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!
What Are The Benefits Of Spaying
Most dogs not only German shepherds become more affectionate after this process they are often friendly to other animals and even untrained stop spitting urine around the house.
Because spayed pets remove their ovaries and uterus, these organs are not subject to cancer or other diseases.
Of course, spayed dogs cannot get pregnant, which could be a comfortable option for new pet owners who do not wish to have puppies.
This will reduce the population of dogs, making the shelter more likely to adopt pets and find loving homes.
How To Get The German Shepherd Color You Want
If you plan to get a German Shepherd puppy and have a color preference, you will need to research finding a reputable breeder.
Certified breeders stick to specific bloodlines to predict and guarantee health, size, temperament, and color.
For example, if you want a Sable German Shepherd, find a breeder specializing in sable puppies. Ask if you can meet the parents or at least see pictures of the Sire and Dam and previous litters.
Look at the parents to get an idea of what a puppys color and markings will be upon maturity. This method isnt always foolproof, but chances are that a pup will develop a color similar to their parents.
Reputable breeders are happy to provide pictures and background on their bloodlines and kennel history.
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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.
How Much Does A Purebred German Shepherd Cost
It is also worth noting that the closer this dog is to being a purebred, the more expensive it gets.
Overall, the price of a Purebred German Shepherd puppy can be somewhere in the range of $1,500 to $5,000. Like what was explained earlier, the price depends on what the breeder has already spent as an investment on the dog.
The price of a Purebred German Shepherd can also be as high as $6,000 to $10,000 or more. This could also be reliant to the achievements of its parents and lineage.
Surprised that the rates of this breed can go that high? Good Purebreds can also be priced at less than $1,000 or as low as being FREE. German Shepherds that are in animal shelters and have been rescued or in need of a good home are generally priced less than those raised by breeders.
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What Is A German Shepherds Neck Size
Measuring your German Shepherds neck is important to help you find the perfect collar size to ensure that they are secure and comfortable.
To do this, use a measuring tape to measure loosely along the base of your puppys neck. Ensure that you can slide two fingers in between the tape and your puppys neck. The neck size of a German Shepherd is 18 24 inches
Softies Who Are Also Busy Bodies
If you want a German Shepherd puppy in your life, you have to really want your dog to be a part of every little bit of your daily routine.
Morning showers? Your pup will want to sit right outside to make sure you rinse off the soap. Your bed? Thats for both of you, right?
Highly intelligent and curious, Shepherds want to know what is going on all of the time. German Shepherds will attach at the hip and make the right person the happiest dog parent on the planet.
Remember, you can find just about any breed of dog you are looking for at a shelter or rescue. Check our adoption page that lets you search by breed and location or a German Shepherd Rescue in your area.
Would you adopt a German Shepherd Puppy? Do you have experience with these adorable pups? Let us know in the comments below!
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German Shepherd Color Changes
Almost all German Shepherd puppies are born with a coat that looks nothing like their adult coat. As the puppies grow, theyre going to grow new hair and the color will change at the mark of 6 months, 18 months, and finally when the puppy is two years old.
Sable German Shepherd puppies change colors as they grow older. They will probably reach their final adult color when the dog is almost 3 years old. Black and tan puppies are usually born with pure black coats. They will start shedding the baby hair when the puppy is 6 months old, and the tan color will start to pop out.
However, some black and sable dogs are born with a lighter coat. As the dog grows, it will start to grow more black hair, darkening the overall color of the coat.
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Husky German Shepherd Size How Big Do They Get & How Fast
What is the size of a typical Husky German Shepherd Mix? Expect the size to be from the smallest Siberian Husky to the biggest German Shepherd. A Siberian Husky is a medium-sized dog that usually grow up to around 20 to 23 inches in height. On the other hand, a German Shepherd is categorized as a large breed and can grow up to around 22 to 26 inches tall. So expect your Husky German Shepherd Mix to be between 20 and 26 inches tall.
When talking about weight, Siberian Huskies weigh between 35 and 60 pounds, while German Shepherds are much heavier at around 49 to 88 pounds. So perhaps the weight of a Husky German Shepherd Mix will be from 35 to 88 pounds.
Theres a larger difference in weight than in height because of the different body types that depend on your furry friends genetic history. This can also be due the gender of the dog.
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Where To Get A German Shepherd Puppy
Never buy a German Shepherd puppy from a pet store or from an Internet site that will ship a pup to you without asking you any questions beyond Check or charge? These puppies come from puppy mills. They will not only be sickly, but they will have missed a major learning period for basic training and will be harder to train and more uncontrollable.
The best German Shepherd puppies come from breeders, animal shelters, or rescuers. German Shepherds are most often abandoned when they are six months old and past the cute stage.
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How To Tape My German Shepherds Ears
As mentioned above, its very important that you dont start taping your dogs ears too early! Give your dog time to develop and let him finish teething before you attempt to correct his ears in any way.
When it comes to taping there are two methods you can try:
Wrap
For this method, youll need foam hair rollers, thin white surgical tape, and a Popsicle stick. Dont use any duct tape or other similar products and remove the plastic part from the hair roller and use just foam.
Place the foam roller inside your dogs ear and wrap the ear around it making sure that everything is in a vertical position. Next, use the thin surgical tape to wrap the ear around the foam roller starting from the tip and working your way to the base.
Repeat the same for the other ear, and once both ears are taped use the popsicle stick and attach it horizontally across the top of both ear tips.
Keep the ears taped for a week and then remove the wrap to see if the ears are standing up. If the ears are erect you dont have to wrap them again.
But if they arent, give your dog a break for one day and tape the ears again. Continue wrapping the ears until they are standing up.
Your pooch will probably find it strange to have his ears wrapped and will most likely tear the tape several times. When this happens, just re-apply everything again and your dog will eventually get used to having his ears wrapped.
Cut
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How Do You Tell What Color A German Shepherd Puppy Will Be
German Shepherd puppies that end up with tan, red, or silver markings are born all black. The markings first appear around the legs and face soon after birth and give you an idea of what color they will turn out as they mature. Sable German Shepherds, on the other hand, maybe a tan color at birth.
What Does A Mix Dog German Shepherd Lab Look Like
Ours looks like a yellow lab. He does not look like a GermanShepard at all. But he’s the size of a German Shepard. He’s only 60pounds so those that don’t know think he’s a tiny lab. But I guessI’d rather it be a tiny lab then a German Shepard built like alab.
How do newborn German Shepherd puppies look like? About 400 or 450 grams in weight, so that gives you an idea of their size. They are very dark in colour, dark brown, almost black. The colour, if they are black and ran, lightens up when they get older, and the dark recedes to create the traditional saddle pattern.
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How Much Are Gerberian Shepskies Worth
You might be able to find a Gerberian Shepsky in a local shelter to adopt for a small fee, or you can opt to find a dedicated Shepsky breeder.
If you choose the latter, you can expect to pay anywhere from $400 to $1,200 depending on where you live and the quality of the breeder.
If you are intending to buy your dog from an experienced Shepsky breeder that is controlling for characteristics such as eye color and temperament, you can expect to pay around $1,000 for your pup.
Is A Sable German Shepherd Rare
But sable German Shepherds are often not as popular as other German Shepherd colors, making them more expensive than other GSDs. However, there are some species of sable that are very rare, the rarest kind among this breed being the recessive black. The dog is always entirely black and also carries sable or tan genes.
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Is Spaying Or Neutering Painful For A Dog
A dog will not feel any pain during the surgery to get him or her neutered or spayed. This is because the veterinarian will administer an anesthetic that will cause the dog to go to sleep throughout the entire procedure. After the procedure, the veterinarian will administer an injection that will prevent the dog from feeling any pain for at least 8 but up to 12 hours.
It is also common for a veterinarian to provide specific medication for any lingering pain for the next several days after surgery. Always remember to give your dog only the veterinarian prescribed medication for pain, as human pain medications can sometimes be poisonous to a dog.
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Have Any Questions About Health In Your Breed
If you have any concerns about a particular health condition in your breed then you may wish to speak to your vet or you could contact your breed health co-ordinator.Breed health co-ordinators are individuals working on behalf of breed clubs and councils who are advocates for the health and welfare of their chosen breed. They acts as a spokesperson on matters of health and will collaborate with The Kennel Club on any health concerns the breed may have.To contact your breed health co-ordinator please email
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Getting Your German Shepherd Back To Normal Shape
Whether a German shepherd is underweight or overweight, youll need to do something to change their situation. And one of the best ways to do this is to change their diet.
- Underweight: Obviously, youll need to increase the content of their food. However, make sure you dont force them because this might lead to more bad than good.Slowly transition to providing higher fat content. A simple trick for this is to mix their normal food with that of a higher fat content.You might also consider feeding them puppy food since its typically made to provide plenty of nutrients.
- Overweight: When it comes to overweight German shepherds, you should simply cut off their food.However, dont take it too far since their behavior may also change. Instead, take it slowly so they wont notice.Dont worry because if you continually do this, theyll eventually end up eating half the amount of food they were eating originally.
White Swiss Shepherd Dog
This gorgeous breed is quite closely related to the German Shepherd. In fact, you could argue they are one in the same.
The White Swiss Shepherd dog descended from White Shepherds in the 1960s.
Because of their striking difference in appearance their variety was given a different breed name. However, they soon gained popularity in the US, Canada, and Switzerland.
While they share many of the characteristics of a German Shepherd, it is generally said the White Swiss Shepherd is a little bit better behaved. They tend to be more eager to please. However, they may also be more sensitive, and do not respond well to scolding.
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German Shepherd And Husky Mix Breed Highlights
- Shepskies are from Siberian Husky and German Shepherd parents. They can grow from between 20 to 26 inches and 35 to 88 pounds as an adult.
- They can have different looks, depending on the litter. Some pups look more like their Siberian Husky side, while others look more German Shepherd.
- They have double coat and thick fur, the same as their parents. Their colors range from blue and gray, tan, and brown and black the regular colors of Huskies and German Shepherds.
- Husky German Shepherd hybrids shed moderately. They require brushing at least twice a week.
- These kinds of dogs are really active and energetic, requiring dog foods rich in vitamins and minerals to provide them energy as well as support their growth.
- While hybrids tend to be healthier than their parents, Shepskies are still prone to genetic diseases. They often acquire the same disease their parents had.
- Some major health concerns you need to look out for are elbow and hip dysplasia, epilepsy, and progressive retinal atrophy among others. Minor health issues include cataracts and endocrine pancreatic insufficiency.
- A Husky German Shepherd mix has a typical lifespan of 10 to 13 years.
- They can be trained easily to become farm and shepherding dogs, police dogs, and search and rescue canines. They are very smart, loyal, and dependable.
- Shepskies are great family dogs. They are lovable and care for their owners and their owners children.
Watch A German Shepherd Puppys Coat Change Over Three Years
In this sweet video, you can watch Kendahl, a black sable German Shepherd puppy, grow up and into her adult GSD coat.
If you are new to learning all about German Shepherd dogs, you may not yet know that the classic black and tan isnt the only coat color a puppy can have!
Black sable is just one of several adult coat colors that a GSD dog can display.
In this short video, you can see some of the many adult German Shepherd colors and patterns that may develop.
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