In recent years, the public’s impression of German Shepherds has been that they are good-looking, gentle and warm, safe, and suitable for women living alone, which has made many people unable to resist the desire to keep them. However, after really keeping them, they will find that the error is not small
In fact, German herding is still prone to aggression and requires the owner to invest a lot of energy and money.
I hope that parents who like and want to take care of DeMu will do their homework in advance, assess the risks and difficulties, and not abandon them after taking care of DeMu~
German Shepherd Dog Business Card
Origin: Germany
Body size: Large dog
Life expectancy: 12-13 years
IQ ranking: 3rd place
Characteristics of German and pastoral body types
De Mu’s Past and Present Lives
In 1898, Max von Steffinitz found a Shepherd named Holland van Gladys and improved its genes to create the prototype of the German Shepherd;
During World War I, a large number of German herders were introduced to Britain and sent to the front lines for combat;
After the end of World War II, Germany was divided, and the East German pastors played the role of guardians of the East West German border;
Since the 1950s, China has been importing German Shepherds from the Soviet Union and Germany;
In the early 1980s, Chinese military and police dog experts went to West Germany for inspection and introduced West German Shepherds.
The fur color of De Mu
In 1990, the two Germanys were unified, and it was achieved through the integration of East Germany into West Germany, from which East Germany disappeared.
So in the vast majority of cases, German Shepherds do not deliberately distinguish between so-called East and West Germany – because in a sense, there is no East German Shepherd dog now, and purebred East German Shepherd dogs only existed between 1949 and 1990.
The advantages and disadvantages of De Mu
Loyal guardian, high intelligence, easy to train
De Mu has a high level of obedience to his owner, ranking third in the dog world in terms of intelligence. Many internet celebrities like De Mu almost speak human language
Large amount of exercise, banned in many places
De Mu, who lacks exercise, is definitely not an obedient dog, but a destructive king. Moreover, many places have banned the breeding of German dogs, and it is necessary to investigate local policies before making a decision
Hair shedding monster, with a body odor
Demu belongs to dogs with frequent shedding of fur, and requires their owners to comb and clean their bodies regularly to reduce body odor. Especially in cloudy and rainy weather, it is even more important to comb your hair frequently
Sticking semen and whimpering at home
The appearance is like a big tiger, but the inner self is like a small gentleman. He loves to act spoiled! Moreover, when De Mu was young, his ears were still crooked, who could refuse!
High daily expenses, spending more money
If you raise a large dog, the pooper should be prepared to spend money. Not only do they eat too much, but they also need deworming, vaccines, and care, and the medical expenses for large dogs are even more expensive.
Feeding precautions for De Mu
Hip dysplasia (CHD)
Medium and large dogs have the highest incidence rate
Symptoms:
Jumping with difficulty
Strange walking posture
Weak hind legs
It’s difficult to get up and lie down
There is a problem when stepping up or jumping
Handling:
Regular physical examination. Mild symptoms can be treated conservatively, while severe symptoms require surgical treatment
Regarding the care of dogs with developmental dysplasia of their medullary joints:
Weight control: Obesity can increase the burden on joints
Soft Bed: Replace the dog’s sleeping area with soft, thick materials, or choose a fluffy dog bed
Keep warm and warm: Try to keep your dog in a room that is not windy or warm at night. Warm water bags and pet sweaters are good ways to relieve joint pain
Impact protection: When going out, try to keep your dog away from hard places such as cement and gravel, and choose soft ground such as grass to reduce impact on the hips
Exercise restriction: Moderate activity, not vigorous exercise. Swimming, short jogging on soft ground, and walking are all beneficial.
Physical therapy: Use your fingers to gently but forcefully massage around the muscles in a clockwise/counterclockwise direction, which is effective in promoting blood circulation and inhibiting muscle contraction. In addition, hydrotherapy also has benefits in alleviating the swelling and pain caused by CHD
Gastrointestinal fragility
The digestive system of De Mu is sensitive and fragile, often suffering from gastroenteritis, which can cause vomiting or bloody stools.
Attention:
Control the feeding amount well and keep 7-8% full
A light diet, prepare some dog specific probiotics at home, and regularly deworming
Large bones can be fed, but small bones such as chickens, ducks, geese, and fish cannot be fed. Bones such as chickens, ducks, geese, and fish can prick their intestines
Do not easily change dog food, mix dry and wet food, and pay attention to scientific proportions and reasonable combinations when making homemade dog food or raw bones
Gastric torsion (GDV)
The chest of medium to large dogs is mostly large and deep, making them prone to digestive tract diseases such as gastric torsion. The mortality rate of gastric torsion is extremely high, and it occurs quickly. If you get sick, you will race against the Grim Reaper!
Symptoms:
Gastric distension
Retching
Abdominal pain, dogs will make a whimpering sound, making it difficult to sit and stand comfortably
Dogs may spit excessively due to nausea and vomiting
The enlarged stomach leads to a decrease in chest space, resulting in short and heavy breathing
A dog’s gums are pale
Dogs falling to the ground and unable to rise, collapse is a late sign of gastric torsion, and it is necessary to go to a pet hospital immediately
The most crucial thing to save a dog from stomach twisting is time!
Remember the symptoms of gastric torsion, and don’t hesitate when 5 or 6 of them appear together!
Daily prevention:
Eat less and eat more, eat slowly and drink slowly, or use a slow food bowl
Avoid intense running and rolling exercises for one hour before and after meals
Raise the food and water basins of the big dog
Regular water supply, do not let your dog suddenly drink a large amount of water after a meal
