The German Shepherd is a very faithful and courageous dog breed. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why they are one of the more popular dogs in the United States. When they are trained properly, you would be amazed with what they are able to accomplish. In some cases, they may be asked to help a handicapped individual but at other times, they may be called on for military or police service. In any case, they are a wonderful companion.
The breed can be traced back to the end of the 19th century when a captain in the German Calvary wanted to create a breed of dog that would be fantastic at hunting. When the German Shepherd was bred, he was to be a dog used primarily for hunting but because of the breeders military connections, it became a dog that was used in the military during World War I. It seems as if they were well-suited for the purpose and it stuck.
Most people have the mistaken assumption that a German Shepherd is an aggressive dog. Although they can be aggressive when necessary, they tend to be somewhat reserved when it comes to displaying their personality. When they are part of the family, however, they are wonderful as a companion but if the family should happen to be threatened, the protective instinct of the breed will kick in rather quickly. One thing you may want to be cautious over is leaving the German Shepherd alone for extended amounts of time. Without the proper exercise and companionship, they could get frustrated and end up displaying it through barking, chewing or other bad habits.
For the most part, a German Shepherd is going to be healthy but there are certain issues that are associated with the breed. Although not all German shepherds are going to experience these problems, it is something to be aware of and to take action if necessary. One of the problems is dysplasia, but screening can be done to rule out this problem. Elbow dysplasia is also a problem, as are allergies. Many of these issues can be controlled when they are recognized early.
German shepherds are rather active dogs so it is best if they get the daily exercise that is necessary to keep all that pent-up exercise from showing itself in unwanted ways. They also tend to bark frequently, especially if they are bored. Since German shepherds are easily trained, you can make teaching them the command “quiet” a part of their obedience training. Be sure that you give your German Shepherd plenty of things to chew on or you may find that they are chewing on your other belongings.
Although German shepherds are one of the top breeds worldwide, they are a dog that sometimes needs special consideration. They are very protective of their owners but can be a wonderful companion dog for both individuals and families.