Whining Because Of Excitement
As we mentioned earlier, a German Shepherd whine as a way of communicating. When a German Shepherd is excited, it may also whine to express its joy and happiness.
Some instance where a German Shepherd whines from excitement include:
- When someone comes home
- When it is about to go for a walk
- When playing with you, or other dogs
- When it is being served food
How To Train A German Shepherd Like A Police Dog
Lets say youve already purchased an elite breed of a German shepherd. The next step is to train the puppy to become a police dog. Its advisable to go to a professional dog trainer for working dogs because police training is different from other types of dog training. Before you let your dog be trained by professionals, start by teaching your dog basic skills because professional dog trainers dont just accept random dogs for training.
If you want to train a German shepherd like a police dog, its better if you start training him during the first 16 20 weeks of your dogs life because it is the most critical time to train him to instill positive behavior and prevent behavioral problems. However, they can still be trained whether theyre puppies or adults but dont ever attempt to train your dog on your own for police training if unqualified.
Obedience Training
Obedience is the most important quality of a police dog so it is important to teach your dog to follow commands. You can start with simple commands such as sit, stay, down, run, jump, etc. Remember that obedience is something you should not force. Teaching obedience by force will result in mistrust. On the other hand, mental stimulation and positive reinforcement will motivate your puppy to follow your commands.
Physical Training
Tracking Training
Where Do German Shepherds Come From
Dog Breeds List » Dog Breeds » Origin
German Shepherd origin: where do German Shepherds come from? Do German Shepherds come from Germany? After all, Labrador Retrievers do not originally come from Labrador. Great Danes do not come from Denmark. Is a rose by any other name also a German Shepherd? With apologies to Shakespeare.
Where do German Shepherds come from? Germany. The German Shepherd Dog did originate in Germany, as the name suggests.
The full story of how these dogs that were used to herd sheep in Germany came to be an internationally known, popular and loved dog breed is an interesting and adventurous one
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What Kind Of Dog Is An Akita Golden Retriever Mix
This hybrid is one of many Golden Retriever mixes, and receives the Golden Retrievers relaxed and affectionate nature, which can help offset some of the Akitas more serious and intense disposition. The result is a wonderfully pleasant pup who still exhibits the fierce loyalty that the Akita is known and loved for.
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German Shepherds Require Regular Grooming
If you get a German Shepherd, you will also need to devote time and attention to their grooming needs.
German Shepherds are sometimes, and aptly, called German Shedders due to their propensity for excess shedding.
In addition to their ongoing shedding, German Shepherds blow twice a year. During these times, your house may end up looking like a snowstorm hit it, so be prepared.
Be sure to check out the articles linked below for more detailed information on German Shepherd shedding and grooming:
Weekly brushing will help to manage the regular shedding, but you will have to increase this when your dog is blowing its coat.
For a complete list of everything you need to properly groom your German Shepherd, take a look at the article linked below. Weve assembled all you need in one place:
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The White German Shepherd All The Facts About This Magnificent Breed
The White German Shepherd is known for its plush white coat, its athletic body and its high intelligence. This unique dog is bred from German Shepherds and carries many of the same characteristics, yet it also carries the recessive white furred coat gene. So, as long as you dont mind a bit of extra time spent on grooming, youll still get a loving and loyal German Shepherd as your trusty companion.
Read on below to find out more about this special breed of dog and whether they could be the right pup for you.
When Do German Shepherds Stop Growing In Height
German shepherds usually grow in stages, depending on their age. Male German shepherds stop growing in height when they turn 9 months old, while female GDs reach their maximum height when they are 8 months old. That being said, they may grow a half-inch or an inch more as they grow up, but they will fully stop growing once males are 2 to 2 ½ years old, and females are 2 ½ to 3 years old. Males typically reach a total height of 5 5.4 feet while females grow 4.5 5 feet tall.
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Exercising Your German Shepherds
German Shepherds are high-energy dogs and need at least one hour of intense exercise each day .
In addition to this, they need a large yard in which to run around.
Even if you have a large yard, you will have to dedicate time and energy to exercising with your German Shepherd.
Remember, they are your shadow. If you dont go into the yard, they are not likely to go alone. If they do go alone, they will soon return or come and check on your regularly.
This will prevent them from self-exercising sufficiently to satisfy their needs.
Canine sports training is an excellent way to burn off some of this energy, but it still involves you.
Where To Adopt Of Buy A German Shepherd
If you think you’d like to adopt a German shepherd, start by contacting one of the following organizations:
These groups will be able to provide guidance and next steps for adoption. If you aren’t certain the breed is right for you, you may be able to try foster care to test if a GSD is a good fit for your home.
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How To Groom A German Shepherd Dog
German Shepherds requires regular brushing. Regular brushing prevents the unwanted shedding of excess fur all over your house and ensures their coat is kept in great condition.
We recommend brushing your dog a couple of times per week. The need for brushing your pup may increase near the of spring and autumn while they shed their double-coats in preparation for the warmer or cooler months ahead.
This dog does not need to be bathed regularly. In fact, bathing your dog may strip their fur from natural oils so only bath as needed.
Regular maintenance of their nails and teeth are important.
Brushing ytheir teeth or providing your pup with other forms of dental treats is essential for adequate dental care.
The German Shepherds nails are quite easy to maintain as a working dog, they naturally wear down their nails .
What To Feed Your New Puppy
Its best to choose a top scientifically-researched food to keep your German Shepherd puppy healthy and avoid lifelong complications, like this Nutro Natural Large Breed Puppy formula for proper growth.
You can feed your puppy this formula for up to 18 months to ensure they grow at a steady rate and avoid stress to their joints.
All while getting the proper nutrients and keeping your mind at ease.
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About The Breed: German Shepherd
The German Shepherd is a medium to large-sized working dog. Abbreviated as GSD, German Shepherds are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world, ranking second in our 2019 analysis of the top 50 dog breeds.
Originally bred to be herding dogs, the intelligence and agility of German Shepherds made them stand out and seen in many types of work today. Thanks to their strength, obedience, and trainability, German Shepherds make great working dogs as well as family pets.
In this edition of About The Breed, well look at the breed characteristics of the German Shepherd, examine the history of the breed, and answer some of the most frequently asked questions.
Steel Blue German Shepherd
The blue German Shepherd is an astonishing color variation that is extremely rare.
However, like the German Shepherds liver color, this color variation is unable to compete in shows as it is declared a serious fault.
Whilst being classified as a serious fault, this color is still recognized by the American Kennel Club.
The blue pigment of this coat variation is purely an aesthetic difference and is attributed to recessive blue genes.
Breeding blue German Shepherd puppies requires both parents carry this recessive gene.
Finding a blue breed is extremely rare, as they are not bred for working or show lines, and are a fashion choice only.
A significant appearance difference of the blue German Shepherd is their gray nose in place of a black one.
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Can A Chow Shepherd And Sheprachow Mix Socialize
The Sheprachow can display dominant behaviors, especially towards dogs of the same sex. Early socialization is essential to make this mix comfortable with other dogs. However, its always safer to keep the Chow Shepherd on a leash in public areas and consider muzzle training if dominance issues start to emerge.
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Skeletal Health And Supplementation
Musculoskeletal disorders are debilitating conditions that are often associated with genetic makeup, malnutrition, and stress-related events. Some breeds like the German shepherd, are predisposed to a variety of different skeletal disorders, including but not limited to: canine hip dysplasia, Cauda equina syndrome, and osteoarthritis. These conditions can be a result of poor breeding or induced by intense exercise and poor diet.
Canine hip dysplasia is an orthopedic condition resulting from abnormal development of the hip joint and surrounding tissue causing the instability and partial dislocation of the hip joint, resulting in pain, inflammation, lameness, and potentially osteoarthritis of the joint. German shepherds are genetically predisposed to CHD and the University of Veterinary Medicine in Germany found its prevalence estimated to be approximately 35% of veterinary cases associated with the disorder.
Osteoarthritis is one of the main contributors of musculoskeletal pain and disabilities that commonly affect German shepherds. Mechanical stress, oxidative damage and inflammatory mediators combine to induce the gradual degeneration of the articular cartilage in the joint, resulting in reduced muscle mass, pain, and locomotion.
Vitamins such as A and D also have crucial roles in bone development and maintenance by regulating bone and calcium metabolism. Adequate levels should be incorporated into a German shepherd diet to promote a healthy musculoskeletal system.
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How Much Does It Cost To Own A German Shepherd
Adopting a German Shepherd is an important commitment. You need to be prepared to financially care for your dog for the entirety of his life, including food and visits to the vet. Adopting a dog from a breeder will also cost more than adopting your German Shepherd from a rescue or shelter.
Initial costs of a dog are higher because you need supplies. After that has been purchased, you can expect to pay about $1,000 a year for the best dog food for German Shepherds. Heartworm medicine is around $240 a year and a yearly visit of about $100, depending on the vet.
Additionally, you will need to factor in other costs for your dog. This means paying to have him microchipped if he wanders off as well as the spay/neutering surgery if that is what you would like to do.
You will also need to think about annual vaccinations, any tick medicine that you might want, as well as the cost of professional training if needed.
Black And Red German Shepherd
Unlike most of the colors in the list, this color is most suited to show bloodlines, as opposed to working GSD bloodlines.
The black and red German Shepherd strongly resembles the black and tan variation.
One difference is that the tan-colored areas are replaced with reddish-brown areas. This red pigment is much stronger than the tan pigment.
These red areas sometimes appear to be lighter in color .
The black color on their fur is still the same as the other variations with a black saddle-like marking and a black mask marking.
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Stress Reliever For Dogs
It also relieves your dogs stress when you hug them, aside from it strengthening your trust and bond. It works quite like us, humans.
If a dog trusts you, receiving a display of physical affection from you will help them to relax. Their body temperature and heart rate normalize easier if theyre in a relaxed state.
Dogs can develop anxiety-induced bad habits from experiences that cause them stress. They can let go of these habits better if they are with someone that helps them to relax.
Are German Shepherds Part Wolf
When out walking my German Shepherd, I sometimes get asked whether they are part wolf due to the visual similarities.
German Shepherds are not part wolf but descended from the gray wolf. Despite sharing 99.9% of their DNA with wolves and being genetically very close, they are not wolves. All domesticated dogs are members of the Canidae family 34 species, including wolves, coyotes, jackals, dingoes, and foxes.
Ive always found it fascinating how wolves evolved into dogs and how they diversified into so many different visual breeds, from pugs to poodles.
Many people believe that German Shepherds are even more closely related to the wolf due to the understanding that his direct ancestor Horand von Grafrath was at least one-quarter wolf.
There is still some ongoing debate about how much wolf is actually in the German Shepherd breed despite it being thought that Horand was part wolf and that von Stephanitz used wolfdogs in the subsequent crossbreeding.
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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.
Training Your German Shepherd
German Shepherds require training. As with socialization, training helps to prevent overprotectiveness and aggression.
The size and capability of German Shepherds also make the ability to control them a necessity.
Training provides physical and mental stimulation for your highly active and highly intelligent German Shepherd, who can develop unwanted and destructive behaviors when bored or pent up.
Additionally, training provides dedicated bonding time between an owner and their German Shepherd, which emotionally satisfies the dog .
German Shepherds benefit from further training, i.e., more than just obedience training. You can train them for agility, herding, tracking, etc.
The necessary training of your German Shepherd will require lots of your time and attention.
But dont worry, weve got you covered be sure to read the excellent article that we have for you linked below, as it covers all you need to know about training your German Shepherd.
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How The Breed Gained Popularity
The UK Kennel Club was an instrumental group during the early years of dog breeding and domestication. The UK Kennel Club didnt accept the GSD on its registry until 1919, and when they did, there were only 54 of them registered.
The small numbers didnt last long, though. 7 years later, in 1926, the number of German Shepherds had grown from a mere 54 to over 8,000. By this time, GSDs were becoming internationally well known. This was partly due to world events at the time.
The breed of dogs was internationally-recognized towards the end of the first World War because many soldiers returned home with stories about the dogs. They told their families and friends about how friendly, strong, and loyal these amazing dogs were.
Naturally, people saw potential in the breed. Animal actors from the United States helped to further spread the popularity of the German Shepherd, and soon they were becoming registered in the United States.
The first one registered in the US was named the Queen of Switzerland, but she was not able to contribute very much to the breed itself. While she may have helped to spread popularity, her children did not survive thanks to improper breeding techniques. This hindered the growing popularity of the breed, but dogs this amazing were bound to find their popularity again.
Four Reasons Why We Love German Shepherds
1. They Are Excellent ProtectorsGerman Shepherds are natural guard dogs making them excellent protectors for our homes and family. Being a confident and intelligent breed, they know danger when they see it.
2. They Are Easy To TrainTheir high level of intelligence is definitely a plus for all potential parents. They learn commands very quickly and love to impress.
3. They Can Be Very AffectionateThey have an extremely large heart and are known to be super affectionate and cuddly with their owners.
4. They Have A Strong Sense Of LoyaltyLoyalty is a distinct characteristic of all our canines. However, this breeds loyalty runs deep within.
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