German Shepherd

The German Shepherd is also known by another name, Alsatian. This breed is exceedingly brilliant, energetic, and full of life! They are used for various duties such as, police work, search and rescue, guarding, therapy and also in the military. You will also find this breed very suitable as guide dogs for the blind. German Shepherds also make devoted and adoring pets. Let’s take a look into the details on this breed.

The German Shepherd is a large, athletic dog. It weighs about 75-95 pounds. The males measure 24-26 inches and females 22-24 inches. They have a very attractive double-coat, which can either be long-haired or stubby. The beauty of this breed lies in its coloring. The combination of colors include black and tan, black and red, black and cream, black and silver, solid black and sable and white.

The German Shepherd has strong jaws and impressive teeth. As faithful and obedient dogs they can be disciplined to attack and release on command. Most dogs in this breed live to 10-13 years of age.

German Shepherds are essentially herding dogs but today you will find them in many homes as they make excellent pets as well. Take a look at how useful this breed can be:

They are used to herd sheep, cattle or other animals.

• They are valuable as search and rescue dogs, as they can trace a scent for miles.
• They are of assistance as cadaver dogs.
• They work in the narcotics department helping in detecting objects such as explosives or illegal drugs.
• They are made use of in the accelerant detection department where they sniff out substances that escalate the rate of a chemical reaction.
• They have also been trained to detect agricultural produce, cancer, human remains, criminal evidence, and termites.
• They have been found to be useful in mine detection.
• The German Shepherd has been often featured in the movie and television business.

The breed was introduced by Captain Max von Stephanitz in the late 19th and early 20th century. His aim was to breed a versatile working dog. He found Hektor Linksrhein at a dog show and called it Horand von Grafrath. Horand became the first German Shepherd. With ‘intelligence and utility’ as the main focus areas, this breed was created through a lot of inbreeding.

Von Stephanitz conceived the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde, or SV as a bonafide organization for the breed. The Verein evolved to become the biggest specialty club with 50,000 members and more than 600 associated clubs.

This breed was brought to the US in 1907. Having been influenced by the resourcefulness of this powerful breed, American and British soldiers took the initiative to breed them for military purposes after World War 1.

Some common health disorders that afflict the German shepherd breed are:

• Bilateral cataract- affecting both eyes
• Chronic pancreatitis- caused by the deficiency of enzymes that digest fat and protein
• Diabetes mellitus- caused by an insulin deficiency
• Elbow dysplasia- which is a developmental deformity of elbow joints
• Hip dysplasia- the developmental deformity of hip joints
• Von Willebrand’s disease- which is a bleeding disorder

There are numerous kennel clubs in the most far flung corners of the world that can provide information about local German Shepherd breeders. Obedience training clubs, veterinarians, groomers, boarding kennel operators, and pet supply outlets are also perfect sources of information with regard to a German Shepherd breeder.

A responsible German Shepherd breeder will provide you with counsel about genetic diseases that affect the breed and will give you names of former puppy buyers as references. To find a good breeder you can take a look at online dog breeder directories for more information. Most breeders will have puppies and adult dogs for sale. They may also be able to give you a choice of colors as their coat comes in different hues. A good German shepherd breeder should also advice you on diet and exercise for your new pet and also give you a vaccination chart to keep your German Shepherd fit, healthy and happy.

Breeders Domain offers a direct connection to quality, responsible German Shepherd Breeders in the United States and Canada. We have an extensive directory of German Shepherd Puppies for Sale and German Shepherd Breeders. The majority of our German Shepherd Breeders offer health guarantees and nationwide shipping of their puppies to approved homes. Breeders Domain is also an excellent source of information about the German Shepherd breed, general health concerns and photos of German Shepherd puppies and adults.