German Shepherd

This is what you need to know about a Full Breed German Shepherd!

Size

• Medium
• Fully grown german shepherds are generally about 25 inches in height and can be up to 95 pounds heavy. 

Characteristics

• Full-breed German shepherds have bushy tails that curl downwards, and their backs are muscular and flat. At the same time, their heads are somewhat triangular, their ears can look disproportionate as they are pretty significant compared to their faces, and their ears also tend to stand up straight. 

Coat and Color

• German shepherds have a dense and rough coat, which can be black or brown or a combination of these colors; they can also be grey, beige, or in rare cases, they can be albino german shepherds, which is when their coats are white because of a recessive gene. They can either be long-haired german shepherds or short-haired german shepherds. 

German Shepherd Puppies – Full Breed German Shepherd

German shepherds are lovely dogs and can be fantastic family pets. German shepherd puppies need to be trained when they are young to ensure you instill the behavior you expect from them. German shepherd puppies stop growing when they are about 18 months old.

You can do some things to encourage the behavior you expect from your german shepherd puppies. You must have a big yard if you are considering getting a german shepherd puppy, as they need extensive exercise and stimulation. German shepherds are susceptible to separation anxiety, so you would need to actively work towards avoiding this scenario when they are puppies. 

Avoiding Separation Anxiety in Full Breed German Shepherd

If you own a german shepherd puppy, you have some options to prevent separation anxiety; one of the proactive steps you can take to avoid your german shepherd feeling stressed when you aren’t around is to introduce “alone time” when they are puppies already, giving them a safe environment to be alone in.

Have some stimulating activity for your german shepherd puppy to do while they are having their alone time, and perhaps you can hide treats for them to find to entertain them. You can also practice having time apart from your german shepherd puppy while you are in the same room, in a separate room, and with you outside the house. Teach them that it is okay for them to be away from you. You can also prevent separation anxiety by socializing them from a very young age. 

The temperament of Full Breed German Shepherd

German shepherds would be ideal pets to have alongside other pets and children, significantly if they are raised together. German shepherds tend to be weary around strangers and those not in their close circles, as they are guard dogs, after all. Their character is generally confident, courageous and loyal.

German shepherds, especially german shepherd puppies, can learn many commands; they are also willing to lay their lives down for the family members entrusted to them. German shepherds are also known to be extremely intelligent and very easy to train. 

The lifespan of Full Breed German Shepherd

Like with many large dogs, a German shepherd’s lifespan is anywhere from 9 years to 13 years, and there has been a recorded case of a german shepherd living to be 23 years old. Some factors can contribute to either lengthening or shortening their lifespan, including diet, exercise, and stimulation. 

Shedding of Full Breed German Shepherd

German shepherds are sometimes playfully called german shedders because they shed their coats throughout the year. Whether a long-haired german shepherd or a short-haired german shepherd, they shed a lot.

German shepherds shed before each season like a human changing from their summer wardrobe to their winter one, except their coats are physically attached to them. When they’re ‘changing their coats,’ it will be intense shedding for about ten days since that’s how long it takes for german shepherds to lose and replace their undercoats. If you notice your german shepherd shedding more than usual and it’s not close to a change of season, it would be wise to take a trip to the vet as they can also shed due to health reasons. 

The Health of Full Breed German Shepherd

Large breed dogs such as german shepherds tend to suffer from hip dysplasia, and when untreated, hip dysplasia can cause other issues, including arthritis. They can also suffer from elbow dysplasia which, once again, when untreated, can cause further problems for your german shepherd. In some cases, these dysplasias may be present from when they are puppies but can quickly go undiagnosed, causing the issues later. It would be best if you had yearly checkups at the vet for your german shepherd. 

German shepherds are also susceptible to getting cataracts as they age; you can quickly see if your german shepherd has developed cataracts. You will see a white layer that has formed on their eye, and the risk of cataracts is increased if your dog has diabetes. If your german shepherd’s cataracts go untreated for a prolonged period, it may cause blindness in the affected eye. 

Another significant health risk in german shepherds is diabetes. Diabetes is when your dog’s pancreas does not make enough insulin to manage the body’s glucose levels once. Again if untreated, there can be severe complications; some dogs may go into comas or start having seizures due to their being diabetic. 

Another condition to be aware of when you own a german shepherd is what would commonly be referred to as “bloat” this is when your dog’s stomach fills up with too much gas and causes its stomach to twist and turn in unnatural ways causing your dog to be in a lot of pain. With this condition, the worst-case scenario is that they will require surgery if you get them to a vet late.

If untreated, the situation may become fatal; looking at all the common health issues for german shepherds, it can not be stressed enough that it is essential to take your pet to the vet at least once a year to ensure they are and remain in optimal health. 

Best Diet For Full Breed German Shepherd

You can prevent some of the possible health issues that german shepherds have by feeding them a healthy and nutritious diet. German shepherds need a diet that is rich in fat and protein. Their food needs to sustain their energy levels. How much food you feed your dog depends on how much your dog runs around in a day. If you have a relatively chilled dog, your dog would require a smaller amount of food compared to high energy, who barely sit still during the day.

What You Need To Know About Full Breed German Shepherd

German shepherds can be referred to as the ‘jack of all trades’ of the canine world as they are very flexible in their abilities, from being dog sniffing dogs to being loving family pets to being guard dogs. German shepherds are extremely intelligent and protective of their houses and people. Female german shepherds are more protective towards their family, whereas male german shepherds are more protective towards their territory. German shepherds make lovely companions and won’t leave your side if you don’t want them to. When you bring a german shepherd into your home and raise them as a part of your family, it is important to trust their instincts. If they don’t like someone, there is probably a reason.