History
​The German Shepherd dog originated in 1899, created by Max von Stephanitz, a captain in the German cavalry. Stephanitz noticed farmers desperately needed reliable livestock herders, but there was no distinct dog breed to do this important work. Instead, people traveled great distances to find good genetic stock to produce a working dog, so Stephanitz set out to select those traits and create a single recognized dog breed. When he came across a 'wolf-like' dog at a dog show in 1899, Stephanitz immediately bought him, named him Horand Von Grafath and founded an organization to create an exceptional herding breed from Horand’s descendants. This is the German Shepherd we know today.

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Personality Traits​

The German Shepherd is popular for numerous reasons. Aside from their beautiful coats and striking facial profiles, German Shepherds are one of the smartest dog’s in the world, ranked third smartest dog breed out of 137 breeds. While the average canine is said to have the mental capacity of a two year old child, the German Shepherd is on par with the brain of a three year old. It is because of this intelligence German shepherds are also highly trainable and come ready to learn. German Shepherds are also known to be loyal, protective and loving to their families. German Shepherd personality traits can vary greatly from dog to dog. Many factors contribute to their development, and their personality traits. Some features are natural and instinctive while others need to be taught when they are young. Most of their traits can be enhanced with diligent training starting when they are young puppies. 

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Physical Traits and Needs 

The German Shepherd Dog is a large, agile, muscular dog. German Shepherd Dogs can stand as high as 26 inches at the shoulder and weigh 65-90lbs for males and 50-70lbs for females. German Shepherds are a long term commitment, most living for 8+ years but some have even reached 18 years of age! German Shepherds have a double layered coat that comes in a variety of colors (see chart). This double layered coat protects them from the sun in the summer and the cold temperatures in the winter. With this double layered coat comes heavy shedding. While only a occasional bath is called for, a good brushing at least once weekly is recommended. Brushing more frequently in the heavy shedding seasons of spring and fall will help reduce the amount of dog hair in your house but you'll still need to invest in a good vacuum cleaner for a dog sometimes called the German Shedder. Perhaps the most important need after food, water, shelter and health care is the German Shepherds need for daily mental and physical exercise, after all they were bred to be a working breed. They need at least 30-60 minutes of daily activity, whether it be walks, runs, games, or obedience training. These activities will keep your dog happy, healthy and keep it from becoming board and destructive. However, if a German Shepherd is younger than 1 year to 18 months of age, use caution against any long-distance hikes or runs while bones are growing and growth plates are closing.

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Ask Yourself 

Now that you know a little more about German Shepherd Dogs it is time to ask yourself if you can handle owning one. Can you provide a German Shepherd with food, water, shelter and healthcare? Can you fulfill their needs for exercise, training and attention? If so we here at Wolfgang Shepherds LLC are more than excited to help you choose your new companion!

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