The German Shepherd is a powerful looking dog, often nicknamed “wolfdog”. Very intelligent, docile and hard-working, it is a great pet, but also a defense or assistance animal used by the police or rescue services.
The German Shepherd, defense and assistance dog average stats
Size: from 55 to 65 cm
Weight: from 22 to 40 kg
Hair: short and hard
Color: black and tan
Life expectancy: 13 years
Gestation duration: 9 weeks
Description and characteristics of the German Shepherd
The German Shepherd is a large dog with a short, hard coat, most often black in color with reddish-brown, brown or tan markings. It has a double coat: a dense, rough, well-coated cover, and an equally dense undercoat. Its appearance is harmonious with its straight, muscular body and it is slightly plunging back. The German Shepherd has a pronounced and powerful muzzle and ears carried very straight and which end in a point. Its tail is rather long and drooping. Built like a trotter, its rear limbs have the particularity of being oblique, which allows it to push hard when running or jumping.
Origin of the German Shepherd
The German Shepherd Dog was created in Germany at the end of the 19th century by Captain Max Frédéric Émile Von Stéphanitz who crossed several breeds of shepherd dogs to give a robust and docile breed. The German Shepherd breed was officially recognized in 1898.
Male german shepherd
Character and behavior of the German Shepherd – Who is it for?
The German Shepherd is a very easy dog to train. He is playful, very intelligent, docile and seeks to please his master. It is a dog that adapts as much to children, whom it always seeks to protect, as to the elderly. The German Shepherd is as much a companion dog as a guard dog, a quality due to his origins as herd keeper. Its qualities as a working dog also make it an excellent companion for the visually impaired, but also a very good defense and rescue dog. The German Shepherd loves water and is a very good swimmer.
How to take care of your German Shepherd dog: his needs!
The German Shepherd dog needs to exercise daily. If he lives in an apartment, he must be taken out several times a day. Very attached to his master, the German Shepherd can be subject to anxiety if he is separated from it. It is therefore preferable that he always accompanies him on his travels. His hair needs to be brushed at least three times a week to untangle it and restore its shine. It is also important to cut his nails regularly, especially if the German Shepherd is not exercising too much.
The health of the German Shepherd
The German Shepherd is a robust dog with relatively long longevity, around 13 years. It is a breed that is not prone to particular health problems, apart from, like all large dogs, hip or elbow dysplasia (deformity).
Price of a German Shepherd puppy
The price of a German Shepherd puppy will depend on the sex, the parents’ pedigree, compliance with breed standards, etc.
Price of a male Imported Purebred German Shepherd: $7,500.00-$10,000.00
Price of a German Shepherd Trained Dog: Level 1 dogs start at $12,000, Level 2 dogs start at $20,000, and Level 3 dogs start at $30,000. (Source: Wustenbergerland German Shepherd Breeders In California)
