| Also known as the Alsatian, the German | | | | 'their' family. They will tolerate the poking |
| Shepherd is a 'young' breed, having only been | | | | and prodding children are prone to do. |
| recognized as a distinct breed in the last 90 | | | | However, they are sometimes unaware of their |
| years. The German Shepard can trace its roots | | | | size and power relative to a small child and |
| back to a range of shepherding dogs in | | | | may indiscriminately knock them over. |
| Germany, and some groups tried to informally | | | | |
| breed this dog. This effort failed but in | | | | A German Shepherd and child should always be |
| 1899, a new group formed. Der Verein fur | | | | watched to avoid this. German Shepherds can |
| Deutsche Schaeferhunde was founded by Max von | | | | survive apartment living if given enough |
| Stephanitz, who wanted to breed an all | | | | exercise regularly and given enough |
| purpose working dog. | | | | activities. If left alone too long or not |
| | | | stimulated enough, German Shepherds will |
| The German Shepherd came to the United Sates | | | | become bored and destructive. They enjoy |
| in 1908 with soldiers impressed by the | | | | being in the company of their human family |
| courage and abilities of this dog. German | | | | but not other pets. As a working dog that |
| Shepherds will reach an average height of 22 | | | | likes to please, a German Shepherd will do |
| to 26 inches, weight of 77 to 85 pounds and | | | | very well with obedience training. German |
| live an average of 13 years. There are a wide | | | | Shepherds are prone to some genetic disorders |
| variety of coats in this breed. Some German | | | | including hip and elbow dysplasia, blood |
| Shepherds are longhaired and some are | | | | disorders, digestive problems, epilepsy, |
| shorthaired. The color is most often black | | | | chronic eczema, keratitis (inflammation of |
| and tan, but can also be sable, all black, | | | | the cornea), dwarfism and flea allergies. |
| blue and liver and white. | | | | |
| | | | There is a website that has great information |
| The one thing all German Shepard coats have | | | | on German Shepherds and most other breeds of |
| in common is that they shed profusely, and | | | | dogs. It has details that pertain to a dog |
| shed worse during their shedding season. | | | | breeds health, grooming, living conditions, |
| Daily brushing usually helps combat the | | | | best food choices and more, the website is |
| shedding, and German Shepherds should only be | | | | called: Dog And Cat Facts, and can be found |
| bathed occasionally. Almost all German | | | | at this url: |
| Shepherds are described as self-confident and | | | | |
| loyal. | | | | By Robert W. Benjamin |
| | | | |
| German Shepherds are highly intelligent and | | | | Copyright © 2007 |
| often times used as police dogs, rescue dogs | | | | |
| and guide dogs. German Shepherds make | | | | You may publish this article in your ezine, |
| excellent guard dogs and are very loyal to | | | | newsletter, or on your web site as long as it |
| their family. They make excellent protectors, | | | | is reprinted in its entirety and without |
| barking when someone unfamiliar is | | | | modification except for formatting needs or |
| approaching. German Shepherds do make good | | | | grammar corrections. |
| family pets and will guard the children of | | | | |