German Shepherd: Your new pet
The German Shepherd is one of the most intelligent dog breeds on the planet. Ever since they are puppies, they learn everything by observing the world around them with impressive ease, a feature that makes them stand out completely.
From 2 or 3 months of age, these dogs start paying attention to their surroundings to learn everything that they need.
The German Shepherds initially developed to gather and guard the sheep, which is why they are now part of the Shepherd dogs.
Their intelligence, strength, ease of training, and obedience is the reason why people choose them the most. Furthermore, they are favorites in guiding visually impaired people, being a guard dog, police dog, rescue dog, and, even so, be part of the army and the forces of security.
Although German Shepherds used to be guard dogs for sheep, they currently are an «all-terrain» dog. They adapt with ease and quickness to any activity or work they have, and for which their owners trained them. It certainly is a dog that has made people fall in love with them for years, thanks to its physical and heroic skills and talents.
The German Shepherd originated in Germany at the end of the 19th century, when people decided to create a dog breed that would help to guard, protect from wolves, and take care of sheep.
Maximilian von Stephanitz, captain of the cavalry of Germany, is, for most people, the creator of the breed. Then, around 1899, the German Shepherd came to life. Numerous crossings followed its appearance, with selected copies that improved the mind and body of the breed.
After several studies, experiments, and crossings, the German Shepherd was guaranteed to participate in many significant activities. The noblest of them was guiding people with visual impairment, thanks to their intelligence, resistance, reliability, and fidelity as the main qualities of their character.
During World War II, the German Shepherd participated as a tracker. From then on, they received worldwide respect and deep admiration.
Maximilian von Stephanitz stated, in 1871: “A German Shepherd is every dog that lives in Germany that, thanks to its constant exercise and qualities, reaches absolute perfection, from the aspect of usefulness”. The text supported and highlighted the admiration for this dog.
The German Shepherd is characterized by being balanced, confident, reliable, and knowing how to control its nerves. It is intelligent, agile, and undeniably beautiful due to the shape of its body and the color of its coat.
The males measure approximately between 60 and 65 cm and weigh between 30 and 40 kg. On the other hand, the females measure between 55 and 60 cm and weigh between 22 and 32 kg, according to studies.
This animal’s head is quite wide, and its ears stand out on the top, which is medium-sized, straight, and point-ended, giving a slight appearance of a wolf.
The eyes are dark and create a sense of confidence and security.
This dog’s tail is long, hanging when at rest and lifting when active.
Its fur varies a lot, although the official standard is dense, straight, thick and close to the body, without it being too long. Its colors also vary, with the standard being black, yellowish, brown, and gray shades.
Their teeth are healthy, strong, and complete. With good training, they can have a firm and safe bite. It is worthy of notice that the life expectancy of the German Shepherd is from 10 to 13 years.
The German Shepherd has a strong temperament. Nonetheless, you can easily master them if they start socializing since puppies, approximately from 3 months of age to avoid problems of social behavior in the future.
That is why they require training since childhood, and they must share time with other dogs, people, animals, and even cats. In general, this dog is friendly and an excellent companion for families and children.
They like to play sports and exercise. They are energetic and intelligent dogs that try to learn and do things on their own to develop their courage.
German Shepherds like to work and exercise daily. In fact, they can become very playful at times.
Besides, they need to run to be happy and relieve stress. These dogs prefer a large park or any place where they can be useful in different ways.
They are fully recommendable as guards thanks to their excellent nose and their ability as a watchdog.
Among the German Shepherd’s many features, we find loyalty, perseverance, courage, and reliability.
They stay neutral with strangers. However, they are always alert to any situation that they consider may arise. If they receive the proper education since puppies, they will become kind and playful animals.
History and Origin of the German Shepherd
The history of a country like Germany dates back to 1871 when the German Empire established. At that time, there already were breedings of Shepherd dogs within these states, beginning several centuries prior. On this crossings, breeders created different types of dogs, some light and agile for plains, and others strong and muscular for mountains. What differentiated them between one another were the length of the hair, the color, the size, the posture of the ears, and other physical traits.
The German cavalry captain, Max Emil Friedrich von Stephanitz, was the founder of the German Shepherd breed. He was born on December 30th, 1864, witnessing the unification of Germany as a child. The unification of the different types of Shepherd dogs had its first attempt in 1891, through an association called «Phylax», whose main goal was to create a fancy dog. On April 22nd, 1899, the German Shepherd Club started to create a dog that would help the man with different purposes. That is, a working dog that would bring together all the features of the other types of Shepherd dogs.
Likewise, the German Shepherd breed was born, with its approvement happening in 1899. Its standard has not had any modifications, describing the current German Shepherd. At that time, some kennels already produced fully competitive Shepherd dogs for the exhibitions and events of the period.
Captain Max von Stephanitz had a great capacity to pass on his knowledge in the breeding of horses to the breeding of dogs. By creating in each specimen a solid grazing base, he managed to build the largest club in the world for a single dog breed, the German Shepherd.
In that period, the industrial revolution was daily life, which reflects the existence of migration from the countryside to the city. The interest in using these Shepherd dogs in the rising industrial society caused the beginning of their training for the police in 1891. Later, in 1910, the German Shepherd had already occupied more than 500 positions in the police.
In the early 20th century, during World War I, the German Shepherd became a sanitary and patrol dog. This participation caused the death of approximately seven thousands dogs, followed by the few thousands that were part of World War II.
Between 1989 and 1990, Germany reunited and started promoting the breeding of the German Shepherd in Europe, and later worldwide.
Trustworthy breeders follow strict rules to ensure the popularity and health of the breed. For this reason, they do not exclusively study the background of the hunters, but would also interrogate the buyers who intend to raise and use these Canines. The German Shepherd dog has managed to survive many difficult circumstances during history. The noble and protective traits of the German Shepherd must continue to keep its distinction and place over other breeds.
Among this breed’s long-time occupations is the work of sheepherding, where the German Shepherd had to lead herds of almost 800 sheep. It had to remove them from the corral, guide them to the grasslands, move them within the food area, and guide them back to the corral. This dog must be very fast and agile as well as vigorous and strong, being able to stop a stampede of sheep and protect them from their predators. If a sheep derailed, the dog had to run from side to side without getting tired, making sure to join it into the group again.
We must highlight the German Shepherds skill of moving in large amounts of land with very little effort. Moreover, they have enough character and temperament to face and guide more than 800 heads of cattle in the same direction. Thanks to their work skills, they are one of the best help dogs for men.
Currently, the German Shepherd Dog is not a sheepherding dog. Nevertheless, there is an instrument called the «Schutzhund» that verifies that its skills do not get lost but increase in every generation. Another extremely peculiar trait of the German Shepherd is that they are excellent at searching for people in avalanches. The St. Bernard dog is the pioneer dog of such a noble role. The usefulness of this amazing breed divides into the following groups: 1) in sport, 2) breeding, 3) for rescue, 4) as police dogs to detect explosives and drugs, protecting and saving people, 5) to guide the visually impaired, and 6) as a family pet.
The evolution of the roles of German Shepherd dogs over time is very remarkable. It went from only being a Shepherd dog to be used in our society to benefit men.
Breed characteristics
Loyal friends, excellent guards, and experts in taking care of what they feel is theirs are the characteristics that undoubtedly define the German Shepherds. This large dog breed has become the favorite of many homes and security brigades. Both their loyalty and audacity has made them the favorites of many action movies.
The German Shepherd, as the name implies, is originally from Germany and is a relatively new breed. They received their name since they are specialists in the care of sheep herds, where they worked as watchdogs and were responsible for its guiding.
Their features include a fur of diverse colors that vary from black, coffee, brown, reddish, and the most impressive is albino white. They usually have a dense and soft two-layer hair that tends to fall out if they do not eat correctly. The health of the dog becomes visible through the brightness and strength of the fur. Likewise, they have a height of 60 to 65 centimeters in males and 50 to 60 centimeters in females. Subsequently, they have a bodyweight between 35 to 40 kilograms in males and 20 to 30kg in females.
As for their physical features, they have an elongated head that is consistent with their body. They similarly have strong jaws, while their ears are triangular, always straight, and allow them to listen attentively to the slightest sound.
About their diet, experts point out that, after reaching adulthood, the appropriate daily portion should be approximately 600 grams. They must receive their rations in the morning and the afternoon, as they are an active breed. The diet of German Shepherds should be fitting to ensure their health.
What stands out the most is their large and muscular body with long legs, which makes them look like an animal without tenderness and kindness. Nevertheless, the German Shepherd has shown that it can become a loyal pet and an excellent companion at home for both adults and children. Their obedience allows their training and rising to have an enjoyable relationship with their owners.
German Shepherds have a curious character. This trait makes them brave, hard to intimidate and keeps their instinct of caution awake. They tend to be very insightful when paying attention to what happens around them, becoming suspicious and alert when they do not know something or someone. However, after making sure that everything is fine, they will socialize with ease. By nature, they are athletic and energetic, even though they tend to rest whenever they can.
As a large breed, German Shepherds deserve to live in not-so-small environments, preferably open spaces where they can exercise and be distracted. They are not dogs that get used to being alone easily. You must take into account the work of family members to avoid leaving them alone for a long time. They are usually very intelligent and can easily follow orders and instructions from an early age, without having to repeat the commands numerous times.
This type of breed loves constantly running and exercising, jogging with their owners or going with them to a bicycle ride becomes the perfect trip to drain energy and have fun.
They generally learn to follow orders from an early age. As a result, they wait for commands on their trips so they can understand and follow them wholeheartedly.
As for their relationship with people, they can easily socialize if they do not observe something that activates their cautious instinct. If you adopt them as puppies, the relationship with the members of the family will be great and will become the loyal friend and guardian of the household.
Like any territorial breed, the German Shepherd will become alert of everything that happens in its environment. It will do observation rounds on its own, to verify that everything is in order. If it sees something irregular that attempts something against its home, it will alert its owners through loud barking. It will try to attract their attention until it manages to warn them of the imminent danger.
For German Shepherds, training from an early age is important. They must learn how to behave respectfully with unknown persons since their guardian nature and the gift of intuition can make them rough when their defense arises. This behavior may be inappropriate when there is nothing to fear. Therefore, it is important to teach the dog to distinguish when friendly people are approaching, and when they are not.
Behavior with other dogs
The German Shepherd, a wonderful breed, is among the ten most intelligent in the world. They are courageous, brave, very obedient, and loyal dogs. They have become the favorites at complementing both homes and workplace that require audacity and intelligence.
As a large dog breed, they must stay in open spaces that allow them to exercise and be distracted. They are not usually quiet animals, so you should consider that an environment with a sedentary lifestyle would not be ideal for this type of breed.
This dog’s nature includes being the caretaker of its habitat and everything within it, including people and places where it lives. They are very attentive and alert, usually attracting attention if they feel something dangerous or out of the ordinary, which requires their intervention. Their loyalty and way of obeying have made them the perfect dogs to join security forces and special brigades.
The German Shepherd is friendly with anyone if it makes sure that there is no danger nearby. If there are children at home, they will be the perfect company. The relationship between children and this dog breed despite being good, adults should supervise it to make sure that their behavior is appropriate. If it is not, they must correct it in time. Remember that animal instinct is not predictable.
Respecting adults, they will assume the role of protectors and guardians of their owner. Therefore, it will be common to see them at their side, always attentive to what happens around him. This cautiousness will allow them to act when any danger puts at risk the life of their owner.
As for the behavior of the German Shepherd with other dogs, it will vary according to the education they have had since puppies since they tend to be dominant and territorial. Consequently, they must begin to relate to other canines and animals from a young age. If the dog has already shared its environment, the relationship will be about determining who is the leader of the pack and will follow their orders.
If the dog has lived without the company of its kind, it will assume that the leader is its owner and will try to follow his orders at all times. If a new member joins the family, it could be aggressive in introductions. With its personality as head of the pack coming out, it could turn jealous and would not want to share what is theirs.
There could even be problems, such as fights, where you should keep an eye on them, so they do not get hurt. After some time, they will begin lowering their guard and could even become best friends. In that case, teaching through orders that tell them how to behave helps to improve the relationship between the new friends
If you want to avoid any rivalry, a partner of the opposite sex and the same breed would be the perfect company. The dogs would socialize and get company, in addition to the possibility of receiving beautiful puppies.
Among the breeds compatible with German Shepherds are the Border Collies. They are, as well, hardworking dogs who share with the German Shepherds the way of successfully handling sheep herds. These two breeds perfectly complement each other when doing a job that needs leadership and speed.
On the other hand, Labrador Retrievers are also an ideal companion for German Shepherds. They can become the perfect complements of each other. Both are a mixture of energy, leadership, and courage, as well as kindness and tenderness that Labrador Retrievers have in their personality.
Siberian Huskies can also perfectly keep up with German Shepherds, as they are athletic and bold dogs that fit in without much difficulty through games and running. Additionally, they are specialists in creating relationships with children and people in their environment to take care of them. As a result, they become the ideal match the overprotective personality that the German Shepherd has.
The German Shepherd usually shows, at first, the personality of a strong and dominant character. If someone they do not know approaches them, they will respond defensively, since this way of acting is in their genes. Providing education and training will make the canine improve its way of acting when facing the unknown. Remember that they are guard dogs and their main instinct is the protection of those they love.
Diet and nutrition of the German Shepherd
Protective, agile, and brave are characteristics that define one of the smartest dogs in the world, the German Shepherd. It is a working breed responsible for grazing and caring for sheep, originating in 1899 in Germany. These dogs are usually favorites for homes since their protective instinct makes them fitting to keep safe all the members of the household.
As a large breed, food is an important part of their health. These dogs are very active, and hard-working dogs whose main source of energy comes from the food they eat daily. One of the ways to see if the German Shepherd is eating well is through its fur since if it is bright and strong, it means that the food is doing them well.
German Shepherds have specific physical characteristics that differentiate them from other breeds. They have a smaller stomach in comparison to their body, which is why they have less capacity to store food than other canines.
Being dogs specialized in sheepherding, which for years have had this role, they tend to be very light and endure daily activity. Moreover, the fact that their stomachs absorb less food makes them ideal for this type of work, since an animal that eats more will be slower and heavier.
German Shepherds are carnivorous animals, so their diet must have high levels of protein and fat. This food will provide them with the energy that their bodies need.
Now, the diet in terms of portions and content will depend on their age. As puppies, feeding should start with breast milk, which is vital for the first days of birth. Breastfeeding should last approximately 6 weeks, as it will provide the necessary antibodies for their growth. Then, between weeks 8 and 10, puppies should begin to eat wet food, so their stomach starts adapting to changes.
At their middle age, they should continue the diet with dry foods that will help them adapt their digestive system to receive more solids. At this stage, you can include portions of bones, liver, and eggs that will complement the ration of dry food that you have been providing them. This diet will maintain the balance that ensures better absorption of nutrients. Generally, for this age, the amounts of food should be two servings per day, since the German Shepherd will be growing.
After one year, you should reduce the portions to one per day, and they can maintain their ideal weight. Remember that this breed is very active and overweight greatly deteriorates their pace of life, making them slower and sedentary.
If the diet is about meats, you should always cook it. As a consequence of eating raw meat, your dog could get diseases that are difficult to heal.
It is worthy of notice that a visit to the veterinarian is significant to determine if these quantities and portions are appropriate for these pets. The portions vary according to their weight, size, and sex. Remember that all dogs will always want more food than the one we give them. However, surrendering to their request is not the appropriate way to please the canine.
Another important aspect of the diet of German Shepherds is not changing the hours when you give them food for their enjoyment. The timing must be the same every day, so you would not alter this animal’s biological clock. For some reason, dogs perform physical activities at a different time than they usually do. In that case, you should give them their food after they end their exercises to avoid indigestion or any other discomfort.
On the other hand, water for German Shepherds is essential to complement their daily diet. Whether they stay outside or inside the home, they must have a container with enough water, which they need daily.
The health that a well-balanced diet provides is extremely important for this breed since as they reach adulthood, they begin to show signs of deterioration. This deterioration may present in arthritis, hip dysplasia epilepsy, among others, which you could easily prevent with proper portions of food since a puppy. If they present any of the symptoms of these diseases, maintaining an ideal weight is a way to reduce the discomfort and various annoying symptoms.
Necessary Care
A large number of action films in which they have been protagonists, make the German Shepherd the favorite breed of many people. With an athletic and muscular body, they are not afraid to show off and make themselves noticed. They do not usually show fear or intimidation with anything, and usually becomes the favorite of the children of the family.
They have a dense, and smooth coat, in some cases wavy, which is part of their appeal and protects them from the weather, having the ability to adapt to it. It gets smoother with a good brush two or three times a week, being more than enough to stay healthy. The dog usually sheds its hair at least once a year, so it will be common to see layers of hair on the floor and sofa. As long as there are no gaps or empty spaces in the body of the canine, you should not worry. The beauty of their fur will be the visible way to determine how good their health is.
As dogs that generally enjoy being outdoors, German Shepherds tend to get dirty and will often smell bad. For that reason, baths and going to canine hairdressers will be necessary, at least once a month.
If you bath them at home, you should use the appropriate products to ensure that the results are as expected. The wrong shampoo could cause irritation, hair loss, and even skin diseases. In the end, use a hairdryer with an intermediate temperature so you can complete the bath. If they are usually inside the house, baths will not have to be that consecutive, only bath them when is strictly necessary.
Their teeth are also an important aspect of their care. Since they need a diet rich in protein, they will have many bones to bite or meat to eat, so you should brush their teeth as puppies. Brushing their teeth will avoid diseases like gum infections, tartar, bad breath, and even the loss of some teeth. A way to detect any of these symptoms is the loss of appetite and signs of pain.
Within the necessary care to guarantee the health of the German Shepherds is the constant examination of their paws. Being working dogs, the floors that they step on could damage the texture of the paws. Cracks, something stuck, or even long hair that exceeds the nails could cause discomfort to the dog. Similarly, experts should constantly trim the nails since this is usually uncomfortable for them.
On the other hand, vaccines are of the utmost importance for these dogs. Take them to the veterinarian so they determine which ones they need and when they should get them. Vaccines will allow the dog to reach adulthood without inconvenience. Furthermore, since they are dogs that require constant walks and being in open spaces, vaccines against distemper will be indispensable.
The emotional health of German Shepherds is also very significant. The development of their work, either at home or for a specific purpose, depends on their emotional health. They are not dogs that deal well with loneliness, on the contrary, if they are part of your home, try to keep them company and socialize with them. Families whose jobs require long hours of not being at home would not be appropriate for a German Shepherd.
They do not enjoy enclosed spaces either. If their habitat includes a garden, patio, or place to run and exercise, they can easily show their leader and guardian side. Homes with gardens must have fences to prevent them from escaping or getting lost. This issue is important for this breed since they need to exercise frequently and does not get along with a sedentary lifestyle.
The place for their rest is also of the utmost importance as German Shepherds usually rest after a task where they have used a lot of energy. The place where they sleep should be free of moisture and be suitable for them. If the outdoor temperatures are extreme, it would be best to provide a place inside that can be comfortable for this pet.
The diet of the German Shepherd will be responsible for 65% of their health. The food must appropriately provide the number of nutrients that this breed requires. This way, it will be much easier to guarantee the health of the canine, and its care will be much more bearable. It is important to prevent the German Shepherd from exercising after eating since they should digest properly to prevent stomach problems. They need this as they are small stomach dogs.
How to train or educate a German Shepherd
They are dogs capable of learning orders since puppies without needing repetition too many times. Intelligent and brave, these characteristics undoubtedly define one of the most valuable dog breeds, German Shepherds.
Their courage and audacity have earned them the opportunity to participate in a large number of action movies being the favorite heroes and protagonists. Not only in science fiction movies, but they are also taken into account to participate in admirable work in real life. They are recognizable by herding herds, drug search, rescue, guidance and care of people, among others, which they perform splendidly while also enjoying themselves.
Experts documented their obedience and intelligence and placed them among the first ten favorite breeds. Their ability to obey and follow orders through training has allowed German Shepherd to be part of both homes and jobs where their role is of utmost importance.
Training in German Shepherds usually begins at an early age. As puppies, they begin to show their character and personality, receiving basic orders that will not take them long to learn. Orders such as still, up, down, and even a name to answer your call are a good start if you want to teach them to react to what they hear.
Another training that is worth teaching German Shepherds is where to go to the bathroom. This lesson will greatly facilitate the cleanliness of their environment. While spending most of the time in gardens or outdoors, you will avoid finding stool everywhere, which is very unpleasant when walking through the grass. If, on the other hand, you live in an apartment, teaching them how to do their needs in the newspaper or when taking a walk will guarantee the cleanliness of the place.
You could also carry out the training in a formal way, which is to say with teachings that demand dedication of time and knowledge from the owner. It will be very important that the German Shepherd sees and accepts as leader the one who gives the orders. Otherwise, it will be very unlikely that they obey since they will assume that they are the leader.
The orders must be clear, strong, and commanding, remembering that to have the authority, it is not necessary to shout or hit the animal. By simply having patience and spending the time required with the dog’s preparation, the results can be seen little by little.
The cookies, treats for dogs, words of affirmation, and prizes will be of great help for the development of the German Shepherd. If you train them with these elements, the dog will understand when it is doing well and when not, and the progress will be faster.
For a dog that is a guardian by nature, and is usually aware of everything that happens around them, good training is important. If you do not teach them how to treat unknown people, they could become a problem in the long run.
The German Shepherd, being a dog whose main purpose was herding sheep, receives the training required for this type of work. Currently, this type of training should be carried out with the help of professionals so that their behavior is more efficient.
Within the training stages for a German Shepherd in learning how to gather herds is the stage of obedience. The dog will learn to follow simple commands, executing them routinely, without being anxious. Commands such as quiet, come, go, or sit are basic principles of obedience that they should learn at this stage. This lesson finishes when the canine can walk next to the owner or trainer, leash or not, without escaping or running away.
Subsequently, the voice training stage follows, where the dog must learn to differentiate between the different tones and commands issued. Depending on the speed and intensity of speaking, the trainer will use high pitches to advance and commands to stop or decrease speed.
After they have mastered this stage, they continue with the training of movements. The German Shepherd will be attentive through its gaze towards its leader, of any command the coach or owner gives and their body gestures. After the dog has learned this, the German Shepherd will be ready to herd sheep and group them to lead them to their destination.
Being part of its nature, they will do this work of sheepherding by enjoying it to the fullest. It will include open spaces, leadership, physical activity, and quality time with its owner, which will make them feel full in every way.
Behavior with Humans
Exceptionally balanced, intelligent, and obedient dogs, German Shepherds are the family favorites. When selecting a breed that loves exteriors and that suits the people around it with their protective and guardian instinct, they are the best choice.
Its serious and aggravated image suggests that the German Shepherd is rude and always on the defensive. However, behind that facade, it is a friendly dog, capable of becoming a faithful and loving companion. It uses its size for body gestures that show its affection and warmth for its owners and relatives. It is usually a dog capable of showing loyalty to its family, so their behavior with humans will show this characteristic. If it assumes that its owner is its leader, there will be no problems regarding the relationship between the two. It will not be difficult for it to comply with the orders or teachings that it receives. It will try to do everything it is told to see its leader or owner happy.
Thanks to their patience and skill to take care of the family, their relationship with children is usually full of affection, love, and tenderness. If the German Shepherd is a puppy and grows up with the smallest of the family, it will become their inseparable friend. It will constantly watch over their well-being and avoid at any cost that something bad happens to them.
You will usually see them chasing the steps of their owner trying to be as long as possible with him. If this company includes games and fun activities, it will be ideal for both.
As for adults, their behavior will be that of staying with their owners at all times. They will try to show their love and affection, and always try to please them, also continuing without refuting orders and protecting their lives. If someone unknown is coming, their guardian instinct will make them distrustful of the person and will not allow him to approach. Through barking and body gestures, they will show themselves in an attack position to protect their family. This type of behavior, if trained, can be stopped with an order from the owner telling them to be calm. Then, the canine will know that everything is under control and that there is nothing to fear.
Since it is a very intelligent and easy-to-train breed, the German Shepherd usually is in work areas. These areas include grazing herds, police brigades, drug and narcotics search teams, rescue teams, among others. They have developed in an ideal way, receiving the position of favorite breed for this type of work.
In sheepherding work, there are still some specimens that perform this role. Nevertheless, in recent years, it has decreased due to the people that enjoy his personality. Consequently, it is common to see them in homes as another member of the family, or to keep the young and old company.
On the other hand, the job of the German Shepherds as police dogs is increasing, as for these jobs you need bold animals, which are not shy and very brave. For some canines to be part of a police team, they must go through a series of studies where experts monitor the puppy’s behavior from an early age. Then, in the middle age, their temperament and ability to receive orders ensures that they can begin to perform their work.
Among the characteristics that a German Shepherd must have to serve as a police officer are those of following instructions, caring for its guide, and being able to control anxiety and nerves in extreme situations. For this last characteristic, German Shepherds usually exceed expectations since they have nerves of steel and are not animals that easily get excited in the face of danger. Among the skills that stand out when a German Shepherd is a policeman is the ability to find objects that are useful for investigations of the cases in which it participates.
Likewise, German Shepherds who are part of a police brigade can not only be excellent in a single area, but their skill will determine it. There are different groups to which these dogs can belong, including detective dogs that can find mines, explosives, narcotics, tobacco, and even exotic animals. Then, there are intervention dogs that perform protective work, riot control, hostage rescue, and search for criminals.
There are also rescue dogs where German Shepherds are usually very effective. This work is characterized by searching and helping in high-risk places such as collapsed buildings, landslides, and also serving as lifeguards and rescuers. Finally, there is a group of dogs belonging to the scientific area, where German Shepherds carry out work to search for bodies, signs, or recognize suspects. All these tasks are occupations where the German Shepherd performs, after being trained, naturally enjoying every day of work to the fullest.
Their Environment
Originally from Germany, and being a not so old breed, German Shepherds usually steal the hearts of all those who have the opportunity to have them as a partner in their home. It has become a very popular pet to have at home, and its large body soon attracts the attention of those who come to visit.
The German Shepherd generally has a brown and black fur that makes the breed immediately recognizable. Their unmistakable appearance helps identify them when someone sees them. It is common to see them in customs, airports, and police forces where their character, courage, and obedience allow them to perform tasks that impact cities and nations.
Their personality includes guardian, leader, and protector features that make them ideal for accompanying children and adults. Not everyone can count on someone willing to take care of them at whatever cost. Training is essential in their growth since this will facilitate the improvement of some natural behaviors of their breed.
As a large dog breed, its environment must have open spaces. Correspondingly, being a dog with working instincts, they will be in continuous movement or performing some physical activity. As a result, extensive gardens and yards are ideal for this type of animals. These spaces should have fences so that they do not escape, since the wider the place, the more they will want to explore it.
Their stay at home must have a suitable place to rest. If by being the guardians of the house they are used to sleeping outside, you must provide them with plenty of water for hydration. The food should be in a clean and comfortable container. If the temperatures are extreme and their permanence in outdoor spaces is difficult, they should have space inside to guarantee their health.
They are not dogs that are satisfied with the sedentary lifestyle, so the family that adopts them must be active people by nature. They must not find it difficult to promote the exercise of the dog, as boredom will sadden and discourage it. If the daily exercise goes along the presence of their owner, they will be happy. Bike rides or skating is ideal for both of them to keep the same pace when running. On the other hand, if you want to take a car ride, they will behave properly and enjoy it very much.
On the other hand, the environment in which they are must be full of words of acceptance that include love and affection. As intelligent dogs, it will not be difficult for them to follow orders. Moreover, the fact that their master or owner shows them that they are doing things right will be very important for their emotional state.
They are not usually dogs that get excited with pressure, but they should not live with aggressive people or near fights or screams. If that is the case, the dog could assume that this behavior is normal and will be raised in the same way, becoming aggressive. The behavior of dogs, not only of German Shepherds, will change according to the behavior they learn from their owners.
At the same time, some families want to have a German Shepherd as a pet and do not have a large house or garden. Luckily, this breed can adapt to smaller spaces. In these cases, the daily walks should be longer and consecutive. They should take them out for a walk so that they are distracted, constantly exercise, and do not get bored.
The presence of people or other animals is also important for their development. They do not tend to get used to being alone, and it does not favor them, you can notice this in their sad-bored mood if they are constantly left alone. Their interaction with people in their home is significant to them.
If it is a German Shepherd dedicated to working in brigades or a security body, they should have a home at the time of retirement. Their new family has to be willing to care for and love them, as this usually happens between eight and nine years old. At this age, the dog is already used to a work environment different from the one at home, where it will have to adapt to new environments and new people. In that sense, organisms must guarantee the emotional and physical health that these habitat changes produce.
In some cases, at the end of their occupation as members of a brigade, the people in charge of their training have requested their adoption, for the relationship they have shared over the years.