Who Should Own A German Shepherd?

There’s a reason why so many police dogs are German Shepherds. Long considered among the smartest and most loyal of breeds, the German Shepherd has earned a revered position throughout history as a hero of both war and peace.

Legendary German Shepherd Trackr, who passed away in April of 2009, located the last survivor amid the rubble of the toppled Twin Towers after 9/11, after only minutes on the job, and television and movie hero Rin Tin Tin, the world’s most famous German Shepherd, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to commemorate his star power.

The smart German Shepherd ranks third on Stanley Coren’s “The Intelligence of Dogs,” and members of the breed have gone to war, been part of search and rescue teams and have worked in police K-9 units as drug detection dogs and as trackers. But that doesn’t mean the hard-working German shepherd doesn’t make a great family pet.

Shepherds are active and energetic, and were originally developed to herd sheep. Although that background makes the dog happiest when it is at work, the characteristic also makes the breed playful, strong and agile, ideal for an active family willing to play games and find the challenging activities the German shepherd craves.

German Shepherd Training Advice

The German Shepherd is a loyal, loving family member, bonding well with those they know – including small children – but they can become territorial if given the chance, so obedience training is important for Shepherds. Because the German shepherd is smart and not easily distracted, it is easily trained, but training is ultimately the most important aspect of owning this breed, because poor handling can lead to an aggressive dog. And while that aggressive characteristic – along with a confident, fearless nature — makes the German Shepherd a great guard dog, it is also important to make sure your German Shepherd is extensively socialized with both other dogs and people outside of the family, or your dog could develop problems with aggression.

Shed?

The longhaired breed sheds heavily, and requires daily brushing if your pet lives in the house. An outside dog should also be groomed regularly, although daily brushing is not necessary. Traditionally, German Shepherds vary in color from white to black, although black and tan is the most common color combination.

Possible Health Problems

Some of the health problems facing the German Shepherd include hip and elbow dysplasia, arthritis, ear infections and obesity. The breed also is more prone than others toward degenerative myelopathy, a genetic disorder that could lead to partial paralysis, and the blood disorder Von Willebrand Disease. The average lifespan of a German Shepherd, which can range in size from 50 to 90 pounds, is seven to 10 years.

Notable German Shepherds:

Rin Tin Tin was a German Shepherd, and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Other famous Shepherds include the co-star of the Will Smith tearjerker “I Am Legend” and Batman’s comic book dog Ace the Bat-Hound.

Fast facts:

• The German Shepherd is also known as the Alsatian, from the German-French border of Alsace-Lorraine.
• German Shepherds have a reputation to be aggressive dogs, although that aggression is most often the result of poor handling. The Shepherd is traditionally aloof and does not make friends easily, but a good owner will produce a well-behaved, loving dog.
• German Shepherds rank third on Stanley Coren’s “The Intelligence of Dogs,” falling only behind border collies and poodles.
• Trackr, the German Shepherd best known for being part of search and rescue operations at the World Trade Center after the September 11 bombing, was successfully cloned in June of 2009 after his owner, former Canadian police officer Jamie Symington, told the dog’s story in an essay contest searching for “the world’s most clone-worthy dog.”

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