How to choose the right dog breed: The German Shepherd
The German Shepherd Dog is the classic guard dog, which may explain its high popularity. The German Shepherd's reputation is consistent with its rankings of 10 on watchdog barking and territorial defense. The Shepherd stands apart from other breeds that are also ranked high on watchdog barking and territorial guarding by being rated higher on overall reactivity and destructiveness.
The German Shepherd is not for the fainthearted who back away at a small growl or dislike meting out discipline. Its guard-dog behavior is linked to high overall aggression, particularly toward other dogs, and a high tendency to resist domination by its owner. Given the German Shepherd's rating near the top on ease of obedience training, the dog-owner relationship is likely to thrive most if the Shepherd is given systematic obedience training.
Because of the high popularity of this breed and the variety of roles it fills in guarding, guiding the blind, and as a family pet, you should expect considerable variability from one dog in this breed to another. It is definitely worth exploring the genetic line of a German Shepherd you may be considering.
If the Shepherd's spirit appeals to you but you'd like to soften its aggressive and destructive tendencies, consider selecting a female. And if the Shepherd's high destructiveness really concerns you, two other guarding breeds, the Akita and the Rottweiler, rank very low on this trait.
The German Shepherd:
Weight: 75 lbs
Height: 25 in.
Build: Sturdy
Coat: Dense; regular grooming desirable.
Color: Browns, black and tan.
We would love to hear your pet's story. Please add a comment.
The German Shepherd is not for the fainthearted who back away at a small growl or dislike meting out discipline. Its guard-dog behavior is linked to high overall aggression, particularly toward other dogs, and a high tendency to resist domination by its owner. Given the German Shepherd's rating near the top on ease of obedience training, the dog-owner relationship is likely to thrive most if the Shepherd is given systematic obedience training.
Because of the high popularity of this breed and the variety of roles it fills in guarding, guiding the blind, and as a family pet, you should expect considerable variability from one dog in this breed to another. It is definitely worth exploring the genetic line of a German Shepherd you may be considering.
If the Shepherd's spirit appeals to you but you'd like to soften its aggressive and destructive tendencies, consider selecting a female. And if the Shepherd's high destructiveness really concerns you, two other guarding breeds, the Akita and the Rottweiler, rank very low on this trait.
The German Shepherd:
Weight: 75 lbs
Height: 25 in.
Build: Sturdy
Coat: Dense; regular grooming desirable.
Color: Browns, black and tan.
We would love to hear your pet's story. Please add a comment.
MORE VETERINARY ARTICLES
-
Small Dogs You shouldn't base your decision of which small dog breed to pick based solely on "looks," or you could end up with...
-
Signs of labor in dogs and dog labor symptoms. Classically, dog labor is divided into 3 stages: 1st stage: Cervical relaxation and dilatati...
-
If you are in the market for a good family dog but place a high priority on territorial protection, the Boxer might fill this role quite nic...
-
Dog on heat signs The dog heat symptoms occur when bitches are attractive to male dogs. The term "heat" is used by dog owners t...
-
The Bloodhound is a dog almost guaranteed to be calm and unobtrusive on virtually all occasions, yet be amenable to training. It won't d...
-
Arthropathies are diseases that affect joints. Arthritis is the term used to denote inflammatory changes in the joint. Arthrosis denotes ...
-
The Alaskan Malamute is larger than either the Siberian Husky or the Samoyed, two other similar breed of sled dogs. As the largest breed of ...
-
If you must find a dog that is not active, excitable or aggressive, the Basset Hound could be ideal for you. Bassets have the reputation of ...
-
Giardia in dogs - symptoms and treatment Giardia in dogs is caused by a protozoan, Giardia spp. Animals are infected when they ingest cyst...
-
The same general mechanisms that cause edema elsewhere in the body cause edema in the pulmonary parenchyma. Major mechanisms are decreased ...