Bean Town Dogs
A Service Guide for New England Dogs
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German Shepherd (Alsatian)
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Physical Appearance
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The German Shepherd Dog, also known as the Alsatian, is a handsome, well proportioned and very strong breed that is one of the
most common pedigree breeds seen in the UK. They have a sturdy, muscular, slightly elongated body with a light but solid bone
structure. The neck is long and powerful supporting a broad, strong, wedge shaped head with medium sized, almond shaped brown
eyes and medium sized, triangular, upright ears. The coat consists of two layers with a straight, hard, close lying outer coat and a
thick undercoat. Colouring is black and tan, solid black or grey.
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Breed Origins
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Developed from a number of different types of shepherd dogs the German Shepherd Dog can trace its origins back to the 7th century
and it's wolf like appearance suggests an even earlier ancestry. Originally bred for herding they have been used more extensively in
this century for guard and protection work, they are also used as a guide dog in the United States and have successfully competed in
this country in both agility and obedience trials. During World War I the Germans used the German Shepherd Dog as messenger
dogs and to locate the wounded, allied soldiers admired the dogs intelligence and courage and brought many of them home after the
war thus establishing the breed in other countries. It is felt by many, however, that the best German Shepherd Dogs still come from
Germany.
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Temperament
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The German Shepherd Dog is bold, cheerful and obedient and renowned for their tremendous loyalty and courage. They are an
exceptionally intelligent and active breed and ideally need a job in life that will present them with enough of a challenge to prevent
boredom and the possible resulting behavioural problems. If kept as a pet rather than a working dog then it will be up to the owner to
provide the required exercise and mental stimulation, this can be very demanding. They are generally good with children though
might be better with older families as they do not take well to teasing, they are not particularly good with other animals. Before
purchasing a German Shepherd puppy research the breeder and dogs carefully as there have been many reports of irresponsible
German Shepherd breeders turning out dogs with poor temperaments, prone to timidity and aggression and poor health.
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Day to Day
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German Shepherd Dogs love strenuous activity, preferably combined with training of some kind, younger dogs may need to have
their exercise curtailed to prevent the danger of bone or joint growth problems. The German Shepherds coat requires daily brushing.
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Kennel Club Group
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Pastoral
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General Size
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Large
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Exercise requirements
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High
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Adult Height
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22-26 inches (56-66 cms)
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Suitability for Children
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Medium
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Adult Weight
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75-90 lb (34-41 kgs)
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Compatibility other pets
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Low
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Average Lifespan
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11-13 years
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Grooming Requirements
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Medium
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Potential Health Problems
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The German Shepherd Dog does suffer from a number of inherited problems, exacerbated by irresponsible breeding. The most
common is hip dysplasia for which the Kennel Club introduced a hip scoring scheme in 1983, when purchasing a puppy ensure that
you see the parents hip score results and understand their meaning. Other problems include cutaneous vasculopathy (which affects
German Shepherd pups causing crusty ears, tail and swollen, cracked pads), congenital heart problems, blood disorders, digestive
problems (probably due to nerves), epilepsy, chronic eczema, keratitis (inflammation of the cornea), dwarfism and flea allergies.
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Copyright Perkins & Company 2006-2007 All Rights Reserved.
All content, including graphics, on BeanTown Dogs Website is Copyright Perkins & Company, unless otherwise noted,
and may not be copied or reproduced without prior written permission.
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Please Note: The BeanTown Dogs website provides information and listings of dog breeds, clubs and associations, rescue organizations, health and nutrition, breeders,
trainers, groomers, boarding kennels, and other pet services and products. However, we do not recommend, endorse, or support any one of these listings over another.
The links provided on the site are for information purposes only and should not be viewed as a recommendation or endorsement. Accuracy of information is the sole
responsibility of the owner of the listing and we cannot be held responsible for any misrepresentation. We reserve the right to refuse any listing at our sole discretion. The
BeanTown Dogs website is not affiliated or associated with any organization or business - It is a completely independent project. - Archie and Mum
