BREED PROFILE: GERMAN SHEPHERD

People love big, protective and loving dogs and that's why there are a lot of German Sheperd breeders.

The German Shepherd is sometimes called an Alsatian because that is where they originated from in Germany. Many Germans still called them Deutscher Schaferhund because of their original sheepdog function but the breed is not very old and was really developed from a variety of sheep herding farm dogs in the late 1800s. In 1899 Max von Stephanitz, a German cavalry officer, was president of the first German Shepherd association in Germany. Since then German Shepherds have turned up all over the world.

The German Shepherd is a versatile working-dog, capable of being trained to perform a wide variety of tasks. German Shepherds are family pets, police dogs, guide dogs, search and rescue dogs, bomb and drug detection dogs, sheep and cattle herders, hunting companions, guard dogs, obedience champions, avalanche dogs, assistance dogs, show dogs, and more. Regardless of their particular role, they are excellent companions provided they receive the attention, training, and exercise they need and feel useful. On the other hand, a neglected German Shepherd will use those same wonderful traits to devise ways to amuse himself, much to the chagrin of his owner.

They are highly territorial and will know and recognize their people and place by about six months of age. This is when their protective loyalty starts to show itself! There are many German Sheperd breeders and you should have no problem finding a good one, but just remember that they come in a range of colors and will protect you no matter what!

Can a breeder guarantee that a puppy will not have hip problems? NO! Hip dysplasia is considered to be polygenic. That means that it's caused by a combination of genes that may not show up in any litter previously. No matter the certifications in the pedigree it is possible that a puppy could be predisposed to hip dysplasia. That's why preliminary hip x-rays after 6 months are a good idea. Treatments (both surgical and drug) can be done early to alleviate problems down the line. If in doubt, find an orthopedic specialist. Be wary of a breeder that says their puppies will definitely not have hip problems.

The full adult size of a German Shepherd will depend in large part on the genetic background of its parents. Adult males normally range between 24-26" at the shoulder blade, females from 22-24". Males within the standard may weigh anywhere from 65-90 lbs. Females may weigh anywhere from 55-80 lbs. Although a pup will reach close to adult height by 10-18 months, s/he will continue to fill out until up to 3 years old.

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