What You Should Know About the German Shepherd

The German Shepherd is a medium-sized working dog, which was developed in Germany. It was developed by Max von Stephanitz in 1899. Its work ethic is key to its success in this field. The German Shepherd is a good family pet and is often used as an alert hunting dog. This breed is great for helping people in trouble and watching out for danger.

The German Shepherd needs daily exercise in order to keep fit. According to the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals, they should be given at least two hours of exercise per day. This includes long walks, jogging, and agility training. German shepherds are energetic and will not let their owners go. For this reason, they can develop separation anxiety.

German Shepherds should be seen by their veterinarian every year to check for heart conditions, including murmurs and valvular heart disease. This is a genetic disease, but it can be treated with a proper diet and preventive measures. Every year, a chest x-ray should be taken to ensure that your dog is healthy.

German Shepherds are also great companions for children. To avoid accidental bumps, German Shepherds should be closely supervised around children. German Shepherds are notoriously obedient and trustworthy, but they can accidentally bump tiny children. However, if you plan on bringing them home, make sure you have a reliable way to supervise them at all times.

The German Shepherd was originally bred as a herding dog. As Germany became more industrialized, the demand for herding dogs decreased. Von Stephanitz decided that the breed’s future would be in police and military service. His connections in the military helped Von Stephanitz convince the German government that the German Shepherd could be used in various roles, such as guard, Red Cross dog and police dog.