Old Fashioned German Shepherd
*The majority of the info comes from German Shepherd Shop. Some info comes from some Old Fashioned German Shepherd breeders and German Shepherd Man on YouTube. There's a smidgeon of personal opinion too.
What is an Old Fashioned German Shepherd? An Old Fashioned German Shepherd is simply a German Shepherd that is larger and taller than the breed standard. They often stand up to 32 inches at the shoulder and weigh 120 to 150 pounds. From Schutzhaus German Shepherds: "Old Fashioned German Shepherds are taller, have straight backs, large bone structure, a longer life span, big heads, and generally larger than today's standards." Is that really what the original German Shepherds were? Simply put, no. They were actually smaller.
How big were the original German Shepherds? When German Shepherds were first bred 의해 Captain Max von Stephanitz, they were smaller than today's standards. Females weighed 40 to 55 pounds, and males weighed 65 to 75 pounds. That's because they were originally bred for sheepherding. I mean, it says it in the name shepHERD. After sheepherding became less common in Germany, Stephanitz bred the German Shepherd to be a bit larger in order to serve as a police 또는 military dog. Did he breed these giant, 150-pound German Shepherds? No, he bred them to be 60 to 80 pounds for females and 70 to 90 pounds for males.
What about structure? Many Old Fashioned German Shepherd breeders boast about their dogs' straight backs. They claim that because of this, their 개 are 안전한, 안전 from hip dysplasia. 개 with straighter backs are less likely to develop hip dysplasia, but it doesn't prevent hip dysplasia. Nearly every kennel club's breed standard for the German Shepherd says that the dog's back should be straight with a slight slope at the end. A good example is the Czech working line. It has a straight back with a slight slope at the end. I included a picture of Hansel, since he takes after the Czech working line, even though he's only one quarter Czech working line. Genetics are funny like that. Anyway, 당신 can see his back is straight with a slight slope at the end. The slope is not the cause of hip dysplasia. There are genetic components, but it's mostly caused 의해 environmental factors. They include: allowing a growing 강아지 to excessively run and/or jump, the wrong amount of calcium in a growing puppy's diet, allowing a growing 강아지 to climb stairs, allowing a growing 강아지 to jump into and out of high 프로필 vehicles, and allowing a growing 강아지 to jump onto and off of elevated surfaces, such your bed.
What about drive? Many Old Fashioned German Shepherd breeders boast about their 개 having low 또는 no drive. They claim that their 개 are not hyper like today's German Shepherds and make the perfect family companions like they were intended to be. That's not what the original German Shepherds were. They were bred to be working dogs, first and foremost. Working line German Shepherds like Hansel have drive, and usually lots of it. Hansel is a wonderful family companion, but if he's not given something to do throughout the day, he drives us crazy at night. If his exercise needs are met, he's content to lie on the 침상, 소파 and watch TV with us. That's what a German Shepherd should be. If 당신 want a German Shepherd with no drive, 당신 don't want a German Shepherd. 당신 want a dog that looks like a German Shepherd but behaves 더 많이 like a stuffed animal 또는 a lawn ornament. The pointy ears aren't what make the German Shepherd what it is. It's the drive, intelligence, and loyalty that make the breed what it is.
Finally, if 당신 want a German Shepherd that is larger than the breed standard, be my guest. However, it is very important to make sure 당신 choose a breeder who does not breed specifically to size. Size and 사무용 겉옷, 전반적인 appearance should be secondary to good health and a stable temperament. Only select a breeder who breeds 개 that pass their health tests and have stable temperaments. If 당신 do that, and take good care of your dog, you'll have a happy and healthy dog for many years to come.
Hektor von Schwaben, one of the original German Shepherds
Hansel, my German Shepherd
A part of me died,
The 일 당신 left the world.
당신 had a cold nose,
And a very warm heart.
당신 were the best gift,
That anyone could receive.
I loved 당신 더 많이 than anything,
And 당신 loved me just the same.
당신 didn't mind, even though 당신 knew,
That I was the fool on the hill.
We used to sit under the shade,
Of the mighty maple.
Now I find myself sitting alone.
I hear the lonely cries,
Of the Mourning Dove.
당신 and I, we used to hear the song,
The Tufted Titmouse sang about drinking tea.
I still hear that song, do 당신 still hear it?
Thunderstorms don't have the same appeal,
Without 당신 ringing the doorbell.
당신 were afraid of thunderstorms.
Tell me, are 당신 still afraid?
Farewell, Birthday Gift 땅콩 Butter,
Until we meet again.
To the best dog in the world and my best friend
March 17, 2004-May 7, 2018
The 일 당신 left the world.
당신 had a cold nose,
And a very warm heart.
당신 were the best gift,
That anyone could receive.
I loved 당신 더 많이 than anything,
And 당신 loved me just the same.
당신 didn't mind, even though 당신 knew,
That I was the fool on the hill.
We used to sit under the shade,
Of the mighty maple.
Now I find myself sitting alone.
I hear the lonely cries,
Of the Mourning Dove.
당신 and I, we used to hear the song,
The Tufted Titmouse sang about drinking tea.
I still hear that song, do 당신 still hear it?
Thunderstorms don't have the same appeal,
Without 당신 ringing the doorbell.
당신 were afraid of thunderstorms.
Tell me, are 당신 still afraid?
Farewell, Birthday Gift 땅콩 Butter,
Until we meet again.
To the best dog in the world and my best friend
March 17, 2004-May 7, 2018
Peanut Butter as a puppy
Hello, my old friend. How are 당신 today? Are 당신 okay? Oh, why am I talking to you? 당신 cannot hear a word I say. Whether I tell 당신 to sit 또는 stay, 당신 can no longer obey. 당신 sleep the 일 away. 당신 don't play fetch anymore. Who cares? I didn't enjoy it anyway. All right, okay, I did enjoy it. I miss those days when 당신 wanted to play. I miss the days when 당신 could hear me. Yet I still talk to you. I'd like to believe, with all my heart, I'd like to believe you're still listening. I'd like to believe 당신 can feel me. 당신 may be gray in the muzzle, and 당신 walk with a limp, and you're half blind, but 당신 still care. I know, I know, and I know that 당신 still 사랑 me. Do 당신 know I still 사랑 you?
I dreamed a dream most pleasant,
One that surpasses all dreams.
I saw someone wonderful,
So charming and so sweet.
He stood tall and firm,
Yet his complexion was so gentle.
He spoke in a deep, low voice,
One that was soothing and gentle.
His hair was dark, and it had a red cast,
That was visible when he stood in the sun.
His eyes were a bright green,
So friendly and so cheerful.
Before I could say a word,
I swooned from the excitement.
When I awoke, I was in my bed.
It was all a dream, I concluded,
And maybe I'm meant to be alone.
One that surpasses all dreams.
I saw someone wonderful,
So charming and so sweet.
He stood tall and firm,
Yet his complexion was so gentle.
He spoke in a deep, low voice,
One that was soothing and gentle.
His hair was dark, and it had a red cast,
That was visible when he stood in the sun.
His eyes were a bright green,
So friendly and so cheerful.
Before I could say a word,
I swooned from the excitement.
When I awoke, I was in my bed.
It was all a dream, I concluded,
And maybe I'm meant to be alone.
Bingo
