German Shepherd
If you are planning to get a dog home and you have a long checklist to get a perfect breed that is not just loyal, but is also a right guard, a helping hand, an intelligent one, and a protector, then none can fit into all your categories, except a German Shepherd.
As shown in the Rin Tin Tin movie, it is known for its brave and confident nature. Being a workaholic with exclusive characteristics, you will enjoy raising this super-intelligent yet so loving German Shepherd.
In this ultimate German Shepherd guide, you will learn everything you need to know about German Shepherd dogs. Where to buy one and how much do they cost? How you can take proper care of them and how to train them? Do they make good family dogs and are they great with kids? What kind of food do they like and what are some of the diseases common in this breed. What is their breeding history and how old do they get on average? This guide will answer each and every question you have about German Shepherds.
How much is a German Shepherd for?
How much a German Shepherd breed costs depends directly on the fact that from where are you going to get one.
If you prefer adopting one from some rescue groups like the American Kennel Club, then it might cost you $100 or $200. But before bringing one to home from the rescue group, do have their temperament test. An ill-trained dog can be quite dangerous not only for strangers but for your family member.
To avoid such risk, you can get one from a known breeder. It will cost you around $300 to $800 if you buy a puppy German Shepherd from a breeder. Then again, you might need to spend time training your Shepherd dog as per your requirement. You can turn them into either a complete family dog or a perfect guard or even both.
If you want a fully trained adult shepherd dog, then you might need to empty your pockets. For a fully grown German Shepherd, you might need to spend around $600 to $7000. You need not worry about any temperament issues as well.
How often and for how long do you have to go out with a German Shepherd?
Not just German Shepherds are very pro-active, they love running and walking as well. If you plan to bring this breed home, then do remember to keep the laziness away from you.
You are going to exercise and walk a lot while raising this breed. As per the American Kennel Club, starting with puppies, a 5-minute exercising session twice a month, and a regular walk is sufficient for puppies. You can then keep this time increasing as soon as your puppy starts to grow adult.
It is recommended for an adult Shepherd dog to make then exercise for at least 10 minutes twice a day and take them to a long walk twice a day. Otherwise, your German Shepherd breed will become lazy and obese, and obesity is not a good sign for a dog’s health conditions, especially this breed of dog.
But yeah, at the same time, it is very prominent not to push them for physical exercise. These dogs usually signal their tiredness by stopping walking or exercising; that is precisely when you should get back to home and allow your dog some rest.
Are German Shepherd good family dogs?
I won’t be wrong if I say that the German Shepherd is the perfect family dog one can have. And to prove this, the fact that there are some of the properties that this breed of dog possess makes them a good family dog. They have a high grasping capacity, and thus you can easily teach them basics quickly.
Then Shepherd dogs are very loyal as well. If you want a guard for your house, then you can’t find anyone better than a German Shepherd dog. They will serve you as the protector and escort.
Being very energetic, they will not only make you fit but will entertain you as well. Also, because of their social nature, they will help in your day-to-day work as well. Whether you want a newspaper right at your table, or you want your mails intact, this dog breed will be your helping hand.
This is not it; German is very sensitive emotional too. Thus, they will get attached to you as soon as you bring them home.
These dogs are very calm with all these properties and get along with kids very well, making them a perfect family dog.
Is a German Shepherd dog rather stubborn or easy to handle and train?
A quite interesting fact about German Shepherd dogs is that it just five repetitions to teach them something. At the sixth time, they will become perfect in the work you teach them.
It shows how easy it is to train or handle your Shepheard dog. Some German Shepherd dogs are used for police tasks, firefighting, and even drug search. They are also perfect for the search and rescue task force.
It is preferable to train this breed at a young age. These dogs can become stubborn if you are not strict with them.
Shepherd German puppies should be trained with basic commands in the beginning. Teach them social habits and good behavior. Other than that, proper training from the initial stage makes an excellent obedient pet German Shepherd.
Is a German Shepherd a good guard dog?
Not just a good family dog, German Shepherds are known for their excellent guarding skills as well. They have proven their loyalty and smartness millions of times, which is why they are often selected as Army dogs.
And even now, they are the most trusted night watcher and police dogs. One of the most important things as a smart guard is loyalty. If you love them, they will do everything they can to do for you.
Also, German Shepherd dogs have a pretty good sense of smell, which will help them recognize troubles. Their sense of smell is 100,00 times better than human beings.
And they bark very loud, thus, if you teach them to bark at the malicious and suspicious persons.
Being very quick and attentive, even while sleeping, they can guard you against any malicious person trying to sneak in your house. Because of their large size, no one will try ever try to come in their path.
Thus, if you are looking for a perfect guard dog, German Shepherds are ideal.
What are the common diseases of German Shepherd?
Every mortal thing is prone to disease, and so is a German Shepherd dog. You should take care of a few parasitic and few bacterial illnesses while raising a German Shepherd dog.
The parasitic disease includes pododermatitis (pus in legs), Mange (rashes on skin and hair loss), Scabies (itching, redness, and swelling in epidermis followed by hair loss).
The bacterial disease includes Leptospirosis (respiratory problem, coughing and vomiting due to drinking contaminated water), Mastitis (burning sensation in the mammary gland in females), Pyometra (pus and pain in the uterine cavity), and Brucellosis (it can cause abortions in female and inflammation in testicle in male due to eating of infectious food).
Apart from this, these dogs have quite a sensitive stomach, thus keeping a keen eye on their food is essential. It is better to watch their diet before they get into some painful situation.
To prevent these diseases, Vaccine these dogs twice a year is essential. And don’t forget to deworm them from time to time to avoid your dog’s harsh health conditions.
In case you notice any changes in your German Shepherd dog’s behavior or health, then immediately take him to a specialist to avoid anything worse.
How much do German Shepherds eat on average daily?
The nutritional requirements of a German Shepherd dog vary from puppies to old dogs. As German Shepherd has a medium to a considerable height, food requirements differ from one dog to another.
The feed of a German Shepherd also depends on the activities they perform.
Protein is very crucial for the growing Shepherd dogs. They require at least 22% of the protein in their diet daily. Ensure the protein-rich food you are giving to your dog is of high-quality.
Fat is another crucial thing in your dog’s diet. Their average daily food should have 5% to 8% of fat. But keep one thing in mind, don’t overload your German Shepherd food with fat, as that may make them obese and ultimately decrease their overall high expectancy. Other vitamins and minerals are also crucial for dogs of this breed.
Treat German Shepherd puppy for at least 3 to 4 times a day. An adult Shepherd dog requires 3 to 6 cups of food daily. That means 1200 to 2100 calories daily is the essential requirement of a German Shepherd.
Size, Weight, Typical Colors Of German Shepherd
With a very sturdy and athletic body, the modern German shepherds have a height ranging from large to medium length and grow up to 26 inches. Although females have a comparatively smaller size, the male can grow up to 26 inches. At the same time, the female can grow only up to 24 inches.
Apart from this, while the female can weigh in between 49 to 71 pounds, the male has a standard weight varying from 66 to 88 pounds. They have a large body, which provides them better performance, endurance, and power.
They are, moreover, a confident dog with a calm composition. You will get a perfect partner in crime with a Shepherd dog. Not just they have a well-balanced and robust body, they also have an adorable and confident look.
They can have three kinds of coats as per the Shepherd dog club’s World union, which includes long hair, long stock coat, and stock coat. Some German Shepherds have a double coat, one with fluffy fur on it and another skin coat to protect them from the intense cold. You can find a stock coat dog easily.
Apart from this, a long hair German shepherd dog is very rare. Without any undercoat, it just has silky hairs on their skin.
Available in a black and tan coat, German Shepherds can attract anyone towards them. Dog lovers especially adore this breed due to their black and tan skin.
How old does German Shepherd get on average?
Being a large breed, German Shepherd has a comparatively low life expectancy than other small dog breeds. German Shepherds passes four different stages during their life cycle, including puppyhood, adolescence, adulthood, and seniority.
A German shepherd’s life expectancy also depends on other factors like their gender, average height, weight, and health.
The puppyhood of a German Shepherd dog lasts only 5 to 6 months. Thus, it takes no time for your cute small puppy to grow into a full adult.
From 6 months to 2 years, your puppy will pass through his adolescence. In this period, he will encounter various changes in his body, behavior, and memory.
Then comes the adulthood of your dog. As soon as your German Shepherd gets 1 to 3-year old, he will step into his adulthood. Some of the Shepherd dogs might appear like a full-grown as per their physique without even entering adulthood.
Lastly, seniority is the time when your dog enters his sixth to the tenth year. He will start losing his physical health and activeness, but he will begin to suffering from various diseases as well.
Thus, these four stages determine how much your German Shepherd dog is going to live. Although, the general life expectancy of a German Shepherd lies in between 10 to 13 years only. To increase their life expectancy, always feed them good, keep them active and away from diseases.
What’s the breeding history, and where does German Shepherd come from?
Shepherd German Shepherd dogs, before their introduction as an army dog, were kept by shepherds mainly to control their herds and more commonly known as the German Sheepdogs. This is how they got their name German because they are native to Germany and Shepherd. After all, initially, only shepherds used to raise them.
German Shepherd came into existence when this phenomenal dog breed attracts Max von Stephanitz, the first official German Shepherd breeder.
With a wolf-like appearance and a black and tan body, this breed only becomes famous after the book written by Max von Stephanitz and Artur Meyer with the title Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (translated as the Society for the German Shepherd Dog).
General von Stephanitz starts crossbreeding it with other dog breeds and wolfs to enhance the qualities and hide the flaws of this breed.
In the first world war, ultimately, the German Shepherd got a chance to show his capabilities on the battleground. In the First World War, they were selected for search and rescue purposes.
In the same year, the American Kennel club changes their name from German Sheepdogs to German Shepherd or, more commonly, German sh.
When a German Shepherd breed was cast for a silver screen with the actor Strongheart on Rin Tin Tin, it starts to become a typical dog breed in America.
And because of the love of Max Von Stephanitz towards German Shepherd, we get to know about this charming, strong, intelligent, and quick dog breed falling in the category of working dogs.
What needs to be considered for grooming and care of a German Shepherd?
As German Shepherds has a pretty black and tan coat, it is pretty easy to maintain their hairs’ shine. Not brushing their hairs for a long time will make their matte and dull hairs.
Grooming is crucial for all the dogs, including German Shepherds. It is necessary to maintain their look and help to get aware of the skin problems your dog is having. Their double coat requires proper detangling to make their hair roots strong and to prevent hair loss in them.
This dog can have four different kinds of hair coat. Short haircoat, hairs with medium length without undercoat, long hairs with undercoat, and long hair without an undercoat are the type of dog coats. These outer hairs of this dog are shiny while their undercoat is thick.
For grooming and care, try to make the bath for at least twice or thrice a week. Use dog shampoo and conditioner to make their hair shine even more.
After the bath, dry their hair with a hairdryer, as it will take hours to dry their hair naturally. Then, detangle their hair first with a thick brush and then with a thin brush. While detangling, check for any lumps and bumps and rashes on their skin. For more info about brushes, check our article about the best brushes for German Shepherd dogs.
What does German Shepherd eat?
There are three things on which you focus while serving food to your German Shepherd breed. Those three things include the right amount of food, the right frequency of food, and their mealtime length.
German shepherd dog is a great meat lover, not just chicken they love eating lamb, pork, beef, fish, etc. You can also feed them with regular food that you consume like cereals, carrot, all fruits and vegetables, hot dogs, beans, sweet potato, and even pizza crust. Also, they love eating cheese and other dairy products.
But one thing that every German Shepherd owner should keep in mind is how sensitive a German Shepherd’s stomach is. They are prone to various stomach issues if they control their diet.
Excess of everything is worse. The same applies to dogs as well, don’t feed German Shepherd with an excess of meat or cheese daily, as it might become hard for them to digest them, leading to a sad stomach.
Although green vegetables, fruits, and cereals are not among the favorite/best food of the German Shepherd breed, they are crucial for their better health conditions.
Where can one buy dogs of this breed?
There are three options from where you can buy a German Shepherd dog:
1) Rescue Clubs
Clubs like the American kennel club and American German Shepherd dog association will provide you an opportunity to adopt a dog and that too at a very affordable price. The only con of adopting any dog breed via a rescue group is that there is no guarantee that the dog is well trained.
2) Buy Them Online
Various online websites will avail you with the dog breed you are looking for and that too at a very reasonable price. Websites like petsworld or marshellstepzone provide you various dog breeds online. You just need to check the temperament of the dog you are bringing home.
3) Search for A Local Breeder Online
You can also search for a local breeder near you, talk to them, deal with them, and then can bring the little dog to your home.
Conclusion
Dogs are known for their loyalty towards their master. And a German Shepherd breed is ideal considering all aspects like smart, calm, intelligent, loyal, adorable, and energetic.
Being shedders in nature, if you are allergic to hairs, then this might not be a suitable breed for you; otherwise, it is the best dog breed you can raise.