Which Type Of German Shepherd Is Right For You
Ask yourself this
Your answer lies where the two needs meet
Next, you need to find a breeder that understands their lines and breeding programs.
You donât want someone who breeds for the sake of breeding.
All lines have some issues, and thats true for any other breed of dog too.
But if you know exactly what you want, go to the right breeder and let them know, you will get the right German Shepherd breed type for your family.
Hello there I need some help with a lot of thing since this is going to be my first ever pup!!! and to show my mum I can show responsibility and commitment I would need i little helpI want a pup who can be my protector, my best mate, a shoulder to cry on and a workout buddy
I hope Ive well written this. if you need anymore information I would be happy to answer.
And I would 10/10 recommend to a friend/family/random people on the street.
Thanks for helping me learn more about German Shepherd breeds. Its interesting to learn that the DDR working lines will need a lot of mental and physical stimulation. Maybe it could be good to learn what other owners have done to really ensure that this breed of German Shepherd remains happy.
Asking About The Breed
Ask For Your Breeders Help
Nobody knows your puppy better than the breeder where you are getting it from. They will have spent the first weeks of your puppys life with it, and they also will have a very deep knowledge of everything about the mother and the father. So by default, this knowledge enables the breeder to be very good at placing the proper puppies with the proper personalities.
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Testing The Dna Of The Dog
Sable German Shepherd Appearance

Sable German shepherds look just like most other German shepherd dogs, with the exception of their distinctively colored coat.
The German shepherd is a large breed. You can expect the males to reach up to 26 inches tall and weigh between 75 and 95 pounds.
The females are a bit smaller. They normally donât measure more than 24 inches tall and typically weigh between 55 and 75 pounds.
Their heads are domed in shape with a long, square muzzle. They have alert, erect ears and long necks that make them seem even larger than they are. It is considered ideal for the dog to be longer than it is tall with a proportion of 10 to 8.5. Their bushy tail should extend out in a hook-like shape.
German shepherds tend to dip their head low like a wolf when they are running or prowling, which contributes to the consensus that they look very much like the wolf ancestors of dogs.
These dogs have double coats with a soft undercoat and a denser guard layer. The guard layer can be either medium or long, though the medium length is significantly more common.
Most German shepherds are either tan and black or red and black. The lighter brown shade is usually their principal color, with a black face mask and black markings on their back which often look like a saddle.
A variety of other color variations exist, including pure black, pure white, liver, silver, blue, panda, and, of course, sable.
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How To Recognize A Responsible Breeder
A responsible breeder will want to meet you in person and ask you questions to find out if the puppy is a good match for you. When you meet, they should be happy to show where the puppy was raised and you should also be able to meet the parents of your puppy. Make sure you inspect the health of both parents and the litter before buying.
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What Does This Have To Do With How I Train My German Shepherd
Its a fair question actually. A dog is a dog is a dog right? But knowing the context and breed characteristics might help you train your German Shepherd puppy better and understand why they do certain things the way they do.
Here are a couple things to keep in mind:
PRO TIP: If your German Shepherd puppy switches off or starts acting silly they may resort to doing what they know best nipping or barking. Shift to some play, let them have some downtime and revisit training later we want training to be associated with fun, and not something they begin to dread.
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Fore And Hind Quarters
The original German Shepherds forequarters are muscular with lengthy shoulder blades that are angled too. Along with this, the forefoot and hindfoot are proportioned similarly for moving simultaneously in opposite directions. The shoulder blades have a vibrant melange with the upper arm, intersecting at a right angle. Though the limbs are straight, the angles are oval-shaped and not round.
According to the , the pasterns, sloping part of foot found between fetlock and hook, are springy and valiant, and they form a twenty-five degrees angle from vertical. Also, with regards to Hind Quarters, a pure german Shepherd would possess broad and muscular hindquarters where the upper thigh could subsequently meet the lower thigh in ninety degrees.
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Are German Shepherds Good Family Dogs
With the right training and socialization, German shepherds are excellent dogs for an active household. They will be loving, obedient, and protective.
They are good around children, though small children should always be supervised around dogs, regardless of the breed and their level of familiarity. Accidents happen, even when children are around dogs they have grown up with and know well.
Noticing Other Physical Characteristics
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Adopting A Sable German Shepherd Puppy
While you may find a sable German shepherd in a shelter, they are relatively rare. If you are looking for one of these puppies specifically, you may need to go to a breeder.
The sable color is relatively rare, and breeders have to control specifically for this kind of coat. As a result, you can expect to pay a bit more for a sable puppy than you would a German shepherd of any other more common colors.
Most German shepherd litters have between 5 and 9 puppies, and you can expect to pay over $1,000 for a pup of the standard colors.
For a rare and prized sable German shepherd puppy, donât be surprised if the breeder asks for over $2,000.
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.
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Other Characteristics For True Breed Gsd
The next feature that these puppies carry while growing is the head tilt. This is really popular among German shepherds dogs, we are not sure if its just them being cute and adorable, some even say that its a sign of intelligence others say they do this as puppies to see us better but what I can tell you is that all GSD does this.
German shepherds are very protective and smart they can even detect a threat before you the master sees it. The bond and loyalty between owner and dog will not generate overnight, this will take time however once that establishes the bond is not something that can be broken.
Dogs That Look Like Purebred German Shepherds
The purebred German shepherd standards are helpful signs. However, there are dogs that have the same appearance as well.
Here are some of the dogs that are likely to possess similar trait with that of a purebred German shepherd:
There are many breeds that can look identical to the German shepherd pure breed. This means youll have to find a way to test the legitimacy of purebred German shepherd puppies.
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Your Puppy Will Come With A Health Guarantee
Reputable breeders are so concerned about their dogs health that they usually offer health guarantees.
In general, if the puppy develops a disease covered by the agreement, you will either receive a refund on the price of the puppy, receive a replacement puppy, or the breeder might contribute a certain amount of money toward the treatment of the puppys health issue.
The terms of each breeders health guarantee vary, so ask for specifics when inquiring about a puppy.
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How Do I Make Sure My German Shepherd Is Healthy
Preventive care is key in helping your German Shepherd live a healthy and long life. Taking your German Shepherd to regular veterinary appointments is one of the best things you can do to ensure that they are healthy and feeling their best. An experienced veterinarian can assess your pets health, make general health and wellness recommendations, and look out for common, breed-specific conditions.
German Shepherds are particularly prone to a condition called gastric dilatation-volvulus or bloat due to their large size, deep chests, and high energy level. They are also more susceptible to gastrointestinal tract and hip issues. A veterinarian should regularly assess your pet for these health problems and run tests for anything they may be more prone to due to their breed. Preventive care is truly a must for your dogs overall welfare to ensure they are able to live long healthy lives with you and your family.
Regular vet visits are crucial to your pets ongoing health and longevity. Its also essential to plan for the cost of accidents or illnesses. Treatment for many conditions, including bloat and GI issues, can cost thousands of dollars.
Only 19.44% of pet owners say theyd be able to cover a $5,000 expense out of pocket. Dog health costs are also more expensive than other pet healthcare costs due to dogs being larger in size. Since larger pets have higher healthcare costs, the German Shepherd breed is one of the most popular dog breeds to have pet insurance.
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Get A Genetics/dna Test From Your Vet
Ask your vet about doing a DNA test for your dog to determine what breeds they have in them.
A DNA test is usually very simple the vet takes a blood sample from your dog, and it gets examined to see what dog breeds, types and varieties are in the blood sample.
Not only can you tell which breeds for sure are in your dog, but it can be a way of pre-screening your dog to determine what the chances/risks are that they develop breed related genetic diseases hip and elbow dysplasia is a common one for German Shepherds.
DNA testing along with purebred papers are probably the strongest indicator your German Shepherd puppy is purebred.
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