| Also known as the Alsatian, the German | | | | guard the children of 'their' family. They will |
| Shepherd is a 'young' breed, having only been | | | | tolerate the poking and prodding children are |
| recognized as a distinct breed in the last 90 years. | | | | prone to do. However, they are sometimes |
| The German Shepard can trace its roots back to | | | | unaware of their size and power relative to a |
| a range of shepherding dogs in Germany, and | | | | small child and may indiscriminately knock them |
| some groups tried to informally breed this dog. | | | | over. |
| This effort failed but in 1899, a new group | | | | A German Shepherd and child should always be |
| formed. Der Verein fur Deutsche Schaeferhunde | | | | watched to avoid this. German Shepherds can |
| was founded by Max von Stephanitz, who | | | | survive apartment living if given enough exercise |
| wanted to breed an all purpose working dog. | | | | regularly and given enough activities. If left alone |
| The German Shepherd came to the United Sates | | | | too long or not stimulated enough, German |
| in 1908 with soldiers impressed by the courage | | | | Shepherds will become bored and destructive. |
| and abilities of this dog. German Shepherds will | | | | They enjoy being in the company of their human |
| reach an average height of 22 to 26 inches, | | | | family but not other pets. As a working dog that |
| weight of 77 to 85 pounds and live an average of | | | | likes to please, a German Shepherd will do very |
| 13 years. There are a wide variety of coats in | | | | well with obedience training. German Shepherds |
| this breed. Some German Shepherds are | | | | are prone to some genetic disorders including hip |
| longhaired and some are shorthaired. The color is | | | | and elbow dysplasia, blood disorders, digestive |
| most often black and tan, but can also be sable, | | | | problems, epilepsy, chronic eczema, keratitis |
| all black, blue and liver and white. | | | | (inflammation of the cornea), dwarfism and flea |
| The one thing all German Shepard coats have in | | | | allergies. |
| common is that they shed profusely, and shed | | | | There is a website that has great information on |
| worse during their shedding season. Daily brushing | | | | German Shepherds and most other breeds of |
| usually helps combat the shedding, and German | | | | dogs. It has details that pertain to a dog breeds |
| Shepherds should only be bathed occasionally. | | | | health, grooming, living conditions, best food |
| Almost all German Shepherds are described as | | | | choices and more, the website is called: Dog And |
| self-confident and loyal. | | | | Cat Facts, and can be found at this url: |
| German Shepherds are highly intelligent and often | | | | By Robert W. Benjamin |
| times used as police dogs, rescue dogs and guide | | | | Copyright © 2007 |
| dogs. German Shepherds make excellent guard | | | | You may publish this article in your ezine, |
| dogs and are very loyal to their family. They | | | | newsletter, or on your web site as long as it is |
| make excellent protectors, barking when | | | | reprinted in its entirety and without modification |
| someone unfamiliar is approaching. German | | | | except for formatting needs or grammar |
| Shepherds do make good family pets and will | | | | corrections. |