The German Shepherd dog breed is currently listed as the third most popular dog breed registered with the AKC.  This dog resembles that of its ancestor, the Wolf, an d was originally bred to be the ideal hunting Shepherd and guard dog.

Although this breed went through several name changes during World War I, mainly due to its German heritage, it was officially renamed the German Shepherd and recognized by the AKC in 1931. And while its popularity ranking is down just a bit, it has been a top choice as a family companion for generations.

German Shepherds score very high in terms of protection ability, watchdog status, and training adaptability.  Although playfulness and affection does not rank as high as other dog breeds, the German Shepherd is actually a perfect choice for a family pet.

This dog is extremely protective of its home, as well as members of the family. He is considered aloof and a bit suspicious towards strange people and other animals.  However, they can be tamed and gentle around children and other house pets.

German Shepherd Dog Breed Care And Maintenance

As far as upkeep is concerned, German Shepherds need mental and physical challenges on a daily basis.  With the ability to learn new tricks and obedience lessons, this dog is extremely intelligent.  Physical activity must also be a part of this dog’s daily life.  Long walks and running outside is ideal.

German Shepherd Dog Breed Health Information

What it comes to health issues, there are two concerns that you need to know about: CHD and elbow dysplasia.  Minor health concerns which occasionally strike the German Shepherd dog breed are skin allergies, hemangiosarcoma, malignant neoplasms, cataracts, elbow dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, gastric torsion, and hot spots.

The lifespan of the average healthy German Shepherd is anywhere between 10 and 12 years.  This is based on a dog who remains healthy and is active throughout its lifetime.  Specific health tests suggested by veterinarians for German Shepherds are elbow dysplasia and hip dysplasia.

Check Price and Availability of German Shepherd Dog Breed Merchandise

Share with other dog lovers...

By Jewel Gilbert, Editor It was mid-day and mid-week, so Emma and I didn’t have to contend with runners, hoards of other dogs or high school road races at Fresh Pond Reservation. We ambled peacefully along, Emma looking for squirrels and me admiring the last of this year’s picture-perfect foliage. Haley. (Photo courtesy of Natasha) We rounded [...]

[Click on title to read more]

Kip is a german shepherd mix – we know that because he has some German Shepherd features, black and tan coloring, curved tail, barrel chest, narrow hips, dark rimmed eyes, a long nose, and he’s huge! The other part of the mix is an unknown – people have guessed Corgi, due to his rounded ears and kind face, but that is something we will never know.



My hu-mom says that right after my hu-man let Kip off his chain, he ran an errand and left her and Kip alone at the house -- my hu-mom inside and Kip outside – they still hadn’t met face to face. While my hu-man was gone, some “seedy looking character” came to the gate, and Kip went into action. He went to the front door, stood in front of it, faced the person at the gate and started barking. My hu-mom came to the door and her heart was changed. She knew in that instant that Kip meant to protect her and not hurt her.

My hu-mom and hu-man returned from that trip with Kip in tow. My hu-mom and hu-man were not what you call “dog” people, so Kip was an outdoor dog and wasn’t allowed in the house – afterall, dogs are dirty, smelly, sheddy and slobbery…or at least that was the perception.

Kip has become an important member of the family and I’ll share more about him in next Wednesday’s Weave.

How to cope with fear-biting First of all, make sure your own attitude to the problem is realistic. While the behavior of a fearful dog can often be significantly ameliorated by careful training and acclimatization, on other occasions – and sometimes, despite your best efforts – a dog will remain fearful to the end of his [...]

While thinking about what to write for this blog post, I was reflecting on how much fun I had at this dog session. And then I realized that I say that a lot all of the time! It made me think about how so very fortunate I am to get to do something I love [...]