German Shepherds by and large are very healthy, no more prone to illness than any other breed and healthier than many. But there are certain conditions that tend to occur among some breeds more often than others. Ear inflammations are a case in point. As a long-eared breed a condition called Otitis Externa, an inflammation…
The German Shepherd breed was developed over 100 years ago, as the name suggests, for herding sheep. That activity is less common in the world today, but the basic skills are still much in demand. GSDs, as they’re sometimes known, will patrol a border for hours, keeping strangers at bay and protecting those within. Seeing…
German Shepherds, like all dogs, are primarily carnivores. Their digestive systems are relatively straight and some parts are shorter than even other large breeds. That makes digesting vegetable or plant matter more difficult. As a result, the German Shepherd’s diet should be chiefly meat-based. That doesn’t mean German Shepherds have to be fed nothing but…
German Shepherds are strong, agile and intelligent. Those attributes create special needs when you’ve made the decision to train your dog. A collar is fine for ordinary walking. But during training, a chest harness will work out better for both dog and trainer. They’re made of leather or very strong nylon with either metal or…
As with any breed, individual behavior will vary. But, also as with any breed, there are common characteristics that are typically shared by all members. Among German Shepherds those behaviors revolve around their ‘instinctive’ patterns, patterns that reveal a dual personality. Bred at the end of the 19th century to serve, as the name suggests,…
Within dog lover circles there is an ongoing controversy about whether it’s better to acquire a pure bred German Shepherd or one of mixed ancestry. The issue may never be settled to everyone’s satisfaction. But where you stand may depend heavily on the reason you acquired your dog. For show dogs, police dogs and other…
German Shepherds can suffer from any number of common skin problems, often lumped under the title ‘Pyoderma’, which is technically a skin infection. Those infections are usually the result of a bacteria (often some kind of staphylococcus). The infection can be limited primarily to the outer skin layer, or may penetrate deeper into the subcutaneous…
Socialization involves getting your dog familiar and comfortable with other dogs, pets and people in their environment. As natural pack animals it’s often easy to do, and sometimes even harder to keep them from interacting at inappropriate times. Most dogs benefit from socialization. The people around them do too. But German Shepherds and a few…
German Shepherds are often said to be intelligent, loyal and hard working. And that’s all true. But they’re often believed to be that way on the basis of temperament, which some claim is all inbred. That’s where the controversy begins. It’s undoubtedly true that certain features of a dog’s personality, as with humans, derives from…
The breed is only just over 100 years ago, the deliberate product of a breeding program began by ‘The Father of the German Shepherd’, Rittmeister Max von Stephanitz. First gaining fame as working dogs in the German Army during WWI, the breed became truly famous with the introduction of Rin Tin Tin in the movies…