German Shepherd Dog

Along with being a great family companion, the German Shepherd Dog is excellent at working as a police, guard or military dog.

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), German Shepherds originated in Karlsruhe, Germany, in 1899, and was derived from breeds of herding and farming dogs. The breed became very popular thanks to Rin Tin Tin movies in the 1920s.

German Shepherd Personality
Very loyal and protective, with a strong emotional bond to their pet parents
Confident and sometimes aloof
Alert and cheerful
Poorly bred German Shepherds can be fearful and aggressive

German Shepherd Size
50-85 pounds
22-26 inches at the withers (shoulders)

German Shepherd Family and Home Life
Need a large yard
Can live in apartments since they are generally inactive indoors, providing they receive sufficient exercise outdoors

German Shepherd Bark
May bark a lot
Will bark at strangers to protect their property

German Shepherd Training and Exercise
Obedient, very intelligent and eager to learn
Can be difficult to control if training is not done as a puppy
Must be well socialized as a pup to prevent overguarding and aggression as an adult
Enjoys vigorous activity and needs two to three walks a day
Does well at obedience, agility and other sports
Responds well to having a task or challenge

German Shepherd Coat
Double coat
Medium length
Usually black with tan, sable or all black; can also be blue, liver or white
Sheds consistently with heavy seasonal shedding
Tends to shed a lot of dry skin flakes

German Shepherd Care
Only needs to be bathed a couple of times a year to avoid stripping the skin of oil
Daily brushing helps with heavy shedding

German Shepherd Health
Hip dysplasia is common
Prone to skin problems
Prone to developing cancers with old age
Prone to bloat

German Shepherd Lifespan
About 13 years

PHOTO: SaNtINa/kIKs