German Shepherds 101 - Dog breed of the month

Hi everyone, I hope you all had a fantastic weekend! It's time for our OMD (Oh My Dog!) Monday post. I have decided to start a new series on OMD, where I will be highlighting a different breed once each month.

This month, I am featuring GSD's.
German Shepherd Dogs.



To help us shine a light on the magnificent German Shepherd, I am pleased to welcome Andrew, from www.shepped.com

He is here to tell us everything we need to know about GSD's.
Take it away Andrew!

German Shepherds 101

German Shepherds are a fairly new dog breed that has become increasingly popular in the recent years. They make good family pets, but are also skilled working dogs. Throughout their history, German Shepherds have been prized for both their mental and physical capabilities.

Born to Protect and Serve

The German Shepherd breed is only just over 100 years old, and owes its existence to the German Captain Max von Stephanitz. He wanted to create a skilled herding dog that was also highly intelligent, and succeeded in breeding a devoted and competent working dog.

German Shepherds were used by the German military during World War I and II as messengers, supply carriers and even sentries. Today, they are still employed by many police and military forces. German Shepherds are also commonly used as therapy and service dogs for the disabled. They are one the ten most popular dog breeds in America, which is no surprise considering their fierce loyalty and keen intelligence.

Work Hard, Play Hard

German Shepherds aren’t exactly the most social breed. They are natural guard dogs, and though extremely loyal, German Shepherds can be overly aggressive towards a perceived threat. They need to be socialized as puppies so that the sight of different people and places is not alarming or threatening.

GSDs require lots of exercise to burn off pent up energy. Any prospective owner needs to have plenty of room in his or her schedule for daily walks and playtimes. A dog without at outlet for her energy can start to release frustration in undesirable ways such as chewing or excessive barking.

For the times when the two of you aren’t out walking, you should provide your German Shepherd with plenty of chew toys to burn off extra energy. These dogs have powerful jaws that can rip up a flimsy toy in a matter of minutes. Chunks of rubber or other materials can pose a choking hazard to your dog, and can also cause sickness or intestinal blockage. Only buy a German Shepherd chew toys that can withstand a significant amount of abuse.

Giving your German Shepherd plenty of exercise will cut back on problem behaviors such as barking, digging or chewing. Walking and playing with your dog gives her the companionship that she craves and teaches her to be more sociable.

Nipping Health Problems in the Bud

Because of inbreeding, German Shepherds are prone to certain genetic health problems. Hip dysplasia is a common issue that affects your dog’s joints and can cause a considerable amount of pain while walking. The only way to fix dysplasia is through surgery or pain medications.

Degenerative myelopathy is another problem that affects some German Shepherds. It is a neurological disease that is characterized by paralysis of a dog’s back legs. This condition is incurable, but if it is caught fast enough, there are treatments that can slow the onset.

There are other health problems that German Shepherds can suffer from such as heart conditions, vision problems and epilepsy. Any responsible breeder will discuss with you the health problems that are common in her lines of German Shepherds so that you can keep an eye out for any symptoms.

So, Why are German Shepherds So Popular?

GSDs are loyal, hardworking and intelligent dogs that can serve as partner to a policeman or best friend to a child. They learn quickly and make natural guard

Thanks Andrew, I loved learning more about the stunning German Shepherd breed.
If you would like to see more on GSD's stop on by www.shepped.com
I hope you all enjoyed, and as always we welcome any comments or questions you may have :)

See you tomorrow!