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Other
Names:
Alsatian,
Deutscher Schaferhund
Classification:
They belong to the Herding Dog Group
General
Appearance:
The German Shepherd dog is a medium to large sized breed with
erect pointed ears, a long body, and a weather resistant coat.
Most of them have a medium double coat and dark-brown eyes. |
| PHYSICAL
DESCRIPTION |
|
Eye
Color: Usually dark brown
Lips:
Firm, not pendulous
Ear
type: Ear is erect and pricked
Temperament:
Loyal, responsive, protective, and intelligent.
Average
lifespan: 10-15 years |
|
Measurements
and weights:
Males:
Height
at the wither:
24
to 26 Inches (60 cm to 65 cm)
Weight:
60-130 pounds (30 to 40 kg)
|
Females:
Height
at the wither:
22
to 24 Inches (55 cm TO 60 cm)
Weight:
45-110 pounds (22 to 32 kg) |
| Coat
Color: The most popular colors are black and tan or a
mixture with a dark saddle. There are also pure black and pure
white shepherds. |
| Coat
Type: Medium length (1 1/2 to 2 inches) double coat".
Long haired individuals occur in the breed, as does the
occasional woolly and curly coat. |
| COMMON
HEALTH RISKS |
| Hip
Dysplasia: a malformation of the hip joint that
results in pain, lameness and arthritis. |
| Degenerative
Myelopathy: |
| Progressive
rear limb weakness or Paralysis - The age at onset is usually
between 5 to 14 years. Cases have been reported in almost all
large breeds of dogs, with the disease appearing with relative
frequency only in the German Shepherds. This suggests that there
is a predisposition for German Shepherd dogs to develop DM.
There may be discomfort due to
arthritis in the hip or lower lumbar (lower back) area, but this
usually improves with activity. Over days, weeks or months the
patient becomes progressively weaker as is evidenced by
"shuffling" of the rear limbs and lack of
coordination. Finally, full paralysis coupled with fecal and
urinary incontinence develops. |
| Pancreatic
Insufficiency: |
| A
pancreatic disease that results in inability to digest food
properly. Depending on severity of disease, remedy is usually
low cost and easy, just require enzyme powders to be springled
on food to help digest food. |
| Gastric
Torsion (Bloat): |
| A
life threatening sudden illness. Because of the dog's
deep-seated chest, the dog's stomach may twist so that nothing
can past through the esophagus to the stomach or through the
stomach to the intestine, causing gas to build up. A large
amount of activity, such as vigorous running before or after
eating or drinking water, can exacerbate bloating. |
| Epilepsy-
seizures |
| Megaesophagous
(Dilated Esophagus): |
The
results of this condition is regurgitation, and frequently leads
to aspiration pneumonia. Megaesophagus interferes with effective
peristalsis thereby preventing food from passing down into the
stomach.
Treatment for congenital megaesophagus in puppies is primarily
directed toward maintaining and improving the nutritional status
of the pup. Food and water are usually given by raising the
bowls up off of the floor (raising the bowls helps facilitate
swallowing). |
| Pannus: |
| A
chronic inflammation of the
corneal surface and, in most cases, of the conjunctiva of the
eye. The disease generally manifests itself in dogs between the
ages of three and five. It first appears in the outer regions of
the cornea and, in almost all cases, affects both eyes
simultaneously. |
|
IMPORTANT
NOTE:
The
above mentioned common health risks in GSD's are for informational
purposes only. For detailed information, please always
consult with your veterinarian. |
|
TRAINABILITY |
| German
Shepherds are very intelligent and responsive. They need
obedience training early in life, particularly those that are
boisterous, strong minded and dominating. A well-socialized
German Shepherd dog is easier to introduce to new people and
situations and generally makes an overall more stable companion. |
|
FUN
THINGS TO DO |
| German
Shepherd Dogs are herders by nature.
Walking, jogging, running and hiking can be good exercise
for both you and your pet. The dog (with his/her herding
instinct) will naturally try to "herd" you and your
companions in order to better protect you. Games that require
mental and physical agility are well suited to this breed. Exercises
that require tracking and hiding would be fun for
them too. |
|
RECOMMENDED
FOR |
| All
fur ball loving families |
|
COLORS
of GERMAN SHEPHERDS
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German Shepherds come in several colors
and variations of that color, and in several patterns of color.
There is the two tones that can be the traditional black and
tan, black and red, black and brown (darker tan), black
and silver, black and cream, blue and tan, liver and tan. Solid
colors may be black and solid white or the dilutes
(liver, blue, and even cream as shown on one website in the
links section of this page.) Also, sables can come in
a variety of mixtures as well including black and silver, black
and red, black and cream, and black and tan.
Most people think of the traditional black and tan saddle
patterned dog when they think German Shepherd. However, the
breed comes in several coat patterns including: Saddle Backed,
Blanket Backed, Bi Colored, Sable, and Solid. There can even be
such mixes as Sable Saddle Back patterns!
The
WHITE GERMAN SHEPHERD
In the United States, the White German Shepherd appears
throughout the history of the breed. Ann Tracy, owner of one of
the first two German Shepherd champions on record in America,
imported some of the finest German show stock to the USA, and
white puppies showed up immediately in her litters. In 1917, the
first White German Shepherds were registered with the American
Kennel Club. In the 1920's H. N. Hanchett of Minnesota imported
German-bred White German Shepherds. Some of the finest early
German lines such as v. Oeringen, The Strong heart, Rin-Tin-Tin
and Long Worth bloodlines frequently produced white dogs.
It was not until the 1930s that white dogs were discriminated
against, after the death of Max Von Stephanitz (architect of the
modern Shepherd), and increased with the rise of Hitler. During
the 1960s as the White Shepherd grew ever more popular, friction
developed between the breeders of the White German Shepherd and
the breeders of the current standard colored German Shepherd.
Genetic problems appearing in the breed were increasingly blamed
on the White German Shepherd, and Germany began a campaign to
outlaw the white color. Puppies born with the snow white coat
were drowned, and records of their births destroyed. White
Shepherds were held responsible for "fading" or
"washing out" the darker dogs color. This point has
been refuted innumerable times by leading breeders and
geneticists. However in 1968, following Germanys lead, the White
German Shepherd was disqualified from the conformation show ring
in America. In 1980 the Canadian Kennel Club was petitioned by
the German Shepherd dog Club of Canada to disqualify the white
dogs from the show conformation show ring.
However, in response to hundreds of letters, the CKC refused to
disqualify the White German Shepherd, and the white dogs are
still eligible for conformation competition in that country.
Other than color, the White German Shepherd does not differ
substantially from the standard colored Shepherd. Color does not
affect the dog's personality, temperament or trainability.
However, our Jamin Shepherds do differ from standards in some
ways. Because of better care and feeding the natural tendency of
the breed has been to grow larger than the standard, which was
set at the early origins of the breed. At Jamin we allow this
natural occurrence and do not purposely down size our dogs to
maintain out dated standards. Many of our dogs grow to well over
28 inches at the shoulder and weights of 80 to 130 lbs. These
are not over weight or disproportional dogs, but simply dogs who
reflect better feeding and the best in modern care. We also are
not breeding to promote the current tendency toward the
exaggerated angulation or long hunched back so common in today's
show ring. Instead we breed only dogs who have been certified
sound in hips and health and proven stable in temperament and
trainability. |
| HISTORY
of GERMAN SHEPHERDS |
|
Germany’s first Shepherd club, the "Phylax Society"
was formed in 1881 but failed after only three years because of
it’s emphasis on pretty show dogs.
On April 22, 1899, Max von Stephanitz and his friend Artur
Meyer, together with nine others, formed the "Verein für
Deutsche Schäferhunde" (German Shepherd Dog Society),
known by most Germans and most dog lovers around the world
simply as "SV". By 1926 German Shepherds had
become the most popular dog in Britain, where it was called the
Alsatian Wolf Dog.
Max von Stephanitz had a keen interest in, and extensive
knowledge of, physiology, anatomy, mammalian natural history and
evolution, theories of breeding, animal husbandry, and
derivation and characteristics of the canine species. He was a
cavalry officer only for social reasons, to satisfy his well to
do, stuffed shirt family. It was no accident that he selected
his original breeding stock exclusively from herding dogs, and
not from farm or estate guard dogs, war or attack dogs, or
British show dogs, which were the four prevalent types of dogs
in Germany at the time. He knew that only the intelligence of a
herding dog could make a perfect companion dog, based on his
background knowledge and his experience with Germany’s first
Shepherd club, the "Phylax Society". Because of Max
von Stephanitz’s outstanding background knowledge, the group
made him the first President and General manager of the SV,
which he led until 1935 with military precision and true German
Gründlichkeit (thoroughness). If it’s worth doing, do it
right the first time.
He soon wrote the first breed standard for the German Shepherd
Dog with emphasis on "utility and intelligence". It
contained the sentence: A pleasing appearance is desirable, but
it can NOT put the dog’s working ability into question! And to
be certain he wouldn’t be misunderstood, he coined the phrase:
"German Shepherd breeding is Working Dog breeding, or it is
not German Shepherd breeding" which became world famous. By
enforcing those rules with an iron fist during his term as
president of the SV, the German Shepherd Dog became the world's
most useful working dog, be it as police and military service
dog, search and rescue dog, personal protection dog, guide dog
for the blind, helper dog for the deaf, farm and property
protection dog, and many other uses. Anyone doubting the
superior abilities of Max von Stephanitz, take a look at how
rapidly he developed the GSD in the first 8 years.
During
the Second World War, the GSD in Germany experienced
unbelievable hardship by being slaughtered by the thousands, as
the military confiscated any dog they could find, regardless of
family attachment or breeding value, and through mis-formed,
stunted and diseased puppies being born due to widespread
malnutrition. The few dogs surviving the war were tough and
lean, and almost represent a new start for the breed in Germany.
The two most influential survivors of the war were "Rolf
vom Osnabrücker-Land" and "Axel von der
Deininghauserheide". Together with "Hein vom
Richterbach" those 3 dogs rebuilt the German Shepherd in
Germany after the war. The overwhelming worldwide success of the
German Shepherd Dog is proof beyond the shadow of a doubt that
"von Stephanitz’s" theories were absolutely correct.
Yet, it is sad to see that more and more breeders today ignore
his well-founded and proven wisdom, especially in North America.
But even in Germany, there developed a split between pure,
old-fashioned working shepherd breeders, and trendy show
shepherd breeders. This "show" trend started after the
second world war and was most likely the result of some German
breeders trying to cater to that new American style GSD that had
developed during the war, and those promising big American
bucks. All this may not be apparent to an outsider, because the
SV retained the old rules and safeguards established by Max von
Stephanitz, and as a result has a breeder/trainer guidance
system in place that is unrivalled in the world and is beyond
the imagination of most non-Germans. It is the reason why
"GERMAN" German Shepherds, regardless of show or
working bloodlines, are still the worlds best and most in demand
German Shepherds. And of course, the lack of any kind of a
breeder guidance system in North America is the main reason for
the huge variations in size, shape, and poor quality of the
American Shepherds bred here (USA and Canada). |
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|
WAR
DOGS |
|
Gone but not forgotten….
America's
war dogs were trained to recognize booby traps, mines, tunnels
and weapons caches. They warned troops about ambushes. They
saved lives by dragging wounded soldiers to safety.
America's
war dogs prevented over 10,000 casualties in Vietnam alone and
bravely served our country in Operation Desert Storm as well as
WWII. Yet, many of these canine heroes were declared
"surplus armaments" either euthanised or left to
unknown fates.
"We
were also attached to these dogs. These animals had feelings;
they hurt; they cried; they got sad, they got happy; they saved
a lot of boy's lives."
- Spencer Dixon, Vietnam dog handler.
"They
did a big part and I think that if you're going to honor the
military I don't know how you can do that and not honor the dogs
that were involved in that and gave just as much, and when you
give your life, that's the most you can give."
- Larry Laudner; Vietnam dog handler.
"Without
Toro, there's no way I'd have made it back to the United States.
I wouldn't have made it probably three months without
Toro."
- Carl Dobbins, Vietnam dog handler.
For more information about GSD's and wars, please visit: www.war-dogs.com |
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K-9
OFFICERS
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Most of them are GSDs, but there are also Rotties, Belgian Malinois, and
others like the Yellow Lab and Golden Retrievers.
K-9 officers work hard for their community, often, they help in:
-Locating missing persons- mostly a child or elderly.
-They sniff out drugs, bombs, help to apprehend suspects.
They are often facing dangers like threatening gun- fires, knives, and
other sharp and dangerous weapons.
Please consider helping these brave animals by donating to buy bullet and
stab proof vests ($650.00).
For more information, please visit the following web
sites:
www.dogvest.com
www.eagletribune.com
www.winchesterstar.com
www.thepetscorner.com
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SEARCH
& RESCUE |
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Search
Dogs are trained to find missing people by following scent which
is carried on the air. This is a very efficient method of
searching large areas quickly and does not require items of
clothing or effects of the missing person. Dog teams can be
quickly deployed by helicopter to remote areas where they can
quickly begin to start searching, whilst other search resources
are being marshalled.
Dogs
work equally well in the dark and use their senses of smell and
hearing to their fullest under these conditions. It is
calculated that a dog is equivalent to about 20 searchers in
good conditions and many more in poor conditions. In ideal
conditions a dog can pick up a human scent from about 500 metres.
Search
dogs are employed in a wide range of incidents from lost walkers
and climbers to missing children and possible victims of crime. Search Dogs should be summoned as early as possible as this
gives the dogs the best chance of success.
The
SAR dog should be one of the working, herding, sporting or hound
breeds of sound physical structure and temperament, and of
adequate size and strength to negotiate the terrain encountered
in wilderness areas. It is also recommended that the dog be
non-aggressive in a vehicle and towards other dogs. Dog
aggression should be controlled by training, and if needed,
crating the dog when it is in a vehicle at a search scene.
The
dog should show eagerness to work and please in a range of
stressful situations, and should not miss an obvious scent even
when tired. The dog should be able to find a victim in a
contaminated area, and also able to lead the handler to a victim
who is walking.
Links
related to SAR dogs:
www.nsarda.org.uk
www.k9alert.org
www.mesard.org
A tribute to the SAR dogs 09-11-01…(slide show)
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