The black shepherd German shepherd is very popular among professional breeders. This noble and beautiful dog is a regular participant in many exhibitions. Purebred representatives of the breed have their own temperament, working qualities, and also require certain conditions in the content, so before you get such a pet, you need to carefully study the rules for caring for it.
History of breed origin
The black sheep German shepherd appeared in the middle of the XIX century in Germany, they were bred by Max Frederick von Stefanitz. The ancestor of the breed is the Greif male, this dog had a dirty white coat color, he was distinguished by a stately posture and unusual intelligence. The only thing that did not suit the breeder was the color of the pet’s coat, which did not meet the breed standards.
A few years later, the breeder finally managed to get a noble color of the dog, and already in 1924 the first handsome men were brought to Russia. At first, a lot of problems arose with their breeding, because they did not have enough skills and money to maintain, but over time a dog training club opened in the country, its representatives began to actively breed healthy pets.
Description
Black Sheepdogs have a stretched body shape, but do not look squat. Their body is proportional, all parts are harmoniously combined with each other. The length of the head is 40% of the height at the withers. The skull and muzzle are equal in length. The head is of medium width and wedge-shaped, while in females it is less massive than in males.
The ears of the dog are small, erect, they have a triangular shape and are slightly rounded at the tips. The black sheepdog eyes are oval, dark, their eyes alert and intelligent. The nose is black, quite large. The neck is characterized by developed muscles, set at an angle of 45 degrees. In dogs of this species the withers are especially pronounced, it is beveled and slightly elongated.
When animals are in an interested state, their tail rises, and in a calm, it is lowered. The limbs of the dog are even and strong, the hind legs are slightly longer than the front, they are muscular. As for the wool, it can be either hard, short, or soft, elongated. The dog has average height, its height is from 55 to 65 cm. The weight of individuals reaches from 22 to 40 kg.
The main distinguishing feature of these German shepherds is the presence of dark spots on the fur, which resemble the shape of a shabraka. The spots are located on the back, shoulders, neck, withers and tail. They can be of various sizes and shapes, as well as be intensely and slightly colored.
The pet of this breed is an attentive, very smart and devoted to its owner pet. In his character there is a lack of confidence in outsiders, determination and courage. From these dogs excellent bodyguards and guards are obtained, since it is almost impossible to bribe and deceive them. Since a shepherd of this species, with proper upbringing, becomes obedient, it never attacks the outsiders without the owner’s command; if it is not there, it can make decisions independently. The black sheepdog is considered universal, it is usually bred as:
- companion dogs;
- reliable guard;
- service dog;
- a guide.
The main advantages of this breed include: fast learner, fidelity, a fairly high level of intelligence, security instincts and good working qualities. As for the shortcomings, there are few of them: dogs constantly need physical activity, require systematic training.
Black Shepherd German Shepherd Puppies
These charming fluffy lumps do not leave anyone indifferent. Puppies of this breed have large paws, an innocent look and outwardly look like clumsy cubs. It is best to buy babies in specialized nurseries (military or private), which are engaged in professional breeding of purebred individuals. If you plan to prepare a pet for an exhibition career, then he needs to ensure the right education and proper care right after the acquisition.
Purebred babies besides having a pedigree must also have a conclusion on the suitability for breeding; representatives of the breed line must not have representatives who suffer from genetic diseases and other deviations from the breed.
Before choosing a suitable puppy, you need to pay attention to the previous conditions of its maintenance, as well as the relationship with the mother dog. Usually up to 11 puppies are born in one litter. Preference should be given to those individuals who differ in appearance, good manners and fatness.
Healthy kids of a black sheepdog color confidently move and stand on their feet, are perfectly oriented in the surrounding space, have a smart look, a clean and shiny coat. They are active and inquisitive, do not show cowardice and signs of aggression. The puppy's body is elongated, but not square. The ears of small shepherds under the age of 2-3 months hang, but if the tips of the shells are in a standing position, this is a sign of ossification of the cartilage caused by improper calcium-phosphorus metabolism. Tail of puppies without kink and straight.
Until two months of age, the puppy's eyes may have a blue tint, but it fades over time. It is recommended that babies be excommunicated from their mother at an early age, it is best to do this when they are 2.5-3 months old. The older the dog, the more difficult it is to train and wean it from bad habits.
Color features
Shepherd dogs of this species are notable for their unusual coat color. The black color in relation to the black gene is dominant, but it prevails over the black and tan shade. Sometimes individuals in nature are found in which the shabra is weakened, this is due to a loss of black intensity on the back. If in breeding dogs descendants of black parents are used without the admixture of other genes, then the color becomes lighter over time.
The main peculiarity in the color of these shepherds is that the shabrack (“black mantle”) can smoothly sink to the legs of the animal. As for the lower body, it can be:
- ginger;
- gray;
- yellow;
- light brown.
The muzzle of dogs has a "dark mask", the color of the chest can vary from black to light shade. Often a black “tie” stands out on the chest. The scoop for each individual can have a different pattern and shade.
Health and Life Expectancy
Black sheep German shepherds are characterized by a long life, under good conditions, pets live up to 14 years. Despite the fact that individuals of this breed are distinguished by good health, they can sometimes be subjected to such ailments as allergies, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and inflammatory processes in the ears. Dogs also suffer from skin diseases (dermatitis, eczema) and hip dysplasia.
In addition, the pets of this breed are predisposed to stomach twisting, so for their feeding it is necessary to draw up a strict schedule, try not to overfeed the pet and make sure that it is at rest for 3 hours after eating.
Care and maintenance
Before you start a German shepherd shepherd in your home, you need to know that it will molt a lot. Therefore, you should be prepared for the fact that the pet will have to comb out at least 4 times a week. In addition, the dog must be mentally and physically trained, walk in the fresh air. For those owners who spend most of their time at work, and on weekends they love to just lie on the couch, this breed of dog is not suitable.
German shepherds are not particularly demanding of care, but their owners need to regularly monitor the condition of the teeth and ears of pets. It is recommended that the teeth be thoroughly cleaned with a specially designed toothpaste; periodically, dogs should be allowed to gnaw fresh bones. The ears are wiped with a wet swab twice a month.
So that the claws do not hurt the animal while running and jumping on a hard surface, they need to be cut once a month.
Proper nutrition plays a huge role in the maintenance of such pets, so future owners need to be prepared for the fact that they will have to spend good money on feed. Since the breed is large, up to 4 meals per day are required. Some dog breeders prefer to feed their pets dry food, in this case you should purchase super-premium products.
It is worth noting that these dogs can be fed with natural products in the form of vegetables, meat trimmings, eggs and cottage cheese.
Training and training
Black-eyed shepherd dogs are considered smart animals, so it is recommended that their training be started from a very young age. Dogs of this breed can teach simple commands in just a few repetitions. It is best to conduct training in a playful way, this will interest the pet. You cannot show aggression during training, as the dog will misunderstand it and contact with the pet will be lost forever.
First of all the puppy must learn his nickname well and get used to it. To do this, it should be stroked on the head and affectionately call the name of the pet. With older puppies, you can start learning teams such as “Give me a paw”, “Sit”, “Voice”, “To me”, “Lie”. If the baby has not completed the commands, it is impossible to punish for this. The pet should also clearly know the place that is allocated for him.
Mandatory for learning are the commands "You can not", "Fu." It is also important to wean the puppy from picking up from the ground. When the future shepherd turns 6 months old, she will be accustomed to such an accessory as a muzzle.
For good behavior, the pet must be encouraged with various snacks. Also, the dog should be taught to be wary of strangers, for this you should not allow guests to play with it.
Interesting facts about German shepherds, see the next video.
