the german shepherd is a relatively new breed of dog developed in the late 19th century it was
developed in germany by military officer named max von stephenitz who wanted to create the
perfect herding dog he named the breed in german which literally translates to german shepherd dog
although originally bred for herding german shepherds are very versatile dogs they're often
used in police and military works rescue operations and has cherished family dogs
they became famous in the us in the 1920s thanks to canine movie stars like rin tin
tin and strongheart due to their versatility they are consistently ranked among the top five most
popular dog breeds in the u.s food plays a major role in determining a dog's health and lifespan
german shepherds are highly energetic and muscular dogs which means they need a power packed diet
to meet their high energy demand feed them a well-balanced diet formulated for large sized
breeds a dog's food intake is generally determined by its age weight and activity level for the first
few weeks a puppy should be given mother's milk only it has natural antibodies that are vital to
its growth ideally a puppy should only be fed with mother's milk for up to 10 weeks of age
between 8-12 weeks start weaning them off mother's milk and introduce them to puppy food puppies need
more protein and fat content than adult dogs because they're in a growing phase they need
to be fed about three times a day about a year or so they become adults adult german shepherds need
a more nutrition filled diet formulated for their high physical activity and energy demand they're
usually fed twice a day since german shepherds are large dogs they grow faster than smaller breeds
senior dogs are usually less attractive and have different nutrition requirements regardless of age
buy food that's specifically designed for large size breeds choose a high quality dog food and
don't go for cheap brands choose food brands that are aafco compliant the association of
american feed control officials has established standards for different nutritional requirements
protein is the most important ingredient in dog's food according to aafco the minimum protein
requirement is 22 for a puppy and 18 for an adult dog make sure protein is the first ingredient on
the label since ingredients on the food label are listed in decreasing order of weight fats
are the second main ingredient in the dog's food according to aafco the minimum fat requirement is
eight percent for a puppy and five percent for an adult dog omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation
and are best for the skin and coat of your dog some of the other major ingredients in the dog's
food are carbohydrates essential minerals and vitamins don't change their food type abruptly
introduce the new food gradually by mixing it with the old one buy a grain free diet do not
buy foods that contain fillers artificial preservatives or chemical flavorings
obesity is a serious health concern for dogs like german shepherds it can lead to further
health problems like joint and heart disease over feeding and less exercise are the main causes of
obesity in dogs rib inspection is a good indicator of dog's weight if you cannot feel his ribs easily
then your dog is definitely overweight consult a vet about the best food for an overweight dog
german shepherd dog is probably not the right breed for you if you don't have enough time
for its mental and physical stimulation originally bred to herd flocks all day they
need proper exercise to keep their muscular bodies in shape and burn off extra calories
daily short walks are not enough for them they need at least half an hour walk twice a day in
addition to walking they need an active play session they enjoy dog sports such as agility
tracking swimming etcetera for mental stimulation give them some puzzle toys you can also teach
them some new tricks or practice previously learned commands without adequate mental and
physical stimulation they become bored and destructive they can be seen chewing digging
or barking if left alone for long periods of time they could develop separation anxiety
german shepherds have a medium length coat that is double layered they shed throughout the year
and are sometimes referred to as german shedders brush them several times a week to remove dead
loose hairs they shed a lot in spring and fall and require frequent brushing during those seasons
a slicker brush and an undercoat rake are the perfect tools for grooming your german shepherd
dog german shepherds are generally clean dogs with a regular brushing routine they need only
occasional baths excessive baths will dry out their skin and remove its natural oils always
use dog shampoo since humans shampoo could cause irritation their ears need to be examined weekly
for any signs of debris odor or wax accumulation an odor from ears is usually a sign of infection
clean their ears with a cotton ball and a vet recommended cleaning solution do not use q-tips
since it may damage their ear canals trim their nails regularly after every two weeks or when
they're long enough use a dog nail trimmer be careful not to cut the quick area of the nails
dental care is essential to fit off tartar and gum diseases
use a dog toothbrush and paste humans toothpaste has certain ingredients that are harmful for dogs
german shepherds are very smart dogs they've been ranked third on the list of intelligent dog
breeds by dr stanley corrin a renowned canine psychologist they're known for their obedient
nature which makes them an easy to train dog breed start the training process early when they're
seven to eight weeks old a puppy can easily be molded into a desired personality adult dogs
may be hard to train some of the most important training techniques are basic obedience training
crate training house training bite inhibition etc early socialization is essential to make
your german shepherd a well-behaved adult dog the ideal time for socialization is from two to six
months of age expose your dog to different people places and pets consider enrolling them in a puppy
socialization class a dog's bark is another great place to socialize dogs german shepherd dogs have
a strong biting force of 238 psi which is among the top five in the dogs world it's very important
to teach them bite inhibition however keep in mind that biting is a natural behavior of pups
and it doesn't mean they're aggressive puppies explore their surroundings with their mouths
however they need to be taught not to use their mouths on people using toys and different bite
inhibition techniques will help you in controlling this behavior reward based training is the key to
a successful training process praise and reward your dog when he follows a command
this positive reinforcement will accelerate the training process scolding or punishing your dog
is totally counterproductive make the training sessions short fun and easy for your dog a short
focus session of 10 to 15 minutes is enough for your dog teach only one command in a session
german shepherd dogs have a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years with proper nutrition in health care
they could live longer however they might face some generic and breed specific issues bloating is
a life-threatening condition that's more common in deep-chested dogs such as german shepherds
bloating occurs when a dog's stomach fills with gas and then twists causing obstruction in the
blood flow to the stomach and other organs if not treated on time it could prove fatal
bloating usually happens when a dog receives one large meal instead of two to three smaller ones
exercising your dog right after eating is another reason for bloating in dogs
vaccinations are vital for the health of your dog it normally starts around the sixth week
of age and continues for a certain time dogs also need booster shots every year there are some core
and non-core vaccinations for dogs consult with a vet about the vaccination process for your german
shepherd dog many health conditions in dogs are genetic which could be prevented if puppy parents
are genetically tested before mating breeders are supposed to take various tests of puppy parents
to see if there are any genetic diseases that could potentially transfer to the next generation
some of the important health clearances for german shepherds are
certificate from ofa for hip and elbow dysplasia certificate from cerf for eyes
certificate for a temperament test certificate for hypothyroidism and cardiac evaluation
you can check the results of these tests on ofa and chic websites
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