Behind the imposing pose and the reputation for being brave, the German Shepherd hides a completely different personality. He is one of the most intelligent dogs in existence and is also one of the most obedient. These are the characteristics that make him popular, including in search divisions, working alongside police officers, security guards and performing various other important functions. TheGerman Shepherd is among the most used dog breeds for work, and there is no shortage of reasons for this!

But, contrary to what many may think, the Shepherd can also serve as an excellent companion dog. He is a faithful, confident and friendly companion with the family. To learn more about the German Shepherd dog and decide if you want him to be the new member of your home, just keep reading!

The origin of the German Shepherd

As its name suggests, the German Shepherd is a breed that originated in Germany. It began to be developed in 1899 and has its creation linked to the German Max Von Stephanitz, a cavalry officer who aimed to create a strong, imposing breed and, at the same time, good at following orders. For this, several types of shepherd dog that existed at the time were crossed.

The animal that served as the basis for the crossbreeding and became the "father" of the breed was called Horand Von Grafrath, a dog that looked like a wolf and had various physical abilities. From an early age, the German Shepherd was used for military and police services, including during wars.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the breed began to become popular in America and the German Shepherd dog was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1908. Today, this is one of the most beloved dogs in the whole world, as well as being highly appreciated for its numerous skills and remarkable intelligence.

The jobs that the German Shepherd breed can perform

The German Shepherd, female or male, stands out a lot when it comes to work. The dogs of the breed are excellent sniffers, and can help locate victims and facilitate the search and seizure of drugs. They also serve to act in the inspection of airports and bus stations, in addition to working side by side with police and / or military forces. At work, some of the main aptitudes of the PastorGerman are:

• Watchdog
• Rescue operations
• Sniffer dog

In order to take on any of the above roles, it is necessary for the dog to undergo proper and specific training from puppyhood. The breed easily understands commands and is very competent at what it does.

The coat is one of the main characteristics of the German Shepherd dog

Despite being a large dog breed - they can measure between 55 and 65 cm and weigh between 22 and 40 kg - the most striking detail of the German Shepherd's physique is its coat. The breed has double-layered and long, hard outer coat varieties, both with undercoat.

In German Shepherd puppy photos it is difficult to identify this, but double coated dogs have an extremely dense, hard looking, "closed" coat, being short on the head and a little longer on the neck. In the other type of German Shepherd, long hair is more apparent, soft and not so dense or closed. It has tufts on the ears, limbs and tail. It is shorter on the head, but forms a small tail.Regardless of the type, the German Shepherd is a dog that sheds a lot of hair throughout the year and needs frequent brushing to remove dead hair.

In addition, there is one thing that always catches the eye in the German Shepherd: black coat. Puppy or adult, the puppies of the breed have a completely black back, which resembles a cape - which explains the nickname "Black Coat" German Shepherd puppy that the breed has. The colors usually vary from animal to animal, but the accepted standards are black dogs with reddish brown markings, brown,yellow and light gray.

See pictures of German Shepherd to fall in love with!

German Shepherd: personality of the breed is marked by companionship

• Coexistence:

When we talk about the German Shepherd dog, personality is always one of the topics that are commented on. Many people think that they are aggressive and that, therefore, they end up not being a good option for families. This fame has an explanation. As we have already said, the German Shepherd is super intelligent, but the point is that, along with that, he is also attached to the owner, territorial and does not get along so well with othersIn other words, when an unfamiliar dog or cat approaches, it is common for them to think they need to protect their guardian.

Even so, he is an incredible companion, gets along well with children when he is used to their presence and is affectionate with those he meets. So don't stigmatize the breed with the reputation of a brave German Shepherd, because living with the breed shows just the opposite of that. They are faithful companions, affectionate with their owners and very dedicated to the family (even more so when it comes to protection).

In addition, the German Shepherd dog is full of energy, so will also make an ideal companion for those who need a boost when it comes to exercise. If you're out and about all day, you'll need to give them some attention whenever possible to avoid conditions such as separation anxiety.

• Socialization:

The socialization of the German Shepherd puppy is very important! As the breed tends not to get along so well with other animals, if they are accustomed to this coexistence from an early age, German Shepherd dogs can become calmer with this type of interaction in adulthood. This will end up avoiding aggressive reactions to the presence of other pets in your home or on the street.

Socialization also improves the puppy's relationship with strangers and children. The sooner the animal has contact with different types of people, the more friendly and sociable it will be. Therefore, the process is extremely necessary in the development of German Shepherd puppies so that they are less suspicious and protective as adults.

• Training:

Training is necessary from the very beginning of life so that the German Shepherd's temperament is balanced. Fortunately, this is not a difficult task, since the dogs of the breed have quite an intelligence - it is not for nothing that they occupy the 3rd position in the ranking of the most intelligent dogs in the world. This means that the German Shepherd is easy to learn and usually complies with commandsquickly, without the need for many repetitions.

The most suitable technique for educating the German Shepherd puppy is positive training. That is, rewarding the animal whenever it has the desired reaction - and here you can use treats, praise and even affection. After the training process, the German Shepherd is more able to control temper and strength - two elements that can have bad results if they are not done wellcombined.

6 curiosities about the German Shepherd dog breed

1) The German Shepherd is so intelligent that it is able to learn commands with just five repetitions.

2) For those who like dog movies, German Shepherd has starred in films like A Good Cop for Dogs (1989), I Am Legend (2007) and Max: The Hero Dog (2015).

3) An interesting trivia about the German Shepherd: dogs of the breed have a relatively strong bite, with about 104 PSI, just behind the Rottweiler.

4) Many people wonder whether the plural of German Shepherd is "Germans" or "Germans"; but the word "Germans" does not exist. The term "Aleman" Shepherd is also wrong.

5) There are some unusual but predictable dog breed mixes, such as Pitbull with German Shepherd or Labrador with German Shepherd. Generally, the puppy inherits the best characteristics of both breeds, but is still considered a mutt.

6) For those looking for meaning, German Shepherd is called that way because it is part of the group of "herding dogs", which are those dogs that have the purpose of directing and controlling the herd so that there is no dispersion.

German Shepherd puppy: what to expect and how to care for the puppy?

As a puppy, the German Shepherd requires care and attention. These dogs are naturally strong, and this can become a problem during the teething phase, which happens around 4 to 7 months of age. As the birth of the new teeth is very bothersome, the German Shepherd puppy will try to bite everything in sight - and, because they have a lot of strength in their jaw, they canIt's important to direct this behavior towards dog bites and buy sturdy toys.

In addition, it is at this stage that training and socialization should begin. It is also important that the German Shepherd puppy takes the first doses of vaccine, dewormers and anti-parasitic drugs. This will protect him against various diseases and health problems. Other important precautions are to offer a quality diet appropriate to the age group, a comfortable space for theanimal rest and lots of love!

When researching how much a German Shepherd puppy costs, don't forget to take into account all the expenses mentioned above. To have a dog - be it another breed or a German Shepherd - value goes far beyond the act of purchase, as these pets require a lot of care throughout their lives.

Puppies: Here's a gallery of cute German Shepherd pictures!

Essential care in the routine of the German Shepherd

• Bath The German Shepherd is usually quite clean and odorless, so bathing should only happen when you really need it. Always use appropriate products for dogs!

• Brushing As this is a breed of dog that sheds a lot of hair, it is important to maintain a brushing routine of two to three times a week.

• Nails Remember to cut your German Shepherd's nails once or twice a month, as needed. Leaving the claws long can bother your pet.

• Teeth To avoid suffering from tartar in dogs or other oral problems, the ideal is to brush your German Shepherd's teeth about two or three times a week.

• Ears The ears of the Shepherd dog need to be sanitized weekly. As they are well exposed, the chances of infections such as canine otitis increase.

What you need to know about the health of the German Shepherd

The German Shepherd breed, as well as other large dog breeds, are more prone to hip dysplasia, a condition that affects the hip joint. The condition causes a lot of pain in pets and can compromise mobility. Another concern is elbow dysplasia, which is similar to hip dysplasia, but affects the elbow joint. In addition to these problems, the German Shepherd can alsosuffer from heart problems and degenerative myelopathy, a degenerative neurological disease that causes progressive loss of movement, leaving the dog paraplegic.

Veterinary follow-up is essential to keep the German Shepherd puppy healthy and to preventively treat any illness that may appear. Check-ups also serve to reinforce puppy vaccine doses, as well as dewormers. No delays, huh?!

German Shepherd: price of the breed can reach R $ 5 thousand

If you choose to buy a German Shepherd puppy, the price will probably be one of your main questions. So how much does a German Shepherd cost? In terms of price, the German Shepherd can be found for between R$ 1,000 and R$ 5,000. It is not usually more than that, but the variation is according to the characteristics of each animal. Females are usually more expensive than males, anddogs descended from champions are also often more expensive.

When buying a German Shepherd, be sure to make sure that the animal and its mother are well looked after during the nursing period - before that, they cannot be separated. In these first days of life, they also learn a lot about living together and being sociable with the other puppies in the litter, so look for a reliable kennel.

Also watch out for prices that are way below market. Sometimes it's not a purebred dog. There are combinations of German Shepherd with mongrel or even with other breeds - like German Shepherd with Labrador - that can confuse the unwary. In these cases, the German Shepherd puppy with mongrel or other breed tends to cost cheaper than mentioned.

X-ray of the German Shepherd puppy

Origin : Germany

Coat : with double layer and long and hard outer hair

Colors : black with reddish brown, brown, yellow or light gray markings

Personality : protective, loyal, territorial, obedient and intelligent

Height : 55 to 65 cm

Weight : 22 to 40 kg

Life expectancy : 9 to 13 years