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What is the German Shepherd Dog ... ?
The German Shepherd Dog (known also as the Alsatian or Schäfer(hund)) is
an intelligent breed of dog. Because they are eager to please, they are
easily trained in obedience and protection. German Shepherd Dogs are
often used as working dogs in many capacities, including search and
rescue (SAR), military, police or guard dogs. They are also used as
assistance dogs/service dogs (such as guide dogs), though not as much as
Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers.
The breed was originated by
Captain Max von Stephanitz
in the late
19th century and
early
20th century. His
goal was to breed an all-purpose
working dog. The
first registered German Shepherd Dog was Horand v. Grafrath. Von
Stephanitz admired the
landrace
herding dogs of
his native
German Empire,
and believed they had the potential to be all-purpose working dogs.
What
is the difference between show dogs and working dogs ... ?
Showline is a term used by breeders of animals to define animals bred
from stock that are bred for showing, as opposed to animals being breed
for working purposes. Also, there is quite a difference between show or
working lines and show or working animals (i.e. an animal can be a show
champion but came from working lines).
Dogs from FCI - recognized international working
lines are bred primarily for traits involving their working ability
rather than appearance, so their appearance can be somewhat varied.
The FCI-recognized international show lines differ in that more emphasis
is placed on the dog's appearance when breeding, so that show quality
traits are retained.
What
do you mean by temperament ... ?
Well-bred German Shepherd Dogs have powerful jaws and strong teeth, can
develop a strong sense of loyalty and obedience, and can be trained to
attack and release on command. Poorly bred German Shepherd Dogs can be
fearful, overly aggressive, or both. German Shepherd Dogs are supposed
to have a balance of protection and loyalty to their owner.
Where
can I find German Shepherd Dogs in Nigeria ... ?
German Shepherd Dogs are almost everywhere. However they have been in
the decline in Nigeria for a couple of years and some breeders are now
making an effort to bring them back. There are serious breeders almost
in every region of the country but there are recommended breeders in
Abuja, Lagos and ourselves in
Port Harcourt.
How do I know if I am buying the real German Shepherd Dog ... ?
The standards are clear on what the breed should be. Insist on seeing
the parents after having read and understood the breed standard. Ask
questions of the breeder and any breeder who is not interested in
answering your questions about his breeding stock and their origins
should be suspect. If you can, it wont harm to take someone who knows
dogs along with you.
How can I get my dog trained ... ?
There are quite a number of dog trainers around and you can get
references from your vet or Dogs World Magazine published every quarter.
However we recommend that dog training should start with you. You should
devote time to train your dog yourself at least in basic obedience as
this will also increase the bond between you and your dog. Every member
of the family should be part of this and this will help increasingly
socialize your dog around your family.
What should I feed my German Shepherd Dog puppy of 12 weeks ... ?
Puppy period is a time of rapid growth of your dog and as such it
requires a lot of nutrients per kg of food. We recommend you begin with
what the breeder originally fed the puppy and gradually move on to some
other foods. Dry dog foods have less percentage of water than canned
foods and your dog is less prone to intestinal upsets and excess weight.
There are many brands of dog food in the market but do remember that you
get what you pay for. We encourage people to mix what they give their
dogs and ensure that all the necessary ingredients for healthy skin,
bones and development are covered.
Finding the right processed food here in Nigeria is a bit of a challenge
but there are alternatives that have been created by those who have bred
dogs and developed local meals that contain as much nutrients as your
puppy needs to grow into a specimen of its breed.
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