The Purebred German Shepherd Dog

The GSD embodies the ideal balance of agility and Belgischer SchäFerhund Welpen Kaufen öSterreich strength. Its high trainability and belgischer Schäferhund welpen kaufen österreich natural instincts to protect make them loved family dogs.

When looking for a purebred German Shepherd dog Choose breeders who are concerned about the health of their dogs and practice ethical breeding. You can find reputable breeders by requesting pedigree papers and previous health clearances.

Characteristics

German Shepherds are smart, powerful dogs that are easy to train. They are extremely affectionate to their families and can be fearless protectors of them. The breed standard states that a GSD must be confident, courageous, and have an unwavering temperament. It should also be obedient and willing to please.

The breed is medium in size with a slight elongation and is muscular. It has a double coat that consists of an outer layer of hardness, and a soft undercoat. The eyes are dark, almond-shaped, and set obliquely. Its ears are wide and pointed at the base. The tail is long and extends down to the hocks below when the dog is at rest. The breed’s neck is long and slightly sloping. The chest is broad and deep. The spine is solid and the ribs are well-sprung.

In general the breed is healthy However, it has some serious flaws. These include roached backs and long pasterns that hinder proper movement. The hindquarters of the dog should be strong but not overly so. The rear leg should never extend beyond the point at which the foot leaves an impression.

As working dogs, GSDs naturally possess high drive. These are behaviors and needs that involve territorial protection and the pursuit of prey. If these high-drives are not satisfied in a certain way, for example playing or at work, it can lead aggression. Show-type German Shepherds were created to help reduce these impulses. However, they still require a lot of positive reinforcement, physical exercise, and mental stimulation to keep their lives in balance.

GSDs are generally reserved and suspicious towards strangers initially. This protective trait makes them great guard dogs and requires appropriate training to avoid overreactions. When properly socialized from a young age they can make great pets for the family. They also make great children.

The GSD is resilient to illness and has a high threshold for pain, however certain health conditions can affect the quality of its life. These include seizures, epilepsy and bleeding disorders as well as immune-mediated diseases. The best way to prevent these diseases is to limit your dog’s exposure to UV radiation, and ensuring it is vaccinated regularly can help.

Temperament

German Shepherds are smart and eager to learn and extremely capable of being trained. They are an active dog breed that excels in a variety of tasks, including police work, herding, and search and Belgischer schäferhund welpen kaufen öSterreich rescue. They also excel in the detection of drugs and bombs, as well as guiding blind people. They are also excellent family pets. However, this strong and confident breed requires an unwavering sense of purpose and the attention of a confident owner to harness their energy and strength in a positive manner. They need a lot of exercise and space and may not be suitable in smaller living spaces.

The ideal German shepherd is well-balanced and confident, with a strong temperament. They are loyal and altdeutscher schäferhund kaufen alert, and they are suspicious of strangers. This protective and watchful behavior can escalate into aggression when they are not properly trained, socialized, and supervised. These dogs are very smart and can be self-sufficient and easily bored, and they require an outlet to satisfy their natural curiosity.

The founder Max von Stephanitz used herding and farm dogs, as well as longhaired and short-haired German Shepherds in his breeding program to develop the kind of dog that was obedient and responsive that we have today. He was opposed to those who wanted German Shepherds to be a showpiece, and he ensured that his dogs had stable temperaments with strong herding instincts and a sound body structure. He even refused to breed with dogs that had temperaments that were unstable or deutscher Schäferhund zu verkaufen had steep angles in their croups, as well as rear and front pasterns because he believed that these characteristics would undermine the breed’s ability to perform its work.

In addition to the hereditary disorders that affect every breed of dog German Shepherds are also susceptible to cancers such as hemangiosarcoma, which most commonly affects blood-rich organs such as the spleen and liver. They also can develop lung, bone, reinrassiger Deutscher schäferhund or intestinal cancers.

To avoid these ailments ensure your German Shepherd’s physical health by feeding him a an appropriate diet and exercise. Make sure he has plenty of opportunities to run and play outside in a safe space free of traffic and other dangers. Keep him clean by scrubbing his dense double coat regularly and using a de-shedding device or undercoat rake to remove hairs that have fallen off. You should also visit your vet regularly for routine health checks.

Health

German Shepherds have a healthy health history, however some health issues do exist. They are prone to ear infections, and they can develop ailments that affect their ears and eyes such as degenerative amyelopathy. They also may suffer from an illness that is genetic, known as hereditary von Willebrand’s disorder, which impacts their ability to clot blood and is found in females and males dogs.

GSDs are a working breed, and as such, they undergo rigorous training. This means that they may develop joint issues. Hip dysplasia is a common condition that causes pain, lameness and other symptoms. This is not always a serious issue but it can be painful for the dog.

Reputable breeders X-ray their dogs and use the results to make breeding decisions. The x-rays can aid in determining the health of the puppy as well as its genetic background, including the probability that it will develop dysplasia. Dogs at high risk of developing dysplasia do not breeding.

Panosteitis can be a problem for German Shepherds. The condition causes the bones to grow quickly and unevenly. This can lead to stiffness and pain. The condition is especially frequent in German Shepherd puppies and dogs less than 18 months old who are going through an enormous growth spurt.

These dogs need an diet rich in protein, and a generous blend of omega fatty acids as well as balanced vitamins to support a healthy skin and coat. Dogs with arthritis can benefit from food that has joints-supporting ingredients, deutscher Schäferhund pflege such as the glucosamine or chondroitin. Dogs under 18 months of age should have moderate exercise, such as multiple walks and, if compatible with other dogs, playing together, but they should not be allowed to run at full speed as it can cause joint damage.

Avoid feeding animal bone or table food because they can cause vomiting, digestive upsets anorexia, and pancreatitis. Puppies and adult dogs can benefit from a probiotic supplement to help with digestion, and from digestive enzyme supplements to assist in the breakdown of proteins. Mineral and vitamin supplements are not required, as a well-formulated AAFCO-approved diet should provide the proper amount of these nutrients.

Training

German Shepherds are intelligent, highly trainable dogs who thrive when they’re under the guidance by a knowledgeable handler. They are a great choice for police, military search and rescue, and therapy dog roles. Their unwavering loyalty makes them a great pet, if they are properly trained and socialized.

The first step to raising an appropriately adjusted GSD is socialization. As a puppy, expose your puppy to different animals and people. Take them for frequent walks and play games. Visit local dog parks. This will help them feel secure and at ease in a new place and will help them become comfortable with humans from a young age.

Training a German Shepherd requires patience, consistency and positive reinforcement. It is crucial to stay clear of negative reinforcement methods like shouting and physical punishment as they can cause fear-based aggression. Instead, you should use clicker training and rewards-based training to teach your German Shepherd basic commands.

It is also crucial to ensure that you provide your German Shepherd with a daily dose of enrichment. Exercises for mental stimulation are just as important to a GSD as physical exercise, especially if you live in a busy household. This will help to keep their attention and focus so that they are less likely to be distracted by street noises, thunderstorms and other dogs in the park, or the crowds at competitions and public events.

Certain health conditions that are specific to German Shepherds include hemangiosarcoma and Belgischer SchäFerhund Welpen Kaufen öSterreich cancer of the bones, lungs, and intestinal tract as well as pannus (superficial keratitis). All of these ailments can be prevented by responsible breeding and lifestyle changes.

Despite their reputation for being a savage breed German Shepherds are loving family pets. When they are exposed to children from a young age they can be friendly and gentle with smaller pets such as cats. Nonetheless, their size and strength make them formidable guardians and they should be supervised around younger children. They could also display signs of a hereditary tendency towards aggression if not given the proper training and socialization opportunities. Enrolling your German Shepherd into a puppy school or obedience class will ensure that he is getting the education and socialization he needs to be successful.