Your Total German Shepherd Dog, A Pet Owner's Guide

By Debbie Ray

INSIDE: German Shepherd Dog Breed Information!

The German Shepherd Puppy and Dog: Your Total German Shepherd Dog, A Pet Owner's Guide is a great way for anyone to learn all about the German Shepherd Dog breed from someone who has lived with the breed for almost forty years!

READER REVIEWS:

• "I would recommend this guide to anyone thinking of getting a German Shepherd!"


• "The thing I liked best about this book is that the writer seems to be so enthusiastic about the GS dog breed and really, honestly wanted to share all that she knows about the breed with me personally."


• "This book has lots of great information all about the German Shepherd Dog."


• "I really enjoyed this book and I'm sure I'll re-read it often especially once I get my own puppy in the upcoming weeks."


• "Accurate and Objective - Joys and Warts"


• "Debbie Ray covers these topics honestly in this book. I highly recommend a study of it."


• "If you are trying to decide whether to get a German Shepherd, or if you already have one, this is the book for you."


• "Thanks Debbie for this helpful and informative guide and for sharing your love and knowledge of German Shepherd Dogs!"
   








 
• This book covers a lot of information about German Shepherds. In fact, a few of my readers have even called it their "German Shepherd Manual"! Inside the pages of "The German Shepherd Puppy and Dog: Your Total German Shepherd Dog, A Pet Owner's Guide," you'll discover many new and exciting tips and secrets, all about the German Shepherd Dog.

Everything from how to choose the right German Shepherd for you, to how to housebreak it, plus information about many of the various health issues (so many are not often discussed) concerning the German Shepherd (GSD), how to groom your dog thoroughly from one end to the other end, history about the breed, and so much more!

Order your copy today and start learning all about the German Shepherd puppy and dog instantly.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Debbie Ray
• Release date: Oct 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9781516361007

Book preview

Please be advised, all content provided in this book is provided for informational purposes only. You acknowledge and understand that the contents of "Your Total German Shepherd Dog, A Pet Owner’s Guide", such as content, text, graphics, and images are for informational purposes only.

If you have any health related questions, please, always consult your veterinarian or other pet care professional.

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All contents copyright © 2015 • All rights reserved worldwide.

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About the Author

Debbie Ray, an ex-teacher, was raised in north Georgia and grew up around all sorts of animals. Her earliest memories are filled with all sorts of critters she has owned and loved over the years but it has always been dogs that she has been most drawn to - and German Shepherds in particular.

She got her first German Shepherd, a white one name Casian, when she was around 10 or 11.  Since that time she has almost always been owned by one, or more, German Shepherds - be they black and tan, black and red or solid black.

Her experiences with these dogs has given her an insight into the breed and she’d be the first one to admit that she’s not an expert but simply a German Shepherd lover who likes to share her knowledge and vast experience with others.

She has bred them, lived with them, and been owned by them in literally every phase of their lives, puppy to senior citizen, for almost 30 years. She has been with them from initial breeding, during whelping, on through to weaning, throughout puppyhood, during many major and minor illnesses and with many of them, even through to those final moments of  their life - and she’s loved them all.

Introduction

One of the most interesting things about the German Shepherd Dog breed that I would like to cover right from the start is concerning people’s confusion regarding the name of this breed.

They have been known by several different names depending on the  particular time in history or the actual physical location. Yes, German Shepherd Dogs and Alsatians are the same dog breed. It’s true. Here are other names and nicknames they’ve been known by in the past , and still today, such as:

• Alsatian Wolf Dog

• Alsatian

• German Shepherd Dog (the literal translation from the German

name "Deutscher Schäferhund")

• German Shepherd

• GSD

So, please, don't confuse yourself with the different names of this breed. Just be aware that if you see the name Alsatian, GSD, Deutscher Schäferhund or Alsatian Wolf Dog that they are all in reference to the same dog breed - The German Shepherd Dog.

Your Total German Shepherd Dog

A Pet Owner’s Guide

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Chapter One - History of the German Shepherd Dog

German Shepherd Dog history, relatively speaking, when compared to many of the other breeds of dog, is still that of a very young breed. As of this time the German Shepherd Dog breed is just over 100 years old. And Germany is the birth place of the breed.

Captain Max von Stephanitz

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Captain Max von Stephanitz, a German cavalry officer, developed the German Shepherd Dog breed in 1899, based entirely on his vision of the perfect working dog - one type of dog which could work equally well under any conditions.

Using a variety of German sheep dogs as his foundation stock, Max von Stephanitz eventually developed a new and distinctive working dog breed, the German Shepherd Dog. He greatly admired the herding dogs of his native Germany, and believed they had the full potential to be the total all-purpose working dog.

Ahead of his time, Max von Stephanitz was very aware of the failing need for herding dogs overall and believed that the working abilities of these dogs would decline unless they were put to other uses. Those dogs von Stephanitz was most interested in had

expressive heads,  good bones, good gait, erect ears and good dentition.

An idealist with both strong intellect and the financial capabilities to support his ideas, Max von Stephanitz also possessed the determination and

dedication to put his ideas into practice. His perception of a herding dog was of an extremely intelligent, vigorous dog, of stable character and with many of the physical attributes belonging to the wild dog - fast, long of wind, and untouched by the extremes of other breeds.

He saw no beauty in a non-functional dog and was ruthless in discarding what he considered weak. Tireless and determined, he laid the foundations of the GSD history that were later to make the breed the greatest all-round working dog in the world.

Until Horand (1st registered German Shepherd), herding dogs came in a variety of shapes, sizes, types and abilities. Shepherds in Germany like elsewhere in the world, chose their dogs for their fitness, mental and physical, and for work only, and cared little for the dogs appearance.

Max von Stephanitz, on the other hand, had his own very structured ideas about the mental, anatomical, and bio-mechanical characteristics required of a herding dog.

He had a great understanding of the mental and anatomical requirements of a working shepherd dog having spent some time serving at the Veterinary College in Berlin earlier in his life.

Very possibly by chance, the beginning of the GSD history started at a dog show in Germany. While at the dog show, a medium-sized yellow-and-gray wolflike dog caught the attention of von Stephanitz, attending the show with his friend Artur Meyer.

This dog, Hektor Linksrheim, was immediately purchased by von Stephanitz and renamed Horand von Grafrath. Horand became the first registered German Shepherd Dog, with the number SV1.

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Horand von Grafrath

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Only weeks later von Stephanitz and his friend Artur Meyer founded the Verein für Deutsche Schaferhunde, or SV (German Shepherd Dog Club), along with the help of a few other co-founders. The dog club, the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV), was to become the largest and most powerful dog breed club in the world and a major step in German Shepherd Dog history.

A standard for the German Shepherd Dog breed was soon developed based on mental stability and utility. The captain's motto was Utility and intelligence. To him beauty was secondary, and considered a dog worthless if it lacked the intelligence, temperament, and structural efficiency that would make it a good servant of man.

The German Shepherd Dog breed standard was developed as a blueprint, listing the exact function and relationship of every aspect of structure, gait, and inherent attitude, combined with a comprehensive breeding regulation, which required that dogs used for breeding had to first prove their worth physically and mentally.

Later on, with the co-operation of local police and working dog clubs, a set of specific dog tests were developed in tracking, formal obedience, and protection work. These exercises later developed into present day Schutzhund dog trials - another important part of the GSD history.

The authorities were persuaded to utilize the German Shepherd Dog in many branches of government service and served during the war as supply carriers, sentinels, Red Cross dogs, messenger dogs, tracking and guard dogs, to name a few.

The German Shepherd historically was just gaining notice in the United States when World War I broke out. In 1917, when America entered World War I, all things German became tabu. The AKC changed the name of the dog breed to the Shepherd Dog and the German Shepherd Dog Club of America became the Shepherd Dog Club of America. In England, the name of the German Shepherd Dog breed was changed to the Alsatian.

After WWI, British and American soldiers, impressed by the abilities of the German Shepherd Dog, brought home examples of their own to breed. The dog breed instantly become popular, both as a family pet and as a working dog. After the war the movie stars Rin-Tin-Tin and Strongheart stimulated interest in the German Shepherd Dog breed again.

The striking good looks of this breed, combined with its remarkable intelligence and loyalty, have made it a favorite working and companion dog. Puppy factories soon flourished to meet the huge demand, flooding the American market with poor quality German police dogs, resulting in a down-turn in popularity of the breed.

Later, during World War II, the German Shepherd Dog was widely sought after and employed by both Allied and Axis forces. These dogs performed various duties such as mine detectors, sentinels, guard work, and messengers. In America, Dogs for Defense was formed, providing thousands of dogs to the US army.

As far as the history of the GSD is concerned, the paths of German and American German Shepherds diverged after World War II. Many

German Shepherd Dogs had been killed or destroyed due to lack of food. Later on the breeders again had individual dogs dominant in the desired virtues of the breed. By about 1949 quality GSD specimens again began to appear at German dog shows. In the 1950's American breeders recognized the need for some infusion of outcross blood and Troll von Richterback, the 1957 Grand Victor, became dominant during this time as a stud dog.

In the 1960's there was an emergence of several strong families of stud dogs. This was an important part in rebuilding the German Shepherd, historically speaking. While the SV was in control of German bred German Shepherds, American GSD breeders were open to follow their own preferences. American and Canadian Grand Victor, Lance of Fran-Jo, represented a new era in American shepherds and was widely used during the 1960's. Lance produced many GSD puppies which in turn became historical pillars of the breed in America.

In Germany, a very active market soon developed for German Shepherd Dogs and puppies sought in countries such as South America, Japan, Italy, several Scandinavian countries, and France. Additionally, the SV began to place more and more importance on dog training degrees. Temperament and courage tests became much more demanding, and the SV forced breeders to concentrate on puppy and dog problem areas such as missing teeth, poor croups, etc.

Starting with a common base, the German Shepherd breed in Germany and America have taken a separate course. The Americans and the Germans have both evolved closely-bred dogs. They differ in looks, movement, style, and structure and have developed both desirable and undesirable characteristics into the breed.

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NOTE: This brings up an important question asked by many people that I will address at this time. What are the differences between American bred and German bred German Shepherds?

Generally speaking, there are some fairly distinct general differences between the two lines, American and German or European bred GSD’s as far as looks are concerned. German Shepherds bred from American bloodlines lines are usually longer and leaner in body shape, more elegant in form with sharper angulation in the hind quarters than are GSDs from German lines. GSDs from American bloodlines are often taller in height as well.

German bred German Shepherd Dogs are usually much stockier in build than American bred GSD’s.  Additionally, the German bred dogs don’t have the severe angulation found in the American lines. They appear to be much more muscular in general. Another thing, the German bred bloodlines typically produce very high-energy, high-intensity dogs - not a good choice for a first time owner (or a couch potato).

There are very good examples of both German or American bred bloodlines. Both lines should be very intelligent, highly trainable and extremely loyal dogs with both good health and stable temperament.

So, which should I choose - American or German bred?

Basically it boils down to this, find a good GSD breeder that you trust and let them help you choose the type of GSD that is more suitable to your own individual needs, lifestyle and capabilities. Be honest with them as to what your life is really like, what you want the dog to do and they will help you make the best decision possible in choosing your new companion.

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The Americans have a broader option to pursue their own views and choose their own bloodlines whether from within or outside their own country. The Germans, controlled by the SV, will likely continue to look within themselves to further develop the breed.

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Today the German Shepherd Dog is considered one of the most intelligent and versatile breeds in existence and the future will indeed be