German Shepherds - Breeders - Health Issues
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Picture source: Omega Shepherds
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Breeders and owners of German Shepherds should be well aware of the breed health problems. The German Shepherd is susceptible to bloat, eyes problems, hip dysplasia, parvo virus, and other diseases. It is recommended to test the breeding stock for hereditary diseases that will help to produce better quality puppies and improve the breed.
Bloat is a common disease in large breed such as the Greta Dane, Rottweilers, and others. The German Shepherd suffers much from this condition. Very often, it can be prevented. The most important thing is to know the causes of the disease and follow the basics of canine care. Bloat is the result of absorbing water by the undigested food. This leads to swelling and severe pains. Keep in mind that the dog should not be exercised right after a meal. This disturbs the digestive process and leads to health problems.
Dogs that suffer from Parvo virus lose appetite and are susceptible to bloody diarrhea. To prevent the disease, avoid contaminated areas and crowded parks. Also, vaccinate your puppy. Vaccination should start at the age of six weeks with a few shots following. The shots are done until the dog is about four months of age. Vaccinated German Shepherds are more likely to avoid this condition.
German Shepherds - Breeders - Breed Standard Links
American Kennel Club Standard - Official breed standard.
Continental Kennel Club Information - Breed standard supplied by the Continental Kennel Club.
German Shepherds - Breeders - Breed Organizations
German Shepherd - The Ultimate SAR Dog - The decision to become a SAR dog handler is a difficult one. The only answer is a combination of research and experience.
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Picture source: Rescue Every Dog
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German Shepherd Search Dogs of Washington State - General information of the breed.
Llewellyn Security - Canada's largest canine security company; Dobermann Pinschers and German Shepherd dogs; Ontario, Canada. Their site presents information on several working breeds, dog humor and articles on behavior problems.
San Francisco Bay Area German Shepherd Resue - Photographs and information on dogs available for adoption. Online adoption form.
The British Association for German Shepherd Dogs - Branches, member information related links and contact details.
German Shepherds - Breeders - General Info Links
Bullinger Shepherds - Breeder of GSDs for family protection, work, and show. Photographs, pedigrees, breed surveys, and accomplishments. Aldergrove, British Columbia.
Eigenschaft Kennels - Photographs and links. Nowra, Australia.
For German Shepherd Dogs - Articles on working and showing, famous bloodlines and celebrity dogs, basic puppy and dog care, training, diets, and health, rescue links, and chat room.
German Shepherds all the Time - Information on anatomy, Schutzhund, breed standards, training, and health.
GermanShepherds.com - Chat rooms, history, photo gallery, and breed, club, and rescue resources.
Jyetara German Shepherds - Breeding for temperament, working, conformation and brains. Photographs and links. Australia.
Leabashiba German Shepherd - Breeding for brains and beauty. Photographs, pedigrees, health and puppy articles, show results, influential sires, and links. Australia.
Man's Best Friend - The German Shepherd - Includes picture galleries, trivia, information on rescue groups, and links.
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Picture source: Sukee Kennels
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Pastore Tedesco - Breed information, show calendar and results, and free breeder's gallery of photographs. In English and Italian.
Precision German Shepherds - Breeding for temperament, large bone, black and red; for show, working or family companion. Photographs, pedigrees, puppies, and breed standard. Ontario Canada.
Real GSD - Novice information, news, standards, health, forum, links to kennels worldwide, and comparison of FCI to North American dog registry breeding practices with AKC; impact on health, trainability, and well being of dogs.
Roslin Ridge Kennels - Breeding CKC working lines. Breeder's philosophy, photographs, and FAQ. Roslin, ON, Canada.
Sjors' Place - Includes history, care, nutrition, activities, photographs, and links to kennels and national GSD associations. [English/Dutch]
Stylistic Kennel - Breeding for temperament. Photographs. White Lake, Ontario, Canada.
The German Shepherd Dog Reviewed - Photographs, critiques and pedigrees of GSDs from the late 1800's to present. Search for pedigree information and breeders by location.
UK National German Shepherd Dog Helpline - Extensive collection of articles including health, behavior, and care. Also includes a United Kingdom rescue directory and listing of educational events, ongoing research, microchip service, and book list.
German Shepherds - Breeders - Other German Shepherds sites
German Shepherds - German Shepherds are strong, active, well-muscled dogs that give the impression of balance and alertness. The dog's head is long and proportionate to the body. The expression is intelligent and confident. The medium-sized eyes are almond-shaped. The pointed ears are carried erect when the dog is in alert. A German Shepherd with cropped or hanging ears will be disqualified.
The German Shepherd's neck is strong and muscular. The straight back is relatively short. The chest is deep and carried well forward. The tail is bushy that tends to hang in a curve when the dog is at rest. German Shepherds have a dense double coat of medium length. Most colors are permissible in German Shepherds, with preference given to rich colors.
German Shepherds - German Shepherds are unparalleled as working dogs and companions. The breed was the original "Seeing Eye Guide," and star of movies and television. The German Shepherd was also the standard by which other military and police dogs were judged.
The first German Shepherd was registered in the US in 1912. The Kennel Club dropped the "German" from its name to protect the dog from anti-German sentiment during the First World War. It was restored in 1932, just in time for World War II.
German Shepherds Pictures - German Shepherds are direct and fearless, eager and alert, and are often used as working dogs. Known for their loyalty, courage, and calm confidence, they have a high learning ability. A well-bred, well-adjusted, and correctly trained German Shepherd, is for the most part generally good with other pets and excellent with children in the family. It is important to purchase your German Shepherd from a reputable breeder. These dogs should be trained and socialized from an early age, firmly and lovingly.
Von Stephanitz and other breeders produced a responsive, obedient, and handsome German Shepherd using local shepherd dogs from Wurtemberg, Thurginia, and Bavaria. In April 1899, a dog named Horan was registered as the first Deutsche Schaferhunde, which means German Shepherd Dog in English. Until 1915, both longhaired and wire-haired varieties were exhibited. Today, in most countries, only the short coat German Shepherd is recognized for show purposes.
German Shepherds Puppies - German Shepherds are very intelligent animals, and easily learn whatever you teach them. A determined German Shepherd will figure out how to open any door, lock you out, and open any cupboard or drawer to get what he needs when he wants it.
This breed is very people-oriented. They are best as a housedog, and they love being around their family. If you are going to be gone for long periods of time and don't have the time for training and playing, consider another breed. The more time you spend with your GSD, the better he will behave. A GSD left for long periods of time will quickly become a nuisance barker, digger, and chewer.
German Shepherds Rescues - German Shepherds are descendants of numerous sheepdog breeds that enjoyed great affection of people for lucid thinking, protectiveness and faithfulness. People of all generations sought to have an animal friend who would always be by one's side to keep away enemies and to be his or her eyes, ears and legs!
During pre-industrial area shepherding was the sole assignment of many if not all known breeds of medium and large size dogs. Breeders sought to develop a species, which would combine shepherding, hunting and fighting aptitudes. In 1891, a group of fanciers founded an organization, called Phylax Society. It did not last long, but it was a good start for the breed we now refer to as German shepherd.
German Shepherds - The ancient predecessors of modern German Shepherds were reflected in the works by Tacitus, an early Roman historian. He referred to them as 'wolf-like dogs'. In ancient times there were a lot of dog varieties, whose missions were driving cattle, guarding property, carrying loads and accompanying soldiers during war time. Due to these activities, many breeds have genetically achieved enviable intelligence and strength that were added to high speed, endurance and perfect eyesight.
Those old fathers of the German Shepherd varied in size, color and coat type according to climatic conditions. Their basic job was to guard sheep and other cattle. All that prompted Max von Stephanitz, a cavalry Captain, to develop a uniform breed of dog, which was to have a distinctive appearance and which was to inherit all of the useful qualities from its numerous predecessors. Thus was bred a dog with so vast a potential that no other animal could display.
German Shepherds Puppy - Of all breeds, German Shepherds seem to be the most widely spread and loved. They are known for their remarkable aptitude to learn as much as no other breed can. They were produced intentionally by man, who sought to develop as many positive traits and wonderful abilities in them as to make an ideal and lifelong friend and companion.
The first man to be credited with the advent of German Shepherds was Captain Max von Stephanitz, who founded the Vereine fur Deutsche Shaferhunde (SV), the first on earth German Shepherd Club in 1899. Incorporated into the development of the breed were cattle guarding dogs and European drover dogs.
German Shepherds Breeders - German Shepherd dogs appeared relatively recently, and they were bred as police- and working dogs. The first German Shepherd club was founded in the late 1880s, but it was disbanded shortly after that time. In 1899, Max von Stephanitz, a cavalry captain, spotted a handsome wolf-like herding dog at one of dog shows and purchased it. The dog featured a proportionately body built, intelligent appearance and displayed reverence and faithfulness to the owner. These traits attracted the captain and he did not hesitate to purchase the dog.
Shortly after that, Max von Stephanitz and Arthur Meyer, his dog show companion, formed the Verein fur Deutsche Shafenhunde, and Max headed the club until his death in 1936. He named the dog that he purchased, Horand von Grafrath (previously Hector Linlschrein). Then Max drafted the breed standard and all his life he was the main judge at all shows. He worked hard toward developing an agile, protective, undaunted, intelligent and strong breed of dogs, which was to become an obedient companion for man in service and combat, as well as in everyday life.
German Shepherds Photos - German Shepherds are the world's most faithful and obedient dogs. They were bred as working, service dogs and were meant to be laborious, enduring and protective companions. This is one of the few breeds, which combines all positive features and useful capabilities of different breeds, and few types of dogs can boast such a wide range of goodies.
Initially the dog's sole function was cattle driving. However, with the progress of industrialization, sheep keeping declined, but there was definitely no fear that such a brilliant, brave and sturdy creature might suddenly have no job to do. This is just the right thing to say simply because German Shepherds are naturally active and job seeking. In other words, there always must be an occupation for a German Shepherd.
German Shepherds Pictures - German Shepherds are the most versatile dogs in the world. They have a wonderful aptitude to tolerate tough conditions and withstand long-time strains. It is not for nothing, that they function as service dogs in police, security services, and rescue and teams. They are physically strong, keen-eyed and they have an excellent sense of smell. They combine many positive features that the German Shepherd has inherited throughout the history of dog keeping.
The breed is relatively young. The first German Shepherd was officially registered in 1899 by then the newly founded and actually the world's first German Shepherd Club, which was named the Verein fur Deutsche Shaferhunde. Captain Max von Stephanitz, who is fairly viewed as the god father of the breed, was the head of the society.
German Shepherds Breeders Pictures - German Shepherd dogs were bred in a comparatively recent time in Germany. First attempts to produce an agile and protective species of shepherd dogs took place in the 1880s. In the early 1890s, a pioneer German Shepherd Club, the Phylax Society, was founded. It could not withstand the pressure of public indifference and disregard, and the society collapsed shortly after its foundation.
On April 3, 1899, Max von Stephanitz, a cavalry captain, attended a dog-show and spotted a peculiar wolf-like herding dog. He was delighted with the dog’s unsurpassed agility, unswerving integrity and unquestioning obedience. Max set himself a task to develop an intrepid, faithful, enduring and laborious companion, who would be able to withstand all hazards and perils of combat and who could bear considerable physical rigors.
German Shepherds Puppies - The history of German Shepherd dogs started in 1899, when Captain Max von Stephanitz founded the world's first German Shepherd Club, the Verein fur Deutsche Shaferhunde (SV). He began his great deed with a purchase of an admirable wolf-like dog during a dog show. Stephanitz named the dog, Horand. As he observed, the dog did live up to what was his vision of an ideal would-be German Shepherd.
However, as Max noticed, Horand had suffered from lack of proper care and training, which did in fact impact his general behavior to the point of being a serious fault. The dog frequently displayed excessive aggression toward strangers and other dogs and animals. However, Max von Stephanitz was convinced that it was due to improper upbringing, not any inborn breed fault. Horand was a laborious dog, and during work and training all those behavioral faults vanished immediately.
German Shepherds Rescues Breeders - German Shepherds are currently the most popular and widespread breed on earth. Old predecessors of the dog had a wolf like appearance, but they were enduring and highly labor capable. Besides, despite their somewhat wild look, they showed whole-hearted faithfulness, protectiveness and sociability.
Cavalry Captain Max von Stephanitz was the first man who took serious steps towards developing these laborious cattle drivers. During a dog show he occasionally spotted a wolf like species that had a strong and neatly outlined body. The owner of the dog said it was a working dog and that he was very strong and faithful. The dog's name was Horand. Stephanitz bought the dog without much hesitation.