Beware The Land Sharks
German Shepherd Puppies have earned the moniker land shark for their mouthiness. It comes from somewhere deep in their herding heritage, I suppose, but these are very bitey puppies! For this reason, a GSD can be a trying breed with young children, who often become unwitting targets for playful biting. Start teaching your puppy right away that biting humans is inappropriate behavior and channel that mouthiness into heavy-duty chew toys and games that dont involve tasty human hands.
Behavioral Characteristics Of The Purebred German Shepherd
If your dog is a purebred German Shepherd, it will be extremely loyal to you and your family. Initially, it remains very reserved; however, when it forms a connection, there is no way you can doubt its loyalty. Apart from that, if it feels threatened, it gets very protective as well. Its sense of possession makes it apt for guarding your family. Besides, it can easily differentiate between who is family and who isnt. ; Another essential behavioral characteristic is the energy level of a purebred German Shepherd. These are high-energy dogs and require a lot of physical activity. If you do not make it indulge in energetic physical activities, it is likely to get bored. When a purebred German Shepherd is bored, it shows destructive behavior and starts chewing, digging, and barking. ; Many other behavioral characteristics help a person make a clear differentiation between German Shepherd purebred vs. mixed. These are highly intelligent and can be trained to do a variety of jobs. They help in searching, rescuing, and assist the elderly or visibly impaired people.
What To Know Before Buying A German Shepherd
Your German Shepherd will without a doubt become part of the family within a few days, and should live for more than 10 years, so be aware that this is a very long commitment, and not to be taken lightly.
Whilst you may have to save up to buy your German Shepherd, you will need a lot more funds to look after and properly care for your puppy.;;
The main costs will be when you first get a German Shepherd, as you will have to pay for the puppy itself, along with a crate, leash, dog bed, collar, good quality puppy food, grooming tools and other accessories such as puppy training pads and treats.
That is without considering the cost of getting your puppy checked over by a veterinarian, or giving them their initial shots before they are allowed to socialize with other dogs.
However, reputable breeders may have already arranged for their vaccinations to be completed before the puppy is sent to its new home.;
You also need to think about vet checkups, flea treatments and worming medication on a regular basis.
German Shepherds are also very intelligent dogs that need lots of attention and so they will require proper training, schedules, toys and balls to keep them occupied and mentally stimulated!;
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How To Tell A Purebred German Shepherd Puppy
There is a difference between a registered dog, a purebred dog, and a well-bred dog.You can tell a registered dog by his registration papers. That's the only way.You can assume a dog is purebred if he looks purebred. Purebred dogs don't necessarily have papers. In fact, if they've been through a shelter, their papers have been cancelled if they had any to start with.The kennel club has a program that allows owners of dogs which appear to be purebred to get an "Indefinite Listing Privilege" so that they can compete with their dog even if it isn't registered. The catch is that the dog must be spayed or neutered and is not permitted to compete in conformation but only in performance sports like obedience, agility, tracking, and herding.What's the difference between a purebred dog without papers and one that looks purebred? There is no significant difference. They look the same, and you can do the same things with them.Now the well-bred puppy. This is a puppy produced by a skill
She is a very cute puppy, but I don’t think she looks like a pure GSD. Her coloring is right for a GSD pup, but her head doesn’t have the correct bone structure, her ears are not erect and her coat is way too different from a shepherd. She is adorable though. When she grows up she will probably show more of the mixed charactistics that she has.
One Of The Ways To Know If A German Shepherd Is Purebred Is To Visit A Local Kennel Club Breed Standard
The American Kennel Club breed standard is considered the ultimate guide when it comes to identifying purebred German Shepherd puppies and older dogs. It contains everything from the coat and eyes to the teeth and temperament. So, take a look at the breed standard for your German Shepherd and pay attention to the breed characteristics listed in the American Kennel Club standards.
Some purebred German Shepherd puppies will have white markings on their adult coats. It is really quite difficult to pinpoint which type of white marking a German Shepherd puppy has since most of their coats will be creamy white in color. Some of these white markings can be just a few shades darker than the rest of their coat.
Its really hard to tell purebred German Shepards apart with just the adult coat color alone. Sometimes its best to see the adult coat when its a pup because the adult coat color will always be consistent with the other dogs markings.
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Do You Need To Groom A Long Haired German Shepherd
Long haired German Shepherds have a thicker topcoat than an undercoat, so there is less shedding because theres less undercoat. Although they shed less than short haired German Shepherds, their coats still require regular maintenance. They will need regular brushing and grooming, especially if you enjoy hiking or outdoor activities with your GSD.
Is My Dog A Pure Bred German Shepherd
Recently I got a GSDd puppy. Does she look purebred to you guys ? I know you can’t really know without papers, but the only papers the breeder got are medical papers that say both parents’ breed is German Shepherd. Do you think it can be trusted?
Best Answer
The way to find out is if you know the puppy’s sire and dam, or the previous owner tells or gives you the names. They should be listed in on the pedigree. After you have the names look up AKC German Shepard pedigree service. My parents did that work along with breeding, training, and showing shepards and Flat Coated Retrievers. You might find their dogs listed if you go back to the 70’s.
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How Many Types Of German Shepherd Dogs Are There
These cute yet ferocious little bodyguards are categorized into two breeding types, the working line and Show Line. You would be surprised to know that there are 5 different types of show line German Shepherd dogs that you can find. The most popular distinction that separates them among their different types is the color of their coats.
German Shepherd is also sometimes differentiated by the length of their hair and coat, but that is generally done only for purebred German Shepherds. Apart from being characterized based on their looks, they are also differentiated based on their personality and health, which is known as working lines.
Do German Shepherd Ears Stand Up On Their Own Or Do They Have To Be Cut Or Taped To Make Them Stand Up
Ah, you’re thinking about cropping, a surgical procedure to make the ears stand up. That’s done with Doberman Pinschers, but not with German Shepherds. A Shepherd puppy’s ears prick up naturally they’re never cropped.
German Shepherd puppy with perfectly normal ears at this age. If the pup inherited normal genes, the other ear should come up shortly.
But German Shepherd puppies aren’t born with pricked ears. In some pups, the ears start to prick up at 6 or 8 weeks old, while others don’t start until 12 or 14 weeks old.
Often the ears don’t go up smoothly. In other words, they don’t suddenly pop straight up. Typically one ear will go up halfway, and stay like that for a few days. Then the other ear may start to prick while the first ear straightens all the way up. A few days later, just as the second ear straightens up, the first one suddenly flops back down.
This can be a trying time for new owners who worry that their pup’s ears will never stand properly. Rest assured, it’s normal for German Shepherd puppy ears to go up and down for a month or two, especially during the teething period.
Unfortunately, some puppies do inherit poor genes for ear strength and often those ears will never come all the way up. They’re called “soft ears.” Sometimes taping a weak ear can help it stand erect, but often not.
I had a German Shepherd with one soft ear. It flopped sideways on top of his head, while the other ear stood up beautifully. Of course I loved him dearly anyway!
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Notice Their Unmatched Intelligence
The modern German Shepherd dog is a descendant of 19th-century German herding dogs. The German Shepherds used as a herding dog is where its well-known classification as a highly intelligent dog comes from.
In the 21st century, German Shepherds are the top choice for police and military units across the world. Does this mean you have to put your GSD to work? Of course not!
This just means that your GSD is easy to train, susceptible to learning a large number of commands and can follow directions easily. All of which are qualities that make for an excellent home guard dog and loving companion.
This trait can be immediately identified as GSDs tend to learn very quickly, pick up on commands, and are generally well behaved and attentive.
Do you want to learn how to train your GSD as a guard dog?Weve got you covered.
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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German Shepherd As A Companion
Pyrrha, for example,;appears to be an American-line shepherd;bred for companionship by a backyard breeder. The fact that she has surprisingly straight hocks and a level topline makes me think she wasnt bred to win show ribbons, which I am thankful for.;Eden, on the other hand, is a German-line shepherd whose parents were imports titled in Schutzhund. They also showed dogs, so she has a more sloped topline than Pyrrha and slightly more exaggerated hocks.
Heres a listing of;German shepherd rescues by state. German shepherds still rank no. 3 in popularity in AKC registrations, so there are lots of German shepherds all over the country, and thus lots of beautiful, great dogs who need forever homes. Consider it!
Truthfully, a German shepherd Puppy isnt going to be that different from any other puppy. ALL puppies require hard work, devotion, and lots and lots of patience. But the joy they bring?
Where Should I Look For My Next Purebred German Shepherd
The sources available to you to find a German Shepherd are nearly endless, thanks to the internet:
- The American Kennel Club Market Place is an excellent place to find purebred German Shepherd puppies bred by reputable breeders.
- Social media can also be a great resource for finding your next German Shepherd. Many breeders post pictures of their litters, or you can find a puppy or adult who needs a home from a German Shepherd Rescue or a private individual.
- If the German Shepherds military heritage appeals to you, one of the most wonderful ways to obtain a purebred German Shepherd is to adopt a former military dog from Mission K9. To thank these four-legged heroes for their service, they help retired working military dogs find homes to live out the rest of their lives happily in peace.
- If you are looking to rescue a German Shepherd, Shenandoah Shepherd Rescue has many wonderful dogs waiting for loving homes.
- Mid-Atlantic German Shepherd Rescue has many German Shepherds waiting to be adopted and loved.
- If you live in Virginia and want to rescue a German Shepherd, browse the adoptable shepherds waiting for loving homes with the Virginia German Shepherd Rescue.
- Pet Quality breeders often list their German Shepherd puppies on Craiglist. Private individuals also list their puppies or dogs on Craigslist in an attempt to re-home them.
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Things You Didnt Know About The Black German Shepherd
The Black German Shepherd is a pure German Shepherd and doesnt qualify as a separate breed, but it stands out because of its color 100% black. The Black German Shepherds are very rare, and for that reason, their price is much higher, you can expect to find a Black Shepherd puppy around $700 to $2000.
Stay with me and find out 7 things you didnt know about this black beauty.
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How To Tell If A Border Collie Is Purebred
Border Collies are remarkable workaholics and loving family pets. Initially, breeders developed these dogs to herd sheep and offer protection to livestock.
Even today, you can find Border Collies diligently working to help ranchers manage daily operations!
All of those functional traits come naturally to this breed. In many cases, you can see young pups exhibiting protective behaviors at a very young age without any exposure or guidance whatsoever.
Interestingly enough, what makes Border Collies so helpful on a ranch is why people love to care for them as companions. Loyal and extremely intelligent, they’re eager to learn and become another member of the family.
Pair that with their expressive nature, and you have a lovable friend that will stay by your side through thick and thin!
Because of this breed’s massive popularity, Border Collies are often the subject of scam artists. It’s not uncommon to see unscrupulous breeders trying to pass of mixed breed dogs as purebred Border Collies.
So, how can you tell if a Border Collie is purebred or not? Whether you’re trying to enter your pooch into a show, participate in breeding programs, or you’re just plain curious, here are some ways you can identify purebred Border Collies.
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What Is A Panda German Shepherd
Some German Shepherds have a lot more white markings than mere white residual spotting. These are known as Panda German Shepherds. So, what exactly are they?
Panda German Shepherds;are;purebred German Shepherds that exhibit a rare genetic mutation caused by the KIT gene. They tend to have symmetrical markings of white forelock, muzzle, chest, belly, collar, and the tip of the tail. The amount of white coloring can vary from dog to dog.
They are a typical-looking German Shepherd, other than their color, and have the same temperament and traits.
The first-ever recorded Panda mutation occurred quite recently in a female GSD in the year 2000. Although these dogs look like they have Irish spotting consisting of white muzzle blazes and Border Collie type markings, they are very different. This is due to being caused by the mutated dominant KIT gene. The gene that causes Irish spotting is yet to be identified.
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The University of California, Davis campus offers DNA testing for the Panda pattern. This allows German Shepherd breeders to establish if the KIT gene mutation causes any white patterning.
What Questions Should You Ask A Breeder
This will not be too tricky if you have already found a reputable/responsible breeder as he/she may already give you some of the answers while meeting to you.
ACK has a list of 9 questions for you to ask a breeder before making your final decision. The idea is to make sure the breeder is responsible, reliable, cares for their dogs and will be a valued resource for you throughout your dogs life.
I will just list them out and not go into details because these questions are pretty straight foward:
- Ask to meet the parents?
- Have health tests been performed on the parents?
- How long have you been breeding? What is your experience with this breed?
- How do you socialize your puppies?
- Are the puppies up-to-date on vaccinations?
- Do you provide a health guarantee and a contract?
- When will you be able to take the puppy home?
- How can we contact you after picking up the puppy?
- What requirements do you have of people looking to get one of your puppies?
Read more: 9 Questions to Ask Your Potential Breeder
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