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The Breed
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COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Germany. SPECIAL SKILLS: Family pet, suitable for a number of other purposes. SIZE: The shoulder-height is 60 - 65cm (23 ½ - 25 ½ in) for dogs and 55 - 60cm (21 ½ - 23 ½ in) for bitches. COAT: The German Shepherd can have three kinds of coat: coarse straight-haired, long coarse straight-haired, and wavy long-haired. The last of these three is less desirable. The coat can be black, iron-grey, ash-colored, or can be one of these colors with regular brown, or yellow-to-light brown markings. An upper layer of black is very common. CARE REQUIRED: The coat requires relatively little attention. During shedding the use of a special comb will help to remove dead and loose hairs. CHARACTER: This very intelligent and eager pupil is an obedient, sociable, and friendly dog that is temperamental, attentive, alert, protective, brave, self-assured, independent, and unconditionally loyal towards its handler and family. TRAINING: Throughout the world these dogs are used as guide dogs, avalanche rescue dogs, tracking dogs, watchdogs, defense dogs, and police dogs. In some of these roles, the German Shepherd is almost the only breed used. In obedience competitions they stand head and shoulders above over breeds. It is eager to learn from you, intelligent and quick to get the hang of things. Work principally with your voice. The great majority of the breed worship their handler and have an enormous need for contact with him. If you do not have the time to devote to it, do not purchase a German Shepherd. In its country of origin, the German Shepherd is still used for herding livestock. |
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SOCIAL BEHAVIOR
: German Shepherds get on
well with their own kind, other animals, and children provided
they have been correctly socialized. But unwanted visitors are stopped. They are territorial by
nature. EXERCISE: People who keep German
Shepherds frequently overlook the fact that they are eager to work for their
handler. It is not sufficient for them to be companions in the home with nothing
else to occupy them. Join a breed group or other organization so that you can
participate together in agility, obedience, defense and police trials, tracking,
or whatever else is available, in order to keep your dog both physically and
mentally fit. For all large dogs, and that includes the German Shepherd, all
their energy is needed during the growing stage for healthy bones, joints, and
muscles. Damage which cannot be put right can be done by over-exercising or
inadequate diet. They can happily live in an outdoor kennel provided they get
sufficient exercise and regular attention. SPECIAL POINTS: 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.
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