The Good, the Bad, and the Furry by Sam Stall

Author:Sam Stall [Stall, Sam]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-59474-907-0
Publisher: Quirk Books
Published: 2015-11-02T16:00:00+00:00

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German Shepherd

Weight: 60–85 pounds (27–38.3 kg). Height: 23–25 inches (58.4–63.5 cm). Build: Powerful, well-muscled, wolflike body. Coat: Dense, medium-length hair, primarily brown with black markings. Brains: This is one of the easiest of all breeds to train—primarily because the German shepherd was designed as a working dog and seems to relish being put through its paces. Bladder Matters: No special house-training problems.

The Incredible Origin: This massive, deeply intimidating Teutonic warrior was originally used to herd sheep. So just how big are German sheep, anyway? Developed in the nineteenth century from several varieties of homegrown sheepdog, its intelligence and trainability have earned it the canine world’s most varied portfolio of jobs—everything from guide dog to war dog to police dog.

Trademark Traits: Two traits define the German shepherd—high intelligence and high energy. This dog was bred to work, so it won’t tolerate lazing on the couch all day, waiting for you to come home, and then lazing on the couch all evening, waiting for you to go to bed. The shepherd requires interesting activities, careful training, and, most importantly, a strong hand. It will not automatically accept you as its master. You will have to earn that title—and probably keep earning it for the rest of the dog’s life.

Headaches and Hassles: Shepherds shed like crazy, especially during fall and spring, when they “blow” their coats. So you might want to lay up a big supply of vacuum cleaner bags come April and October. Also, if bored, they can become quite destructive, digging up the yard, trashing home furnishings, and making a general nuisance of themselves. Some, just to find something to do, will “herd” the family children. The shepherd must always be engaged and stimulated, and carefully trained to make sure its aggressive tendencies remain in check. This task never ends.

Special Perks: If you give a shepherd what it needs, it will become everything you could possibly want, including a friend of children, a fearless, disciplined guardian, and a devoted companion.

Bugs in the System: Shepherds, particularly poorly bred ones, tend to suffer from hip dysplasia. Other problems include eczema and inflammation of the cornea. Many retain puppylike attitudes and energy levels into their second and third years. Poorly bred dogs can also suffer from mental tics ranging from excessive shyness to viciousness. By the way, please don’t get a shepherd because you think it will make you look macho. People who are that concerned about their machismo probably aren’t macho enough to handle one.

If someone broke into my house, this dog would: Warn him off with savage barking. But if the poor schlep proceeded to break in anyway, the shepherd would bite him. Repeatedly. They’re very, very good at biting things and, when circumstances warrant, they really seem to enjoy their work. The other good point about the shepherd is that properly trained ones will actually stop attacking if you tell them to.

If you like German shepherds, check out: Two other prime examples of German leadership in the field of scary-ass dog development, the Doberman pinscher and Rottweiler.

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