German Shepherd
Popular Dog Breeds
All about the German Shepherd
The German Shepherd, or Alsatian, is a loyal, independent and fun loving breed. These dogs love to learn and will react well to training at an early age.
Once they have been properly socialised with children from an early age they will get along very well with them. This breed is very loyal and can become extremely protective of its family which makes for an excellent guard dog.
This obedient dog loves to work and always needs something to do in order to satisfy its mental needs. This breed makes for an excellent family pet but can also excel as a working dog in the police or rescue services.
The German Shepherd is listed as a restricted breed in Ireland in the Control of Dogs Regulations 1998.
Grooming a German Shepherd
Hair type: There are 3 varieties of German Shepherds, double coat, plush coat and longhaired coat. The coat most often comes in black and tan, sable or all black but also can come in blue, liver and white but those colours are considered a fault according to most standards.
Daily coat care: There are 3 varieties of German Shepherds, double coat, plush coat and longhaired coat. The coat most often comes in black and tan, sable or all black but also can come in blue, liver and white but those colours are considered a fault according to most standards.
Recommended groom frequency: German Shepherds should be groomed professionally at least once every 6-12 weeks depending on the coat type. If they are not properly groomed on a regular basis they can hold their undercoat causing their top coat not to lay correctly making them hot and uncomfortable and causing severe matting.
At Petmania Grooming Studios we have a full range of treatments available for your German Shepherd. If you get puppy, we recommend our Puppy’s First Visit at around four months, once your puppy has received all his vaccinations.
Diet
Depending on your German Shepherd’s age, size and activity level, you can expect to feed between 280g and 530g of good quality dry food each day. German Sheppards have a tendency to rush their food, which can cause digestive problems, so it is important to manage their eating habits by dividing it into smaller, frequent meals.
To help you choose the right food for your Alsatian, our Pet Care Advisors are instore to answer all your questions.
Activity Level
This is an active dog which needs lots of daily exercise. Daily long walks are vital to keep the dog healthy both physically and mentally. These should be supplemented with jogging or running every now and then in an open but secured area. However, it should not be let off the leash in an open area as it has a tendency to chase small animals.
Where to get a German Shepherd
There are lots of places offering dogs or puppies for sale in Ireland, but we would always ask that you consider adopting a dog first. Our animal rescue partners have 100’s of rescue dogs and puppies seeking a forever home and would be delighted to introduce you to them.
However, if a rescue dog is not for you, we do recommend that you choose a registered breeder and seek Irish Kennel Club registration papers which will confirm that the dog has been bred to their strict code of ethics.
