German Shepherd: The Dog That Could Be Right for You
First bred in Germany in the late nineteenth century, the German shepherd is considered the best liked and useful breed of working dogs in the world. Also known as Alsatian by British and Americans who continued to share anti-German sentiments after the First World War or Deutscher Schaferhund in the German language, it is an average sized dog that can be used for a wide range of purposes. Besides its original use as a farming and herding dog, it is now used in police work, security, search and rescue and as a guide and companion. It has the instinctive trait to bond strongly with its owner, and it is standoffish and suspicious of strangers. Since they can easily be trained to obey commands and signals, they are very good working dogs. With its distinctive and attractive physical features, a German shepherd or an Alsatian can grow up to around 30 inches in height and up to 40 kilograms in weight. It has a thick hard coat which varies from quite short to a much longer one. The coat of a German shepherd is either reddish-brown, black, reddish-yellow or shades of gray or any of the said colors with white, yellow or brown patches and a black saddle. There is however a pure white variety, known as the White German shepherd or Alsatian, but this is usually considered a distinct breed.

The German shepherd's unique guarding and tracking abilities which makes it ideal for police and security work did not happen by accident but occurred through careful breeding from dogs used for herding sheep in Germany for many years. The breed developed fast and attracted people who needed dogs as a brave and intelligent working partner. This dog's versatility has been tested in many situations, from the last two World Wars to areas stricken by natural disasters. To the notorious criminal, it can act as a ruthless guard but to the visually impaired, it can serve as a loyal and affectionate companion. German shepherds have proved to be great pets and strongly devoted to their owners including their families and children. With their high energy and immense adaptive ability, German shepherds can live in the city as they could in the farm. However, raising a German shepherd can be especially challenging since one has to exercise the dog regularly and frequently take it out for walks, otherwise it can be frustrated by being left alone for long periods of time without anything to do. Enrolling the dog in obedience training classes can also be helpful since it would be risky leaving untrained a strong and big German shepherd. Obedience training will also give the dog the opportunity to socialize with people and other dogs. Socialization will teach it how to deal with the outside environment, increasing its versatility and adaptability.

Unlike other breeds of dogs, a German shepherd requires little but regular grooming. There is no need to bathe the dog frequently. All that is need is to brush the coat often in order to remove dead hair, dirt and mud. Toenails also need to be trimmed once every three months. Regular veterinary care will also be helpful. However, a German shepherd needs to have a diet that would meet the nutritional requirements of a large breed dog. Feeding it with a high protein dog food and dog vitamins can also help its growth.

If you would love to have a dog that will be loyal and protective at all times, then a German shepherd is the right dog for you and your family!