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.

Before you decide to bring a new German Shepherd puppy into your home there are a few things you need to consider. Not only do you need to consider where you’re going to get your pup from you also need to make sure you (and your family) are prepared for all that is required.

Even before you look into selecting the right German Shepherd Breeder to purchase your new pet from you should make sure that his/or her needs can be met:

It’s probably a good idea to make sure you have an understanding of the German Shepherd history and breed; things like temperament, common medical problems, size and weight etc so you will know what you’re in for as your puppy grows you’ll also want to consider a few other things:

Do you have a backyard big enough to house your dog as it grows or are you prepared to make sure it gets all the exercise it needs, either via room to run outdoors or you taking it somewhere?

Is your house and garden puppy proof? – remember that they will chew things (some of which may be quite harmful so make sure all poisonous things are hidden away) they will probably dig (so if you have a prized rose garden etc you will want to fence it off) they will have accidents until they are potty trained (are you prepared to clean up/cover floors with paper etc)

Having a puppy (and older dog) will cost money – you will need to cover vet bills (vaccinations etc) along with things like worming – you will need a collar and lead etc and of course daily feeding (sometimes 2 to 3 times a day depending on the age of your puppy)

Do you want a male or female? There are pros and cons for each (size, breeding, de-sexing etc)

Once you’ve decided that yes you can afford a new German Shepherd both money and environment wise then you need to look into choosing the right breeder for your new dog.

There’s a few ways you can go about this:

Many people go by word of mouth or personal history: if you have had other Shepherds in the past or you know of people who have had them and you have had experience with certain breeders; that is: you’ve seen (or owned) dogs from a breeder and you know of their background, temperament and whether dogs from that breeder are prone to any conditions etc then you may want to start there.

If you’re new to owning a German Shepherd then one of the first things you may want to do is to contact your local German Shepherd Club, Dog or Kennel Club etc this will vary in name from state to state and country to country but there will be a group or kennel association etc of some kind within your area. Generally any registered breeder will be part of one of these and as such will have to meet certain guidelines and breed standards before they can register and sell dogs etc.

Once you have selected a breeder(s) make sure you can visit with them and see the parents of the puppy you want to purchase (while you may not always get to see both the mother and father of the pup(s) you should be able to see at least one of them) and take note of how they act toward you (temperament etc).  Also take note of their surrounds, whether they’re well cared for and clean etc. You may also be able to chat with the vet to get some more advice both before you choose your breeder or if your chosen breeder uses that vet they may have more knowledge that they’re willing to pass on.

Again this may vary from state to state or country to country, but take note of any papers and tattoos etc – registered breeders will offer papers to show the pedigree of your dog along with a tattoo which shows what kennel etc the dog came from.

Once you’ve finished discussing and researching etc then the fun, yet hard part really starts – standing within a litter of fluffy, playful puppies and choosing the right one for you. Of course sometimes the choice is taken out of your hands as within seconds a pup has actually chosen you to be their new family