German Shepherd Training

The German Shepherd is one of the most recognizable breeds throughout the entire world. Their larger upright ears and black and tan markings, although their colors vary in lighter and darker shades between black and white, are extremely distinguishable. They also have a profile that is unique in that their haunches are much lower to the ground than other breeds.

Initially, their name comes from their original breeding in Germany and their main purpose which was herding sheep. Today, German Shepherds are most widely known for their work as protectors and defenders of our police and military, and as guide dogs for the blind. However, their service covers a wide array of areas including parachuting from aircraft, search and rescue, explosive detection, drug discovery, and cadaver recovery such as was the case in New York on 9/11.

They’re extremely intelligent and are generally rated as the third highest in the dog world. Shepherds have a keen sense of smell and also have an uncanny ability to stay focused on the job at hand, even amidst great distractions. If you’re old enough, you’ll probably remember Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart. Both of these infamous German Shepherds were film stars, both have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and their notoriety has been instrumental in launching the popularity of the breed.

Shepherds are physically strong, but very agile, and have a temperament that generally keeps them aloof from strangers. Yet, they’re loving, affectionate, and devoted to their families. That, coupled with their size and reputation, makes them excellent guard dogs. A Shepherd can be lying on the floor gently playing with a baby one moment, and growling at the door to protect him from an intruder the next. This breed does represent the highest number of human bite occurrences, but given they’re also the most owned dog in the world, this fact could be the very reason this breed is so misrepresented.

They are notorious for the heavy shedding they do, so if you love your German Shepherd, you’ve already decided to overlook it or deal with it. They have a double coat; the undercoat to help them stay dry and warm in inclement weather, and the outer coat which sheds year round. In general, they grow to weigh from 50 to 90 pounds with the female usually weighing the least. They have litters from five to ten pups and live to be about 12 years old. If you’ve ever cared for a litter of ten of these bright little “fur-balls” all at one time, you’ve had the pure pleasure of being part of one of the greatest of joys.

Because of their size it’s important that they be obedience trained very early, and because of their intelligence they need a firm but very loving hand. They learn quickly and are very perceptive to the trainer’s requests; so much so that most understand and obey the current command being given within five repetitions of it.

They are prone to elbow and hip dysplasia which can lead to painful arthritis later in life, so being aware and having regular checkups for your Shepherd can help alleviate future problems. Because of their large perked ears, checking often for ear infection is also advisable. Then too, because of their German origin and the environment there, a German Shepherd’s ideal diet should include beef, wheat, and leafy greens like alfalfa and cabbage.

German Shepherds need plenty of exercise to keep muscle tone at its peak. However, keeping them mentally stimulated is equally important due to their advanced intellect and propensity for easily getting into trouble. It’s rather like the gifted child who constantly needs challenges to keep from getting bored. Play ball and go for walks, but don’t stop there! Teach him to open and close doors, retrieve household items, and put his toys away. If you take the time, your loving and obedient German Shepherd will reward and bless you with his incredible devotion for life.