Are German Shepherds Good Herding Dogs

What Exactly Is A German Shepherd

A German Shepherd is a working breed of dog, and one of the most popular breeds in America. They are also known as the Alsatian in some locations. The German Shepherd is a very intelligent dog, and is considered a working dog.;

This means that it was initially bred for a specific reason and role. Much like the Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever was bred to retrieve game and animals from a hunt,; the German Shepherd was bred to herd animals and sheep.;;

You can identify a German Shepherd by its mixture of soft browns, dark browns, beige and black coat, pointed ears and shaggy fur. Although, some can be short-haired, and can even be born black.;

German Shepherds are large dogs, usually tan and black and can live for about 10-14 years. To understand whether these types of dogs are perfect for personal protection and as guard dogs, lets dive into the history of this shaggy-haired canine companion.;

Are German Shepherds Good For Hunting

The AKC describes the German shepherd as a smart, confident, and courageous animal. And perhaps you are wondering with such attributes, are German shepherds good for hunting?

Even With their remarkable attributes, most people dont consider German shepherds as hunting dogs. Initially, the founder of the German shepherd breed wanted to have a dog breed with strong guarding and herding abilities rather than possess hunting capabilities.

So if you are looking for the answer of whether German shepherds are good hunting dogs, then you have wandered to the right article, as we have articulated everything clearly.;

Contents

Training A German Shepherd To Protect Livestock

When most people use the term protection dog, it is generally used in a somewhat confused manner.;

More often than not, most people have a preset idea or notion as to what the term protection means when used in relation to GSDs.;

The term protection is often confused with attack.

It is essential to keep in mind that a protection dog is not trained in the same manner as a traditional attack dog.; The temperaments required for each type of job are very different in nature.;

The primary training for a guard dog is that of alerting its owners to the possible intrusion of strangers.;

Whereas an attack dog is trained to not only attack when commanded but also cease the attack when instructed.;

A GSD trained as a protection dog will combine both of these mannerisms and use his own judgment when discerning a threatening situation and determining how to react.

GSDs are innately smart, independent thinkers, which makes them the expert guard dogs that they are.;

Their breeding and herding heritage create a combination that proves them to be a common choice for protecting people, property, and, on some occasions, livestock.;

It is important once again to highlight that German Shepherds possess an innately high prey drive, so any application of protecting livestock requires disciplined training.

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Pros And Cons Of German Shepherds

The Good

• Thrives on challenging activities and exercise
• Loyal to his own family
• Looks imposing and has a reputation that bad guys don’t want to fool with, so makes an effective deterrent
• Highly intelligent and versatile can learn almost anything

The Bad

• Can be hard to find one with a family-oriented temperament and a decent chance of staying healthy
• Needs plenty of exercise and interesting things to do
• Needs careful socialization
• Destructiveness when bored or not exercised enough
• Potential aggression toward other animals
• Constant shedding 365 days a year
• Legal liabilities
• High risk of serious health problems

Keep in mind that the inheritance of temperament; is less predictable than the inheritance of physical; traits such as size or shedding. Temperament and behavior are also shaped by raising and training.

German Shepherd And Kids

If you training your dog and expose him to kids while he is young you can expect a good dog who will enjoy kids’ company when he grows up. Germans Shepherds are great companions for the kids and they will be both gentle and protective. He will babysit your kid and protect him from any sighs of trouble. Regarding that, you will need to watch the interaction between dog and the kids because of his size he could easily bump into a kid while playing. Generally, they are trustworthy around other kids they dont know but you need to be careful.

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Male Or Female German Shepherd Which Is Better For Families

When it comes to being a family pet, is there a difference between male and female German Shepherd?

The answer to this can depend on how you want your German Shepherd to fit into the family dynamic, and if you want a guard dog or a family pet. Male German Shepherd will typically attach more strongly to the person he spends the most time with. He may decide to protect this person from other members of the household if he is not properly trained.;

On the flip side, female German Shepherd tend to love everyone in the household more equally. Females are usually a little less wary of strangers and anyone that you might invite over. A female German Shepherd is likely to be the best option if you have children or a large family.

A Short History Of The German Shepherd

As the name of the breed suggests, the German Shepherd originates from Germany. The history of the breed dates back to the late 1800s. In the 1850s, German dog breeders were trying to standardize dog breeds to preserve the best traits that assisted their job of herding sheep. This was practiced within small communities of people in Germany where shepherds bred dogs.;

German breeders wanted to have a dog that had the necessary skills for herding sheep such as intelligence, strength, speed, endurance, and a strong sense of smell. The breeders got results but the ability and the appearance of dogs differed from one community to another. As a result, the Phylax Society was formed in 1891 with the purpose of creating native dog breeds but it was disbanded in just a few of years due to internal disagreements on the traits of the dogs the organization should promote. Nevertheless, Germanys efforts to create a dog breed of the nations own continued.;

In 1899, Max von Stephanitz, an ex-member of the Phylax Society and a former student of the Berlin Veterinary College, was shown a dog during one of his visits to a dog show named Hektor Linksrhein. The dog was agile, loyal, fast, intelligent, and appeared pleasing to the eye. The dog satisfied his beliefs of what a working dog should be, and he purchased him.;

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Do German Shepherds Get Along With Other Dogs

To go into greater depth, it does vary from breed to breed, animal to animal, and dog to dog. Much like any person, theres no guarantee that a German Shepherd will get along with others.

Now, first things first, lets talk a bit about what a German Shepherd is. A German Shepherd is a breed made towell, Shepherd sheep. Theyre hyperactive, fast, and more than willing to play. So, if you like to go outside, or are pretty energetic, then this is a good breed for you.

But, keep in mind, a German Shepherds temperament does depend on the line it comes from. I.E: if the line has a history of angry pups, then it stands to reason that the next one will likely have anger issues.

If you want a nice, easier-going German Shepherd, then it might not be a bad idea to try to get a longhaired breed, or a solid white one.;

Now, onto getting along with other dogs. German Shepherds do, generally, get along with other dogs or animals so long as they grow up with them, or spend a great deal of time with them.

It is recorded that some German Shepherds do tend to be aggressive to dogs of the same gender.

I.E: Boys will roughhouse.

That said, it is possible that so long as there isnt another dominant dog, then its likely that they will get along. That said, try to be aware of the German Shepherds line and general temperament. Some dogs might get along better with others.

But if that does happen, it does fall to the owner to take responsibility for their dog. Training might be necessary.

German Shepherd Vs Akbash Dog Vs Rhodesian Ridgeback Comparison

“Find similarities and differences between German Shepherd vs Akbash Dog vs Rhodesian Ridgeback”

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Rottweilers Protective Instincts Are Suited To Farm Life And Work

You may be looking for a dog to protect the livestock they herd, or you may be looking for a companion who will function as a personal protection dog to you as you work alone on the farm.

In either case, a Rottweilers natural protective instincts recommend them to this purpose.

You will have to train your Rottweiler, however, as they can become pushy and want to be the alpha as well as protector, so you will have to make sure that you remain pack leader.

You also have to be able to control your massive Rottweiler, so training is vital.

How To Train A German Shepherd To Be A Guard Dog

In order to have a well rounded and trained guard dog, your German Shepherd will need to be properly socialized, well mannered, manageable, and happy. You will have to expose your German Shepherd to a range of people, situations and other animals in order to train them properly.

This means having your dog properly adjusted to people of different sizes, stature, race, gender, along with dogs, cats, and other stimuli. This will ensure that you are able to control and command your dog under a range of conditions and circumstances without fail.

You also have to keep up with regular training, along with a lot of exercise and quality time with your dog. German Shepherds need a lot of attention and mental stimulation, so will need to be well exercised, and have lots of toys and things to play with. Due to their active and intelligent nature, without a lot of stimulation, they can be prone to destructive or naughty behavior.;

As the owner, you also have to be trained and prepared to care for your guard dog. You will need to be assertive, strong and confident in handling your dog, able to command them and communicate with them with ease. You will have to be the Alpha in your home if you want to keep a guard or protection dog.;

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What Is Their Conservation Status

In 2008, the old German Shepherd dog was listed as ‘extremely vulnerable to extinction by GEH. The modern German Shepherd dogs, also known as Alsatian, are not under any considerable threat of extinction. For the good German Shepherd temperament, they are mostly trained as herding dogs, companion dogs, search and rescue dogs, and sniffing dogs.

What Colors Do German Shepherds Come In

The most common colors are black and tan, black and red, black and cream, or black and silver. These colors cover the dog in one of these three patterns:

• Saddleback the black overlays the dog’s back and sides . The rest of the dog is tan, red, cream, or silver. Usually there’s some black on the face, as well.
• Blanketback the black extends further down the shoulders and hips.
• Bicolor like a Doberman or Rottweiler, which is mostly black with small tan/red/cream markings specifically confined to the head, chest, and legs. Honestly I don’t know why this pattern is called bicolor, which simply means two colors. As we’ve just seen, the other two patterns also have just two colors.

Another common color is sable, which is an overall shade of gray, golden, or red, with black-tipped hairs that create a “dusted with black” effect.

A less common, but perfectly acceptable, color is solid black.

“Faulty” colors

Then there are two controversial colors: blue and liver:

• Blue German Shepherds have inherited a color-modifying gene that changes their black pigment to smoky gray. Many blue dogs look as though they’ve been dusted with flour.
• Liver German Shepherds have inherited a color-modifying gene that changes their black pigment to brown .

Blue and liver are considered serious faults by the official German Shepherd clubs and breeders who show their dogs in the conformation ring. But you can still register these dogs and compete with them in activities such as obedience and agility.

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Select European Import Bloodlines Infuse Vom Banach K9 German Shepherds With Strong Herding Insticts

German Shepherds are the prototypical herding dogs. With their innate instincts honed, a single dog can easily manage and protect flocks of over 100 sheep. A herding dog prospect is intelligent, athletic, responds to the biddings of his owner, and is not easily distracted.

German Shepherds have been used for centuries as herding dogs worldwide; moving them to designated grazing areas and them keeping them there, all the while protecting them from predators such as wolves and coyotes.

German and Czech import bloodlines have been selectively bred for the herding instinct and are especially suited to work as herding dogs. Vom Banach German Shepherds feature these bloodlines and consistently prove themselves strong herders. Their ability to cover ground quickly and their size are traits the German Shepherd dog employs in patrolling boundaries his master designates with hand and voice signals.

Below is a gallery of Vom Banach German Shepherds active as herding dogs. Click on any image to enlarge it. Click the play button in the bottom left hand corner of the image to view them all as a slideshow.

Koda vom Banach, owned by John Hawkins moves the herd with innate skill and precision.

Quick Find

Grooming: Do German Shepherds Shed A Lot Are They Easy To Groom

About shedding….

I have good news and bad news.

The good news is that German Shepherds have only one shedding period a year.

The bad news is…. their shedding period lasts for 365 days. In other words, German Shepherds shed constantly.

How is this different from most breeds?

Most breeds shed a few hairs here and there throughout the year. But the vast bulk of their shedding occurs only twice a year for three weeks in the spring as their thicker winter coat switches over to a cooler summer coat, and for three weeks in the fall as the summer coat switches over to a winter coat.

Not German Shepherds. They shed a TON during those spring and fall coat-switching seasons. Plus they shed moderately the rest of the year.

So year-round, you’ll find hair on your clothing, on your carpets, and under your refrigerator. Frequent vaccuming will become a way of life.

You might be wondering, “How can a shorthaired dog shed so much?” The answer is that German Shepherds have a double coat. They have a short outer coat , plus a woolly undercoat . Breeds with a double coat always shed more than breeds who simply have an outer coat but no undercoat.

German Shepherds come in a long coat, as well as a short coat. Both coats shed heavily.

Now, about grooming….

How much grooming is required depends on whether a German Shepherd is shorthaired or longhaired.

Longhaired dogs need trimming

Along with brushing and combing, longhaired German Shepherds need trimming every few months.

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White Swiss Shepherd Dog

The White Swiss Shepherd Dog is a variety of the German Shepherd bred in Switzerland. It descends from the American White Shepherds; the first stud dog of what became the breed was an American dog born in 1966 and imported to Switzerland. The variety was recognised by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale as a separate breed in 2003, and it is now recognised by a number of national kennel clubs.

How Much Exercise Does A Belgian Shepherd Need

How much exercise does a Belgian Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Tervuren need. All these varieties of Belgian Shepherds are an extremely active high energy dog and require at least 60 to 90 minutes a day of energy-burning activity, but more is preferred. They were bred to work hard and all day long.

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How Old Was My Dutch Shepherd When She Became A Herding Dog

My youngest fur baby, a Dutch Shepherd, then 8 months old still just a puppy I watched her as she jumped from the back seat to the front seat, her eyes both wide-open and dilated. She began to intensely stare at the cars approaching and with passion, she turned around and ogled them as they disappeared in the distance.