German Shepherd Dog ( Alsatian )

The German Shepherd Dog has one of the largest followings in the world. It IS also the breed that rouses the strongest emotions in the public. They either worship the German Shepherd or abhor it. If a smaller breed takes a nip out of the postman's trousers, the misdeed may go unreported; but if a German Shepherd is involved, the headlines are likely to be: 'German Shepherd Dog savages postman. The German Shepherd is one of the most courageous and intelligent of dogs, debatably the most intelligent. Breed members have fought bravely, and many lost their lives in two world wars. They have been, and still are, used, as guide dogs for the blind (US 'seeing eye dogs'), police dogs and military dogs. Certainly they are a very popular guard. It is this strong guarding instinct that can be their undoing, however, for a German Shepherd protecting a toddler may menace a stranger at the garden gate. It could also turn nasty through sheer boredom if acquired as a mere pet dog. The German Shepherd deserves a job to do, whether it be in the public service or competing eagerly in obedience and working trials.

Origin and history

The German Shepherd Dog is sometimes associated, rightly or wrongly, with the Bronze Age wolf, perhaps an unfortunate suggestion in that it wrongly associates the breed with wolf-like tendencies. Certainly around the seventh century a sheepdog of this type, but with a lighter coat, existed in Germany; and by the sixteenth century the coat had appreciably darkened.

The breed was first exhibited at a dog show in Hanover in 1882. Credit for the formation of the breed is widely assigned to a German fancier named von Stephanitz, who did much to improve its temperament and appearance.

The German Shepherd Dog was introduced into the United Kingdom following World War I by a small band of dedicated fanciers who had seen the breed working in Germany. These included the late Colonel Baldwin and Air Commodore Alan Cecil-Wright, president of the Kennel Club. It was thought inappropriate at that time to glorify an animal bearing a German prefix, so, as the breed had come from Alsace, it became known in the United Kingdom as the Alsatian. Only in 1971 did the Kennel Club relent and agree to the breed being known once more as the German Shepherd Dog.

German Long-Haired Pointer Puppies

Good points

• Easily trained
• Equable temperament
• ExceVentgundog
• Good with children
• Makes a good household pet
• Obedient

Take heed

• Needs plenty of exercise

Size

Height 24-25in (61-63.5cm) at the shoulder

Exercise

Should be allowed plenty of exercise.

German Long-Haired Pointer Information

General appearance
A dog of robust, muscular build but with a distinguished general appearance. The expression is one of Intelligence and nobility, the character lively without any nervousness.

Colour
Usually self-coloured, light brown or dead leaf. The presence of red and black is penalized.

Head and skull
Long, lean, quite broad, divided into equal length for skull and muzzle; the upper part of the head is slightly rounded. It is the head which gives import and distinction to the general appearance. The nose is flat, more or less deep brown in colour.

Tail
Well set on, carried horizontally, sometimes slightly curved upward, the tail may be slightly docked if it is too long or if it is out of proportion with the rest ofthe body; the long hair at the midpoint of the tail should be a good fringe.

Feet
Well closed, of moderate length, moderately round.

German Long-haired Pointer Feeding & Grooming

Grooming

Brush the coat regularly to keep it in good condition.

Feeding

Recommended would be 20-330z (587-936g) of a branded, meaty product with biscuit added, or 3-5 cupfuls of a dry food, complete diet, mixed in the proportion of 1 cup of feed to 112 cup of hot or cold water.

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