german shepherds!

german shepherds!

their predominant traits: the german shepherd breed is known to be very intelligent, loyal, determined, high energy, obedient, and courageous. they're easy to train because they are so smart, so they're often are trained to work as police k9s, search and rescue, service animals, herders, guard dogs, or detection dogs. german shepherds are good with families and children, and can be either indoor or outdoor dogs. they shed year round, but have two periods of major shedding during the fall and spring.

common health concerns: german shepherds' lifespan is 9-13 years, and the following are some common health issues for the breed...

• elbow and hip dysplasia
• Gastric Dilation Volvulus (GDV)
• degenerative myelopathy
• heart disease like dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and heart murmurs
• skin allergies

grooming and maintenance:

• german shepherds are very active and require lots of exercise(1-2 hours daily). without enough exercise they can develop unwanted and troublesome habits.
• they need their nails trimmed once a month.
• a quick brushing every few days is necessary due to their double coat.
• only bathe them every 3-4 months, because their double coat needs natural oils.
• it is recommended brush their teeth 2-3 times a week.
• clean your german shepherd's ears every 1-2 weeks, or however much your vet recommends.

(all images are not mine, the rights go their original creators!)