German Shepherd - Friend & Helper of Man

Many people think of a German Shepherd as a large and impressive animal on an important mission, hunting criminals, sniffing out drugs, or herding sheep in the country. In fact, the German Shepherd is considered a prototype working dog. But the clever four-legged friend has a lot more to offer in terms of versatility.

Contents hide

1 Classic around the world

2 Nature of the German Shepherd Dog

3 Training and keeping the German Shepherd Dog

4 Grooming of the German Shepherd Dog

Classic around the world

His name answers the questions of origin: The German Shepherd breed goes back to herding dogs, which not only had to keep an eye on the sheep but were also supposed to guard the shepherd’s property at the same time. Archetypes of the shepherd dog defined in this way have been documented since the 7th century. The breeding pioneer, the Dresden Captain Max von Stephanitz, developed the breed from stock and short-haired herding dogs and formulated the first standard in 1891. The progenitor of the modern breed went by the name “Horand von Grafrath”, the breeding goal was a robust and intelligent working dog, beauty ideals were initially of secondary importance. The German shepherd is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. For a long time, however, the animals were not allowed to be imported into Australia.

Nature of the German Shepherd Dog

Everything a professional working dog needs is inherent in the German Shepherd. Their high intelligence makes them willing to learn, obedient and docile. As an attentive, strong-nerved, and self-confident animal, a German shepherd is ideal as a guard dog. But this breed is also a good choice as a companion and family dog. A well-balanced German shepherd is at ease, good-natured, and will stick with you through thick and thin. His loyalty to his human is unshakable. He also appreciates the company of conspecifics and is well tolerated with sufficient socialization with all breeds.

Training and keeping the German Shepherd Dog

The German Shepherd is not a beginner dog. You should be consistent in his upbringing and in daily dealings. The dog must obey you. Otherwise, a German shepherd tends to behave dominantly or develops an oversized protective or prey instinct. This can quickly lead to problems, not only in view of the strength and size of the animal. The German Shepherd Dog, who is willing to learn, works best with patience, empathy, praise, and treats. Of course, a well-behaved German shepherd dog also needs a workload and lots of exercises, whatever the weather. His enormous enthusiasm for work has given him a varied field of activity as a guard and protection dog, assistance dog and tracker developed. He is also still a classic among herding dogs. If you keep the German Shepherd as a leisure dog, you use these talents for stimulating activities. He stays playful all his life , you inspire your dog with activities such as tracking or mantrailing on the tow leash.

Grooming of the German Shepherd Dog

Depending on the length, grooming is fairly easy. Brush and comb your German Shepherd regularly, and occasionally use the trimmer for a touch-up trim. Pay particular attention to the dental care of your four-legged friend. Ideally, the teeth should be cleaned daily – at the very least, the dog should always have dental care chews available to prevent tartar. Because of their size, bulk, and overbreeding, German Shepherds are prone to problems with hip and elbow joints.