Know Your Breed: German Shepherd Dogs
It has been said that the German Shepherd dog (often called Alsatian) act the way all human beings are supposed to act. They are incredibly loyal, highly intelligent and brave. They have been bred for centuries not only to interact with mankind, but also to be an essential life partner. Throughout the world, German Shepherd dogs herd sheep, rescue disaster victims, tackle criminals, guide the blind and star in movies.
German Shepherds are not a placid, sedentary breed like the cavalier King Charles Spaniel. In order to be healthy, happy and respond to training, they need to be exercised regularly every day - including a walk of at least a half hour, plus a romp in the yard. You live in an apartment? Then you really should consider another dog. Otherwise, they will damage your apartment in boredom and to burn up excess energy.
The incredible popularity of the German Shepherd has led to it being over bred. To keep up with the market for German Shepherd puppies, some breeders and puppy mills breed to death any German Shepherd they can find, no matter what it’s health. Responsible breeders and caring dog lovers are trying to stop this indiscriminate breeding and only breed healthy dogs. But German Shepherd can often seem to develop more health problems than other breeds.
You will need to brush your German Shepherd every day to keep out tangles and to keep shedding to a minimum. Most German Shepherds have thick, double layer coats, although there are many with single layer coats. Bathing the German Shepherd Dog too often can result in shedding and dandruff production beyond belief so only bathe when absolutely necessary. Train your dog to be still when brushed and do it after exercise.
Getting a German Shepherd is a commitment to giving them regular exercise - and for you to get regular exercise, as well. They make excellent jogging, cycling or horseback riding partners (The dog jogs next to the horse - you don’t ride the dog!) A thirty-minute brisk walk even once a day is not much to ask for. They also need room to run free in a yard, so living in an apartment is usually not good for them.
This also cuts down in incidences of wandering, aggression and cancers of the reproductive organs. Leave the breeding of German Shepherds to the experts.
Another point not usually touted in German Shepherd information from the AKC is that they often have health problems. The German Shepherd Rescue of North Carolina has estimated that care of a German Shepherd Dog costs about three thousand dollars per year, and German Shepherds live into their teens.
Even though many of these health problems can be easily treated, the previous owners do not want to or cannot pay the vet bills and instead abandon the dog. When you get a German Shepherd keep in mind that they may need frequent visits to the vet.
