A Brief Guide About German Shepherds

German Shepherds are large-sized dogs that were originated in Germany in the late 19th century. They are very popular with people because their fearless yet approachable personalities allow them to perform many important functions.

This popularity has spawned many questions about this breed. As a result, here is a German Shepherd information guide that can help you learn more information about these popular dogs. It includes information about their origins, their physical characteristics and their temperament. It also includes information about how people use them to achieve tasks.

Origins

The German Shepherd's origins can be traced to 1899 when Max Von Stephanitz purchased an amazing dog named Hektor Linksrhein from a breeder at a Karlsruhe, Germany dog show. Hektor was so strong, intelligent and loyal that Von Stephaniz used him to develop a dog breed that was capable of working with people for extended time periods.

Hektor was crossed with several herding and farm dogs to produce the breeding stock used to develop the German Shepherd. This stock included a male named Beowolf. Beowolf would become the stud responsible for developing the breed's approachability, its fearlessness and its loyalty. As a result, all pure breed German Shepherds share Beowolf's capacity for approachability.

Physical Characteristics

Height

Males range in height from 24 to 26 inches. Females range in height from 21 to 24 inches.

Weight

Males weigh between 65 to 90 pounds. Females weigh between 50 to 70 pounds.

Coat Color

Most German Shepherd information guides report that the dog's coat varies between light brown to black. However, they can be a variety of colors. The most common coat colors are black, brown, red, tan, tan and black, or red and black.

Moreover, German Shepherds with blue, liver-colored or white coats have also appeared in dog shows. These coat colors are generally regarded as faults by most breeders.

Coat Type

German Shepherds have a double coat that consists of a longer upper layer of hairs and shorter hairs near the dog's skin. This coat helps the dog adapt to a variety of climates quickly. However, the dog's coat requires regular grooming to maintain its healthy sheen. Fortunately, most don't mind being groomed because it allows them to further develop bonds with their people.

Body Characteristics

German Shepherds have long and pointed ears that stand erect and open. They have medium-sized brown eyes and a long neck. They also have a black-colored mask around their faces.

The dog' jaws are strong. They contain hinges that allow the dog to use their jaws like scissors to deliver a powerful bite.

The dog's tail is bushy. It stands erect when the dog is excited or angry.

They also have a domed forehead, a long muzzle and a black pointy nose. These latter two characteristics help the dogs track scent trails. They are the result of careful breeding with herding dogs that had pointy noses and long muzzles.

They have a very muscular chest, broad shoulders and long legs. As a result, they are very strong and agile dogs that are well-suited for an active lifestyle. Finally, the dog's paws are rounded like snowshoes. This characteristic helps the dog walk in tight or crowded spaces effortlessly.

Temperament

It's difficult to explain their temperament using just a few words. This is the case because German Shepherds have a variety of personality traits that help them perform many tasks for people.

For example, German Shepherds have a loving, protective and happy nature that makes them very sociable dogs. This part of their personality makes them an ideal family dog because it allows them to form extremely strong bonds with their people.

They also are also very loyal dogs who are eager to please. This eagerness to please makes them an ideal hunting companion and guard dog.

They are also very smart animals. This intelligence allows them to learn complicated commands and process information better than other large-breed dogs. As a result, they seem to enjoy learning tricks that other dog breeds won't learn.

Moreover, they are very active dogs. They enjoy running, playing fetch and chasing balls with their people. This characteristic makes them an ideal dog for active families who enjoy playing with their dogs.

How People Rely on German Shepherds to Achieve Tasks

People use German Shepherds to achieve many important tasks. For example, they are trained to rescue people who are trapped inside collapsed buildings. You may also see them work with people to herd sheep and to hunt animals. People use this breed to complete these tasks because the dogs' keen sense of smell and its eagerness to please helps people complete these tasks more efficiently.

Finally, German Shepherds are also regarded highly for their ability to help police and military forces sniff out explosives. Most German Shepherd information guides contend this ability stems from the dogs' keen sense of smell. However, most enthusiasts believe this ability stems from the dogs' loyalty and ability to follow commands willingly.

Regardless of how they do it, this incredible breed offers a lot of useful things to people. As a result, they will continue to be one of the world's most popular dog breeds for some time to come.
 

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