When World War I broke out, German Shepherds joined the German army. As Germans increasingly left their pastures for the city, German Shepherds updated their resumes, staying relevant as police dogs, mail carriers, and guard dogs. The German Shepherd was first bred in 1889 by Max von Stephanitz, who discovered a dog that looked almost exactly like the modern breed. German Shepherds served in the World Wars - on both sides So, if you’re worried your Shepherd is unhealthy because its ears haven’t stood up yet, there’s nothing to fear - just give it time!ģ Little-Known Facts About the German Shepherd 1. As the puppies get bigger, their ears begin to stand up straight - as early as 6 weeks for some and as late as 14 weeks for others. All German Shepherds are born with floppy ears. “Cropping” is a way to make naturally floppy ears stand up but inflicts unnecessary pain and suffering on the dog. Others get angry for the exact opposite reason, believing that the Shepherd’s pointy ears result from the same unethical surgical procedures sometimes done to Doberman Pinschers. Some people looking for a pedigree GSD think they’re being conned when they meet a puppy with floppy ears, assuming the breeder is trying to pass off a mutt as a purebred.
There’s a lot of confusion around German Shepherds’ famously pointy ears. So, settle in as we tell you about the hard-working breed that’s traveled from the pasture to the police academy - the German Shepherd. Think of us as your K-9 detectives, cutting through the noise around this beloved breed to tell you what it’s really like to live with one. What’s the truth that lurks behind those iconic black-and-tan faces, with their kind eyes and wolf-like grins? That’s what we’re talking about in this post. One dog lover might see them as a willful breed that tugs on the leash hard enough to walk their owners, while another considers them the world’s smartest, most trainable working dogs. Some see them as merciless guard dogs, some as cuddly family pets. They’ve been a perennial favorite breed for so long that they seem to be all things to all people. according to the American Kennel Club, behind only the Labrador Retriever.īut with that popularity comes a lot of popular opinions about the German Shepherd.
After all, they are the second most popular dog breed in the U.S. The German Shepherd, also known as the Alsatian, Alsatian Wolf Dog, or GSD (German Shepherd Dog), might seem to be a dog who needs no introduction. Intelligent, brave, confident, versatile, energetic 22 to 24 inches (female), 24 to 26 inches (male)ĥ0 to 70 pounds (female), 65 to 90 pounds (male)īlack and tan, black and red, black and cream, blue, liver and tan, gray, black, whiteĪctive families, families with children, those with space for a large dog
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