The German Shepherd is a black-haired dog very popular with 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 have such a pet you need to carefully study the rules of caring for him.
The origin of the breed
German Shepherd Dogs of black color appeared in the middle of the XIX century in Germany, they were brought by Max Frederick von Stephanitz. The grandfather of the breed is a male Greif, 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 is the color of the pet's hair, which did not meet the breed standards.
A few years later, the breeder finally managed to get the noble color of the dog, and in 1924 the first beauties were brought to Russia. At first, many problems arose with their breeding, because they lacked the skills and money to maintain, but over time, a cynological club opened in the country, and its representatives began to actively breed healthy pets.
Description
Black sheepdogs have a stretched body shape, but they 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. 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 are triangular in shape and slightly rounded at the tips. The eyes of the shepherd dog of black color are oval, dark, their eyes are alert and intelligent. The nose is black, rather 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 sloping and slightly elongated.
When the animals are in an interested state, their tail rises, and in calm it is lowered. The limbs of the dog are flat and strong, the hind legs are slightly longer than the front, they are muscled. As for the wool, it can be as tough, short, and soft, elongated. The dog has an 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 cheprak. Spots are placed on the back, shoulders, neck, withers and tail. They can be of various sizes and shapes, as well as be intensely and poorly colored.
The pet of this breed is attentive, very intelligent and devoted to its owner pet. In his character there is a distrust of strangers, determination and courage. These dogs make excellent bodyguards and guards, because they are almost impossible to bribe and cheat. Since the shepherd dog of this species becomes obedient with proper upbringing, it never pounces on strangers without a host command, but if it is not there, it can independently make decisions. The black sheepdog is considered universal, it is usually given birth as:
- companion dogs;
- reliable guard;
- service dog;
- the guide.
The main advantages of this breed include: quick learner, loyalty, a fairly high level of acumen, protective instincts and good working qualities. As for the shortcomings, there are few of them: dogs constantly need physical activity, require systematic training.
Puppies German shepherd black-haired
These charming fluffy balls do not leave anyone indifferent. Puppies of this breed have large legs, an innocent look and looks like clumsy cubs. It is best to acquire babies in specialized nurseries (military or private) that are engaged in professional breeding of purebreds. If you plan to prepare your show career for your pet, then he needs to ensure proper education and proper care immediately after the acquisition.
Purebred babies besides having a pedigree should also have a conclusion on suitability for breeding, there should be no representatives in the breed line who suffer from genetic diseases and other deviations from the breed.
Before you choose a suitable puppy you need to pay attention to the previous conditions of its content, as well as the relationship with the mom-dog. Usually in one litter about 11 puppies are born. Preference should be given to those individuals that differ in appearance, good manners and fatness.
Healthy kids Shepherd Shepherd color confidently move and stand on their paws, perfectly oriented in the surrounding space, have a wise look, a clean and shiny coat. They are active and inquisitive, do not show cowardice and signs of aggression. The body of puppies is elongated, but not square. Ears in small shepherd dogs under the age of 2-3 months are hanging, if the tips of the shells are in a standing position, this is a sign of ossification of cartilage caused by abnormal calcium-phosphorus metabolism. Tail in puppies without kink and straight.
Up to two months of age, puppies' eyes may have a blue tint, but it disappears with time. It is recommended that babies be separated from their mother at an early age; this is best done when they are 2.5-3 months old. The older the dog, the harder it is to train and wean the bad habits.
Color features
Sheep-dogs of this species are distinguished by unusual coloring of wool. The black color in relation to the black gene is dominant, but it prevails over the black and tan color. Occasionally there are individuals in nature in which the cap is weakened, this is due to the loss of intensity of black color on the back. If descendants of black-clad parents without admixture of other genes are used in breeding dogs, the color becomes lighter over time.
The main feature in the color of these Shepherd dogs is that the cheprak (“black mantle”) can be gently lowered to the paws of the animal. As for the lower torso, it can be:
- redhead;
- sulfur;
- yellow
- light brown.
The muzzle of dogs has a “dark mask”, the color of the chest can vary from black to light shade. Often on the chest stands a black “tie”. Scoop each individual may have a different pattern and shade.
Health and life expectancy
German shepherds of a black color are characterized by a long life, with good conditions of keeping pets live to 14 years. Despite the fact that the individuals of this breed are in good health, they can sometimes be subjected to such illnesses as allergies, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, inflammation in the ears. Also, dogs suffer from skin diseases (dermatitis, eczema) and hip dysplasia.
In addition, pets of this breed are predisposed to stomach turning, so for their feeding it is necessary to draw up a strict schedule, try not to overfeed the pet and ensure that it is at rest after eating for 3 hours.
Care and maintenance
Before you start a German shepherd black-haired dog in the house you need to know that it will fade badly. Therefore, you should be prepared for the fact that the pet will have to be combed at least 4 times a week. In addition, the dog must be mentally and physically trained, walking in the fresh air. Those owners who spend most of their time at work, and on weekends they just like to lie on the sofa, this breed of dog will not do.
German shepherds are not particularly demanding to care, but their owners need to regularly monitor the condition of the teeth and ears of pets. It is recommended that teeth be thoroughly cleaned with a specially designed paste; periodically, dogs should be allowed to nibble on fresh bones. Ears are wiped with a wet swab twice a month.
To keep the claws from hurting the animal while running and jumping on a hard surface, they need to be cut once a month.
A great role in the maintenance of such pets is played and proper nutrition, so future owners need to be prepared for the fact that they will have to spend a lot on food. Since the breed is large, up to 4 meals are required per day. Some breeders prefer to feed their pets with dry food, in which case you should purchase super-premium products.
It should be noted that such dogs can be fed with natural products in the form of vegetables, cuts of meat, eggs and cottage cheese.
Training and training
Black sheepdogs are considered intelligent animals, so their training is recommended to start from an early age. Dogs of this breed are able to teach simple commands in just a few repetitions. It is best to conduct training in the form of a game, it will interest the pet. It is impossible to show aggression during training, as the dog will misunderstand it and contact with the pet will be lost forever.
In the very first place A puppy should 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 commands like “Give me your paw”, “Sit”, “Voice”, “Come to me”, “Lie down”. If the baby has not fulfilled the command, you can not punish for it. Pet must also clearly know the place that is allocated for it.
Mandatory for teaching are the commands "Nothing", "Fu". It is also important to wean the puppy from picking up from the ground. When the future shepherd will be 6 months old, she is taught to make such an accessory as a muzzle.
For the good behavior of the pet must be encouraged by various snacks. Also, the dog should be taught to be wary of strangers, for this you can not allow guests to play with it.
Interesting facts about German shepherds, see the following video.
