Walker - The everything German shepherd book : a complete guide to raising, training, and caring for your German shepherd

Welcome to

THE

GERMAN SHEPHERD BOOK

A S THE OWNER of a particular type of dogor someone who is thinking about adopting oneyou probably have some questions about that dog breed that cant be answered anywhere else. In particular, you want to know what breed-specific health issues and behavioral traits might arise as you plan for the future with your beloved canine family member.

THE EVERYTHING DOG BREED GUIDES give you clear-cut answers to all your pressing questions. These authoritative books give you all you need to know about identifying common characteristics; choosing the right puppy or adult dog; coping with personality quirks; instilling obedience; and raising your pet in a healthy, positive environment.

THE EVERYTHING DOG BREED GUIDES are an extension of the bestselling EVERYTHING series in the pets category, which include The Everything Dog Book and The Everything Dog Training and Tricks Book. These authoritative, family-friendly books are specially designed to be one-stop guides for anyone looking to explore a specific breed in depth.

Visit the entire Everything Series at www.everything.com

THE

German Shepherd Book

Dear Reader:

The decision to bring a new dog into your life is a big one. When the addition is a German shepherd, the decision is even bigger! This breed comes with a lot of responsibility. But when the right shepherd is matched with the right home, the advantages are endless. In this book, Ive included everything you need to know to determine if this incredible breed is for you, and, if so, how to give your new shepherd the care and environment she needs to thrive.

For those of you who already own a shepherd, or who have owned shepherds all your lives, Ive tried to include interesting tidbits of information from a variety of sources. It is my hope that somewhere in these pages, youll recognize aspects of the German shepherd that you already know (and love), as well as find and come away with lots of new and exciting information.

I hope this book is helpful to you and that you enjoy reading it. If you implement the knowledge and experience imparted here, you and your shepherd are sure to have a long and happy life together. Enjoy!

With best regards,

THE

GERMAN
SHEPHERD
BOOK

A complete guide to raising, training,
and caring for your German shepherd

Joan Hustace Walker

Dedication:

This book is dedicated to EPD K-9, Rocky, and to all those noble
shepherds that have come before him and will follow in the future.

• Height: 2224 inches (females); 2426 inches (males)

• Weight: 65 to 95 pounds

• Head: Long, wedge-shaped muzzle; sloping head; moderately arched forehead

• Ears: Moderately pointed, open toward the front

• Feet: Short, compact, well-arched toes

• Tail: Bushy, hangs in a slight curve

• Coat: Medium-length double coat

• Topline: Shoulders slope into a straight, strong back

• Movement: Effortless, long, and smooth trot

• Temperament: Self-confident, alert, and intelligent; can be exceptionally gentle with small children if raised with them; protective and territorial, with a tendency to overdo these traits if not well socialized with people and dogs

This book would not have been possible without the generous help and experience of so many German shepherd experts. My thanks go out to Christiane and Konrad Ostermeier, Tish Walker, Cliff Weaver, Mary Davis, Andrea Portbury, Jim Matarese, Jim Elder, Ed Johnson, Judy Grumdahl, and Christine Neering, D.V.M. Also, very special thanks to Tim Nussmeier for his kind help with this and all my German shepherd projects. Thanks, also, to Randy, Eric, Grace, Lani, Curtis, and my parents, who havent missed a book signing yet.

THE GERMAN SHEPHERD IS A WIDELY LOVED and cherished breed. This dog has many wonderful traits that draw you in, but if you dont know much about shepherds, you may be in for a surprise. When a person purchases a shepherd without knowing the ins and outs of the breed, the experience is often an unpleasant one. Most shepherds are not bad dogs; they can be perfectly delightful companions. However, unless you know what makes a shepherd a shepherd, you may mistake certain behaviors for flaws or problems.

The German shepherd is definitely not the dog for everyone. This breed requires a lot of time and effort, particularly during the dogs first three years of life. Daily training, handling, and extensive socialization with all kinds of people and dogs are not optional; these are mandatory if you are to succeed with this breed.

However, shepherds do make outstanding companions, competitors, and family pets when raised by those who understand the breed. The owner who recognizes this dogs need for exercise, training, and mental stimulation is well equipped to care for a shepherd. This owner will experience all the intelligence, loyalty, and undying devotion this breed has to offer.

German shepherds that arent given an outlet for their energy, however, can become destructive. The owner of a shepherd must always be attentive to prevent the development of this trait. This dog also needs an owner who is willing to work on socializing her with all kinds of people and dogs and continue this training throughout the dogs life. This is a breed that can regress or become less outgoing and trusting if she is not constantly out and about, in the company of others.

This breed also requires quite a bit of training. Training not only keeps a shepherd mentally stimulated and makes a large, strong dog manageable, it also helps serve as a gentle daily reminder as to who is the leader in the dog-human relationship.

When selecting a shepherd, your primary concern is to choose a dog with an outstanding temperament. Its hard to mold a puppy into the adult dog you want unless you begin with a puppy with the potential to be a well-tempered dog. Due to the German shepherds rapid rise in popularity decades ago, as well as his current position as one of the most popular breeds in the country, these dogs have suffered at the hands of breeders who are only out to capitalize on this popularity. Every year, many German shepherd puppies are bred only for looks and, thus, end up with some strange temperaments.

Poorly bred shepherds also tend to suffer from all kinds of health problems. So even if you do find a German shepherd with a nice temperament, the dog might still come to suffer from illnesses that require expensive treatment. Veterinary medicine is wonderful, but it can only do so much.