When he comes from parents who have good temperaments and has been socialized to become familiar with many different people, sights and sounds, he is an intelligent, easy to train, devoted, protective and fun-loving dog. On average, the German Shepherd live between 9 and 13 years. German Shepherds are medium-size dogs, meaning they mature slower than small dog breeds. Training your puppy should begin from an early age and should not only incorporate commands and puppy etiquette but it should also include socialization with new people, environments and even other animals. German Shepherds have a double coat which is close and dense with a thick undercoat. German Shepherds quickly learn to “sit”, “stay” and “down” in no time at all so they should progress to more complicated tricks. At first, they are very shy and are not good at making friends, but once they do, they are extremely devoted to them. As time went on, German Shepherds were also trained as war dogs, police dogs, and guard dogs. German Shepherd Guide dogs are among the oldest known assistance dogs to date. Their posture, with upright ears upright and a straight back is iconic. For these reasons, owners may wonder what the German Shepherd’s relationship with a young puppy will be like, especially when they intend to get a new dog. Here are top 10 reasons why you should choose GSD as your family dog: 1- German Shepherd is an intelligent dog breed – The largest German Shepherds were initially bred as livestock herders and Guardians, so they spent most of their time out in the elements with their flock. It's an ideal breed for active households. We all know that German Shepherds make great police dogs but how can that translate into a family setting. German Shepherds are one of the best guard dog breeds. German Shepherds are the very last breed that you should consider as a family dog. Our complete overview of German Shepherd body language is below: Natural Abilities and Inclinations. Because they want to work, they need a lot of mental and physical stimulation to … German Shepherds are natural protectors, which is why they’re often used as guard dogs and in law enforcement. Ive been breeding German shepherds for over 20 years and would never own another dog besides one of them. However, tilting their head may help them to single out phrases that are important to them such as when you are telling it to come for food ( source ). Final Thoughts. ... Obviously an operation is more expensive than a hearing test so I can't really tell you an exact price. However, there are standards for show lines where color is a requirement such as strong rich colors like black, black and red, gray, black and tan, blue, or black and silver.. Poised and competent, they listen intently for commands, and they’re eager to execute them. 5) Dogs have good distance vision. How Old do German Shepherds Live? My late Hairy German was a red-and-black from W. German working and show lines, but I previously had German Shepherds from STASI East German/DDR working lines, Czech & East German military/working lines, and a mix of both with … The lens of the eye forms from three different sections. German shepherds always keep an eye out. German Shepherds, originally bred from a line of herding and farm dogs in Germany, are very popular working dogs, companions and protectors. They’ll fetch, search, sit, jump, and heel in an instant. We must bear in mind that the German Shepherd is a large breed, so the ovaries have the capacity to produce more eggs and the uterus has more space to store the puppies, which means that they usually have large litters. West Germans do not look like East Germans, Czechs, Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherds, American Shepherds, or the working and show variations on each group. Since they are so active, they usually don’t get too overweight. Although German Shepherds may look intimidating, they are sweet and loving towards their owners. German shepherds continue to mature up until they are around 36 months old, and many do not consider a GSD an adult until they are two and a half or three years old if male, and over two years if female. German shepherds are not suitable for everyone, so before you consider responding to an advert, make sure you do your homework! This breed was used during the first and second World Wars. Healthy German shepherds in the prime of their lives should be able to handle temperatures up to 20° F. But once the temperature dips below 20° F, it is simply too cold for any shepherd dogs ( 1 ). However, having the most successful experience will depend greatly on doing your research into a puppy’s history. German shepherds can be very gentle companions and family protectors with proper training and socialization. When they are comfortable with people they know, they are very easy-going and nice but if they are feeling threatened, they become very strong and protective which makes them a powerful watchdog. German Shepard Body Language. 1. They are the most loyal, caring, and intelligent dogs out there. 11-year-old German Shepherd At this age, German Shepherds may see limping, difficulty eating or inability to keep food down, joint pain, hearing and vision loss, urinary issues like incontinence or difficulty in urination, among others. The ideal German Shepherd is direct, fearless and confident. Though German Shepherds are beautiful dogs, you want to make sure the breed is a good fit for your household. The intelligence and protective demeanor of this breed can make it a good choice for families with children as long as the dog is properly trained. A German Shepherd almost won the first-ever Oscar Best Actor award. German Shepherds have been my constant companions. I also enjoy sharing my knowledge about German Shepherds with the world, and I encourage all future dog owners to consider one as a companion as well. Tens of thousands of online searches for German shepherd pups for sale are conducted every month in the UK. Avoid heavy work and impact to the joints until your dog is at least one to two years old. ... German Shepherds are working dogs first and foremost even if you decide on a show line dog. No. Some German Shepherds can be affected by pituitary dwarfism. However, there have been cases where it has spread for more than 15 years. While the body language of dogs is a large topic, there are several quick tips you can learn very quickly. The perfect GSD Guide Dog will possess a quiet and calm demeanor, maintain a high level of initiative and possess a high level of concentration while it is working, and a strong will to continue to do the work for which it was trained as long as it can help it's owner. 10 Interesting Facts About German Shepherds. German Shepherds were bred to be working dogs and they would work alongside their owners for many hours on a daily basis. German Shepherds are good inside the house, but when shedding their coat they need to be brushed regularly to minimise accumulation of shed hairs on people or in the house. Plus, they have stunning […] Well-bred German Shepherds will be naturally protective - this is part of the standard of the breed - that they be bold, intelligent, curious, fearless. They are playful, fun-loving, full of energy, and, when properly socialized, German Shepherds love children. A german shepherd is a good guard dog though. They can be vicious, disobedient, and too rough to have around your children. Besides, German Shepherds with pedigree tend to have fewer puppies than those that do not have such a pure lineage or care. Are White German Shepherds Good Pets? German Shepherds require a great deal of mental exercise as well as physical, including thorough obedience training, advanced tricks, or agility courses. German Shepherd Temperament and Personality. I love every aspect of training them and simply just having them around. The German Shepherd is a breed of dog that is very careful with strange dogs and people that are not from their closest environment and for being highly perceptive of their surroundings. Meeting the parent dogs and making sure a vet has conducted appropriate genetic tests on both parents. German Shepherds are extremely loyal once they get to know someone. Intelligent dog breeds like German Shepherds, … Once you have one, you will see what I mean. They are extremely attractive animals. Well, it doesn’t which is why German Shepherds don’t make good family dogs. ... Hip scoring of parent dogs and only choosing pups from parent dogs with good hip scores themselves can help to greatly reduce the chances of choosing a puppy that will themselves develop hip dysplasia. Even additional courses like herding or tracking are a good idea. 6) I believe (without looking it up) that a dog's eyesight is fully developed by 9 months. German Shepherds have very good hearing and it is not necessary for them to tilt their heads in order to hear things. German Shepherds will protect their owners at all costs, and this may be particularly beneficial for seniors who are hard of hearing or weak. Welcoming a German Shepherd into your home and your family is a decision that you won’t regret, but before adopting your new friend, there are some things you need to be aware of. German Shepherds also have this coat. ... For effective German Shepherd training, you must be a good leader in your dog’s life. Is a German Shepherd a Good Family Dog | Anything German Shepherd July 13, 2019 at 1:42 am […] good in the Christmas card photo, and German Shepherds are perfect for that. There is also a sable working line German Shepherds are preferred in military and police works. German Shepherds are a herding breed that were bred to move livestock around farms. German Shepherds are Attentive. The dogs require house training; a relatively easy task because of their intelligence. My German Shepherd, Tasha, could get distracted by a cat down at the end of the street during training. The coat is accepted in two variants: medium and long. Your German Shepherd will learn to recognize his name by hearing it a lot. If an intruder were to try to break in or rob a senior, a German Shepherd’s alertness will keep the senior safe. How many puppies do German Shepherds usually have? It is common for German Shepherds to face arthritis, skin problems, decreased activity, dental issues, weight gain or loss, or even cancer at this age and older. German Shepherd or GSD serve as an ideal family dog. For these reasons, plus many more, German Shepherds are extremely popular. As a result of this, they will naturally look to their owners for direction. This is a good question. German Shepherds Have Large Ears 2. Working lines German Shepherds are preferably to have double coat medium in length for more tolerance in climate. Often portrayed as military or police dogs in films, German shepherds are often thought to be aggressive. They are considered as good house dogs because of their calm nature and caring temperament. German shepherds, or Alsatians as they are sometimes known, have become a popular breed. 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