German Shepherd Dog E-Book

Susan Samms

• Herausgeber: CompanionHouse Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Serie: Comprehensive Owner's Guide
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 215

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Beschreibung

Since the breed's creation at the turn of the twentieth century, the German Shepherd Dog has been one of the world's most sought-after purebred dogs, prized for his intelligence, handsome looks, and uncanny versatility. This Comprehensive Owner's Guide serves as an ideal introduction to this dog of dogs, that serves humankind as a companion, protector, police dog, herding dog, military dog, search and rescue dog, Seeing Eye dog, and therapy dog, to name a few of the breed's modern-day roles.. The breed's origins are retold in the first chapter, beginning with the efforts of Max Emil Friedrich von Stephanitz to standardize the sheep-herding dogs in Germany in the 1890s and following the breed's importation to the United States, where the German Shepherd Dog has been a favored companion, show dog, and competition trial dog since the 1920s. The chapter on the breed's characteristics focuses on owner suitability, describing the GSD's physical and mental traits, versatility, agility, and requirements. The breed standard is presented in the third chapter, giving the readers a clear view of how the ideal GSD should look, act, and move. New owners will welcome the well-prepared chapter on finding a reputable breeder and selecting a healthy, sound puppy. Chapters on puppy-proofing the home and yard, purchasing the right supplies for the puppy as well as house-training, feeding, and grooming are illustrated with photographs of handsome adults and puppies. In all, there are over 135 full-color photographs in this useful and reliable volume. The author's advice on obedience training will help the reader better mold and train into the most well-mannered dog in the neighborhood. The extensive and lavishly illustrated chapter on healthcare provides up-to-date detailed information on selecting a qualified veterinarian, vaccinations, preventing and dealing with parasites, infectious diseases, and more. Sidebars throughout the text offer helpful hints, covering topics as diverse as historical dogs, breeders, or kennels, toxic plants, first aid, crate training, carsickness, fussy eaters, and parasite control. Fully indexed.

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

 

Title Page

 

HISTORY OF THE GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG

HISTORY AND ORIGINAL PURPOSE IN GERMANY

WORLD-WIDE HURDLES FOR THE BREED

 

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

PERSONALITY

OWNER SUITABILITY

VERSATILITY AND AGILITY

HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS AND HEREDITARY DISEASES

 

BREED STANDARD FOR THE GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG

WHAT IS A BREED STANDARD?

THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB STANDARD FOR THE GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG

 

YOUR PUPPY GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG

OWNER CONSIDERATIONS

ACQUIRING A PUPPY

COMMITMENT OF OWNERSHIP

PREPARING PUPPY’S PLACE IN YOUR HOME

WHAT YOU SHOULD BUY

PUPPY-PROOFING YOUR HOME

FIRST TRIP TO THE VET

INTRODUCTION TO THE FAMILY

YOUR PUP’S FIRST NIGHT HOME

PREVENTING PUPPY PROBLEMS

COMMON PUPPY PROBLEMS

 

EVERYDAY CARE OF YOUR GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG

DIETARY AND FEEDING CONSIDERATIONS

WATER

EXERCISE

GROOMING

TRAVELING WITH YOUR DOG

IDENTIFICATION

 

TRAINING YOUR GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG

HOUSEBREAKING

ROLES OF DISCIPLINE, REWARD AND PUNISHMENT

TRAINING EQUIPMENT

TRAINING BEGINS: ASK THE DOG A QUESTION

THE BASIC COMMANDS

WEANING OFF FOOD IN TRAINING

OBEDIENCE CLASSES

OTHER ACTIVITIES FOR LIFE

 

HEALTH CARE OF YOUR GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG

SELECTING A QUALIFIED VETERINARIAN

PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE

SKIN PROBLEMS IN GERMAN SHEPHERD DOGS

FOOD PROBLEMS

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HIP DYSPLASIA?

EXTERNAL PARASITES

INTERNAL PARASITES

CURING OUR DOGS NATURALLY

 

YOUR SENIOR GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN SENIORS

WHAT TO DO WHEN THE TIME COMES

 

SHOWING YOUR GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG

HANDLING

OBEDIENCE TRIALS

AGILITY TRIALS

TRACKING

HERDING TESTS AND TRIALS

 

BEHAVIOR OF YOUR GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG

THINK LIKE A DOG

AGGRESSION

SEXUAL BEHAVIOR

CHEWING

JUMPING UP

DIGGING

BARKING

FOOD STEALING

BEGGING

SEPARATION ANXIETY

COPROPHAGIA

 

Copyright Page

 

One of the world’s most recognizable and popular working dogs is the German Shepherd Dog, a dedicated companion and guardian.

HISTORY OF THE GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG

“…as hounds and greyhounds,mongrels, spaniels, cursShoughs, water-rugs, anddemi-wolves are cleptAll by the name of dogs.The valued fileDistinguishes the swift,the slow, the subtleThe housekeeper, the hunter,every oneAccording to the gift whichbounteous natureHath in him closed, wherebyhe does receiveParticular addition from the billThat writes them all alike…”

—Macbeth

HISTORY AND ORIGINAL PURPOSE IN GERMANY

The particular qualifications that set the German Shepherd Dog apart from the general catalog that lists all breeds are numerous and evident from the first moment in the history of the dog.

Considerations of companionship and domination aside, the first domesticated canines were utilized for practical and essential purposes such as the guarding and control of livestock. From the crude animals that helped early shepherds with their flocks evolved light-gaited, weather-impervious, dependable animals, commonly categorized as sheepdogs.

 

German Shepherd Dogs are still used for sheepherding and flockguarding.

In 1891, a group of German admirers of this rugged, unrefined dog formed the Phylax Society, named after the Greek word phylaxis, which means “to watch over or guard.” The purpose of this organization was to standardize the varied collection of sheepherding dogs into a breed of native German dog with a fixed appearance and character.

The Phylax Society lasted until only 1894, but its purpose and vision were continued in the person of one man, Max Emil Friedrich von Stephanitz, considered by many to be the single greatest force in the establishment of the German Shepherd Dog as a pure breed.

The originator of the breed was discovered by von Stephanitz on April 3, 1899, when he and another sheepdog enthusiast were attending an exhibition of these herding dogs. The dog they encountered was agile, powerful, alert and strongly adapted to his utilitarian purpose. To von Stephanitz, this particular animal seemed to be the perfect embodiment of the worker and guardian ideal that he held for this type of dog. The overt intelligence and desire to serve apparent in the dog’s temperament belied his wild, wolfish appearance. Von Stephanitz bought the dog on the spot. His original name, Hektor von Linksrhein, was changed to Horand von Grafrath and he was registered as German Shepherd Dog, S.Z. 1, the first entry in von Stephanitz’s new organization, Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde. This was the beginning of the national German dog club known as the S.V., the largest individual breed club in the world.

 

In 1891 the development of the German Shepherd began. Its objective was to produce a German dog with a standard appearance and behavior.

 

Because the well-trained German Shepherd Dog is so eager to please his master (or mistress), he has been utilized in a variety of roles.

Horand proved to be an able stud and the traits that von Stephanitz prized upon first meeting the dog were passed on to succeeding dogs and strengthened by this early breeder’s careful policies of inbreeding, called linebreeding, a practice that seeks to emphasize and strengthen desirable characteristics through determined genetic management in the kennel and farm.

Always foremost in von Stephanitz’s mind was the working, practical ideal of the breed. From the beginning, form in the German Shepherd Dog was not intended to deviate from function. Von Stephanitz foresaw an early threat to the breed’s validity as working animals when human society passed from a largely agricultural and agrarian basis to an industrialized economy. As a first step, he persuaded the German government to accept the breed for police work. This was the beginning of the breed’s association with law enforcement and military use. Soon the German Shepherd’s qualities of intelligence, reliability and hardiness, the central aspects of its character and existence in history, secured its use in many important roles, the most noble of which is the dog’s role as a guide for the blind.

 

Despite the surges and declines in the breed’s popularity throughout history, today the German Shepherd is one of the most beloved breeds in the world.

WORLD-WIDE HURDLES FOR THE BREED

The first German Shepherd Dog to come to America was imported by Otto Gross in 1905. Bred by P. Stretter, Mira of Dalmore was exhibited in the Miscellaneous Class and won ribbons. Mira’s impact on the breed is merely anecdotal and she was neither registered nor bred. Queen of Switzerland, owned by Adolph Vogt, was the first American-Kennel-Club-registered German Shepherd.

The German Shepherd Dog Club of America took root in 1913, planted by B. H. Throop of Pennsylvania and Anne Tracy of New Jersey. By 1916, the Club was incorporated and sponsored its first specialty show, which boasted an entry of 40 dogs. In 1918, the German Shepherd Dog Club of America inaugurated the title of Grand Champion (changed to Grand Victor (males) and Grand Victrix (females) in 1925) for winners at the national specialty. Any dog with this prefix has won either Best of Breed or Best of Opposite Sex. The first dogs to earn the title, in 1918, were Komet v. Hohelfut and Lotte v. Edelweis. The first dog to win the title multiple times was Ch. Arko v. Sadowaberg (who won it in 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1931). He was owned by Jessaford Kennels.

POPULARITY

It was not until after the war that the breed recaptured American favor, based this time upon its time-old qualities of service and intelligence. Many American soldiers returned from Europe with stories of the courage and reliability of the dogs that they had seen in military and Red Cross service. Many also returned with the dogs themselves. This growing popularity was accelerated by two famous silent film heroes, who happened to be German Shepherd Dogs, Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart.

The original Rin Tin Tin was brought to the United States by a returned soldier. The dog lived for only 13 years but others of the breed carried forward the name and role. Strongheart, equally popular at the time but less known today, was a fully trained police dog imported to America for work in the movie industry.

The first two champions were Lux (owned by Anne Tracy) and Herta von Ehrangrund (owned by L. I. De Winter). The importation of Apollo von Hunenstein from Germany had a lasting impact on the breed, as this famous Continental winner brought quality and style to the American lines. He was imported by B. H. Throop and was a popular sire, having attained the American Grand Victor title in 1919. Among the first Best in Show winners was another import, Dolf von Dusternbrook, a grandson of Apollo, imported by the Joselle Kennels.

Worthy of special note during the pre-World War I period is breeder John Gans of Staten Island, who imported and bred dozens of magnificent champions, some of which were from the Flora Berkemeyer Kennels. Of course, the war took a toll on the breed, as it did all breeds, especially those of German descent. The breed became known as “Shepherd Dogs” or “Police Dogs” in the US, as it became known as “Alsatian Wolf Dogs” in the UK during World War II. The post-World War I recovery period of the breed, inaugurated by returning American soldiers with Shepherd puppies, and Hollywood’s idolization of the breed (in Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart) blossomed as swiftly as the popularity had dissipated when the war began.

 

The German Shepherd’s character is evident in his noble expression.

The Hamilton Farm Kennels made German Shepherd history in the 1920s with a number of handsome dogs, including Grand Victor Champion Erich von Grafenwerth and Anni von Humboldtpark. Erich was a prized sire and show dog, later sold to Giralda Farms of the famous Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge, whose association with the breed and the dog fancy in the US is significant and historical. It was Mrs. Dodge’s vision that the Morris and Essex Kennel Club Show take place on her estate grounds, and in its day the show was the most spectacular of American shows. She also imported remarkable bitches and developed a unique line of homebred champions. The Giralda Shepherds had a lasting impact on the breed and were a force in the show ring for 30 years.

 

Although derived from German stock, the breed members in the US today are all-American.

It is impossible to trace all of the important breeders in the US, as there have been dozens and dozens. Kennels like Ruthland, San Miguel, Long Worth, Villa Marina, Grafmar, Ralston, Jeff-Lynne and Liebestraum left their indelible mark on the breed through the 1950s, producing top show dogs and breeding stock. These early kennels laid the foundation for the breeders who followed.

The modern history of the breed is laden with Best in Show winners and prolific sires and dams, far too many to list. We would be remiss not to mention two quintessential Shepherds who have made recent history. Covy Tucker Hill has the distinction of producing the first (and only) German Shepherd Dog to win the Westminster Kennel Club, Champion Covy Tucker Hill Manhattan, owned by Jane A. Firestone and Shirlee Braunstein. Manhattan won this award in 1987. Another Covy Tucker Hill dog owned by Mrs. Firestone is noted for making breed history as the number-one show dog of all-time, Ch. Altana’s Mystique, a popular bitch handled by Jimmy Moses. Mystique retired with 494 Best of Breed awards and 274 Best in Show wins. Although she never won the Westminster show (she won Group One twice), she should have!

In the US today, the German Shepherd remains a popular choice for Best in Show as well as a spectacular obedience, herding, tracking and agility contender. Likewise, the breed continues to rank in the top five AKC breeds, with over 50,000 dogs registered annually. The German Shepherd Dog Club of America is proud that many breed members continue to be of service to humankind, as service dogs for the blind and deaf, as protection dogs and military dogs and as search-and-rescue dogs. Many brave Shepherds assisted rescue workers in New York City at Ground Zero, working side by side for nine months after those hateful attacks.

TO THE RESCUE

Most pure-bred dog fancies reach out to abandoned and abused members of their particular breed, and the German Shepherd fraternity is no different. As a part of the German Shepherd Dog Club of America, the American German Shepherd Rescue Association, Inc. was developed to safeguard the breed from cruelty, abandonment and other types of neglect. The organization raises funds to operate a number of worthy projects, including the Help Line Referral Network, which maintains a directory of rescue services in America; a grant service, which helps fund smaller breed rescue operations; the distribution of information and guidelines for rescue and the dissemination of educational materials.

Historically speaking, it was the hard work and noble effort of these dogs in various military and life-saving capacities that renewed admiration and avid acceptance of the German Shepherd, a breed that today enjoys unprecedented, uninterrupted popularity. So intense became the demand for this breed that unscrupulous and uncontrolled breeding led to many medical and behavioral problems, most notably hip dysplasia, which continue to plague the breed today. Overbreeding also led to the fear biters and other neurotic specimens that threatened the reputation of this normally noble and kind dog.

During the 1960s, veterinarians and protectors of the breed, most prominently the German Shepherd Dog Club of America and the German S.V., joined together to control these problems and to safeguard this breed of guardians. For example, today there is a radiological method of determining hip dysplasia in individual dogs and certifying those free of the condition as dogs of breeding quality.

The American club has affixed a Register of Merit, or ROM, title to dogs whose offspring prove healthy and worthy of showing. The S.V. has created Class I (dogs with no fault) and Class II (dogs with minor faults) rankings to underscore and protect the ideals of physical and mental soundness that were established by the architects of the breed.

Reputable breeders have followed suit to ensure the health, temperament and popularity of the breed. They not only scrutinize the backgrounds of sires and dams but also interrogate buyers about how they intend to raise and use their puppies.

The modern German Shepherd Dog has weathered a difficult and varied history, with the features that set it apart from and above other breeds intact and zealously protected. It is fitting that the qualities of nobility and protection that brought these canine and human companions first together should continue to characterize their association.

 

American breeders strive to produce sound and intelligent German Shepherds, free from hereditary diseases.

 

Since its beginnings, the German Shepherd Dog has evolved into one of the most desirable breeds. Puppies from properly bred, healthy parents are avidly sought after.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG

Those who are considering sharing a significant portion of their lives with a German Shepherd Dog will do well to discount the associations, good or bad, that have become attached to the dog throughout its intricate history and to concentrate upon the qualities and characteristics that first attracted von Stephanitz to the animal. The original and, in this case, ideal German Shepherd Dog was agile, powerful, rugged, steady, alert and intelligent. Above all, the dog delighted in work and purpose. This dog’s association with man was neither servile nor amusing, nor was the dog ever intended to be an object of beauty. The German Shepherd Dog began on a footing as equal to man as a canine ever achieved.

HOW BIG SHOULD THE SHEPHERD BE?

Originally intended for herding, German Shepherd Dogs were medium-sized, but as guarding and other uses became predominant, the breed became progressively larger. Today adult males are 24–26 inches at the withers and females are approximately 2 inches smaller. The normal weight range is 66–88 lbs. Adult physical characteristics are achieved by 10–18 months, but dogs will typically fill out until three years of age. Large size is not necessarily preferred and may, in some cases, exacerbate the tendency to certain orthopedic disorders.

 

Counted among the most trainable of all pure-bred dogs, the German Shepherd excels in numerous forums of service and competition.

Such nobility of purpose perhaps cannot be sustained in the ordinary households that will be home to the vast majority of German Shepherd Dogs, but the ideal should neither be forgotten nor ignored. Expect that you and your German Shepherd Dog will be equal on some intrinsic level and your relationship will be well founded.

 

The all-weather coat of the German Shepherd does not require much time from his owner. This handsome dog has a fairly short coat.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Puppies have floppy ears that stand erect by six or seven months of age. Some dogs have ears that never stand. Although taping most often can correct this fault, these dogs should be considered poor choices for breeding.

Conventional depictions of the breed emphasize the black and tan coloring with saddleback markings, but the German Shepherd Dog comes in a wide variety of colors such as black and red, black and cream, all black, all white, sable (with various colorations), black and silver, liver and blue. Breeders do not favor the white, liver or blue varieties; the AKC lists white dogs among the disqualifications.

Coats are double, with the coarser outer coat serving to resist water and debris, and the soft dense undercoat working to retain body heat during cold seasons. The fur can range from short and coarse to long and soft. Long-coated dogs, however, are not eligible for showing in the breed ring.

German Shepherd Dogs will shed all year long, with heavy shedding during the spring and fall. Grooming, however, is not difficult. Regular light brushing is all that is required. Bathing, when necessary, should employ a hypoallergenic shampoo.

The main concern of every admirer of the German Shepherd Dog, however, is character. The animal should be courageous, intelligent, playful and safe with children and obedient and responsive to his owner. These elements of sound disposition and utility supersede any and all physical ideals.

PERSONALITY

Throughout history, in whatever capacity the German Shepherd has been used, one thing that has been constant is the bond that has developed between the dogs and their owners. Since the dogs have traditionally been used as service and working dogs, this bond was a necessity. The dogs had to be very obedient and very reliable to perform their given tasks. Since a major role of the German Shepherd has been that of a guard dog, the dogs also had to be very protective of their owners. These characteristics translate into a pet dog that is very intelligent, highly trainable and extremely loyal. The pet German Shepherd watches over the entire family and seems to be able to sense if someone is in trouble or needs help. Likewise, the German Shepherd is a wonderful protector of children and of his owner’s property.

BEHAVIOR & PERSONALITY

The behavior and personality of your German Shepherd Dog will reflect your care and training more than any other breed characteristics.

Remember that these dogs require a purposeful existence, so plan your relationship around activities that serve this most basic and important need. All the good potential of the breed will naturally follow.

 

German Shepherd Dogs were originally bred to be sheep-herders and thus are naturally active dogs.

Due to these protective instincts, the German Shepherd is naturally wary of strangers. This is not to say that he is not a friendly dog, but he chooses whom to befriend based on his owner’s attitude. “Any friend of yours is a friend of mine,” the German Shepherd seems to say to his owner, and he fiercely trusts his owner’s judgment. The dog will warm up to people that he becomes familiar with; he looks to his owner for clues about who is okay and who is not. Proper socialization and introduction to people from an early age are necessary to help the German Shepherd become more accepting of the people he meets.

The German Shepherd is noble and proud—he has a lot going for him and he knows it! A wonderful combination of stamina, athleticism, intelligence, grace and beauty, he personifies the virtues of “man’s best friend.”

OWNER SUITABILITY

Because the German Shepherd Dog is so devoted to his owner, it is only natural that he should thrive best with an owner who can show him equal devotion. The German Shepherd basks in his owner’s attention. It is not necessarily true that the only type of person suitable to own a German Shepherd is one who is home all day, but the owner who spends the day at work must plan on time with the dog upon his return home.

Exercise is also a consideration for the German Shepherd. Remember, these dogs were bred to work and to be active. The breeders’ original focus was on function. Since the pet dog is not being used for his intended purpose, he must be active in other ways. A German Shepherd who lives at home with his owner cannot exercise himself; it is something that both dog and owner need to participate in. It is not fair to the dog, who has patiently waited all day for his owner to return from work, for the owner to come home and promptly park himself on the couch for the remainder of the evening. Exercise is essential for the German Shepherd’s well-being, both physically and mentally. It provides this athletic breed with much-needed activity, plus it helps him feel like he has a purpose.

 

Zwinger von Muldental and his young friend keep watch over the property.

A house with a securely fenced-in yard is ideal for a German Shepherd owner, as the dog will have some freedom to run and play by himself. The dog should still be under the owner’s supervision when off-leash, but at least the dog will not be totally dependent on his owner for exercise. This does not make up for time spent with his owner, but will at least give the dog some physical benefits. An owner who keeps a German Shepherd in a house without a yard or in an apartment must make the commitment to regular runs/walks/ playtime with the dog.

The German Shepherd will fit into just about any family structure…adults, children, single people, etc. It is just necessary that the breed’s characteristics are taken into consideration.

VERSATILITY AND AGILITY

Although your German Shepherd Dog may never be required to do more than provide companionship and protection to you and your family, you should be proud to consider the many functions that the breed can be called upon to perform.

MILITARY DOGS

German Shepherd Dogs have been used as military dogs since World War I. Their roles have been numerous. The dogs served as sentries, guards, mine detectors, rescuers of wounded soldiers and carriers of food and medicine.

The instinct to serve, which is born in the animal, is the foundation of his functional versatility along with his physical and mental traits of strength, size, endurance and intelligence. It would be fair to say that the majority of all service dogs in the world are German Shepherd Dogs. The potential for specific service duties lies within each German Shepherd Dog, but professional training is required to actualize it in almost every case.

As previously noted, the German Shepherd Dog is an excellent herding dog. This was his original function and remains a central factor in his modern versatility. The dog’s endurance, his rough-coated imperviousness to weather, his sure-footed speed, responsiveness and his deeprooted instinct to protect anything small or weak make him an ideal herding choice.

 

German Shepherds have been the Seeing Eye® dog of choice for generations since the first association was formed in 1929.

 

The German Shepherd Dog’s working ability and trainability have earned him the distinction of being the most recognizable service dog in the world. This guide dog is being trained at the Seeing Eye® facility.

It is only in Germany, however, that the German Shepherd Dog is a first choice among farmers and stock owners. In the United States and Great Britain, other native breeds, more traditional and therefore more attractive to some, like the Australian Shepherd and the Border Collie, are predominantly seen in herding capacities.

German Shepherd Dogs were especially impressive as scout dogs, often able to detect the presence of an enemy at 100 yards away. Countless human lives were saved by these dogs but many of the animals were sacrificed in services like mine detection.

From these military uses developed the breed’s important role as police dogs. In the pursuit and apprehension of criminals, the breed has proven itself valuable and rather more effective, certainly more humane, than guns. The dog’s cool nerves and intelligence make him an excellent choice for crowd control. His scenting ability makes him invaluable in search-and-rescue work, as well as bomb and drug detection.

The skills and abilities of these functions are combined in Schutzhund, a training and competition program that emphasizes the elements of protection. Schutzhund means “protection dog” in German. Schutzhund trials have existed since the early 1900s. They include tests for temperament, tracking and protection. Dogs are scored according to their performance in these areas and must exhibit complete obedience (despite distraction), confidence, courage, scenting ability, determination and concentration in tracking.

The preceding roles have stressed obedience founded upon the breed’s natural proclivities.

SCHUTZHUND DOGS

In Schutzhund trials, dogs are rated by performance and can earn the titles of SchH. I (beginner), SchH. II (intermediate) and SchH. III (master). These titles can be appended to the dog’s name and pedigree.

 

Excelling in police work, the German Shepherd Dog has earned the highest accolades. Winning Police Dog Action is Overhills Foggarty, bred by Meg Purnell-Carpenter and handled by WPC Leigh White.