If you ever chance upon one of these dogs, youll probably notice its stately demeanor right away. It gives off an air of sleekness and fluid power, while retaining a lively and vigorous outlook on life. The German Shepherd has a long body, that is solid and healthy, radiating health and top form.

This breed is known to manifest a striking look of nobility and quality. The German Shepherd breed is noted for producing dogs that are self-assured without being overbearing, direct and fearless without being hostile, and possessing a certain aloofness that speaks of this animals tendency not to lend itself to indiscriminate friendships.

However, as soon as the dog learns to trust his owners and a establishes a firm relationship with them, the German Shepherd is quite loving toward children. He is a superb guard and a loyal family pet, which is usually what many families are looking for. A German Shepherd possesses strength, devotedness, and is the third-smartest dog in the world: Id say thats a perfect choice for you!

Deutscher Schferhund, its original name, literally translates to German Shepherd Dog. Its original purpose was to help shepherds guide herds and protect sheep, hence it was given that name. In Germanys local communities in the 1800s, it was practical to breed dogs to preserve the traits that were vital in herding and protecting flocks from predators.

Dogs believed to have the traits necessary for herding sheep, like brawn, brains and a good nose would be selected and bred by shepherds. The end resulted in dogs that executed their duties superbly, but varied in outward appearance and skill, depending where they came from and were bred. This was an accepted practice back in the 1800s, in Germanys local communities.

German Shepherds are known for their eagerness to learn new things and their zeal to have a definite purpose. The same traits that make the German Shepherd a fiercely devoted protector and an excellent herder have also launched it to the top of working dog lists as the worlds leading military, guard and police dog. Thats not all though: its a loving member of the family, a great herder and a first-class dog show competitor.

It is one of the most popular selections for use as a working dog, being especially well known for helping the police by tracking down criminals, guarding and holding suspects, and patrolling risky areas. They are also indispensable in search and rescue, cadaver searching and narcotics and explosives detection, to name just a few. This is because of their sharp sense of smell and ability to work even in a distracting environment, such as airports or shopping malls.

This dogs expression is intelligent, keen and composed, and his coat comes in a wide variety of colors, the most common combinations being tan and black, or red and black. They have a noble, dense outer coat, with a thick undercoat, and a bushy tail that reaches to the hock. Giving off an impression of subtle power and solidity, and being one of the most intelligent, hardworking and agile dogs in the world, the German Shepherd is a wise choice to make when choosing to adopt a pet.

If you ever chance upon one of these dogs, youll probably notice its stately demeanor right away. It gives off an air of sleekness and fluid power, while retaining a lively and vigorous outlook on life. The German Shepherd has a long body, that is solid and healthy, radiating health and top form.

The German Shepherd exudes an appearance of almost majestic quality. This breed is distinct in having produced animals that are poised without being arrogant, frankly direct and without fear and yet are not hostile, and sporting a detached, less friendly approach toward people it does not consider family.

This dog is matchless when it comes to guarding, and is a terrifically loyal member of the family once adopted, a perfect selection for families that want a good investment when picking out a dog. As soon as its trust in its owner is established and a firm understanding and relationship is acknowledged, the German Shepherd is quite amiable with children. This dog is the right choice to make if you want an animal that is intelligent, loyal and strong, all at the same time.

Deutscher Schferhund, its original name, literally translates to German Shepherd Dog. Its original purpose was to help shepherds guide herds and protect sheep, hence it was given that name. In Germanys local communities in the 1800s, it was practical to breed dogs to preserve the traits that were vital in herding and protecting flocks from predators.

Dogs would be picked and bred based on the qualities that shepherds thought were needed for shepherding, namely the animal had to be smart, quick on its feet, and have a great sense of smell. The upshot of this practice produced dogs that did this task superbly, but looked different based on their locality, and their abilities differed as well. This was generally the trend for shepherds at the time.

This breed is identified with its readiness for training and its zeal to have goals and duties. Stemming from its intrinsic qualities that make it a faithful guardian and herder, the German Shepherd is lauded as the best breed choice when it comes to police, military and guard work. Whats more, its a devoted friend of the family, a herder, and a top-notch show competitor.

It is one of the most popular selections for use as a working dog, being especially well known for helping the police by tracking down criminals, guarding and holding suspects, and patrolling risky areas. They are also indispensable in search and rescue, cadaver searching and narcotics and explosives detection, to name just a few. This is because of their sharp sense of smell and ability to work even in a distracting environment, such as airports or shopping malls.

This dogs expression is intelligent, keen and composed, and his coat comes in a wide variety of colors, the most common combinations being tan and black, or red and black. They have a noble, dense outer coat, with a thick undercoat, and a bushy tail that reaches to the hock. Giving off an impression of subtle power and solidity, and being one of the most intelligent, hardworking and agile dogs in the world, the German Shepherd is a wise choice to make when choosing to adopt a pet.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Dogs

If you have a new German Shepherd puppy, no doubt one of the very first things you are going to want to teach it are to sit and lay down on command. One of the quickest and easiest ways to do this is by using a small treat (and praise) when your dog does as it’s told.

Teaching Your Dog To Sit.

More often than not when teaching a new puppy to sit on command, owners will use the command sit while at the same time pressing on the dog’s backside, while this can and will work, using the treat method can be quicker and more effective:

Simply hold a treat just above your dog’s head, and slightly behind, while saying sit move the treat back a little and you’ll see that your puppy will naturally sit down to keep the treat within its line of sight. As soon as the dog is sitting, reward him with both the treat and praise.

Teaching Your Dog To Lay Down.

Again, often when people are training their dogs to lay down they grab their front paws and drag them into a lying position this also isn’t necessary and again might be uncomfortable for your puppy.

Instead, once again use a treat. When you have your dog’s attention, hold the treat almost to the floor and slowly bring it toward you, while using the command down, once again your dog will follow the treat by laying down. As soon as he is in that position, reward him with both the treat and praise.

Remember too that when you want your dog to lay down, make sure you use the one command all the time, don’t say “drop” one time and then “down” the next. Personally I suggest using “down” as “drop” may get confusing if you’re teaching your dog to “drop” a ball or stick etc.

Another article you may find of interest:

Article Matrix » Blog Archive » Training Your German Shepherd Dog - The German Shepherd Dog truly is a wonderful animal and not only do they make good working dogs, they also make superb family pets. They are however very different from other pet breeds and need to be handled and trained with a different approach to say your average labrador or poodle for instance. The German Shepherd Dog is a large, strong athletic dog, which needs a lot of mental stimulation and exercise but a well trained shepherd can learn to do almost anything.