They Have An Excellent Sense Of Smell
Its no surprise why German Shepherds make such good K9 police dogs. At the very least, their sense of smell is 10,000 times stronger than a humans. They have helped with their sense of smell in a variety of situations, such as drug busts, searching for bodies in disaster areas, and being able to hunt down people in search situations.
What Do You Need To Know Before You Get A German Shepherd
9 Things You Need To Know Before Getting A German Shepard 1. There will be fur. Everywhere. 2. Expect to buy a lot of replacement toys. 3. They require a ton of attention. 4. They tend to play rough. 5. Their bark is worse than their bite Sometimes. 6. Get ready to have an extra shadow. 7. So. Much. Whining.
The Popularity Of The German Shepherd Dog
The likelihood of the average person at least knowing what a German Shepherd looks like is relatively high due to their fame and formidable acts of service.
The iconic German Shepherd appearance, as presented by the American Kennel Club, is a dense straight coat with a mixture of black, tan, and brown coloration.
The ears are erect and the back generally slopes slightly downward. Overall, this breed takes on a noble and agile character.
But how popular is the German Shepherd to the public?
Intelligence is one of the ways in which dogs have been ranked. They have also been ordered by their overall popularity.
Readers Digest compiled data and found the German Shepherd to be the second most popular dog in North America. This is vastly due to their loyalty, intelligence, and hard-working nature.
German Shepherds have always been a top choice. Dogtime reveals that three out of the five most famous war dogs were this breed.
According to The Bark, a dog culture magazine, the first guide dog was a German Shepherd named Buddy.
This breed further proved its popularity in various media roles such as Rin-Tin-Tin and Bullet on the Roy Rogers show.
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Provide Them The Right Chew Toys
Chew toys provide your intelligent breed with plenty of stimulating ways to engage their minds while helping control their stress. If you want your GSD to learn how to calm their minds, then chew toys can help them release tension.
These safe, non-toxic, and stimulating Chew Toys for German Shepherd Dogs are meant to satisfy their primal urges to gnaw and bite while releasing stress and anxiety.
The Basics Of German Shepherd Grooming
The German Shepherd Dog has a thick, medium-length double coat that sheds, a lot and constantly, so much that even his fans call him a German shedder. The undercoat sheds heavily in spring and fall, and the German Shepherd must be brushed and bathed frequently during that time to get out all the loose hair. The rest of the year, weekly brushing is generally enough to keep him clean. If the German Shepherd is your breed of choice, purchase a heavy-duty vacuum cleaner dont get a German Shepherd if you have allergies or are a fussy housekeeper.
The rest is basic care. Trim his nails every few weeks, as needed, and brush his teeth frequently for good overall health and fresh breath.
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Are German Shepherds For Me
German Shepherds are fantastic dogs that bring the brains and brawn. GSDs are some of the most popular breeds in the world for a reason. But know that they come with a lot of work.
If youre looking for a big lap dog or a low maintenance dog, these dogs are not for you. Sure, it can make training easier in the beginning, but the extra amount of mental exercises needed will make a GSD more time-consuming than you think.
When deciding which dog breed to raise, never pick one based on how intelligent they are. All dogs are capable of learning basic tricks and commands. Some dog breeds just require more patience or consistency than others.
Instead, ask if the dog breeds temperament and personality match yours. Are they a good fit for you and your lifestyle? German Shepherds are devoted, brave and freakishly intelligent. If that sounds like a pet youd like in your family, then go ahead! You certainly wont regret it!
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Are German Shepherds Smart German Shepherd Intelligence Facts & Intelligence Ranking
Maybe youre thinking about getting a new dog and youre thinking of getting a German Shepherd.
Or, maybe youve got a German Shepherd and youre wondering why the breed has a reputation for being reasonably smart.
In the following guide weve aimed to tell you everything you want or need to know about the German Shepherd breed intelligence and intelligence rankings when compared to other dog breeds.
Theres even an intelligence test you can take for your dog to see how they fare individually compared to what the GSD breed is suppose to be like.
Lets jump into it
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What Is The Size Of A Full
An adult male German Shepherd is typically 24 to 26 inches tall, while adult female German Shepherds are 22 to 24 inches tall, according to the American Kennel Club German Shepherd Standard.
The estimated full-size varies significantly between sexes. In terms of weight, an adult male German Shepherd weighs anywhere from 75 to 90 pounds. A female German Shepherd weighs notably less at 55 to 70 pounds.
Please keep in mind that these numbers are only estimates to give you an idea of how much bigger a German Shepherd puppy may get. Some dogs will be both smaller and larger than these weight ranges when fully grown due to a variety of genetic and environmental factors.
Intelligence Does Not Equate To Obedience
While German Shepherds are very smart, its important to remember especially when training your dog that intelligence does not equate to obedience. They are quick learners, but they dont automatically understand a command after just one or two tries. It may take a few attempts, days, or weeks to teach your German Shepherd proper commands effectively.
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When Do German Shepherds Stop Growing
Like many large breeds, a German Shepherd dog is not considered fully grown until they are about 18 months old. Female German Shepherds continue to fill out until they are around two years old, while the male German Shepherd growth rate continues until they reach two and a half years of age. Males are larger are require more time to fill out their chest and abdomen.
As you can see by the German Shepherd weight chart, these dogs can continue to grow until they are three years old, but the majority of growth occurs within 24 months. If your GSD is older than 36 months and continues to put on weight, contact your veterinarian to ensure weight gain does not lead to obesity.
How The German Shepherd Performed
As expected, the German Shepherd performed exceptionally well. In fact, only two other dog breeds managed to beat them for obedience and working intelligence the Border Collie and Poodle. But as a top-3 intelligent dog, what does this mean?
German Shepherds were placed in the top dog intelligence class, among the top 10 dogs. Breeds in this category are able to learn a new command with fewer than 5 repetitions. German Shepherds are able to learn basic commands in a few minutes!
In addition, German Shepherds exhibited characteristics of high obedience. As a result, a GSD is able to successfully obey a known command on the first attempt with a 95% or better success rate. Not many animals can do the same!
Coincidentally, some of the most popular dog breeds were also in this same IQ class. For example, dog breeds such as the Golden Retriever, Rottweiler, Labrador, Doberman, Papillon and Blue Heeler also made the cut.
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German Shepherd Health Nutrition By Royal Canin
Good nutrition is vital to a happy and well-performing dog. German Shepherds have uniquely high mental and physical activity levels. That means that they require specific food which is high in energy and nutrients. Royal CANIN is a world leader in high quality dog food and has poured years of research and expertise into this food. it contains all the daily ingredients your GSD needs to be the best dog he/she can be.
Their History Dates Back In 1899
Normally, we talk about the origins of a breed in the beginning of the blog post, but this German shepherd information will be an exception.
We all know that the German shepherd breed came from Germany, for obvious reasons. However, a German shepherd fun fact that many dont know is that the breed was started by Max von Stephanitz in 1899.
Stephanitz is someone with authority at that time. Due to the capabilities and appeal of the German shepherd dogs, he was captivated and longed for the prevalence of the breed.
He started populating the breed with a focus on the utility of the dog. He didnt care much about good looks. After all, there werent any dog shows at that time. So of course, the only German shepherd information hell look at is their reliability to jobs.
Now, we can consider Max von Stephanitz as the root of the intelligent and loyal dogs we see and love now.
Speaking of history, lets not forget about the German shepherd information that are often seen in books.
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Noble Facts About German Shepherds
Intelligent, agile, and spirited, the German Shepherd is the ultimate service dog. Theres a lot underneath that thick coat of fur you might not know.
1. Germans standardized the breed .
In 1889, breeder Max von Stephanitz noticed a wolf-like dog with yellow and black markings at a dog show in western Germany. Impressed by the poochs intelligence and discipline, the breeder purchased the dog and changed its name from from Hektor Linksrhein to Horand von Grafrath. Von Stephanitz then started the German Shepherd Dog Club and set up guidelines for the breeds standard. His motto for the breed was “utility and intelligence” good looks came second.
2. They work like dogs.
As Germany became more industrialized, von Stephanitz realized that the need for his dogs might decline. To maintain their relevance, he worked with police and other service workers to secure a place for the dogs in the working force. Since they had been bred to be highly intelligent and athletic, they were easy to train and were tireless workers. Thanks to von Stephanitzs help, the diligent canines found work as messengers and guards.
3. World War I brought German Shepherds out West.
During the war, Germans used the dogs for a number of purposes. Mercy dogs brought first aid to wounded soldiers after battle and would stay near mortally injured soldiers to keep them company as they passed away. Others delivered messages or worked as guard dogs.
4. America loves them.
5. They really are smart.
Just How Smart Are They
In his book The Intelligence of Dogs, Stanley Coren ranked the most intelligent dog breeds. He is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia and has a Ph.D. in Psychology.
He has written several books about dogs, including How to Speak Dog and Why We Love the Dogs We Dog.
Coren divides intelligence into three categories: Instinctive Intelligence, Adaptive Intelligence, and Working and Obedience Intelligence.
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Judging A Dogs Intelligence
Let me start off by saying that ranking a dogs intelligence is somewhat subjective. Just like with people, some dogs are better suited to some tasks than others.
Compare a famous artist with a famous physicist. If you asked the artist to make a rocket, he would probably just scratch his head. Ask the physicist to paint a masterpiece and you get a portrait that only a mother would hang on her fridge.
The same can be said for dogs.
In 1994, Dr. Stanley Coren, neuropsychologist and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia, published his landmark piece The Intelligence of Dogs which changed our understanding of how dogs think and act.
In his book, Dr. Coren ranks over 100 breeds of dog in order of intelligence. He judged the dogs by the following criteria:
Dr. Coren presented hundreds of puzzles to hundreds of different dogs and judged which breeds could best solve the puzzles.
The German shepherd excelled at these tasks due to its intrinsic intelligence and eagerness to please.
Which Is The Smartest Dog In The World
According to the findings of a recent language development test the average dog has the mental abilities of a 2-year-old. In terms of ranking, the top three are Border collies, Poodles, and then German shepherds. But when it comes to training, German Shepherds are considered to be the best. Police and special forces use them almost exclusively.
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Gsds Are Super Active
Therefore, so are you. Thinking of lounging on the couch? No way! German Shepherd owners know that wont happen until youve walked your dog, gone to the park, or provided some sort of exercise. This breed only thrives with enough regular exercise to burn off all that excess energy. If you dont give your GSD daily workouts, watch out. Your dog will get that energy out somehow, and most likely in ways you dont want. To be sure your German Shepherd is happy and a pleasure to live with, you will definitely get all the exercise you need too.
Pro: Playtime Is Elevated
The German Shepherds adaptability and high learning curve make it fun to teach and play games with it. Purchase a dog puzzle or teach it a new game other than fetch for some elevated playtime with your beloved German Shepherd. With that, German Shepherds are fun to watch. They are good problem-solvers, and you can observe them in real-time, figuring things out.
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What Are The Characteristics Of German Shepherds
German Shepherds are confident, courageous, intelligent and gentle, although it can take them some time to make friends. Due to history of herding, they are incredibly noble and loyal both to the work they do and to their owners.
“German Shepherds are energetic, confident and highly intelligent dogs. They are strong and courageous, but also have a well-balanced nature and are considered one of the most versatile and trainable breeds,” Bill adds.
Why Isnt My German Shepherd Smart
Although German Shepherds are a naturally brainy breed, every dog has a different personality and not all Sheps will be geniuses. However, that doesnt mean your dog isnt smart or cant learn. If you have adopted an adult rescue German Shepherd, they may also struggle with training if they did not receive any at a young age, but dont despair!
Any dog can learn at any age, you just have to put in some extra time and effort, be patient, follow good training practices and seek help from a professional if youre struggling.
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A Brief History Of German Shepherds
In the late 1880s, a breeder Max Stephanitz was charmed by a wolf-like dog at a dog show in Germany.
He decided to purchase the dog and started a dogs club dealing exclusively with the guidelines for the German shepherd breeds standard.
After a stage of rapid industrialization in Germany, Max decided to increase the dogs utility by extending their exposure to police and other services to maintain relevance and secure their requirement.
During World War I, German shepherds were used for a range of important purposes, such as bringing first aid for wounded soldiers, as well as working in the capacity of therapy dogs for injured soldiers to keep them company.
From the apparent position of guard dogs to delivering messages, they didnt cease to impress Americans as well.
When Americans realized how smart are GSD, they brought them to their home country where they gained wide popularity.
How Much Bigger Will My German Shepherd Get
There are a few ways to gauge how much bigger a German Shepherd will get.
First, check your puppy’s age. If your GSD is younger than two years old, they definitely have room to keep growing!
Another way to tell if your pup still has a lot of growing to do is their paw size. Do their paws look large compared to their legs and body? This is a classic adolescent feature of a dog, and means your pup is likely still growing!
If you bought your German Shepherd from a breeder, they should be able to give you a specific, estimated weight based on your puppys parents and past litters. Most of the time, a dog will not grow bigger than its larger parents.
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German Shepherd Dogs Are Prone To Hip And Elbow Dysplasia
Since the beginning of this blog post, we talked about the positive German shepherd puppy facts. However, as an owner, its important to be knowledgeable about the possible threats to your dog.
Sure, German shepherds are healthy dogs. We all know this. But theres no denying that they arent flawless.
German shepherds are prone to certain health issues. And the two most common health problems to the German shepherd breed are hip and elbow dysplasia. Both of these conditions involves abnormality in the skeletal system.
Its important to know about this so you can achieve a greater sense of urgency to help your dog overcome these challenges.