Happy Tails Books

German Shepherds

"Lost Souls: FOUND! InspiringStories About German Shepherds" - Available NOW!

Excerpt: The rescue volunteers suspected the dog I had my heart set on was wrong for me, but to humor me they asked me to walk her on a leash. Just as they had expected, she dragged me across the yard. Still certain I would go home with “my girl” because of the doggy nail polish and pink doggie room I had waiting for her, I begrudgingly met several other “less dominant” dogs as the volunteers had gently suggested. To my surprise, “the one” turned out to be Jackson (now Beau), a male with striking hazel eyes who adopted me the moment we met. The pink doggy room is now used for storage, the nail polish is in the trash, and Beau turned out to be an absolute dream companion. -Lisa Hall

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About German Shepherds:

• Breed originated around the 1900's in Germany (Surprise!)
• Resulting from herding and farm breeds of dogs
• "Handsome, well proportioned and very strong" (dogbreedinfo.com)
• Usually 22-26 inches tall and 50-90 lbs.

Why People Love German Shepherds:

• Short coat makes for easy grooming
• Energetic, fun loving, loyal and protective
• Great guard dogs
• Eager to learn
• Usually don't bark very much
• Great with any family member if properly socialized

Why German Shepherds Can Be Challenging:

• Sheds a lot
• Needs strong, dominent owners
• Can become over-protective
• Needs extensive socialization due to protective instinct
• Many health issues due to inbreeding including hip and elbow displasia, ear infections, blood infections, bloat

Other Facts and Tips About German Shepherds:

• Another name for the German Shepherd is "Alsatian"
• The AKC recognizes most colors but often sees the dogs in their most popular black and tan colors
• World's leading police, guard and military dog
• Medium life expectancy (9-13 years when well cared for)
• Always a very popular breed
• Rin-Tin-Tin and Strongheart, famous television personalities, are both German Shepherds
• In 1919 German Shepherds were first accepted into the UK Kennel Club. There were 54 registrations. By 1926 that number grew to over 8,000 registrations! (Wikipedia.org) 
• Considered the third most intelligent breed by experts (Border Collies are #1 and Poodles are #2)
• The litter size is usually 9 puppies
• AKC group: Herding Group

We do our best to be accurate! See an error? Let us know!

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