| German Shepherds are one of the most | | | | no matter what it's health. Responsible |
| intelligent and versatile dog breeds in the | | | | breeders and caring dog lovers are trying to |
| world. But you need to know basic German | | | | stop this indiscriminate breeding and only |
| Shepherd information to discoverwhat to | | | | breed healthy dogs. But German Shepherd can |
| expect from them before you bring one home. | | | | often seem to develop more health problems |
| German Shepherd dogs are not satisfied until | | | | than other breeds. |
| they are the center of attention. They are | | | | |
| not vicious, but don't know their own | | | | The most common problem is hip dysplasia, |
| strength at times. German Shepherds are | | | | which makes the hind legs crippled. This is a |
| smarter than most people, which may get them | | | | treatable condition that often involves |
| into mischief in order to get your attention. | | | | X-rays and surgery. Many German Shepherds are |
| They also can get more health problems than | | | | abandoned just because the owners were not |
| other breeds, especially hip and elbow | | | | willing to pay the vet bills. You must be |
| dysplasia. | | | | committed to caring for the dog's health over |
| | | | luxuries for yourself. Many older German |
| When anyone says the word dog, the image that | | | | Shepherds also become blind, but dogs deal |
| pops up in most people's mind is that of the | | | | with blindness a lot better than people. The |
| German Shepherd. Also known as Alsatians | | | | companionship of a German Shepherd should not |
| (from the province in France where the breed | | | | have a price tag placed upon it. |
| was developed), the German Shepherd is one of | | | | |
| the most popular dogs in the world. With | | | | German Shepherd dogs need to feel they have a |
| their distinctive look, incredible | | | | job in order to be well-adjusted. They love |
| intelligence and remarkable personalities, | | | | company and to be part of the family. They |
| you would think the German Shepherd would be | | | | hate being left out of anything. They use |
| the perfect dog. | | | | their intelligence to find ways of doing |
| | | | things they think you will like and praise |
| But a German Shepherd is not the dog for | | | | them for. Whether you will like these actions |
| everyone. Their large size, their exuberant | | | | is another matter. German Shepherds need |
| nature, their coats and sometimes health | | | | supervision and training. |
| problems leave many thousands of German | | | | |
| Shepherd Dogs to be abandoned every year. The | | | | Because of their popularity, German Shepherd |
| Humane Society of the United States estimates | | | | Dogs have been over bred, which has lead to |
| that a quarter of all strays are purebreds, | | | | health problems. Although responsible |
| including purebred German Shepherds. Knowing | | | | breeders would not breed an animal with |
| basic German Shepherd information can help | | | | health problems, which can be inherited by |
| teach you what to expect from them as pets | | | | their puppies, many still do. The most common |
| will help you decide if a German Shepherd is | | | | health problems with German Shepherds are hip |
| right for you and your family. | | | | dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and cancers. Even |
| | | | though many of these health problems can be |
| The incredible popularity of the German | | | | easily treated, the previous owners do not |
| Shepherd has led to it being over bred. To | | | | want to or cannot pay the vet bills and |
| keep up with the market for German Shepherd | | | | instead abandon the dog. When you get a |
| puppies, some breeders and puppy mills breed | | | | German Shepherd keep in mind that they may |
| to death any German Shepherd they can find, | | | | need frequent visits to the vet. |