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Breed Info

Training - The German Shepherd requires early intensive and extensive socialization and obedience training. They will not respond to harsh or heavy-handed methods. This breed is obedient and quick to learn. Training must be done with respect, firmness, fairness, reward, and consistency. They are exceptionally talented in tracking, schutzhund, agility, obedience, fly-ball, and ring sport. The German Shepherd is often used in police work, search and rescue, as a guide for the blind, military work, as well as Personal and Family Protection.

Activity - This breed is happiest when given a job to do. They require strenuous exercise and enjoy securely leashed walks, family play sessions, and a large safely fenced area to romp and run freely in. The German Shepherd will do okay in an apartment or condominium dwelling provided they are given sufficient exercise, stimulation, and attention.

Ownership - If you are looking for a German Shepherd puppy for sale from a reputable German Shepherd breeder, then make sure you understand as much about the dog breed as you can. Begin your research by reading the breed information about the German Shepherd puppy above, ask the breeder if they can furnish you with testimonies from previous buyers, check with AKC to see if they have had any complaints, ask how their breeding program works and if they do selective breeding.  German Shepherd puppies make great pets if cared for properly.
Breed Group - Herding

Weight - 75-95 lbs

Height - Male: 24-26, Female: 22-24 inches

Color(s) - Black and Tan, Bi Color, Black and Silver, Blue, Blue and Tan, Solid Black and Sable.  The German Shepherd is a double coat breed. The outer coat is harsh, straight, and thick. The under coat is dense and soft. The German Shepherd comes in three varieties: rough coat, long hair, and long rough coat. This breed is a regular shedder, but with proper diet that can be minimized. Although they will completely shed their coat in the spring and fall.

Overview - This breed was developed in the 19th century by Max Von Stephanitz who is considered to be the father of the German Shepherd. Revered for their versatility as companion and for their dedication to work, this breed has the distinction of being the first dog ever used as a guide for the blind. Today the German Shepherd is one of the most popular breeds in the world.

Character - The German Shepherd is a breed of classic beauty and possesses superior intelligence, and courage. They are highly adaptable, energetic, curious, strong, and dependable. This breed displays a magnificent appearance and is extremely agile with great stamina and endurance.

Temperament - A member of the herding group, the German Shepherd is fearless, bold, hard working, and alert. They are esteemed for their loyalty, deep devotion, and courage. This breed thrives on human interaction from their family . German Shepherds are naturally wary of strangers but with proper socialization will tolerate them. They will most generally get along with other household pets they have been raised with.

Care - This breed requires frequent brushing to minimize loose hair. Bathing should only be done when necessary using a mild shampoo to preserve the integrity of the coat. They must be kept on a well balanced diet, with plenty of exercise. German Shepherds are prone to such health issues as blood disorders, elbow and hip dysplasia, epilepsy, flea allergies, digestive problems, and chronic eczema.

 

German Titles & Terms Found On A Pedigree (Schutzhund Info)


What is Schutzhund?

Schutzhund is a German word meaning "protection dog". It refers to a sport that focuses on developing and evaluating those traits in dogs that make them more useful and happier companions to their owners. Schutzhund work concentrates on three parts. Many are familiar with the obedience work of the American Kennel Club's affiliates and will recognize the first two parts, tracking and obedience. The Schutzhund standards for the third part, protection work, are similar to those for dogs in police work.


While dogs of other breeds are also actively involved in the sport of Schutzhund and often follow similar criteria for breeding purposes, this breed evaluation test was developed specifically for the German Shepherd Dog. Schutzhund is intended to demonstrate the dog's intelligence and utility. As a working trial, Schutzhund measures the dog's mental stability, endurance, structural efficiencies, ability to scent, willingness to work, courage, and trainability.


This working dog sport offers an opportunity for dog owners to train their dog and compete with each other for recognition of both the handler's ability to train and the dog's ability to perform as required. It is a sport enjoyed by persons of varied professions, who join together in a camaraderie born of their common interest in working with their dogs. Persons of all ages and conditions of life even those with significant disabilities enjoy Schutzhund as a sport. Often, it is a family sport.

 

The BH or companion dog title is a pre-requirement for Schutzhund titles. All breeds and sizes are eligible with the minimum age requirements of 15 months.

There are three levels of the Schutzhund test:

 

The Schutzhund Titles 1

SchH1

For SchH1 the dog must be at least 18 months old and pass an initial temperament test by the judge. The dog must heel off leash, demonstrate the walking sit, the walking down, and the long down under distraction, as well as the send-out. It must retrieve on the flat and over a hurdle, and over the scaling wall. In tracking, it must be able to follow a track laid by its handler at least 20 minutes earlier. There are also protection tests.

 

The Schutzhund Titles 2

SchH2

For SchH2 the dog must be at least 19 months old and must already have earned its SchH1 degree. It must again pass all of the obedience and protection tests required for the SchH1 degree, but those tests, for SchH2, are made more difficult and require greater endurance, agility, and, above all, control. There is an additional walking stand exercise required. In tracking, the SchH2 candidate must be able to follow a track laid by a stranger at least 30 minutes earlier.

 

The Schutzhund Titles 3

SchH3

For SchH3, the master's degree, the dog must be at least 20 months old and must have earned both the SchH 1 and the SchH2 titles. Again, the tests now are made far more difficult. All exercises in obedience and protection are demonstrated off leash. The Walking stand is replaced by the running stand. In tracking, the dog must follow a track that was laid by a stranger at least 60 minutes earlier. The track has four turns, compared with two turns for SchH1 and 2, and there are three objects, rather than two, that must be found by the dog. The picture of obedience, strength, eagerness, and confidence presented by an excellent SchH3 team is a beautiful illustration of the partnership of human and dog.

 

In addition to the Schutzhund temperament tests, the United Schutzhund Clubs of America offer three training degrees: the FH 1 and FH 2, advanced tracking degrees; WH, or basic protection degree which includes basic obedience, and the AD which is an 12.5 mile endurance test and includes obedience. USA also offers six seperate obedience and tracking titles that reflect the routines for SchH 1, 2, & 3 levels.

 

The following is a list of Titles and Ratings that you may find on a German Pedigree Form.

SchH  I,  II,  III,  Schutzhund I  ,II,  III  sport emcompassing  Tracking, Obedience, And Protection.
IPO   I,  II,  III,    Internationalae Prufungsklasse  I,  II,   III,   International  schH  I,  II,  III.
FH   Faehrtenhund   Tracking Dog, and is the most advanced tracking title.
DH   Diensthund    Service Dog
Ph    Polizehund     Police Dog
DPH  Dienstpolizeihund   Service Police Dog
ZH  I,  II,  Zollhund  I,  II,   Customs Dog  I  or II
HGH  Herdengebrauchshund    Herding Dog
INT    Internationale Prufungsklasse   International Training Degree
BPDH  I,  II,  Bannpolizeidiensthund  I,  II  Railroad Police Service Dog   I,  or  II
BIH  Blindenhund   Guide Dog For The Blind
PFP  I,  II,  Polizeifaehrtenhund  I,  II,  Police Tracking Dog  I,  II
PSP  I,  II  Polizeischutzhundprufung  I<  II,  Police Protection Dog  I,  II
GrH  Grenzen Hund   Border Patrol Dog
LawH  Lawinen Hund   Avalanche Rescue Dog.

Conformation Titles & Ratings

ZB  Zuchtbewertung  Conformation Show Rating Followed By:
 V-A Vorzuglich -Ayskese -- Excellent  Select
 V-  Vorzuglich  -   Excellent
 SG-  Sehr Gut - Very Good
 G - Gut  -Good
 A- Austreichend  - Sufficient
 M- Mangelhaft  - Faulty
 U-  Ungenugend  - Insufficient

German Hip Ratings

"a" - Zuerkannt  -  Certified Hips that fell within the following Three Categories:

"a"  - Normal  _ certified Normal Hips
"a" - Fast Normal -  Certified Near Normal Hips
"a" - Noch Zugelassen  - Certified Still Permissible Hips