German Shepherd – Dog Breed Information And Health Problems

Infographics

• Origin: Germany
• Size: Large
• Dog Breed Group: Herding
• Purebred: Yes
• Lifespan: 7 to 10 years
• Height: 24 to 26 inches (males), 22 to 24 inches (females)
• Weight: 65 to 90 pounds (males), 50 to 70 pounds (females)
• Coat Appearance: Medium length, Double coat, Dense, Harsh, Soft
• Coat Colors: White, Black, Red, Sable, Gray, Blue, Tan and Black, Black and Silver, Red and Black, Black Sable, Bi-color, Bi-Black, etc.
• Temperament: Confident, Loyal, Intelligent, Gentle, Courageous
• Good With Children: Yes (with socialization)
• Intelligence Level: High
• Good With Pets: No
• Hypoallergenic: No
• Grooming: Less
• Shedding: High
• Barking: High
• Suitable For Apartments: No
• Need For Exercise: High
• Easy To Train: No
• Good For First Time Owners: No
• Health Issues: Hip dysplasia, Hemophilia A, Diabetes Mellitus, Bloat
• Litter Size: 8 puppies
• Average Price: $500 to $2500

Wait! You have to know about the acceptable and unacceptable coat colors of this breed by the major Kennel clubs.

Like any other dog breed, the coat of German shepherd varies with red, black, gray, blue or a combination of red and black, etc. But, he has some rare colors as well.

But, not all the coat colors are acceptable by the clubs. A few exceptions persist as well. So, first take a quick look at the variation in the coat color of this breed.

Common Colors

In general, German shepherd comes in red, black or sable color. But, sometimes this breed comes in a mix of red or black with tan.

• Black and silver
• Tan and Black
• Black and cream
• Red and Black
• Solid black
• Red and black
• Sable
• Black Sable
• Dark Sable
• Bi-color or Bi-black

Rare Colors

Coat colors such as liver, white, light blue, gray and panda pattern are considered as the rare colors of the German shepherd.

Now, have a quick glance at which colors are accepted and which are not by the Kennel clubs.

Acceptable Colors

The major kennel Clubs, like the AKC, accepts almost all the common coat colors. The clubs also accept all the combination of sable colors such as light, dark, bi-color and black sable as well.

Unacceptable Colors

Rare colors such as gray and blue are usually unacceptable by the clubs. The clubs don’t accept:

• Pure white
• Solid gray
• Solid blue
• Dark red
• Fawn
• Yellowish white
• Light and dark silver

Also, the American Kennel Club does not accept blue, liver or pale colors of this breed and these colors are considered faults.

So, know the acceptable colors and buy the beautiful breed!

German Shepherd Mix

Couldn’t get a German shepherd? No worries! You can get a mix breed of the gorgeous German shepherd.

Like the German shepherd, the mix breeds are too adorable and popular. An intelligent and alert German shepherd can be mixed with other famous breeds such as Golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, Poodles, Rottweiler, etc.

Now, take a look at the popular mix breeds of German shepherd and choose your favorite.

• Golden shepherd (Golden retriever + German shepherd)
• Labrashepherd (Labrador retriever + German shepherd)
• Shepadoodle (Labradoodle + German shepherd)
• Siberian shepherd (Siberian husky + German shepherd)
• Shug (Pug + German shepherd)
• Shollie (Collie + German shepherd)
• Shepherd pit (Pitbull Terrier + German shepherd)
• Shepkita (Akita + German shepherd)
• Rottweiler shepherd or Shepweiler (Rottweiler + German shepherd)
• Corman shepherd (Corgi + German shepherd)
• Chow shepherd (Chow chow + German shepherd)
• Alaskan shepherd (Alaskan Malamute + German shepherd)
• New shep (Newfoundland + German shepherd)
• German Australian shepherd (Australian shepherd + German shepherd)
• Euro mountain sheparnese (Bernese mountain dog + German shepherd)

A healthy German Shepherd has an average lifespan of 9-13 years. There have been records of GSDs living more than 15 years, so it is hard to guarantee a certain limit for its lifespan.

Visit a vet who regularly checks your dog, and inquire him regarding its health and life expectancy. Take the steps he suggests to protect your dog from diseases; helping it stay healthy is the first step you can take towards prolonging its lifespan.

Train him well and you will be proud to own him. Temperament of this breed largely depends on the initial training he receives. They are highly intelligent, loyal and fearless; if you do not train them to socialize with others, they can sometimes be downright hostile towards people.

The ones that are bred mainly for work purposes are mostly business-like with a hard temperament; they can be trained to begin being gentle gradually. This shouldn’t scare you out and prevent you from buying one because patient teaching can help get the dog to exhibit a stable temper.

Here are a few things to remember regarding the temperament of the German Shepherd;

• They are exceedingly eager to learn and work; so train them when they are in a good mood.
• German Shepherds are intelligent and agile so get them to join a sports club meant for dogs; their talent shouldn’t be wasted by locking them indoors 24/7.
• Early socializing is a must because making them be friends with people, once he’s grown, would be difficult.
• They may turn destructive when they are struck by boredom. You should be ready to deal with the melodrama and must also prevent this from happening by letting him play for a while every day.
• Their aggressiveness towards other dog breeds is a matter of concern, so introducing him to other pets, while he is still young, is mandatory.

Interesting Facts About German Shepherd

• Dogs formally trained for military services back in the 1920s were mostly German Shepherds.
• The first GSDs were used to as Sheep-herders to protect them from predators.
• Few GSDs with an unusual coloring are called Panda Shepherds
• They have a double coat; the outer coat sheds most of the time in a year.
• The bite of a German Shepherd has 238 pounds of force. Never try to meddle with a GSD ever again. Lol!

German Shepherd Names

There have been multiple ideas on the ideal food requirement of a dog but you alone would be able to decide how much food is “enough” for your pet. Ensure that the food brand you select contains 22% protein and 5%-8% fat.

The meal intervals for your German Shepherd could be broken into 3-4 times a day based on your pet’s food intake. When it is still a pup, you must take extra care of its feeding habits; give your pet more food since this is the time when it gains muscles.

German Shepherd Feeding Chart

If you have a PHD in training dogs, then you would know that teaching a German Shepherd is extremely easy. This dog breed is very intelligent and requires just a few sessions of training each day to learn tricks and commands.

Start training your pet when it is 8 months old in order to get him to learn manners and basics real quick. Patience is the key to effective training, so stay consistent in your training efforts.

Practice “treat-training” by awarding him with a lot of appreciation and food treats to keep him motivated. He might consider your sudden praises quite weird in the beginning but he will gradually understand and learn accordingly in order to win treats.

Top 5 Don’t Do’s to consider while training your German Shepherd:

1. Don’t keep nagging him to perform a trick; Continuous nagging can lead the pet to completely ignore your orders in future.
2. Don’t shout at your pet; yelling out commands will never help.
3. Don’t isolate him from other smaller pets at home. Instead, train him to socialize with them slowly.
4. Don’t applaud him for a negative behaviour like jumping at people and scaring our kids. Teach him to differentiate between friends and foes.
5. Don’t take too long training sessions; this might get him feeling bored very quickly.

Since the past few years, hereditary health issues have become common in dogs because of indiscriminate breeding. Buying your pet from a recognized breeder is the only way you can avoid bringing home a dog with a truck-load of genetic diseases.

These are the common problems that the German Shepherd suffers from;

• Hip Dysplasia – A malformation of ball and socket joint in the hip can lead to this painful disease that can lead to limping and reduced activity. The dogs stay confined to their kennels because joint stiffness prevents them from being active.
• Diabetes Mellitus – Insufficient production of insulin by the pancreas can lead to this can lead to this disease. Controlled diet and early medication are mandatory to keep the dog healthy and active.
• Hemophilia A – This is also referred to as the “bleeders disease” and is caused due to Factor VIII deficiency. Repeated transfusion of blood or plasma can help the dog lives up to its adulthood.
• Bloat – This may come as a surprise that bloating in dogs is extremely fatal. The symptoms include restlessness in the pet, vomiting, and paleness near the nose. This disease calls for immediate vet’s assistance.

The average price of a German Shepherd dog ranges between $500 to $2500. The adoption cost of a German Shepherd dog ranges between $300 to $350.

Trained dogs may cost you higher but never fall prey to false claims. Ensure the reliability of the breeder concerned prior to making a purchase from him.

Bringing home a dog is always exciting and requires a lot of thoughtful decision-making. Buy a pup only if you want to and not because your neighbor has got one.

As far as German Shepherds are concerned, they require a lot of exercising and training; hence you must buy a GSD only if you are willing to commit towards regular training and attention.

German Shepherd Breeders

German Shepherd is a very common dog breed and is widely known for its courageous and loyal nature; it has become the second most popular household dog in the US.

With so many GSDs in demand, it has become mandatory to check if the breeder sells a healthy pup. Indiscriminate breeding has led to the onset of numerous genetic diseases in the breed; hence buy your pet from an authentic German Shepherd breeder.

GSDs are neither shy nor introvert in nature; so if a breeder claims to own a pup with very silent and shy nature, then you better look for another breeder. Always get connected to a breeder who is ready enough to share the medical details of a pup and is willing to sign up guarantee papers before selling off his puppy.