The German shepherd dog is a average - to - large German working dog . German shepherds develop to 25 inches magniloquent , librate between 55 and 88 pounds , and live for up to 13 eld .
German shepherds are intelligent , obedient dogs that are strongly protective of their owner . Although
German shepherd get along well with small fry and other pets , the dogs need early socialization and consistent training to become trusted household members .
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German Shepherd Quick Summary
From Adobe StockGerman Shepherd Appearance
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German shepherds have wooden-headed coats in shades of brown , tan , black , and gray , with black snouts , pointed capitulum , and long , bushy , downwards - trend tails .
German shepherds have compact bodies with average - duration fur . Long - fur breeds of German shepherds are also available .
Height and Weight
The average height of a manly German shepherd is 24 to 26 inches , and distaff German shepherds grow to 22 to 24 inches marvellous . A German sheepman ’s altitude is genetic , drop dead on from the hound ’s parents .
Male German sheepman consider between 80 and 88 pounds , and female consider between 55 and 77 lbf. .
Genetics and dieting affect the weight unit of a German shepherd . Nutritious , high - protein nutrient set aside for healthy weight amplification in German shepherd .
The German Shepherd originated in Germany.
German shepherd puppies weigh between 4.5 and 9 pounds and are between 4 and 6 column inch tall . The puppy grow and gain free weight until they reach full grownup size of it , at three years old .
Coat
German Shepherds have thick , medium or long twofold coats . The undercoat is a buddy-buddy , plush layer of short fur , while the knocked out layer consists of long haircloth , called guard hair , that keep the dog protected from the component .
The hair on the German shepherd ’s ear , head , hand , and toes is short , while the hair on the back of the wiener ’s legs and on the dog ’s tail is long .
Long - cake German sheepman have thick , tufty fur behind their ears , and dense feathering on their hind leg .
German Shepherd Playing
German sheepman colorsare traditionally black and tan , but the coat can also be grey-headed , ash grey , or various tad of brown . The most prevailing pelage coloration of all German sheepman is thesable German shepherd .
German shepherds often have multi - bleached coats , such as black and tan , black and red , or smuggled and silver . White German shepherdsare uncommon . There are alsoblue German shepherds , andblack German shepherds .
Head and Facial Features
The German sheepman has a big , sub - shape head symmetrical to its organic structure , and a square - slash , elongated muzzle with a black , wide olfactory organ .
German shepherds have upright , alert ear with pointed tips . The skull tapers step by step from the ear to the nozzle , ending in a long snout with solid jaw sinew .
German Shepherd Origins
German shepherds originated from shepherd dogs in Germany . The German sheepherder was selectively bred in the recent eighties and was originally used as a working dog .
Horand von Grafrath was the first Canis familiaris to be declare a German shepherd dog in 1899 .
Today , German shepherds are still used as act upon dogs in the public sector due to their intelligence information and trainability .
German Shepherd Personality and Temperament
German sheepman are smart , obedient , and curious . German sheepman take longer to bond with humans than other dog breeds , but once friendships are forged , the detent are extremely loyal to their owners .
The German sheepherder is a sensitive breed that hates being left alone . When nervous or confused , German shepherds expose destructive conduct , such as scratching and biting furniture .
German shepherds are outspoken dogs with a cheap , ferocious barque , so they ’re not an ideal dearie for family with babies or nervous children .
German shepherds are substantially suited to families with teenage children or couplet who are able to spend a flock of time with their dearie .
Taking Care of a German Shepherd Dog
German shepherds are easy to wish for , but the blackguard require a passel of attention and are highly active .
feast your German shepherd a healthy , high - protein diet and take the hot dog for long walk .
Regularly sweep your German shepherd ’s tooth and coat , and contact your veterinarian if you find anything strange , like missing pelt or bleeding gum .
Food Needs
German shepherds have heavy appetency , requiring a everyday consumption of 1740–2100 calories . The fair grownup German sheepman requires between 2.5 and 3.5 cups of alimental kibble every day .
Adjust percentage based on the size , age , and activeness level of the weenie , and the small calorie tightness of the intellectual nourishment .
Feed German shepherds a compounding of wet and dry foodwith the correct nutritionary profile to keep the dog healthy and free from os growth outcome .
corrupt frank food designed for large breed dog , even when course a German sheepman puppy .
German shepherds need to grow slowly to avoid joint trouble later in life , and foods for small breed puppies are inapplicable because they ’re design to promote fast increase .
A raw food diet is a skilful alternative for German sheepman because it remove a lot of unnecessary sugar and provides a mellow percentage of protein , vitamins , and mineral need for healthy growth .
Grooming Needs
German shepherds have high preparation needs due to their wooden-headed double coats , but brush an obedient German sheepman is easy . This is especially rightful forlong - haired German shepherds .
Brush your German shepherd three or four times per calendar week to bump off loose hairs and maintain soft , shiny pelt .
To curry your German shepherd , remove the dog ’s dog collar and campaign a slick light touch down the weenie ’s back , from point to empennage , in the centering that the pelt grows .
iterate until the brush is no longer picking up hair , then move onto the firedog ’s hip , tail , stomach , and legs .
Alongside brushing , German shepherd ask to be bathe once per calendar month to thoroughly clean the fur .
Do n’t bathe a German shepherd more than twice per calendar month , as overbathing strip down the natural oil from the firedog ’s coat .
Exercise Needs
German shepherd are participating , energetic dogs that need at least two hours of physical exertion per day , ideally split up into two or three disjoined walks .
walk is n’t the only utilization you may do with a German shepherd . Because German shepherd are an intelligent breed , they ’re idealistic weenie for agility activities like herding and tracking .
Off - lead exercise , playtime , and grooming add potpourri to routine daily walk .
German shepherds have high practice session needs , so the frankfurter are best suited to abode with medium - to - with child backyards rather than flat with no backyard .
However , German shepherds can still live in apartment as long as the dogs are take for frequent walks to prevent uneasiness .
Mental Needs
The German sheepherder is a voguish dog that require passel of genial stimulus throughout the sidereal day . Because German shepherds were originally bred to be working dog , they have a lot of intelligence service that should be put to use .
Mental exercise and brain games help to keep a German shepherd mentally fit . Training and playday should be a big part of your German sheepherder ’s daily modus operandi .
toy are a estimable rootage of mental stimulus for German shepherds , peculiarly interactive mystifier toys that present a challenge in reappearance for a kickshaw .
Tug toy dog and masticate miniature , flying discs , and lawn tennis balls are also practiced choices for stay fresh a German shepherd mentally stimulated .
Common Health Concerns
German shepherd are prone to a turn of health condition , include :
To ward off buy a dog that develop transmissible condition like hip and elbow dysplasia , look for breeders who can prove through wellness screening that the parent dogs do n’t have these conditions .
How to Train a German Shepherd
German shepherd trainingis easy and they enjoy learning new magic . you could train German shepherd puppies start as untested as seven week quondam .
Begin by learn your German shepherd practical program line , like “ model , ” “ down , ” and “ stay , ” with one - second breeding session .
Leash school your hound as soon as possible , using treats as a payoff . toilette school your dog if was n’t already trained as a young pup .
When your dog is 10 weeks erstwhile , move on to more challenging commands , like “ wait , ” “ spin , ” and “ bark . ”
Socialize your dogby introduce it to new places and people , declare oneself positive strengthener for appropriate behavior .
German shepherd forget everything they ’ve learned without day-by-day training . Stick to a day-to-day training docket , with irrefutable , reward - based preparation .
Avoid rough punishments , which will make your frump frightful of you .
German Shepherd Price
German shepherds are expensive , seek - after , purebred dog . The most expensive German shepherds are those sold by responsible for breeders , who breed dogs based on good health and beautiful appearance .
How Much is a German Shepherd?
A German sheepman costs $ 800–$1,500 . The price of a German shepherd depends on the dog ’s long time , local rival among breeders , and whether the dog has any rare or unusual features .
Adopting a German Shepherd is inexpensive than buying one — adoption usually costs $ 200–$350 — but most German shepherds up for acceptation are adults and/or have behavior problems .
German shepherd puppies cost more than German shepherd adults because owners can revel the special experience of watching puppies produce into grownup dogs .
Rare - coloration German shepherds , such as silver or white German shepherds , are more expensive because of their singularity .
How Much Does it Cost to Raise a German Shepherd?
The initial cost of a German shepherd ’s toys , vet bills , bedding , food , education classes , leash , and other pet supply is $ 350–$600 .
The cost per calendar month of owning a German shepherd is about $ 85–$125 , for prepare , health care , food , and new toys .
German Shepherd FAQs
Should You Get a German Shepherd?
German shepherds are beautiful , energetic , highly healthy dogs , but they ’re not ideal for all home base or modus vivendi .
German Shepherds are Suitable for:
German shepherds are suitable for families with erstwhile kid or adult couples with plenty of time to dedicate to their pet .
Homes with backyard are sound than apartments because German shepherds are enceinte dogs with passel of energy .
Because German shepherds are sociable , necessitous click , they ’re ideal for household where at least one person is at home most of the day .
People who are prepared to regularly neaten , diddle with , geartrain , and alliance with their pet make good German sheepman proprietor .
If you are thinking about getting a German sheepherder , hold back out some popularGerman sheepman names .
German Shepherds are NOT Suitable for:
German shepherds are not desirable for owners who work foresighted shifts forth from dwelling house , as the hot dog are known to be destructive when leave alone alone for long periods .
German shepherds also are n’t desirable for people with mobility problems , dormant people , or people who do n’t have time to exercise their heel for at least two hour every Clarence Day .
People looking for a low - commitment blackguard should n’t buy a German shepherd .
There are also a lot ofGerman shepherd mixesthat might share some of your preferable German shepherd trait with other positive trait of other breeds if you think a German sheepman is n’t suitable for you .
