German Shepherd: The Dog Breed That Best Represents The K9 Unit

Temperament, Origins, and How to care for a German Shepherd

When you mention the K9 Police Unit, a breed of Dog immediately comes to mind. Can you figure out which breed we will be covering? It’s none other than the German Shepherd, or in some other countries, the Alsation. To be frank, these Dogs used to frighten us when we were kids, due to their faces and robust structure. They were also once associated with Wolves, like the Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes are to Artic Wolves! But they are actually more than just muscles ☺

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The German Shepherd

German Shepherds are a breed of Dog specially bred for working in Germany, known as Deutscher Schaferhund. This history dates back to 1899, considering some breeds have history dating back to 300 BC , the German Shepherd can be considered a relatively new breed! They are referred to as the Alsatian in Britain and Ireland. During the 1800s in Europe, countries Belgium, Netherlands and Germany began developing a breed for home protection and sheep herding. These Dogs were named Continental Shepherd Dogs.

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First attempts to standardise the breed happened In the 1850s, of which should harbour skills traits such as intelligence, strength, speed and an excellent sense of smell. Alas, the appearances were not consistent and this resulted in the Belgium, Germany and Netherlands Shepherd Dogs to part ways in 1890. The need for sheep herding Dogs declined as Germany became more industrialised, however the versatility and smarts of these Canines were gaining popularity fast.

Max von Stephanitz

Max von Stephanitz, an ex-Calvary Captain and student of the Berlin Veterinary College was a man that firmly believed in Dogs bred specifically for work purposes. While he admired the Shepherd Dogs in Germany itself, he was still in pursuit for his ideal Shepherd Dog. He bought Hektor Linksrhein, a German Shepherd bred through generations of selective breeding, at a Dog show he attended in 1899. Max von Stephanitz renamed Hektor to Horand von Grafrath, and founded Verein Fur Deutsche Schaferhunde (Society for the German Shepherds). Horand was the first German Shepherd Dog to be registered there, and he continued to father many offsprings. He is possibly the ancestor of the modern German Shepherds we see today!

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Fun Fact      After World War I, including the word German in the breed’s name was thought to be bad for the Dogs’ reputation. Hence the name Alsatian Wolf Dog was given instead, derived from Alsace, a French region bordering Germany.

Appearance Of A German Shepherd

This is a medium to large sized Dog with a short double coat. Long coats are also available, but are much rarer due to the recessive long coat genes. German Shepherds have squarish muzzles with strong jaws and bright brown eyes. Tall large ears should stand erect and facing the front, and tails are bushy.

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Colour combination include Red and Black, Tan and Black with the common markings are Saddle or Blanket. Rarer colouration are solid colours like All Black, all White, Sable and Blue. German Shepherd puppies do not usually have fully erected ears like an adult German Shepherd!

GSD Pup

Grooming Requirements

German Shepherd Dogs shed throughout the year and every other day, so be prepared to brush them on a regular basis, at least twice a week. This prevents excess build-up of hair around the home and help accelerate the process by getting rid of loose hair.

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Bath them and trim their nails whenever necessary. And although their Ears do not attract debris, cleaning of ears with a Vet-approved Ear cleanser and cotton ball is still advised. If you do not know how to perform these tasks, seek advice and demonstrations from your trusted Veterinarian or Groomer!

German Shepherd Personality

As a highly intelligent Dog breed, the German Shepherd Dog is 3^rd amongst the most intelligent Dog breeds, ranked behind the Poodle and Border Collie! They thrive on learning new tasks and being helpful, plus they are also known to be very loyal and protective of their owners and family.

Duo from Singapore SAF K9 Unit

Their alertness makes them excellent guard Dogs and may not be friendly towards strangers and babies. With sufficient training, a well behaved German Shepherd can be a safe, obedient and perfect companion. Their renown intelligence as a working Dog has proved to be of great compatibility in Police, Military, Search and Rescue, and even on screen!  

Owning A German Shepherd In Singapore

Well they are mostly in the Police or Military force’s K9 unit, and they are not permitted in HDB apartments. If you have a private property, that’s great news, the German Shepherd Dogs are adaptable to both indoor and outdoor living. But because they thrive so well under learning and working circumstances, it would be best if you bring them out for outdoor activities and teach them tricks, for mind and body stimulation.

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If your German Shepherd is not well-trained, refrain from bringing them to crowded places, you should also note that the German Shepherd breed is amongst a few other breeds that require a muzzle on at public events. For the safety of yourself, others and their Pets, please practice consideration and responsibility ☺

Adopt, Don’t Shop

Standard breeds are great, but we could say the same for all other crossbreeds and even mongrels. Before you head off to purchase a Pet, always keep an eye out for adoption drives or check out local shelters for more options, you could always count on finding your next loyal companion and providing a forever home for a rescued furry pal.

Disclaimer

This article was written with informational purposes, as you know, we’d love to share our collective research and experiences as fellow Pet owners and lovers. It is not meant to alternate in any way as advice or diagnosis of Professionals. If you do wish to use any of our published information, you are welcome to contact us!