This is one of the most beloved breeds not only in Russia, but throughout the world. Famous films "To me, Mukhtar!" and "Commissioner Rex" became a real advertisement for these smart animals. Indeed, there are no more faithful dogs than German shepherds. The description of the breed presents us with beautiful and graceful animals, which always remain in the focus of attention of dog breeders, despite the changing fashion. Strong and courageous, they are remarkably amenable to training and are always ready to come to the rescue of their master. Ideal for living with people, they will never show aggression towards children, becoming for them a real nanny. You can talk about dogs endlessly, especially if they are German shepherds. We will try to give a detailed description of the breed so that you can get a complete picture of it.
The origins of the breed
The friendship between people and dogs began a long time ago. In ancient times, nomadic tribes were already accompanied by dog-like animals, powerful and ferocious. They were supposed to protect herds from predators. With the transition to a sedentary lifestyle, tasks changed somewhat. Now people needed lighter, more mobile and contact animals that could work together with humans, graze herds and guard housing. Crossing the Indian wolf with local dogs has given humanity the ancestor of the whole direction of shepherd breeds. They were called bronze, and, unlike the mastiff, they were distinguished by obedience and a tendency to train. However, science did not stand still, and by crossing a bronze dog with its dog-like ancestors, about 30 shepherd breeds were obtained.
By the middle of the XIX century, the problem faced by breeders was to bring a new dog - light, hardy, trained. And able to live next to people in their homes. Max Emil Frederic decided to take on the solution to this problem. The basis for breeding were wolf-like dogs, namely all types of old German shepherd breeds. He set out to create a universal breed, and literally two decades later the German shepherd appeared to the world. The description of the breed will reveal in more detail the features of these amazing animals.
Standards
If you are looking for a pet, not a winner of exhibitions, then the parameters and indicators are not so important. But still, healthy and well-developed dogs should be as standard as possible, otherwise they are no longer purebred German shepherds. The description of the breed will not be complete if we do not mention the standards by which they judge the purity of one or another representative of the species. The German Shepherd is a medium-sized dog with an elongated body and good musculature. The slightest deviations reduce the breeding and working value of the animal.
What is being evaluated first? Exterior - a description of the physique and proportion of the body. The second parameter is condition, i.e., physical condition, fatness and grooming.
Basic indicators
What should be a German shepherd? Description consists of a number of parameters. The first is height and weight. The male at the withers should reach 64 cm, and the female - 59 cm. The weight of the dogs is relatively small: for the male 30-40 kg, and for the female 22-32 kg. With this growth, the dog seems quite smart and graceful. The length of the body should slightly exceed the height at the withers, the ratio is approximately 9:10. Depth of the chest is an important indicator, since a well-developed chest ensures the perfect functioning of the forelimbs and the correct location of the internal organs. Depth is estimated vertically, from the top of the withers to the sternum. The width of the chest also affects the setting of the forelimbs. Measurement is carried out on the most curved ribs. Be sure to evaluate the back line. It should be smooth, sloping, which is emphasized by a special stand. Humpiness and sagging of the spine is unacceptable. It is a strong back that allows the dog to move gracefully and not feel tired. In appearance, posture, shiny coat, you can determine how healthy the German shepherd is. The description will not be complete if we do not recall such an important aspect as motion tests. A beautiful gait shows the proper functioning of the entire musculature of the animal.
A healthy dog must have good teeth. An adult shepherd should have 42 snow-white teeth in its mouth. Scissor bite. Any deviation from these norms is considered a malformation, and the dog is automatically suspended from breeding.
Dog behavior
Your children will always be looked after if there is a German shepherd in the house. The description of the breed, the character of which occupies one of the leading places, regulates the behavior typical of all representatives of the species. These are service dogs, which are characterized by such features as endurance, perseverance, fearlessness, strength of mind, attentiveness, self-confidence, energy and obedience. The Germans are incredibly smart; they can be trained in both search and security skills. Cynologists believe that the best service dog is a German shepherd. Description of the breed, character - these are the questions that people who want to have such a pet are interested in. And we, as we can, will help to figure this out. So, the nature and characteristics of behavior.
Shepherd dogs are very energetic, mobile and active, but at the same time retain the ability to analyze the situation and make adequate decisions on their own.
German shepherd is able to instantly respond to external stimuli. The threshold of excitability, after which there is a response, is very high, that is, the dog will not think long, but will respond to the danger instantly, which can save the owner's life. She perfectly performs guard functions. German shepherd shows confidence in any situation, even stressful. With strangers and objects, he behaves without unnecessary aggression, but incredulously, keeps his distance. These animals demonstrate tremendous endurance, they are able to perform the task, no matter what. They are brave, attentive and persistent.
Choose a German Shepherd
If the character traits are the same for all representatives of this breed, then the exterior can be very different. In particular, there are two large branches - these are short-haired and long-haired shepherds. The second ones look spectacular, but require more thorough care. Dirt and snow adhere to long hair, it gets stuck in tangles and needs regular combing. In addition, during molting, the entire house will be strewn with an abundant layer of hair. The rest is an ordinary German shepherd. Lokhmach breed description and reviews are similar, although it looks somewhat larger and more massive than its shorthair counterparts. Most often, a dog with long hair is taken by the owners of private houses and mansions, and a shepherd dog with short hair lives well in an apartment.
German shepherd in your house
With all the love for her master she remains a serious dog, which must be treated with all respect. In order for the shepherd to become a true friend and protector, you need to accept it from the first days as a new member of the family. Be sure to discuss the upcoming purchase of a pet with all your pets, and assign responsibilities for caring for it. Do not forget: the shepherd dog requires long walks in the fresh air and serious physical exertion. A dog with undeveloped muscles not only loses in the exterior plan, but also gets a number of health problems. Optimal nutrition and regular training is the key to your pet's wonderful future.
Be sure to form the correct idea for all members of the family what a German shepherd is. Description of the breed, character (for children it is better to choose material that clearly demonstrates the characteristics of such a pet), behavior - all the nuances require detailed consideration. The appearance of a dog in the house always seems like a holiday, but the responsibility associated with this should be immediately distributed. An ideal option for a shepherd dog is a private house. If you live in an apartment and are at work all day, consider whether you need to get a dog at all. And it’s doubly worth thinking about if the apartment is very small, because a noble dog needs personal space. Purchasing a shepherd dog is comparable to having a baby: your life is changing dramatically. If you are active, then such an energetic pet is right for you. He can run for a bicycle or a car for hours!
Evaluate the composition of your family. If you have a very young child, then you should wait until he grows up. Otherwise, you will have two babies in your arms. And although one of them will grow up much faster, the load from this will not decrease.
How to choose a puppy
So, your final choice is the German Shepherd. Description of the breed, character, reviews - all this has been studied, and on the table is a list of breeders. Take your time, weigh again, for what you get a dog. Do you need a friend and companion or watchman and defender? Or maybe you want to grow a star of the ring or become a breeder of the breed? The choice of the parent pair depends on your goals. Do not forget that providing a puppy's career is quite expensive. This is an investment in its acquisition, nutrition, training and training. Be sure to visit exhibitions - district, city, regional, international. The higher the class, the more expensive the pleasure. But no one guarantees that your baby will grow up a bright star, even if he is taken from the best nursery. Therefore, the most important thing is to love your dog for who it is.
Optimal time for acquiring a puppy
It is autumn. Puppies born during this period are stronger and more durable. In addition, you can’t walk and engage with the kids for a long time, and they do not tolerate heat well. By spring, your puppy will grow up, get stronger and will be ready for a long stay in the fresh air. It is recommended to take the baby from the mother only when he is 2 months old. But if the breeder insistently demands to pick up a month-old puppy, it is quite possible to feed him, unless he will require a little more attention. The description of the German Shepherd breed dog tells us that these animals are distinguished by high mental and adaptive abilities, so that your baby will quickly understand who replaced his mother.
Puppy content
A small German shepherd appeared in your house. Description of the breed, nature and content - this is information that the breeder and dog handler of the club must additionally give you, in which your puppy will be registered. We will give basic recommendations, but do not neglect the advice of a professional.
First of all, think about where your pet will live. He needs personal territory, a place to sleep and a feeding trough. Be sure to take from the breeder a piece of cloth that was lying in the nest, or a toy - these things will long store the smell of their home. So the baby will be less worried at night. Remember: a small child has appeared in your home and you must not leave it unattended for at least 2-3 months. Remove electrical wires, as well as valuables that the puppy can nibble, higher.
It is recommended to feed babies 5 times a day, after 4 months you can switch to three meals a day, and from 8 to standard feeding (breakfast and dinner). From the first day, start accustoming the puppy to the collar, a little later it will help him quickly get used to the leash. Despite the fact that the German shepherd is very smart, she will be in the house for the first time to cope with her natural needs. It is impossible to punish for this, it is only necessary to increase the number of walks and praise when everything turned out right.
Do not forget that you are raising a serious, guard dog. You can not shout at a puppy and beat him, you need to establish friendships from the first day. However, the set of rules must be strictly observed. What is not allowed must remain prohibited regardless of the situation. But in games, the winner should always be the puppy. Do not tear a toy or cloth from his mouth - this may injure his teeth. Also, you can not keep a puppy with adult dogs, because they will dominate him. This will adversely affect the character, and as a result, a cowardly German shepherd can grow out of it.
Description of the breed for children is always of certain interest, they are ready to listen for hours about a small lump. Take a moment and tell how they should behave with a new family member. Focus on the fact that the dog can not be terrorized (dragged by the ears, tail, pull, etc.), suppressed and infringed in anything. This is a member of the family, so you need to treat him with respect. By the way, if your child is too small (up to three years), weigh again the pros and cons. It might be better to postpone your puppy purchase. The fact is that caring for it takes a lot of time, and it’s unlikely to succeed in breaking off between the two “children” without harming either of them. It even comes to the fact that families then prefer to abandon the dog. A completely different thing is older children. On the contrary, they are actively involved in fun games with the pet and begin to help a little with caring for them. As a rule, a shepherd gets along well with children and will never show aggression. This is a true friend, protector and companion.
Shepherd food
When purchasing another family member, you need to think about diet. Especially if it is a large dog such as a German shepherd. Description of the breed, reviews of leading dog handlers and breeders confirm that the development and health of your pet depends on nutrition. You can’t save on this, so if your budget does not allow unnecessary expenses, it is better to postpone the purchase of a dog until better times. This is not the case when feeding a four-legged friend is obtained from a common table.
Be sure to have clean water in the cup. The shepherd must be fed daily at the same time. The number varies depending on the age and health of the dog, this parameter must be constantly adjusted. Meat must be present in the diet, and the fatty scraps that are traded on the market is not the best option. You can use inexpensive chicken or minced meat, offal. The amount of protein food should be approximately 70% of the diet. In addition, an egg and dairy products, various cereals, vegetables are introduced. If you want to transfer your shepherd to ready-made dry or wet food, then you need to do it gradually, over the course of a week, adding a share of the new product. During this time, the intestinal microflora adapts and rebuilds.
Caring for your pet's health
We bring to your attention a fairly brief description of the German Shepherd breed, since talking about these animals can be truly endless. The smartest and fearless, they will be faithful to their master until the last breath and risk their life for him, without hesitation. But they are also very vulnerable. Bacteria and viruses every day carry the threat of fatal diseases, so your task is to protect your pet. First of all, you must provide a balanced diet and a sufficient level of physical activity. This guarantees good immunity, which will help the body cope with various diseases. But that is not all. Your shepherd should receive all preventive vaccinations that will protect her from the worst infections. Treating them is much more difficult than warning. Observance of all these measures guarantees that you will grow up a healthy and strong German shepherd (photo). The description of the breed emphasizes the good genetic heredity of these animals and the absence of congenital defects, but otherwise each owner is responsible for how his pet will grow and develop.
Training and training
The German shepherd is very smart, so much so that in the absence of the correct leading position of the owner turns into a dog, "which walks on its own." Such an individual can endlessly bark passers-by, run away from what interests it, and ignore the potential threat to its master. That is, without the proper education of your pet, you cannot count on his adequate behavior. There are, of course, individual dogs, which, in the complete absence of training, demonstrate real miracles. But in this case, there should be complete harmony in the relationship between the animal and the owner, excellent contact, and it is difficult to establish without communication and education.
To deal with a puppy and teach it to the mind is necessary from the first day, as soon as he appeared at your place. Your joint games and walks, a soft explanation of what you can and cannot do, become the basis on which training will rest. The owner who decides all the uncomfortable moments in the puppy’s behavior with a kick or kick is doomed to the complete collapse of this rather complicated process. Like a small child, the shepherd must be praised for what she did right, encouraging a treat. For everything else, there are the commands “Fu” and “It is impossible”, which are served in a calm and confident tone.
If the puppy has mastered them, and also understands what the words “to me” and “near” mean, it can be said that the stage of education was successful, and the relationship between the owner and the dog is well built. When the pet turns one year old, you can contact a professional dog handler for him to conduct a course of protective guard duty. This is necessary if you want to be sure that in any situation a German shepherd can help you out. The description of the breed, whose representatives weigh up to 40 kg, emphasizes its maximum fitness for performing security functions. In addition to its impressive dimensions, the dog is also very smart, can analyze the situation and begin to act even without a command.
The German Shepherd is one of the best breeds of dogs. They get along well with all members of the family, live amicably with other pets and are always on a combat post, protecting the life and property of their owners. These animals have excellent health, they are very hardy and strong. A high learning ability and unique intelligence will greatly reduce training time and achieve excellent performance.