MAIN Home Life Pets Dogs & Puppies German Shepherds

A veritable icon of loyalty and devotion, the German Shepherd (also known in Europe as the Alsatian) was originally developed from a mix of German farming and shepherding dogs in the late 19th century.

Today, the German Shepherd is also widely utilized as trained police, rescue and security dogs. They are trusted guides for the blind, as well. Overall, they are widely admired for their sleek physical beauty, as well as their confident and courageous character.

Although most commonly bred in colors of black and tan, the breed comes in a variety of colors ranging from black & silver, black and red, to solid black, tan or white.

No truer canine friends exists that equals the love & loyalty that a well-trained German Shepherd shows for its adoptive family, and year after year remains on the list of Top Ten most popular dog breeds worldwide.

Behavior & Personality

Intelligent and easily trained, the German Shepherd is an affable and friendly dog if socialized early enough in puppyhood.

Its tremendous self possession sometimes gives the impression that it is unapproachable. However, the breed usually loves the company of people, and is generally very gentle around small children. They also make for excellent watchdogs, as German Shepherds will instinctively guard their adopted "flock" against any and all trespassers.

Care & Health

As with many other larger breeds, German Shepherds are susceptible to hip dysplasia, a malformation of the hip that leads to cartilage damage and crippling arthritis. If caught in its very early stages, hip dysplasia may be treated with surgery, although quite often symptoms are not detected until too late, when treatment options become extremely & frustratingly limited.

Less common conditions associated with the breed include skin rashes or allergies. The breed may also sometimes suffer from a more serious nerve condition, canine degenerative myelopathy, that may also weaken or cripple the back legs.

More about German Shepherds around the Web:

American Kennel Clubs - German Shepherd Dogs - Official dog breed standards with description of behavior & temperament, ideal size and proportions, photos, fun facts & breed history.

German Shepherds.com - Extensive information on the breed with its history & origins, picture gallery, feature articles, a list of name suggestions, health tips, busy forums and online chats.

Shaferhund.com - Primarily focused on Schutzhund training with additional information & resources on rearing puppies, German Shepherd behavior & training, illustrated anatomy, first aid tips, fact sheets on hip and elbow dysplasia, lists of puppies & stud dogs for sale.

German Shepherd Dog Club of America - Illustrated breed standards, information on health & genetics, photo gallery, dogs & puppies or sale, rescue resources.

The American German Shepherd Rescue Association - Browseable directory of contact info with related Web links to German Shepherd rescue organizations nationwide.