Short-haired German shepherds: description and features of care

Those who are at least a little interested in history know that it was the dog that was the first animal tamed by man. Initially, such domesticated pets were used by people for hunting and served as a guard. But today everything has changed completely. Of course, the dog continues to be specially trained so that it can protect the property and protect its owner, but, first of all, today she is a friend of man.

There are legends about such a breed of dogs like the German Shepherd. Besides the fact that they are specially trained in order to serve in certain military units, they are also considered the best among all the other breeds for living together with people.

Having such a reliable and loyal friend at home is the dream of many dog ​​lovers. But before you decide to start a similar dog, you need to learn about it as much information as possible, and you need to start with the history of the breed's origin. Some dog handlers and breeders claim that the distant ancestor of the German shepherd is the Indian wolf. And if you look closely at the appearance of the dog, then in fact you can find some similarities.

The short-haired German shepherd is a shepherd's breed. Yes, it was this used during the grazing of cows, goats and sheep. In order to create the perfect dog for grazing animals, German breeders worked for a long time.

Speaking about the standards of this breed, I would like to note the features of the structure and appearance of the dog. For the short-haired German Shepherd is characterized by thick, tough coat and a dense undercoat. The hairs do not stick out, but lie adjacent to the body in one direction.

As for the exterior, it is thanks to him that the breed can be easily distinguished from other dogs. Characterizes the short-haired German Shepherd square skull and wedge-shaped head. She has a very well developed jaw: both upper and lower. Lips tend to adhere to the jaws and dark color. Shepherd can also give her nose, which is exclusively black.

Male of this breed is quite large, and exceeds the height and weight of the bitch. The weight of an adult male can be 30-40 kilograms, while the weight of the female does not exceed 32 kilograms. The growth of the dog reaches 65 centimeters, and the bitch is only 5 cm lower.

The color of the short-haired or, as it is also called, smooth-haired German shepherd dog can be different, and this is another of its distinguishing features. The most common and common colors of the breed include:

• black and gray;
• bluish with gray;
• the black;
• a combination of four shades of red;
• darkened black;
• weakened black;
• blackish;
• brindle;
• zonary;
• white.

When choosing a dog that will live with people, especially in families where there are children, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of the nature of the breed.And here it is worth noting the fact that it is the German Shepherd, each of its subspecies, is considered the perfect pet.

It is no secret that a shepherd is one of the smartest dogs in the world. Experts say that such a dog has extremely positive character traits, which include:

• obedience;
• intelligence;
• dedication;
• humility;
• the ability to feel the person and the situation;
• self-control and self-control - the dog will never show aggression without need, but if something threatens its owner and people close to it, you can not expect any mercy from it;
• activity and vitality.

Most of all respect deserves the dedication of the shepherd, which has no boundaries. Very often there are situations when the dog protects the owner or another family member at the cost of his own life. The dog of this breed loves all households, during the separation with which it is very depressing.

Of course, the attitude of the dog to children is one of the components of the character of the animal, but I would like to talk about it separately, as this is a rather important point when choosing a pet. If you have small children, and you plan to have a dog, then a shepherd dog is ideal.

Such a pet will be a reliable protection, he will never offend a baby. Even if a child, as is customary in children, will in every possible way provoke the animal, trying to pull him by the ears or bruise, in the case of discomfort, the dog will simply hide or leave the room. Sheepdogs are very playful and active dogs, so they can play with their children very much.

The state of health of a shepherd dog, like any other pet, must be very carefully monitored. It will not be difficult for a dog to adapt to a specific climate, it is convenient for her to live both in an apartment and on the street - in a kennel or aviary. Despite the fact that the German Shepherd is one of the most hardy breeds of dogs, which steadfastly resists many diseases, it is also peculiar to her to be sick.

Dogs of this breed most often suffer from:

• twisting intestines;
• food allergies;
• diabetes;
• hind leg failure;
• diseases of the urinary tract;
• growth hormone deficiency;
• aortic stenosis.

The most vulnerable spot of the German Shepherd are her eyes. Infectious eye disease is something that almost every dog ​​of a given breed can face. It is necessary to monitor the condition of the pet's eyes, especially if the dog lives on the street.

To ensure the well-being of the dog and to minimize the possibility of the manifestation of various diseases, vaccination is needed. The German Shepherd should be vaccinated against such diseases:

• rabies;
• infectious hepatitis;
• parvovirus infection;
• arbovirus enteritis;
• leptospirosis;
• parainfluenza;
• the plague is carnivorous.

The big advantage of the breed is its unpretentiousness. However, during the shedding of the short-haired German Shepherd dog you cannot do without a special comb, with which the dog must be combed twice a week. A special scissors need to cut long hairs of wool. As for water procedures, a dog needs three bathings per year in the warm season. Experts do not recommend bathing a shepherd dog more often, otherwise her coat may lose its natural luster.

Tartar is another breed problem. To prevent its occurrence you need at least once a week give the dog a special dental stick, which can be bought at a veterinary pharmacy. Also, do not forget about going to the veterinarian, who must examine the oral cavity of the dog and make sure that everything is well and meets the requirements.

The animal's health is guaranteed by a proper and balanced diet, which must contain the necessary vitamins, minerals, and trace elements. Given the characteristics and capabilities of the breed, experts recommend introducing only ready-made super-premium food into the dog's diet. But how to feed your dog, the owner, of course, decides for himself, the main thing is not to harm the animal.

It is very important that the feeding schedule is maintained.

• 2 to 6 months A puppy needs six meals a day.
• Since six months and about a year is enough 3-4.
• Adult enough of 2 meals per day. The portion size needs to be adjusted independently, for this it should be understood how active the dog is. After the dog has eaten, you need to wash its bowl.

After all the above information, which related to the upbringing and care of animals, it remains only to talk about how to choose the right puppy and what to look for.

For an inexperienced person it is quite difficult to choose a good and healthy puppy from a litter, so we pay attention to:

• integument - it should not be bites and irritations;
• smooth tail;
• clean eyes without mucus;
• short coat;
• paws that should be straight;
• general condition of the puppy.

If you take a puppy in the kennel, please note that such companies usually have documents confirming the legal activities of the organization. In the nursery must be clean and dry, and the animals must be well maintained and live in appropriate conditions.

About what shepherd choose, see below.