The German Shepherd breed was derived from the old breeds of herding and farm dogs. It was sponsored by the Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde, the parent club of the breed founded in 1899 in Germany. German Shepherds are sought after for their ability to be a loyal family pet and a good guard dog, the ideal choice for many families. They require regular exercise and stimulation for their very intelligent minds. Training is one of the most important responsibilities you have as a dog owner. Basic obedience training will make your dog a better companion and strengthen the bond between the two of you. Classes—ranging from puppy or kindergarten to adult and advanced obedience training—are available in most cities, offered by local German Shepherd Dog clubs or all-breed kennel clubs. For the more serious owners, there are competition classes and dog shows.
The protective but loving German Shepherd is a great choice for families with children, but singles and couples who love the outdoors also match up well with this breed. With sufficient exercise and opportunities to use their considerable athleticism and brains, these versatile companions can handle anything from a small city apartment to a vast ranch. They're not suited for life in the backyard or a doghouse, but need to live indoors as a member of the family.
German Shepherds come in a variety of colors, although not all are recognized by AKC. Most commonly, people think of the traditional Black and Tan or Black and Red with "saddle" pattern markings. BarenJager Von Cacao is a good example of this color:
The protective but loving German Shepherd is a great choice for families with children, but singles and couples who love the outdoors also match up well with this breed. With sufficient exercise and opportunities to use their considerable athleticism and brains, these versatile companions can handle anything from a small city apartment to a vast ranch. They're not suited for life in the backyard or a doghouse, but need to live indoors as a member of the family.
German Shepherds come in a variety of colors, although not all are recognized by AKC. Most commonly, people think of the traditional Black and Tan or Black and Red with "saddle" pattern markings. BarenJager Von Cacao is a good example of this color:
Barenjager Von Cacao
Sables are almost as prevalent as the black/tan colors. In fact, Rin-tin-tin was a sable, just like our Mint Julep Von Cacao:
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Mint Julep Von Cacao
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Less commonly seen colors but AKC accepted colors are solid black and bicolor. Other colors that AKC does not currently recognize are solid white, liver, blue, and panda.