German Shepherd

Breed Information

Nobel, athletic and brave – the German Shepherd Dog has been well-loved for its loyalty and confident demeanor since it was first bred as a working dog in the 1800s. Because of its herding heritage, the German Shepherd thrives when it has a family to watch over and makes for a close, loyal companion.

SIZE
The male German Shepherd Dog stands at 60-65cms and weighs between 30kgs and 40kgs. The females are 55-60cms tall at withers and weigh 22-30kgs.
They are not suitable for apartment living, but can be happy in a small to medium yard if you are able to provide daily exercise.

COAT
German Shepherd Dogs have a double coat with an outercoat that is dense, straight and lies close to the body. You can find German Shepherd Dogs in black with markings of reddish-brown, brown, yellow or grey, or with a solid black or grey coat. The true colour of a German Shepherd is only known once the pup sheds for the first time and grows its adult coat.

CHARACTER & TEMPERAMENT
The German Shepherd Dog has a wonderful temperament and have successfully been bred to be loyal, loving and affectionate companions.
They thrive when they feel part of a family and will enjoy doing everything with you.
With their natural inclination to guard, the German Shepherd Dog makes for an ideal watchdog and is easily trained to detect and protect against danger to its family.

CARE
With a double coat, it’s important to keep your German Shepherd well-groomed to prevent tangles. During the transition between winter and summer, your German Shepherd Dog will shed its wooly undercoat. During this time, it’s advisable to groom the coat daily with a rubber brush to deal with the excess hair.
Contrary to popular belief, the German Shepherd Dog craves company and should not be left alone for long periods of time. When lonely and bored, they will become destructive and noisy so keep your German Shepherd stimulated while you’re gone with chew toys and marrow bones.

TRAINING
All German Shepherd Dogs require obedience training and socialization from a young age to curb their strong-headed nature. This is especially necessary for those that show signs of being boisterous and dominating. The good news is that the intelligence and reliability of the breed makes for an easily trained dog that is responsive and quick to pick up commands.

 ACTIVITY
With such a stunning, athletic build, it’s not surprising that German Shepherd Dogs require a lot of exercise. Best suited to an active family with a large yard, or at the very least a long, daily walk and plenty of off-leash time at a dog park.  If left in the back yard without enough stimulation, the German Shepherd will become bored and try to escape.

German Shepherd Breeders

• Takimbre German Shepherds
• Glenbala Gsd's
• Kardin German Shepherd Dogs
• View more...