German shepherd - description of the breed and the nature of the dog

Since ancient times, people have preferred dogs that are similar to wolves, which are the ancestors of all breeds now known. These dogs were useful in farming, hunting and protection. In Germany, bronze dogs inhabited as a result of a cross between an Indian wolf and a European dog. This breed belonged to the shepherd because of the high level of obedience and fulfillment of human commands. She then is considered the ancestor of German shepherds, which have become popular in Europe since ancient times.

In the course of development, the breed began to show itself as an indispensable assistant and friend. Due to the impending urbanization, the number of pastures was reduced, so the initial shepherd duties ceased to be part of the main purpose of the shepherd. In this regard, it became obvious the decision to withdraw the most universal breed of dogs, suitable for all spheres of life of a modern person.

To carry out selection, great financial capabilities and knowledge were needed. Such a man was captain Max von Stefanitz. Being a true lover and connoisseur of dogs, he approached the upcoming business with all responsibility, developing a new breeding technique.

The captain did not pursue the goal of creating a completely new breed. On the contrary, he wanted to create an ideal breed, preserving in it its original qualities and functions. Based on the fact that all qualities should be transmitted by cable, he began searching for the ideal dog. To select a potential winner, Stefanitz had a large number of shepherd dogs at his disposal, carefully considering each candidate.

Most of the available dogs were rejected, not meeting all the necessary requirements. The captain was looking for a dog, distinguished by obedience and intelligence. Easy training for all teams and responsibilities was imperative. Also, the appearance should be perfect in all respects. Not only strength and power were important, but also natural nobleness and beauty that corresponded to the ideas about this breed. Trying to find a combination of these qualities, the emphasis was primarily on the intellectual knowledge of the dog.

Von Stefanitz finally found such a dog in 1899. While at one of the dog shows, he turned his attention to a medium-sized shepherd. Horand was strong, energetic and noble, like a true gentleman. Responding to all the necessary external and internal characteristics, it was this cable that became the official ancestor of the now famous German shepherd, leaving behind a large offspring. Each pedigree line of shepherds will lead to him.

The uniqueness of the development of the breed lies in the fact that it usually takes about a century for a population, and the shepherd dogs have had enough for two decades. In the year the breed was registered, an official German Shepherd Society was also created. At the time of 1923, the organization already had about 27 thousand people. Captain von Stefanitz continued to be the founder and inspirer of working with the breed. He was involved in the development of the company's charter and breed standards. Subsequently, changes were made relative to the body of the dog, making it longer and lower.

Each dog selected for breeding was distinguished not only by its appearance, but also by its psychological poise and working qualities. The very first exhibitions, which were attended by German Shepherds, most of all showed exactly the initial qualities, namely shepherds. But that was not the goal of the founder. The main thing that he wanted to show the world was that it was service dogs.Due to the increasing popularity of the breed, the captain was able to offer a shepherd to serve in police organizations. Having proved their versatility and efficiency, they soon began to use this breed for military service.

During the First World War, shepherds became universal employees. They were patrolmen, scouts, orderlies, watchmen and bloodhounds. However, the military operations of Germany negatively affected the adequate perception of the breed. Everything that was connected with the Germans caused many countries to be negative. The popularity of dogs continued to grow, and, despite their German origin, they were still used. But some countries refused to assign the designation "German" to the shepherd dogs, assigning the name of their country.

But this is not the worst thing that happened to the breed. Due to the fact that dogs took an active part in hostilities, most of them died. Some, being at the epicenter of the war, others are simply starving. The post-war period can be called the revival of the breed. As soon as the danger to the species disappeared, the breeders began to actively re-breed the shepherd, but not only in Germany. America, Japan, Scandinavia and the USSR are the countries in which active breeding of the breed after the war began.

Today there are a lot of nurseries around the world. Trying to improve the look, many breeders add new pedigree lines that should make the dog more and more “high-quality” and universal. Progress and opportunities do not stand still, but each breeder should take into account in their actions those recommendations that were fundamental to the founder of the breed.

1. When breeding a breed, a person should not think about profit. Only sincere love and respect for dogs can move them.
2. It is important to consider the psychological state of the dog. The correct behavior consists in her complete calmness and poise, regardless of whether she is among her own or found herself in an unfamiliar society.
3. No need to pursue the goal of breeding exclusively winners. Every dog ​​that has decent qualities deserves attention. If she is not suitable for military service, she can simply become a good helper and friend. It is only necessary to faithfully monitor the state of health without saving money.
4. Only proven dogs are given, which gave good strong offspring. Those representatives who have problems with health and mentality are not used for breeding. It is also impossible to breed new dogs, with the help of those that are close relatives.

Breed standards

The main standards of the breed include the following standards:

1. Outwardly, the German shepherd looks medium, it does not apply to heavy or light dogs. The physique is dry and muscular. Male growth - from 60 to 65 cm, female growth - from 55 to 60 cm.
2. The shape of the head is wedge-shaped and elongated, slightly expanding between the ears. The skull can be called square.
3. The jaw is powerful, well developed and developed. The lips are dark, do not separate from the jaw.
4. The nose is exclusively black.
5. Almond-shaped eyes, medium size. The color is dark, landing slightly slanting.
6. The ears are triangular, medium in size, pointed to the tips. Always upright, with auricles forward. The position may change if the dog is sleeping or moving in response to sounds.
7. The neck, back and chest are strong and muscular.
8. The body is elongated, with a passing dorsal line from the neck to the croup.
9. The tail is curved, easily hanging down. The outer side is smoother, the inside is fluffy.
10. Forelegs are straight and straight. The forearm is strong, the location of the elbows parallel to the entire paw, they should not look in any direction.
11. The hind legs are parallel, the length of the hips and lower leg is almost equal to each other. The joints responsible for jumping are clearly marked.
12. The coat is stiff and short, fits snugly to the body.There is a small undercoat. The area with the longest hair is the neck.

The color of the dog is of three types:

• completely black;
• black with spots of a lighter tone;
• gray with dark, in the back and face.

Character

The German Shepherd is a faithful companion, distinguished by a persistent psyche. If we talk about purebred shepherd dogs, they are absolutely devoid of negative qualities of character, which makes them an indispensable and unique creation. These animals are considered noble and selfless, because the sole purpose of their existence is to fulfill their purpose and the desires of the owner. They cannot be called lazy, because they take every opportunity that will benefit. This has a positive effect on their existence in any area of ​​life.

Aggressiveness and short temper to German shepherds are not peculiar, they get along with any person and animal. Well-developed sense of approaching danger. In such cases, they act independently. In a dangerous situation, they do not wait for the team if they feel that the owner is in danger. The decision to protect is made solely by the dog.

One important feature is the lack of fear. The dog does not recede even if the enemy is much larger in size and strength. In the event of a fight, he will fight to the last, if necessary, to save the owner’s life.

Like many dogs, the shepherd dog will experience strong affection and devotion to only one person whom he considers his master. It is on such a person that the complete care and upbringing of the pet lies. But this does not mean that she is disrespectful to other family members. Everyone close to the owner is her friend. Particular preference is given to children, with them the shepherd dog aggravates a sense of protection and playfulness.

He does not like to be alone. If for a long time the owner leaves her alone, she begins to experience a strong feeling of longing. So that the dog, while alone, does not get bored, you can go for a trick. If you order her to protect some property, it will be true to carry out this service. Focusing on the fact that she must protect something, she will forget that now is the time to miss her master. It is impossible to bribe or hold a German Shepherd, therefore, every business for which she undertakes will be performed in good faith.

Training and education

German shepherds have long been perceived as the smartest dogs, not without reason they are one of three breeds that are recognized as the most intelligent breeds in the world. However, to get such a dog, it is not enough just to get a thoroughbred baby. Getting a German shepherd, a person should understand that it will take strength and time for its proper education.

In order for a dog to be as smart and trained as one is accustomed to seeing it in cinema, home training will not be enough. Standard teams will not guarantee that the shepherd will be exactly the one they want to see. There are many courses that teach training. Their number and direction depends on the purpose for which the dog was purchased. Initial courses are the same for everyone, and then you can choose the specifics.

Of course, every German shepherd has an innate industriousness and intelligence, but it is necessary to develop and improve them.

Care

Given all the qualities and character traits, it may seem that special care for the shepherd dogs is not needed. But this is not so. The quality of the breed is determined precisely by the excellent state of health, which requires control.

1. Food should be balanced. To replenish the energy that they actively spend during the day, meat is necessary because of the large amount of protein. Negative and useless for the body - potato and flour products. Not only do they not contain useful elements, they also lead to obesity.Servings should be calculated based on weight, since overeating will adversely affect the body. The more useful the food, the less you can make a serving.
2. Periodically, at least once every two weeks, it is worth examining the dog yourself. At risk are the eyes and the musculoskeletal system.
3. Systematic visits to the veterinarian are required, even if the dog is apparently healthy and energetic. Not all diseases immediately show signs and symptoms, this applies to both people and animals. Prevention will never be superfluous, or even necessary. It is imperative to take vaccinations according to the schedule that the doctors prescribe.
4. Caring for a German shepherd - just like any other dog. Despite all the natural strength, it needs care and attention. It is advisable that a shepherd live in a private house, where she will have a lot of space for movement. However, they get along quite well in an ordinary apartment, the main thing is not to forget about walks.

How to choose a good puppy

Before you go for a puppy, you need to accurately determine the purpose of such an acquisition. Once you decide what the puppy will be taken for, go to professional breeders. They will pick you an animal with the characteristics that suit you.

Some owners take a German shepherd that meets all the characteristics of show dogs, thinking that they will raise a champion. However, not finding enough time for education, leave her as an ordinary pet. And it turns out that all the advantages and opportunities will remain unrealized.

Someone, on the contrary, acquires just a faithful friend, but in the end decides that he needs to drive the dog to exhibitions. But for simple purposes, a certain puppy was chosen, whose natural qualities were not designed for exhibitions. Without showing the results that are expected of him, he can become a cause of disappointment.

If the dog has high hopes, the choice of the puppy should be very serious. The breeder must provide not just a pedigree, but also a certificate of permission to breed the breed precisely by his parents. If desired, you can get information about the litter, which can be either the first or tenth. If there is not enough information, the litter of previous generations is studied.

There are a lot of nuances, and this may seem like an unjustified headache. But we must remember that the German shepherd, for whatever purpose was not acquired, will be a faithful companion and protector for many years.

To maximize the dog’s loyalty, you must take a puppy who is not yet three months old. The older he is, the harder the addiction.

Puppies cost

A pedigree German shepherd with a pedigree can be purchased at an average price of 15,000 p. The price is affected by many factors. The better and better the pedigree, the higher the cost. Often, the cost of services that were necessary for a medical examination is added to the initial price.

Video: German Shepherd Dog Breed