About the Breed

The German Shepherd Dog is one of the most popular and recognizable breeds around the world. German Shepherd Dogs are well-proportioned, muscular yet trim dogs with pricked (stand up) ears. It is agile and quick. The noble-looking German Shepherd (Alsatian) is well-balanced, longer than it is tall. The German Shepherd is a black and tan dog predominantly but can be gray (called blue) or brown (called liver) with varying amounts of those colors. (Blue, liver and white cannot be shown in AKC.) He is usually lighter on the legs and face with dark accents on the ears. He has almond-shaped eyes with a lively, intelligent expression. His bushy tail hangs down.

The German Shepherd is a trotting dog who moves smoothly and rhythmically, covering a lot of ground quickly. Its stride is long, quick, and easy. The hindquarters seem to deliver a power thrust that propels the front end forward. The dog can easily spring from its hindquarters, jumping up or forward to quite a distance.

Exercise

German Shepherd Dogs love strenuous activity, preferably combined with training of some kind, for these dogs are very intelligent and crave a good challenge. They need to be taken on a daily, brisk, long walk, jog or run alongside you when you bicycle. While out on the walk the dog must be made to heel beside or behind the person holding the lead, as in a dog's mind the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the human. Most shepherds love to play ball or Frisbee. Ten to fifteen minutes of fetching along with daily pack walks will tire your dog out quite nicely as well as give him a sense of purpose. Whether it is ball chasing, frisbee catching, obedience training, participation in a canine playgroup or just taking long walks/jogs, you must be willing to provide some form of daily, constructive exercise. The daily exercise must always include daily walks/jogs to satisfy the dogs migration instinct. If under-exercised and or mentally challenged, this breed can become restless and destructive. Does best with a job to do.

Grooming

This breed sheds bits of hair constantly and is a seasonally heavy shedder. They should be brushed daily or you will have hair all over your home. Bathe only when necessary, over bathing can cause skin irritation from oil depletion. Check ears and trim claws regularly.