Best Dog Diet

What’s the ideal diet for your dog?

Discover more about the history of your dog’s breed, its temperament, appearance and diet

Border Terrier Diet

Bull Terrier Diet

Bulldog Diet

Boxer Diet

Cavalier Spaniel Diet

Cocker Spaniel Diet

German Shepherd Diet

Golden Retriever Diet

Labrador Retriever Diet

Lhasa Apso Diet

Miniature Schnauzer Diet

Pug Diet

Shih Tzu Diet

Springer Spaniel Diet

Staffie Diet

Westie Diet

Whippet Diet

YorkshireTerrier Diet

Copyright 2010 Best Dog Diet

German Shepherd Diet

German Shepherds are working dogs originally bred in Germany to herd sheep. They require a considerable amount of exercise and need a healthy diet to maintain a level of fitness. The German Shepherd was bred specifically for herding sheep so will have been exposed to small mammals and hillside vegetation.

The amount and type of food will depend on the individual dog. A complete and balanced diet is recommended to include raw meaty bones. If not exercised they can  quickly put on weight.

German Shepherd Temperament

German shepherds are highly intelligent with a willingness to learn and obey. They have a natural tendency to bond firmly with people they know, but can become overly-protective. They are alert and wary of strangers, but once accepted they are playful and affectionate.

A German shepherd’s intelligence needs to be harnessed and developed to make the most out of the relationship with the dog. Their strong will meant that some trainers adopted a ‘firm hand’ when training, however further studies have shown that German Shepherds perform just as well through reward based training.

German Shepherd Appearance

The German shepherd has a strong sturdy physique with a long body, muscular legs and a smooth, short straight-haired coat (the long-haired variety is much rarer). The UK Kennel Club standards ideal height is 63 cms for a male and 58 cms for a female. Weight from 22-40 kgs.

German shepherds can be a variety of colours. The classic is the black and tan, but there are many variants including all-black and even all-white.

A German shepherd has an outer coat of hard weather resistant dense, thick hair which sheds all year round.  Their undercoat is thick, dense and warm. The tail is bushy and hangs with a slight curve.

Generally athletic in appearance, German Shepherds should look strong and muscular and care should be paid to their diet so as not to encourage obesity.

A long snout, black nose and broad face are key characteristics which make the German shepherd one of the most popular dogs in the UK.

German Shepherd (Alsatian) Facts

German Shepherd History

German shepherds originated in Germany and were bred specifically for herding duties because of their intelligence, obedience and agility. Dogs with specific traits considered important for herding duties (intelligence, obedience, smell) were bred together to achieve the breed seen today.

After the first world war, the breed suffered in popularity and was renamed ‘Alsatian (wolf dog)’ after the province bordering Germany – Alsace-Lorraine. The shortened ‘Alsatian’ lasted for over fifty years until 1977 when the British Kennel Club reinstated the registered breed as German shepherd.

German shepherds are now commonly used by the police, military and rescue services.

German Shepherd Known Disorders

German shepherds are prone to suffer from hip dysplasia, eye problems, heart problems and blood disorders.