd is rather inactive indoors and can make a good apartment dog, he does need to be exercised frequently so if you have him in an apartment you do need to take him for daily walks and preferably for a long romp in the park on weekends. They love a lot of activity and like to have something to do, so things like playing frisbee or agility training are perfect for this breed. A home with a big yard for your dog to play and is ideal.
Just like any other dog, a German shepherd needs to be seen regularly by a vet into a ball be recommended vaccinations and other medications as deemed necessary by the vet. With proper care, this breed can live to be around 13 years old.
About Author: Lee Dobbins writes for http://www.dogbreeds123.com where you can learn more about dog care, dog training, dog supplies and dog breeds like the German Shepherd.
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March 4th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
I disagree with “The white German Shepherd Is actually not a German shepherd breed but a separate breed called the American White Shepherd.”
I have a white german shepherd who CAME from a normal colored shepherd who carried the white shepherd gene. White shepherds are exactly the same as a German shepherd except they carry the gene that stops the color in the coat. The white coat is recessive so when a white GSD is bred with a colored shepherd, the pups will be the colors of the colored parent. But if that colored shepherd carries the recessive gene the pups have a chance of being white. There is NOTHING that separates white GSD’s from a normal GSD
March 5th, 2008 at 12:14 am
This is taken from the “American White Shepherd Association”:
And from the same Org:
This can also lead to the argument that this type of “selective breeding” has lead to the American Showlines being not what the original GSD breed was, and still is, in the German working line bloodlines.
Or is that too far from this discussion?
March 5th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Well there may be a new breed coming out called the “American White Shepherd” but I just want people to point out for less confusion that there are White German Shepherds. Then there are “American White Shepherds” who are specifically bred to be just that.
My dog is a German Shepherd whose parents both happened to have the white gene and her and a brother out of a litter of 5 turned out white. Her parents are both pure bred German Shepherds. She is not recognized in the AKC because of her coloring but she still is a German Shepherd.
Yes there may be “American White Shepherds” but there are obviously differences between German Shepherds and the American White Shepherd such as the breeding for different temperment and the coloring.
But a White German Shepherd does exist.
March 5th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
This is taken from the “American White Shepherd Association”:
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WHITE GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG AND THE WHITE SHEPHERD?
At this point in time, there is no difference except that the White Shepherd is only registered as a breed apart with AWSA and with UKC in the United States. In time and with the deepening rift in the separation process, it is expected that the WS will continue to evolve and changes will be more readily seen.
And from the same Org:
Over the years, the White Shepherd has been bred to have a more mellow, soft and sensitive character and most dogs will lack the serious drives necessary to be really competitive on the Schutzhund field. So anyone wanting to compete in the various protection sports would probably do better with a different breed of dog.
This can also lead to the argument that this type of “selective breeding” has lead to the American Showlines being not what the original GSD breed was, and still is, in the German working line bloodlines.
Or is that too far from this discussion?
What kind of crap is this? The first blurb says there’s no difference at all. Then the second has a single sentence that has both future and past tense in it. Not a very good argument, and the organization itself doesn’t sound very credible.
They may be trying to make a new breed, but they certainly haven’t done so yet. Even if they do, normal GSD’s will still carry the white genes, so some whites will still be normal shepherds. I doubt anyone would be able to tell the difference anyway.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
I know that you’ll find many more sable colored GSDs from working lines as you would from show lines, and from what I gather from those WS folks – even less whites from working lines.
Not that I find the color of a good GSD to make any difference for me, as I prefer a GSD to be from working lines (very high drive dogs) for use in Protection Training – and the argument will go that you can’t make a “pet quality” dog into a top notch Schutzhund III dog. That’s what I will allow to be discussed here, and not the preferred color of a dog. Although this article has brought out a good discussion!
OFF TOPIC RANT:
Thanks for the comments folks! And by the way, I’ll be making the “contact” info that users submit before they comment into mandatory fields – as I’ve been getting a few bogus emails addys and such – so sorry to all you “regular people”
March 6th, 2008 at 9:44 am
Although yes the working dogs more often look the same and come from similar lines, there are still White working dogs despite what you think because I have seen them. Although yes working lines are bred to be working dogs I beleive any dog raised from a pup to work can do it. Also what you answered with was besides the point.
You specifically mention in your article that a White German Shepherd is considered an “American White Shepherd” now. Meaning that I am not off topic in bringing this to your attention because I am addressing something in your article.
You said that you do not care the color of your German Shepherd you focus more on the working drive and the pedigree. I am not talking about the preferred color of a dog by humans. I am discussing whether or not a White German Shepherd should be called an “American White Shepherd” just because the natural genes its parents gave it are making its colors white, Just like the liver and the blue.
I feel that the AKC is acting rediculous in not recognizing these dogs as German Shepherds and the AWSA is just re-enforcing their stupid behavior by trying to create a “new breed”.
If you feel this is off topic move this to your “what color do German Shepherds come in” and debate this with me there.
Reguardless whether my dog is recognized as a German Shepherd by the AKC, or is disqualified from the color. My dog IS a pure bred German Shepherd Born and Raised. Not some new breed American Shepherd.
An American Shepherd is bred to be just that, my dog was bred to be a German Shepherd and came out white.
So please for future reference try to be more specific if you want to make a website on German Shepherds.
Thanks
March 6th, 2008 at 10:56 am
The only person I saw talking about the preferred color of a dog is you Martin. The article clearly states that White Shepherds are a new breed which is 100% incorrect even according to the “authority” you cited.
Personally I find it hard to believe that what line a dog comes from really matters. The more genetic study that is done on canids, the more they realize there’s not much difference between breeds. You can’t even determine if the animal is a dog or a wolf from a DNA test!
The more I read about dogs the more it seems, to me, that talking about different breeds doing this, and different breeds doing that is pretty equivalent to saying black people are better at sports.
March 6th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Let me start off by stating that this article in question was not written by me. It has been added from an RSS feed that I found some time ago. While I proof read the topics and articles I place on this site, I readily admit that this one was added without real reflection on my part.
The article author is Lee Dobbins, who writes for http://www.dogbreeds123.com.
So as far as debating whether a GSD being white in color is a “real” Shepherd is something I care not to do, as they are. OK, I said it (and apologize for any mis-understanding as far as this topic goes
@Mel: You state that you find it hard to believe what line a dog comes from really matters. This goes against the reasons why professional dog sport people with top Schutzhund III titles do so “mainly” with working line dogs.
Dogs of specific breeds are bred for specific temperaments, correct? If you want a high drive GSD that is genetically able to handle high stresses under defensive training, you simply cannot use any GSD – just because it is a German Shepherd. There are plenty of junk yard dog trainers who will tell you different, but that is simply not the case.
GSDs bred by owners of dog sport/protection dog kennels will be able to argue this point in a much more relevant and conclusive way. I’ll invite one to join in on this discussion, and have them give their experience as a working line dog trainer. But in the mean time, here is a link to an excellent article written by Ed Frawley on the subject of “blood lines” – and their importance in what you want to do with your dogs (And I know that the title of the article itself will be enough to start another “heated” discussion):
German Bloodline Dogs Vs. American Bloodline Dogs.
March 6th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
@Mel (again):
Let me say this…you simply cannot compare a person to a dog. All dog breeds are distinct from each other by their breeds – some are genetically wired to be herders, some are not, for example. This is basic stuff.
Of course, dogs all have common ancestry – but the main differences between breeds are what make each breed uniquely loved by all kinds of different people living different lifestyles.
Please read that Ed Frawley article from start to finish, including the email questions and answers that follow his article. And remember, we don’t have to agree with Ed’s style of training or his opinion on working line vs. show line – but what he does have is the experience to back up what he says. Members of the different schutzhund clubs I know all agree with this line of thought. Maybe we are just a different “breed” of dog trainer/owners too
March 6th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
The article you linked is interesting but most of the evidence he gives for bad dogs is either just declaring that his dogs are genetically better or that the bad dogs were improperly selected, trained, and/or handled.
The second part of the article, the email he goes on to link, the guy even says that you can train a dog that’s a “knucklehead,” it’s just more difficult.
Secondly, I fail to see why it’s not valid. Not very long ago the prevailing thought was that black people were genetically inferior. So he sounds little better than a dog bigot. I can’t take anyone seriously that calls a living animal “garbage.”
May 11th, 2008 at 10:13 am
what is the difference between long haired, rough coated, and long-rough coated? does one type shed more?
December 28th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
i always wanted a german shepherd they are the coollest dogs ever and i still love them!!!!!!!!!!!!!laters
December 28th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
god. I just re read through this article.
You wrote this absolutly horrifying. I am actually embarassed for you because anyone with any sort of knowledge about a German Shepherd would shake their head over how you wrote this.
did you notice you spelled a dogs tail, as “TALE” like a “story tale?”
or “EARS” is spelled “Years”
You really shouldnt be paying for a website if you are going to create something this horrifying to read.
I would also like to point you in the right direction. go to some white shepherd club sites. and read where the white shepherd came from. The FIRST registered GSD had a white grandparent. So whites have been running through the german shepherd lines for a LONG time.
and its highly possible to breed two working line dogs and get a white.
they are NOT a seperate breed.
they are registered with the AKC and the UKC and all other registries as a GERMAN SHEPHERD. not an AMERICAN white shepherd.
By the way I would like to make it well known that my WHITE german shepherd is now involved in schutzhund and is excelling. So much for your whole theory…
December 28th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Hello Maris,
Please READ the entire article – INCLUDING the author. Here’s the author line from the article:
And while the article is incorrect, I have not removed it due to the fact that it allows someone like you to critique it without reading who wrote it.
August 15th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
do you know where i can get a german shepherd at? i also was wondering how i can convince my parents in letting me get one?
sincerly,
alex
ps please help me please i have been trying like forevr to get a german shepherd
August 17th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Hello Alex,
If you let me know your area via our contact form, I can get your parents in touch with a reputable German Shepherd breeder.
As you probably know, German Shepherds get BIG, and will shed, and need plenty of exercise and room. Plus dedication on your part/your families part in taking the time to incorporate a German Shepherd into your family. German Shepherds, in my opinion, should be house dogs, and not just kept in the backyard for times we just want to play with them. They should be living with us
December 8th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Martin: I think you tried to answer an honest debate honestly here and like most debates, there are just some issues that get all crazy when conflicting opinions abound. GREAT job! So, some people don’t tolerate disagreements well. I guess that’s why they are called debates? Anyway, you handled it well.
My two cents worth?
1 – this made for really interesting reading on a boring cold afternoon and
2 – You are right. Not any dog can work. Any dog can be trained to work but that doesn’t mean that that dog will be a successful working dog or turn into one.
Therefore, in my opinion, anybody who thinks that any dog can work is smokin crack. (and I love my casual family gsd, btw, but a working dog she could never be. she does not have the disposition)
Schutzhund, Search and Rescue, Other Protection, Drug, and Cadaver trainers, breeders, as well as handlers and their dogs should be highly respected and not so flipantly or ignorantly referred to by those who obviously don’t get it. Seems like you are one of the those who do get it. My sister works dogs and has trained and placed dogs that have gone to the World Trade Center disaster, the shuttle crash, etc and has worked with FEMA handlers. I’ve seen what it takes to train and maintain these dogs. Not just any Tom, Dick or Hairy Poodle (ha. couldn’t resist – sorry to any poodle lovers) could handle and maintain the rigid requirements for that kind of work …
December 9th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
@AliceIvy – Thanks for your thoughts! Healthy debate is a GREAT way to learn all aspects of a topic, and bust yourself out of a pre-set mindset.
You sound like you also “get it” – so I wanted to see if you Twitter or Facebook, so I can friend you up/follow you. Like minded interests are what I am all about. That and arguing PASSIONATELY about the things I am PASSIONATE about lol!
I’m gsbmartin on Twitter (http://twitter.com/gsbmartin/ ).
January 1st, 2010 at 12:23 am
I just love German Shepherds. I’m a college student, so when I finally get married, have a house of my own, and am able to support both myself, my family and a dog, I want to get one of my own. One question I have though is the whole, Long Haired, Long Rough Haired, and Short Haired German Shepherd question. What is the difference between them?
I mean, I’ve heard that the Long haired German Shepherd has a beautiful long soft coat, and that “supposedly” they have a nicer temperament but I haven’t heard anything else. (I don’t believe that last part mind you, every dog has his or her own personality and temperament.) My problem though, is that I look all over online sites, but nowhere I have looked tells me what the heck Long Rough Haired means. So can you tell me about the coats? Also, how often can you wash a German Shepherd? It’s like no website agrees.
Please note that my family owns dogs, one being a poodle that requires a lot of grooming at home, so aside from not being 100% used to so big a dog, I am confidant in my ability to train, feed, groom, exercise, and generally own and be mother to a German Shepherd. (Cus let’s be honest, when it comes to dogs, we’re just the dogs parents. We don’t own them. They own us. I mean seriously, who walks behind who picking up droppings?) Just so people don’t ask me if I’m confidant in my ability to own one.
Sorry, I had to post this last part…. Any time I’ve asked a question about German Shepherds elsewhere, people have jumped on my like my families dog on a bone.
Anyway, the article was interesting. Not entirely sure it’s accurate, but it bears further research. *sighs* Just another research topic in the life of a college student.
January 22nd, 2010 at 7:04 pm
Many of the original GSD’s that were birthed circa 1901 when the breed was created were all white, and were bred as the best sheep herding dogs the world has to offer, in other words, working dogs. there is no reason the AKC or other organizations should call it a fault in the breed. there is no genetic difference. do your homework…
January 22nd, 2010 at 8:58 pm
Ok, last time – this article was NOT, I repeat NOT written by me. It was posted as a favor to the author. So it’s bringing a healthy discussion, which is great – but direct your criticisms to Lee Dobbins.