## The German Shepherd

Where I have previously made a post about the [Malinois](https://steemit.com/@hetty-rowan/the-malinois), the [Dutch Shepherd](https://steemit.com/@hetty-rowan/the-dutch-shepherd) and the [Toy Australian Shepherd](https://steemit.com/@hetty-rowan/toy-australian-shepherd), I also want to highlight another pedigree dog that often appears negative in the news. **The German Shepherd**.

<a href="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVq1n6jd9dVcN24wkixz6vQQq7Ed3xnH4dXknEPFnCKkQ/Dewan%201.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVq1n6jd9dVcN24wkixz6vQQq7Ed3xnH4dXknEPFnCKkQ/Dewan%201.jpg"/></a>

### Why does this dog appear so often negative in the news?

You only have to check the statistics to see that the German Shepherd has many bite incidents to his name. **Worldwide**, the German Shepherd scores consistently as the breed that makes the **third** most casualties, plus scientific behavioral studies invariably place the breed among the **"five most likely to bite"**. They are often seen as aggressive and many people are afraid when they once again see a German Shepherd as a field guard at a farm. Is this justified? In my eyes totally not! In general, German Shepherds are very friendly obedient dogs. But it is a kind of dog that used to be on almost every farmyard to watch, many people still have a German Shepherd. And yes, if a German Shepherd guards an area ... then he will not hesitate to stop someone he sees as an intruder. At first he will threaten, but many people do not know or recognize the dog language or not. And if one continues, a German Shepherd will not hesitate and attack. Case is for owners to be well aware of this and to anticipate the dog at an early age if this is not desired.And because it is a so common dog, there are also more bite incidents to report. Not because this dog is so aggressive, because they are actually not with a correct upbringing. **Rarely have I known such a stable dog in character as a German Shepherd**.

Everyone who follows my posts here on steemit knows we have shepherddogs ourselves. And of course a German Shepherd could not be missing here. By Rowan, (white) German Shepherd, and Lex, German Shepherd, I got to know the character of these beautiful dogs. Yes it may be clear, I am slightly biased against the German Shepherd ... but as they are described in the breed standard. That is how they are.

### And the description of the breed says, among other things, that it is a friendly soft dog with a courageous character that is very focused on a boss, is very attached to it, and prefers to work all day with the boss.

From my own experience I can only confirm this for the full 100%. Both Lex and Rowan show  this very much. Where Lex really was 100% loyal to my friend, Rowan is always there for me. Both friendly dogs, soft in character and faithful. Very loyal. Both singular, both obedient and both playful, but preferably with the boss.

<a href="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNrqpdhNjNVqnmrPt2d2rNwkpfS3sJ8tKwHpdJ3da7x36/Rowan%20en%20Lex.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNrqpdhNjNVqnmrPt2d2rNwkpfS3sJ8tKwHpdJ3da7x36/Rowan%20en%20Lex.jpg"/></a>

### Character according to the breed description!

German Shepherds are active intelligent dogs who are very focused on their owners and are happy to work with him. They are watchful, courageous, protective of their families and also affectionate. They are pretty hard for themselves and have a high pain threshold. But they are very sensitive to your voice!

Unknown people are greeted in a friendly, neutral manner and sometimes they are reticent about this. With other dogs they can generally very well together, but this must be well supervised during the puppy socialization phase. Because the German Shepherd tends to want to play the boss with the other dog.

### Character according to my experiences!

Everything is 100% true in my experience.

<a href="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmdfzYmtVK1TzVutd8iaDkrnWwz2N68xbi79MtZkdLpmip/Wolf.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmdfzYmtVK1TzVutd8iaDkrnWwz2N68xbi79MtZkdLpmip/Wolf.jpg"/></a>

### Coat care!

Because you have German Shepherds with different coats ... the common stick hair and the long stick hair coat is slightly different. But both are blessed with a huge undercoat. The German Shepherd stick hair does not really need much coat care. The long stick hair certainly needs a lot of coat care.

### Diseases and Conditions!

Unfortunately, the German Shepherd has been bred over the years. They have been hugely popular for a long time and that has led to a change in construction and character and a huge deterioration of what once was a strong dog. The best-known problems that the breed has to deal with are probably Hip Dysplasia and Elbow Dysplasia, but also many skin diseases and allergies are known to this breed.

<a href="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQer6BAodQdVNdv4J8FuQBPy9nEeGaMe6EETZ8Dney6uR/Lexxieboy.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQer6BAodQdVNdv4J8FuQBPy9nEeGaMe6EETZ8Dney6uR/Lexxieboy.jpg"/></a>

Details of the German Shepherd

Because the breed has changed in terms of breeding and has changed in health and character, the breed club has tightened the rules very strictly. There is now a huge attention paid to the parents that will be bred with and they must perfectly meet the breed standard. Fortunately, people want to go back to a German Shepherd who has a straight back. A German Shepherd should be on the legs for SOMETHING higher than the back, but should certainly not have a cross hanging over the ground. Fortunately, that image is to be retrieved from the breed. They also want to tackle the wild breeding and ensure that the breeding of the German Shepherd will be more regulated. Although it is of course never completely against it ... alas!

Thought of me!

I hope that the German Shepherd may once again be the beautiful beautiful dog I already fell in love with as a little girl. The dog I always dreamed of, and especially that the many diseases that plague the breed now can be taken out by a good breeding policy. I also hope that this dog, who is good-natured in nature, will be more positive in the news, and that people realize that a German Shepherd is not a dog to be afraid of, but rather a true friend for his life. On average you get 12 to 13 years an awesome friend full of love, life, joy and happiness! 

<a href="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmX77nn6yBcTyqfiCwy1rE7ABGtxr5yXjUZEtfLk8nQVa3/dewan2.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmX77nn6yBcTyqfiCwy1rE7ABGtxr5yXjUZEtfLk8nQVa3/dewan2.jpg"/></a>