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What a noble beast is the German shepherd! Even as puppies they seem to have a certain dignity to them, or at least some kind of foreknowledge of future nobility. The German shepherd, or Alsatian, was bred in the 1800s to herd sheep, and remains one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. A beautiful dog with a sloping, triangular body, its enthusiasm for work is unsurpassed. Its role as a sheep herder has been joined by its work as a seeing eye and search and rescue dog. The puppy, while cute and small now, is going to grow to be a big dog, standing about 25 inches high at the shoulder and weighing about 75 to 95 pounds. Though the shorthaired black and tan variety of German shepherd is preferred for show, there are also rough coated, longhaired, rough coated and white varieties. Temperament There’s a reason why Rin Tin Tin was a German shepherd. They’re courageous, intelligent, hard working and can even be heroic. A well-trained German shepherd is also happy and friendly and photographs of smiling German shepherds are quite common! It goes without saying that they make excellent watchdogs and take a keen interest in whatever it is their humans are doing. Some German shepherds simply love to go on long car trips as well. Their strong temperament requires firm but loving discipline on the part of their human. Health Concerns Because German shepherds are so popular, they’ve been subject to being bred at puppy mills, horrible institutions that over breed dogs for quantity and not quality. Because of this, German shepherds are subject to dislocated hip bones and elbow joints, digestive troubles, epilepsy and problems with their eyes and blood. These are especially difficult conditions to deal with for a dog as active as a German shepherd. The prospective owner should adopt their puppy only from a reputable, AKC recommended breeder of German shepherds. Living Conditions The German shepherd, being a big, active dog bred to be outdoors needs a lot of outdoor space and exercise. Few things make a German shepherd happier than jogging or running along with its human, or playing a game of catch. Like other dogs, the German shepherd needs to have a long, vigorous walk every day. Life Expectancy A well cared for German shepherd can be expected to live about 13 years or so. Grooming Unfortunately, German shepherds do shed a lot and so their coat has to be brushed and groomed every day. Recognition The German shepherd is recognized by the American Kennel Club, the Continental Kennel Club, the German Shepherd Dog Club of America, the North American Purebred Registry Inc., the Canadian Kennel Club and the Kennel Club of Great Britain, among others. For more information on german shepherd puppies, Please visit www.ebayclassifieds.com
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