One of the most popular dog breeds in the United States is the German Shepherd. There is a good reason for this. These dogs are intelligent and very hard working. The courage and devotion of a German Shepherd are simply unmatched. In addition, the German Shepherd is very versatile as they excel in almost anything that they are trained to do.
They make excellent assistant and guide dogs, work with police and military services, can be used for herding, are great on search and rescue teams, can be used for drug detection, and most importantly are faithful companions to their owners. Easily trained and quite smart, these dogs are very active and require something to do at all times. This means that you need to be able to exercise them regularly if you decide to own on. Read on to learn more about some of the main characteristics that define the German Shepherd.
1. Size
The German Shepherd is not a small dog. It is important to make sure that you know this when purchasing one. The average weight for a male German Shepherd is between 75 to 95 pounds. The average weight is the same for female German Shepherds. Males are a bit taller than females with the average height at their withers coming in at 25 inches for males and 23 inches for females.
The ears of the German Shepherd are naturally upright as these dogs are always on alert. There are many breeds of dogs that are larger than the German Shepherd and of course many that are smaller. While these are not the largest of dogs, they do require an ample amount of space as they need to get plenty of exercise each day. This is a good medium sized breed that is large enough to make an impact, but not too large to fit into the average household.
2. Energy Levels
The German Shepherd has an average energy level when it comes to dog breeds. They need about forty minutes of exercise each day. This can be in the form of a walk or simply playing a game of fetch in the backyard. It is important to make sure that your German Shepherd is getting enough exercise each day as this will help to keep him healthy and strong.
If you are thinking about adding a German Shepherd to your family it is important to make sure that you have enough time to devote to your new family pet. While they do not require a lot of exercise each day, they do need to be kept busy and entertained. If the dog becomes bored it will begin to act out in ways that may not always be pleasant. Taking the time to provide your German Shepherd with some exercise each day will help to reduce behavior issues that may arise.
3. Looks
The German Shepherd is a very well proportioned breed of dog. The maximum height for this breed is about 25 inches and they can weigh up to 95 pounds. They have heads that are quite broad that will taper into a muzzle that is quite sharp. The ears of the German Shepherd are quite large and always stand erect.
The back of the German Shepherd is muscular and level and the tail is quite bushy with a downward curve. They have a thick coat that is quite rough. The colors of a German Shepard may be tan, black, gray, or black and tan. Most German Shepherds have a medium length coat, but there are some long coated German Shepherds as well. The dogs will shed their coats, so it is important to be prepared for dog hair invading your home if you bring this breed in as a family pet.