Understanding your German Shepherd Dogs
Known for their great companionship and devotion, Schaferhund or simply German Shepherds are one of the best breed of dog to deal with. They are considered to be one of the nature’s unique creations and a gift to the canines. Though they are originally referred to as working dogs specifically herding dog for sheep, German Shepherds are also good house mates too. However, dealing with this breed of dog can be a difficult task and you will need necessary information in order for you to generate a good companionship with them. The average height of an ideal German shepherds are around 24 to 26 inches. An adult of this breed has a total of 42 teeth, 22 from the upper jaw and 20 below. Their ears always point upward which adds to the appearence of their alertness. It’s their unique characteristic to have two coats of medium length. The first coat is less dense and wirery compared to the second coat that is less visible on the top much softer and more dense. Their hairs are much coarser on their legs and neck as well. When bringing a German shepherd into your home, you have to keep in mind that you are not just adding a pet dog into your family. You have to quickly let them feel that they are welcome to be a part of it. He needs your love, together with a correct attention to his grooming, food, exercise and welfare. By doing these, your dog will surely devote his entire life to you, everything that you own, and particularly your home will be in his exclusive care. German Shepherds are versatile and intelligent. In fact, they are highly trainable, and they easily master different tasks in the field. They can be trained as police dogs, guide dogs, and protection dogs plus many more tasks depending on their individual capacity to learn. However, such training should last at least two years with refresher training through out the shepherd's lifetime. The training should either be under the guidance of a professional trainer or in the care of a professional trainer in order to come up with the best result for the dog as well as his handler. As early as possible, German Shepherds should be trained intensively to offset their shyness and sensitivity to noise which are dominant in all herding breeds. They need to learn and feel comfortable in mingling with humans; a constant daily training is recommended to further develop their social life and abilities as great companions.
Like humans, this breed of dog needs proper nourishment for their daily lives. It’s much better to feed them with a high content of protein and carbohydrates to avoid sickness and some ailments. Whether its home made or factory made, dog foods are more healthy if it is naturally made and nutritionally balanced. Chemically oriented dog food is proven to be a poor source of their nourishment.
In addition German Shepherds are prone to a wide range of health problems like humans. Some of these problems are hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, spinal degeneration, auto-immune disease, thyroid dysfunction, sub aortic stenosis, skin disorders and some gastrointestinal problems.
Traditionally, German Shepherds were bred to be great herding dogs and this particular ability remains instinctive. However, they can be useful in many different ways. Though most of them look very friendly and approachable, they can be very aggressive in some instances so it is best if you approach them cautiously and with respect.
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