- There are two significant German Shepherd breed standards in the world – the European FCI German Shepherd breed standard and the American AKC German Shepherd breed standard.
- Males tend to average 24-26 inches in height (60-65 cms), and 66-88 lbs in weight (30-40 kg).
- Females tend to average 22-24 inches in height (55-60 cms), and 49-71 lbs in weight (22-32 kg).
- German Shepherds have a life expectancy of around 9-13 years.
- There are many coat color variations of the German Shepherd: Black & Tan, Black & Silver, Black & Red, Black & Cream, Black , Bi-Color, Blue, Gray, Liver, Sable (a brown color), Agouti, White, Brindle.
- German Shepherds are used extensively as police dogs.
- German Shepherds need daily exercise of at least 20-30 minutes.
- German Shepherd puppies are born with their ears and eyes sealed.
- German Shepherds as a breed are notorious for having developed the genetic disorders of Hip Dysplasia and Elbow Dysplasia.
- A German Shepherd puppy’s teeth will begin to grow in between 2 to 4 weeks.
- German Shepherds as we know them today were first bred around 1899 in Germany.
- GSD is an acronym for the German Shepherd Dog, so, back in the day, it wouldn’t be confused with a German, shepherd (the human).
- Rare Dirndl Large Germany Collars & Leash Sets are great for German Sheperds!
- The German Shepherd is the second most registered dog in the USA at 3.5 million (second only to the Golden Retriever).
- This breed is good with children and will be a cross between a babysitter and cop – both gentle and protective.
- The nose of this breed has around 225 million scent receptors (humans have 400) which enables them to excel at detecting scents on the air and ground.
- German Shepherds are sometimes referred to as the “German shedders” because they shed their coat year-round and “blow” their coat (extreme shedding) twice-a-year.
- Out of 100 dog breeds, the Shepherd is the third most intelligent.
- German Shepherd is known as “Alsatian”
- German Shepherds are known for their “classic black masks” around their eyes, which cuts down on the glare of the sun when out “working.”
- Max von Stephanitz is known as the “father of the breed”
- German Shepherd Dogs were the first guide dogs.
- The German Shepherd is one of the very few breeds to have the word “dog” in their name.
- The sport of Schutzhund was created in the 1900’s for German Shepherd Dogs
- German Shepherds were highly regarded for their reliability during the World Wars
Sources:
https://thedailyshep.com/list-essential-german-shepherd-facts-information/
https://blog.pawedin.com/dogs/102-fun-facts-about-german-shepherds/
https://www.pets4homes.co.uk/dog-breeds/german-shepherd/#KeyFactsSection
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