German long-haired sheepdog. Exterior Longhair German Shepherd

The German long-haired shepherd dog is very popular among dog breeders. And indeed, it is a dog with excellent performance characteristics, and a long coat adds some decorativeness, impressiveness to it, makes it even visually more massive. This is on the one hand. Some owners adhere to the diametrically opposite point of view, saying that the care of a working dog should be minimal, and if you want to comb the wool, you can buy and Pekingese.

German Shepherd Color

Most often it's black and fawn. Accepted in breeding individuals are cream, black, zonal (preferably with black marks). Inadmissible are too light and especially white shades, this indicates a genetic pathology. The color of the German Shepherd does not depend on the length of the coat. This is one breed that has common characteristics. Chest and paws of sheep dogs are often reddish, although the shade can range from that of straw to fiery red, red and dark brown. The back is much darker. Depending on the degree of darkness, they are distinguished by zoned gray, black-tan, black-tan and black. Most common is the cap.

History, or How the German long-haired sheepdog appeared

Initially there was one breed of shepherds. Among them were animals with both long hair and shorter, stiffer. At the same time, the founders of the breed believed that long-haired dogs could not work in adverse weather conditions, so they were considered a tribal marriage. In this there is some truth: a luxurious, combed mane in the field quickly turns into a koltun, from which stick out branches and weeds. But the "fuzzy" had their fans.

Back in 1984, the first club dedicated to this branch was organized. Breeding them as a separate breed is quite complicated, as for a pair of long-haired parents, the offspring can be born with the usual, short-haired cover. Just like when breeding ordinary breed members, in litter one baby can be with long hair. It should be noted that only in Russia such a variety of dogs is recognized as a separate breed. There are specialized clubs, exhibitions are organized. Abroad, long-haired puppies are considered to be a marriage. These dogs are bought by large Russian clubs for breeding.

Description of the breed

The German long-haired sheepdog is an elegant, smart, athletic dog. We can not forget her profile, once seen. At exhibitions, her swiftness and flexibility are further emphasized by a special stand, as if the animal is preparing for a fast race. This is a large, strong dog, a real defender and a guard. The weight of the German Shepherd is 34-43 kg, height - 56-66 cm at the withers.

The wool is medium-long, consists of two layers, which are constantly updated. If the animal lives in an apartment, it is necessary to comb it several times a week, otherwise the whole floor will be strewn with falling hair. In the spring and autumn, the molting process intensifies. Undercoat grayish color, but it is not visible through the outer layer, more rigid and dark. On hips, sides and neck, the fur is longer, so the dog has a unique appearance. In this case, the size of the German shepherd visually increases. Even long-haired puppies seem to be real cubs compared to ordinary peers.

Features of behavior

The German long-haired Shepherd has a unique mind and wit. Its consistency, poise and quick learning ability are used in all industries where the help of a four-legged friend is needed. First of all, these are security services, army border units, police. At the same time, the "German" is a true friend of the family: soft, loyal, loves children and gets on very well with all domestic pets. But he does not like idleness, so if your work schedule implies a long absence, then it is better to find a shepherd of another master.

Special recommendations

Care for the German Shepherd includes the provision of daily exercise. That is why it is recommended to keep these animals in country houses. Of course, no one forbids to bring up a dog in the apartment conditions, just remember that she also needs a personal space. Therefore, if you have a studio apartment in which 4 people live, it is better to refuse to purchase such a pet. In addition, you should be sure that you will be able to provide the shepherd with normal feeding, regular walking (3-4 times a day for a puppy, 2 times for an adult animal), timely veterinary care.

Luxurious coat

Care of the German Shepherd (especially long-haired) includes constant combing. Choose a comb that will be comfortable for you and non-traumatic for the dog. Otherwise, the undercoat will become confused, and the sheep dog will lose its luxurious appearance. During moulting, this must be done daily. They often do not need to be bathed: the natural smell of the dog will still not go anywhere, and more frequent water procedures can damage the natural protective film. When the animal dries, with a piece of suede and a comb you need to give the coat a beautiful look.

Possible health problems

Most often this is a violation of hip growth. On the lifestyle and health of the dog this has little effect, but at the exhibition it immediately disappears and is not allowed to breed. This is a genetic problem, therefore, by breeding only such individuals, it is possible to reduce this line to naught. As a rule, patients with pets have problems with digestion, sometimes there are chronic eczema.

"As you call a boat, so it will float"

How to name a pet? Rex? Ray? Alpha? Or perhaps Shayna? This is an important question to think about. Clicks for the German Shepherd must be bright and certainly short, fit the floor and appearance. This is the first word that a puppy needs to relate to himself. In fact, it means for the dog: "Attention, now the team will follow." You can agree with the name, which is indicated in the map, or come up with something of your own.

Fundamental rules

Clicks for a German shepherd must be selected based on the characteristics of the breed. They should be easily perceived, in addition, if you quietly call your pet on the street, he should hear and pay attention to your voice at a distance of 30 meters. After all, this is a service dog, and there are not many conditions in which you will have to be. It is good, if in a nickname there are sonorous, firm sounds: b, d, z, p. For the dog, the sonorous names are well suited: Agathus, Baron, Wolf, Grant, Zeus, Colt, Lord, Mitch, Oscar, Perseus, Ralph, Fog, Fred. The souk is often referred to as Adele, Bertha, Greta, Jesse, Zara, Crist, Laurie, Margot, Ode, Ronda, Taiga, Frida.

It is very important to accustom the puppy to the name, before taking him to the yard for the first time or starting to teach the teams. It is often necessary to pronounce the nickname, playing with the pet, taking care of it, giving food and delicacy. When the kid remembers his name well, it will be easy to move on to the first teams. Walking on the street, it is enough to call a puppy, and when he will pay attention to you, say "to me" and praise.

Let's sum up the results

The long-haired German Shepherd is a fine friend and reliable protector. The average life expectancy of such a dog is 11 years. If you are not afraid of unnecessary care and cleaning, or you have a territory adjacent to the house, where the animal will spend a lot of time - safely stop the choice on these handsome men. You are provided with a round-the-clock convoy and an endless love of a pet, and on the streets you will always see off the admiring glances of passers-by.