Ultimate Utility Dog Intelligence
Instinctive intelligence refers to the natural ability or innate skill that the dog was originally bred for. In the past, all dogs were bred for a specific role or purpose. In addition, few dogs were actually bred for solely companionship.
For example, Welsh Corgis were bred to herd cattle, sheep and other farm livestock. But without little to no human training or intervention, Corgis are able to instinctively round up and drive livestock in a desired direction. That is their instinctive intelligence.
Likewise, German Shepherds were bred to be the ultimate utility dogs. In other words, they could do it all as a multi-purpose working dog. That being said, their instinctively intelligence is in herding and livestock guarding.
German Shepherds did, and excelled, at almost everything. They were used as herding dogs, sheep guards, police dogs, therapy dogs and much more.
Gail Norris, a German Shepherd owner tells us,every night as soon as I got into bed and turned off the light, she would go through every room of the house, stopping to push aside the living room drapes with her head, and letting out a menacing growl. Once Sheba was satisfied that no one was lurking around, we settled down for the night.
This example shows Shebas instincts to guard and protect. No one taught him that. Rather, GSDs will have the instincts to guard and protect the family, which explains why theyre regarded as such a loyal breed. Its all part of their high instinctive intelligence.
So Are German Shepherds The Ideal Protective Dog
On a scale of aloof to overprotective, German Shepherds will always fall into the overprotective category. In fact, without proper training, their protective instincts can be overwhelming for under prepared families.
German Shepherds are eager to please their owners and as such, want to protect their pack. They will bark at intruders, defend their territory, and ward off potential threats until they the threat is neutralized.
German Shepherds are incredibly brave and they wont back down from a challenge until they know their families are safe.
On the other hand, this can present issues in some circumstances. A German Shepherds protective attitude can make them somewhat aggressive if you dont train them properly.
Also, destructive and aggressive behaviors will develop if these dogs dont get the extensive exercise they need on a regular basis.
You need to be mindful of the German Shepherds protective mindset when you consider adopting one. If you arent willing to commit to training, you may see their protective traits manifest themselves in the following ways:
- Food aggression
- Aggression toward people or children
- Aggression during play
- Being territorial with other pets
- Barking and responding to non-threats
These behavioral issues are also common when owners dont exercise their German Shepherds enough. They become frustrated when they dont get enough exercise, and as a result will act out in destructive ways as this pent up energy needs to be released.
German Shepherds Love Children
For many people, the impression given by a German Shepherd can be of a big, strong and aggressive dog that inspires fear. This can lead to the misconception that they are not a good breed to have around children, but the truth is completely the opposite. Provided that you have properly trained and socialized your German Shepherd, it will be a best friend to your kids! Due to their physicality and boundless energy, they are a great dog for your children to play with, which will allow everyone involved plenty of exercise. Also, German Shepherds are so loyal and protective, and that means your children will always be safe when the dog is around.
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German Shepherd Physical Appearance
The German Shepherd can weigh anywhere from 50-90 pounds and typically stand between 22 to 26 inches in height. The variation in size involves the possible size different in males and females, and the differences in physical activity that each Shepherd may participate in.
The German Shepherd Dog is known for their sloping body that slants backward, and their slender yet powerful frame. Though they are often slim, they are still quite muscular. They are considered an ideal athlete for these reasons.
Aside from their frame, is the signature look of their alert and pointed ears. Though they may not peak until adulthood, their ears will soon point forward with authority.
The German Shepherd has a plush double coat that comes in a variety of different colors. Though their most common coat is brown and black, they can come in the liver, white, tan, and all black. If you ever plan to have your GSD in the show, its important to keep in mind that though the options of coat color can be beautiful, only some colors are recognized as a breed standard. If your German Shepherd is white, blue, or liver, their color will not be recognized in the show ring. Therefore, you should be aware of different types and breeds of German Shepherd.
Why Are German Shepherds So Loyal
Dog Breeds List » Dog Breeds » Why are German Shepherds so Loyal?
When you think of a gentle, loving, beautiful, and overall loyal dog, what is the first dog breed that comes to mind? Some other words you might toss in are easily trained, vastly intelligent, and an excellent guardian. German Shepherd Dogs are without a doubt one of the smartest and most loyal dogs in the world, but have you ever stopped to wonder why are German Shepherds so loyal?
So, why are German Shepherds so loyal? It is the natural instinct for the German Shepherd to be loyal because they are naturally protective and caring. However, a lot has to do with what they were originally bred for, which was being a watchdog and protecting the flocks. Adequate training is also a contributing factor to overall GSD loyalty.
If you are curious about what makes the GSD such a loyal dog, then we have the answers. We are going to dive into the history of the beloved German Shepherd breed and what they were bred for. We will also be discussing different factors that contribute to the loyalty of the German Shepherd.
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They Are Loyal To A Fault
Dogs, in general, are loyal animals. They can be more loyal than some people you know.
German Shepherds are known for their loyalty that makes the bond with their owner even stronger. So loyal that they would go through great lengths for their owners.
Theres a story about a German Shepherd named Kostya from Russia. He and his owners were in a car crash. Kostya was the only survivor. Everybody seemed to have forgotten about him while his owners were removed from the scene.
Kostya never left the place. Everyday he would wait for his owners. Eventually, people noticed him. Some even tried to adopt him to no avail. That was because Kostya didnt want to leave his spot.
Seven years later, Kostya was found dead in the woods. The story of his loyalty touched peoples lives.
In 2003, they erected a bronze sculpture of Kostya looking east. It was right on the spot where he had waited for his owners for years.
People can learn love and devotion from dogs. With a German Shepherd, youll have a best friend you can count on.
A Dog Breed For Loyalty
In the early 1900s, Max von Stephanitz is credited with developing the German Shepherd Dog. Stephanitz took an interest in German shepherding dogs, wanting to standardize a breed and improve a dog suitable for work around the farm.
During World War I, German Shepherds were familiar companions to soldiers, working as ammo carriers, messengers and as guard dogs. German Shepherds listened to and wanted to please their owners which made them useful to soldiers and police officers.
Stephanitz selective breeding helped standardize the breed, and it became highly famous around the world after WWI. Today, many of the traits in the early breed are still present in purebred German Shepherds. The breed is known for its:
- Willingness to learn and please
- Protectiveness of family and territory
- Intelligence and cleverness
- And of course, loyalty
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Fostering Loyalty Through Training
German Shepherds have a natural curiosity. They love to learn. And loyalty like obedience and good manners is something that every Shepherd must learn how to do.
Fortunately, the breed has a natural willingness to please their owners, and they love spending time training. But what can you do to help your dog build devotedness to you? Here are a few dog training tips for German Shepherds:
- Daily walks, exercise and training tips are necessary
- Be consistent
- Reward good behaviors and ignore bad ones
- Start early from 2-6 months
- Start with small steps and gradually work your way up
Ultimately, German Shepherd puppies naturally develop a devotedness to their owner and family. But the key is showing your GSD that you are in charge. Regular training and firm and consistent help will ensure your dog learns whats expected of him.
What Is The Stupidest Dog Breed
The 10 Dumbest Dog Breeds and Why Theyve Been Characterized as Dumb Afghan Hound. The Afghan Hound is the dumbest dog. Basenji. Basenjis also make the list of dumbest dog breeds. Bulldog. Bulldogs are known for their stubbornness. Chow Chow. Chow Chows can also be difficult to train. Borzoi. Bloodhound. Pekingese. Beagle.
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Is It Cruel To Keep A German Shepherd Outside
German Shepherds can technically live outside with appropriate shelter and if the temperature is moderate. However, it is not recommended to keep a German Shepherd outside full time, as they are very attached to their human companions and need a lot of social interaction to prevent unwanted behaviors from developing.
Top In Their Class Intelligence
German Shepherds brains are roughly one-tenth of the size of our human brains. They are only the size of mandarin orange .
But brain size does not equate to intelligence.
Sometimes, people refer to intelligence and might mean instinctual behavior or drive. Instinct refers to why a German Shepherd Dog intuitively herds and guards and excels at those jobs. And the drive is how much intensity and thought a dog puts into the job they perform.
Stanley Coren, professor emeritus at Columbia University, produced one of the most cited studies regarding dog intelligence. Coren applied the rankings of 199 top dog judges to arrive at his list of the top 10 most intelligent breeds when referring to working and obedience intelligence.
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Your German Shepherd Has Separation Anxiety
So, youve had your German Shepherd since he was only a few months old. You spend every single day with him. Youve trained him, fed him, took him for walks, and played with him.
Over the months and years, your German Shepherd started to build an unhealthy attachment to you. Since hes entirely dependent on you and doesnt spend all that much time away from you, he gets incredibly nervous when you leave and this usually occurs within the first 30 minutes.
This is known as and can be the result of real stress in your dog. Unfortunately, the German Shepherd is known as one of the breeds most likely to suffer from this condition.
So, whats the difference between a clingy GSD and one suffering from separation anxiety? Although these are very similar, clingy dogs want to be around you when youre at home whereas a German Shepherd with separation anxiety really panics when youre not around.
Not much is known about why dogs develop separation anxiety. However, here are some of the reasons believed to cause it:
- A major change in the dogs routine, e.g. moving house
- He may have been abandoned in the past or mistreated
- He suffers from his own stress and anxiety
- He really just doesnt like to be away from you
Your German Shepherd might be so clingy because hes afraid youll leave him and never come back!
Once he is alone he may display disruptive behavior such as chewing on your wooden furniture. These are all signs that your dog is suffering from real stress.
Are German Shepherds Good Family Dogs Heres Everything You Need To Know
Excellent and loyal guard dogs, they make brilliant service pups
Each month we will be shining a light on different dog breeds in our series, Dog Breed of the Month. This month, we look at the loyal and courageous German Shepherds. Keep reading for everything you need to know about this gorgeous breed, including characteristics, temperament and personality traits.
German Shepherd Dogs are versatile, intelligent and energetic dogs, known for their loyalty, Bill Lambert, spokesperson for The Kennel Club, tells Country Living. Theyre capable of learning many commands, which is why they are make good service, military and assistance dogs. Outside of work, German Shepherds are loving dogs that make a great companion, as well as an exercise or exploration buddy.
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German Shepherd Genes Dna Quality Of Breeding What They Were Bred For And Their Natural Instincts And Drives
Lets start with what the German Shepherd was bred for.
As we discussed in the guide on the origin, history and evolution of the German Shepherd breed, German Shepherds were originally bred to be the ideal working dog, and have an obedient fidelity to their master.
Essentially, their primary purpose was to please their master.
The breed creator liked the non standardised sheep dogs and herding dogs in the local German towns he visited, but wanted to create a standardised breed.
So, we can see that the breed was originally bred as part of the herding group of dogs, and their working ability and traits like obedience and loyalty came first over other traits like appearance .
ALL German Shepherds can trace their protective nature back to the original German Shepherds.
If we then go a step further, we look at how the lines of the German Shepherd diverged through the 1900s.
The main lines are as follows :
The show lines were bred more for appearance and show conformance but still maintained the original breeding stock traits of obedience, loyalty and being protective of their owner.
The working lines were bred for all types of working applications like military work, patrolling, tracking, law enforcement and police work, guarding, protection, and of course for woking titles like herding, Schutzhund/IPO and more.
A working line may have a more inherent desire to be more alert and intense in their protection of their owner.
German Shepherd Dogs And Their Keen Sense Of Smell
German Shepherd Dogs are valued for their sharp sense of smell. Their expertise to identify trace chemicals that are entirely beyond human and complex mechanical detection is well established.
How good is their sense of smell?
Well, a German Shepherds sense of smell is so powerful that with just six months of training, a pair of German Shepherds became 100% accurate in identifying breast cancer . If thats not amazing enough, in 2015, two German shepherds were trained to detect prostate cancer, and they were correct more than 95% of the time 04573-X/abstract” rel=”nofollow”> source).
These accuracy rates are better than modern scientific testing thats currently on the market!
And, while many of us are privileged enough to have access to state-of-the-art hospitals, others are in dire need. So, having a German Shepherd journey to remote villages to warn of medical issues is easier and less expensive than building new hospitals or expensive tests that many cant afford.
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Training A German Shepherd To Be Protective
As with any dog breed, a German Shepherds behavior and personality will reflect how theyre treated and how they were raised.
If you get a puppy and you socialize him well, train him, and teach him to respect you, youll have an excellent family dog that everyone will love.
On the other hand, you need to be careful about nurturing the wrong behaviors. German Shepherd puppies are cute and it can be easy to promote behaviors that should ideally be avoided.
For example, your puppy may reach for a bite of food and if you oblige, you may actually encourage food aggression.
Fortunately, the German Shepherds high intelligence makes him easy to train with a little persistence. If you use the right methods , you can encourage protective behaviors without promoting aggression.
Understand why your dog is acting the way he is if hes showing undesirable behaviors. If hes chewing up your shoes, ask yourself why is he frustrated because he didnt get enough exercise? Does he have other toys within reach to play with?
Be aware that negative reinforcement rarely works with German Shepherds. Your new puppy will learn more quickly if you give him positive feedback for good behaviors than if you give him negative feedback for undesirable behaviors.
Its important to use redirection and positive reinforcements to train your puppy. Using aggressive or hostile measures wont help you teach your dog instead, he or she wont trust you.
Socializing Your German Shepherd Puppy
German Shepherd puppies are full of energy, and its crucial at this stage of life to properly socialize your pup.
Heres why: German Shepherds naturally develop a secure attachment to their owners. Without socialization, this devotion can become problematic. Some animals will show aggression toward other dogs or unfamiliar people as theyre trying to protect you.
Socialization helps your puppy learn that these types of situations and people are not threats and that youre in control. Here are some dog training ideas for proper socialization:
- Start training in a familiar place like the backyard
- Socialize as a puppy frequently
- Introduce your puppy to new people and dogs
- Introduce your dog to new situations frequently
- Dont overwhelm your dog
- Daily walks around the neighborhood can help to introduce new sights, smells and sounds
Socialization might be one of the most critical steps in dog training for the German Shepherd. This will ensure your pets natural loyalty doesnt evolve into territoriality, aggression towards others, or being overly protective. So, commit to spending time early in your puppys life introducing it to new situations.
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