Probably, every our compatriot who is not even interested in dogs will easily recognize a German shepherd. The origin of such popularity is the abundance of films in which they are involved. Sometimes this is justified from a historical point of view (for example, in films about the Great Patriotic War), and sometimes - from a practical one - dogs are smart, and it’s easier to work with them than with most others.
Breed history
To begin with, we will briefly tell the history of the origin of the German Shepherd breed.
Historians still have not been able to finally determine where the dogs came from, the offspring of which as a result turned into representatives of a popular breed. To date, there are two versions telling where the German shepherd came from - Scandinavia or the Russian Empire. Yes, surprisingly, but this is not Germany at all.
Moreover, it is fairly accurately established that the ancestors of the breed had an admixture of the Indian wolf. So we can agree with the statement that the German shepherd is a derivative of the wolf. At least in some respects.
The progenitor had a dirty white color. But still he managed to impress the experts at the exhibition in Hanover, which took place in 1882. Especially she became interested in Max von Stefanitz, who is considered the spiritual father of a popular breed.
Having obtained puppies from an interesting breed, he proceeded to long-term selection. And over the high purity of blood, he did not rack his brains. His main task was to bring out a really strong and intelligent dog, which could facilitate the work of shepherds. And of course, Germany was to become her homeland.
Work and selection were quite active. Already in 1899, a real German shepherd was shown at a dog show. Then she was entered in the register of breeds. So, it is safe to say that the country of origin of the German Shepherd in the form in which it is accustomed to see dog handlers, is Germany.
Where did the name come from?
The name of the breed has long become so familiar that most people do not even think about where it came from.
Indeed, what is the origin of the name German Shepherd?
With the prefix "German" we have figured out before. But the term shepherd has the same root as a sheep and a shepherd. After all, initially the dog was bred precisely as a shepherd, designed to work with sheep. Therefore, the name she received is quite appropriate.
But if you translate the word "shepherd" into English, you get the term shepherd, which generally means "shepherd." The situation is the same with German - here it is called hirte, which also translates as "shepherd."
Breed standard
Having dealt with the origin of the German shepherd, we present the modern standard to which the dog must meet.
Initially, pure black was characteristic of the breeds. Already in the middle of the twentieth century, a variety familiar to us appeared - dark yellow wool with black spots. However, black is still one of the acceptable standards.
Males are slightly larger than females. At the withers they reach 60-65 centimeters with a weight of 30-40 kilograms. In females, these indicators are 55-65 centimeters and 22-32 kilograms, respectively.
The physique is strong, but dry and therefore not too heavy.
The shape of the head is quite characteristic - the muzzle is long and wedge-shaped, between the ears it expands noticeably. The muzzle and skull are approximately equal in length, although the shape of the skull is almost square.
The jaws are very powerful, and a scissor bite virtually eliminates the possibility for the victim to escape - only with the teeth. Lips must have a dark color and tightly clasp the jaw - sagging is considered a sign of illness or congenital marriage.
Small eyes are very beautiful, have an almond-shaped shape, set slightly obliquely.
Ears - always upright - have a triangular shape and medium size. The ends are directed strictly up, which provides excellent hearing and is slightly pointed. The sink is directed forward, but in motion can also be laid back.
The neck is very muscular and powerful.
The back line is continuous and even - from the neck passes through a noticeable withers and slightly descends near the tail. The chest is muscular, developed, strong.
The tail has a slight bend, gently hanging down, inside very fluffy.
Human use
As the name implies, the German shepherd owes its origin to the need to create a shepherd dog. Therefore, in the first years it was used for its intended purpose - as a shepherd dog. Needless to say - she coped with her task perfectly.
Already a little later, during the years of the World War, another application was found for the dog - protection of prisoners, patrolling the borders, search for mines. Another extremely important feature was revealed here - the dog could not become too attached to the instructor who educates her. The same Giant Schnauzers or Rottweilers, although not inferior to the German Shepherd in strength and ingenuity, were very used to the first loved one and refused to work with others. And the German shepherd showed amazing tolerance. If necessary, she could go to the patrol every day with a new person, while perfectly coping with the tasks.
Today it is used by many services: border guards, customs officers, security guards and, of course, shepherds. And also the German Shepherd has become a beloved pet and even a member of the family in many millions of families around the world.
Twentieth Century Change
A century and a half is a considerable period. During this time, dozens of generations of dogs managed to change. And of course, the standard has changed markedly. Alas, as practice shows, not for the better.
For example, at the beginning of the twentieth century, the normal weight for a shepherd lay in the region of 25-30 kilograms. Today, according to the figures given above, the figure has increased by 10-15 kilograms! But they did not grow at the withers. As a result, there were many problems with the hind legs and spine. Quite often dysplasia of the hip and elbow joints began to occur.
Previously, the chest was flat, and the croup was almost on the same line as the withers. As a result, dogs jumped over a fence two and a half meters high! Unfortunately, modern shepherd dogs can not boast of such indicators.
Character
Like most large dog breeds, German shepherds are better suited for keeping in private homes - they need to run, spend a lot of energy. For an apartment and two short walks of 10-15 minutes a day, it is clearly not suitable.
But no one will argue with the universality of the breed. This is a guard, and a comrade, and a nanny, and just a true friend. The instinct of protection in dogs is highly developed. They are ready to die, but not to abandon the master. They get along very well with young children, as well as with any pets, but only if they are used to them from childhood. For adult dogs, the presence of extraneous tetrapods on their territory is unpleasant.
It is undesirable to leave the dog alone for a long time - it will be very sad and will easily destroy the apartment simply out of boredom, and not out of a desire to harm it. To tie them near the kennel is also not the best solution. These dogs are energetic and definitely will not enjoy sitting in one place. It is better to let them run around the territory - if everything is intelligibly explained, then they definitely will not climb into beds and flower beds.
Proper care
In addition to regular, long and exhausting walks, shepherds need to ensure regular combing. Their coat is quite long and thick - this is due to the origin of the German Shepherd, because during the grazing of sheep she slept well in the snow. Therefore, if you do not comb out your pet two or three times a week, then his hair will evenly cover all the furniture and floors in the apartment.
You also need to brush your ears and teeth. However, if the dog regularly receives beef or pork bones, which can bite as much as it fits, then you can not worry about brushing your teeth. But ears need to be cleaned at least twice a month - for this it is best to use a cotton pad moistened with warm water.
Claws need to be cut at least once a month. Otherwise, they will grow very much when running, as well as jumping on hard surfaces, they will cause serious pain.
Training
It is no coincidence that the German Shepherd is considered one of the most trained and intelligent breeds. Moreover, it is best to start training at the age of 3-4 months. Be consistent and patient. Frequent cries, not to mention beatings, often lead to the dog becoming stubborn and even cruel. Positive reinforcement works much better in most cases - reward success, not punish failure.
It is very important that the dog in childhood spent a lot of time with other puppies and pets. Without proper socialization, she will perceive all small animals as prey, and large animals as potential opponents and competitors. Of course, this will lead to numerous conflicts and possibly injuries.
First, the dog must learn its own nickname. Then - a set of simple commands like “To Me”, “Sit”, “Lie”, “Voice” and “Paw”. It is very important that she knows such useful commands as "Next", "Place" and, of course, "Fu!" Whether or not to train the dog for other teams is at the discretion of the owner. But such a minimum must be known to every German shepherd.
Possible diseases
As mentioned above, a fairly rapid weight gain by the breed led to serious problems with the joints of the legs. This often leads to lameness, especially with the regular execution of the "barrier" command.
Sometimes there are diseases of the intervertebral disc - usually congenital.
Improper nutrition may well lead to diabetes, which will additionally tighten the requirements for the selection of the diet. Anyway, this will affect the general well-being of the pet.
Conclusion
Our article is drawing to a close. Now you know more about the most popular dog breed in the world. You learned where the German Shepherd came from, studied its history, strengths and weaknesses. We also received a number of useful tips, thanks to which your union with the dog will bring maximum pleasure to both parties.