The breed German Longhair Shepherd appeared and became popular not so long ago. Outwardly, it is more attractive than an ordinary shepherd due to its beautiful long coat, the maintenance of luster and silkiness of which requires constant care. The representatives of the breed almost do not differ from the short-haired congener.
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Description and characteristics of the breed
The character and abilities of the long-haired Germans are the same as that of an ordinary German shepherd.
Characteristic of the breed:
- It lends itself to training and training. Used as a service dog. Not suitable as a room "buddy". The family behaves as an equal to people. Take care of the children.
- Calm and balanced. The fortresses of the nervous system of these dogs will be envied by any person.
- Outwardly differs from a regular shepherd with long hair and a small undercoat. The recessive gene is responsible for this feature, so the length is inherited from parents with any hair.
- Near the ear there are large "islands" of wool. The tail hair is 3–4 times longer than throughout the body. The hairline is similar to that of setters, but in shepherd dogs the hairs are coarser.
- Puppies of a long-haired German shepherd in infancy are very fluffy. After the first molt, they become similar to shorthair, but by the year they again acquire a long hairline.
- The musculoskeletal system in dogs with long hair is better developed. Representatives of this breed move better than ordinary shepherd dogs.
- Black shepherd, fawn or cream are common.Light or white dogs do not belong to the breed, are considered a marriage and do not participate in exhibitions.
Black color is the most common in nature. Such dogs have a V-shaped spot in the back, which sometimes drops to the sides or elbows. This is the most popular color at exhibitions.
Interesting! It is believed that the length of the coat prevents such dogs from swimming. But this is not so. In this skill, they are no different from short-haired relatives.
Origin history
The shepherd was bred in Germany when it became necessary to breed special shepherd dogs. But they became official and military only by the 20th century.
Initially, long-haired puppies of the German shepherd were considered defective. But by the twentieth century they were singled out as a separate breed. It was impossible to keep track of its cleanliness, since such puppies were also born to parents with short hair.
Many breeders have suggested that due to their long coat and small undercoat, these dogs are not suitable for work. But soon the viewers had fans, and the first club opened. Now long-haired Germans are quite popular, the breed standard was adopted in 2010.
Life span
On average, a shepherd dog lives 12 to 14 years. Occasionally longer, but such dogs are considered already old. But with good care, the fluffy German shepherd will live long.
These dogs are allergic. They may die prematurely due to illness. Diseases characteristic of the breed affect the eyes and bones. Weak and sick dogs usually die between 5 and 7 years old.
Long-haired German Shepherd breed standard
The main provisions of the standard of this breed:
- The growth of females to the withers should be no more than 60 cm. For males - up to 65 cm.
- Females weigh 23 - 33 kg. Males 35 - 45 kg.
- A wedge-shaped head. The ears are not very large, are parallel to each other, stand upright relative to the head.
- Medium-sized dark eyes are almond-shaped.
- Very strong and healthy teeth. Everyone must be present.
- Well-developed neck, quite muscular. Without suspension.
- Middle tail. At the time of movement does not bend below the back.
- The forelimbs are parallel to each other. The rear, too, with a little shifted back.
This type of German shepherd is noticeable for its small undercoat and long hair.
Maintenance, care and feeding
It is recommended to keep such a pet in the courtyard of a private house with an equipped warm booth or in an aviary. Often, a dog lives wonderful in an apartment, if it considers the premises to be its guard.
The basics of proper care:
- Comb hair twice a week. This will reduce the shedding process. For the undercoat, they also use a special brush.
- Washing is necessary as it gets dirty.
- Claws are closely monitored: they need to be cut periodically if they do not grind.
- German shepherds are allergic. Food and care products should be selected carefully; sometimes a doctor’s consultation may be required.
These dogs are friendly with other animals if they have known each other for a long time. They treat strangers with caution.
There should be a lot of protein in the diet. Sweets and flour products are poorly absorbed by the canine organism. Shepherd dogs - allergic dogs, often suffer from bloating.
What is necessary:
- fish and meat;
- cereals;
- fruits vegetables;
- eggs
- low-fat dairy products.
If the diet is completely natural, you need an additional complex of vitamins and minerals.
Dry food is also a good choice if it is correctly selected by a doctor. Quality products contain all the necessary elements.
Any kind of German shepherd should eat enough. Fluffy Germans should not be overeating, but at the same time, portions should be such that the dog eats up.
How to train and raise a dog
Long-haired German shepherd is very smart, quick-witted. She likes to learn, learn new things. She has a well-developed intelligence. The use of the breed for military, reconnaissance, rescue purposes confirms this.These smart animals have repeatedly shown their heroism in various situations.
They train and train from the first days a puppy stays in a new house. The first thing he needs to learn is the place and nickname.
The dog should not sleep on armchairs and sofas, and certainly not in the master's bed. After some time, he will grow up and he will need more space.
Important: such a pet must be brought up. An ill-mannered dog in the future can be dangerous for everyone.
At the age of six months, it is worth starting standard training under the supervision of a specialist. After learning general skills, you can move on to more complex training.
The German Longhair Shepherd is a great friend and protector. With due attention and training, she will show all her wonderful qualities. It is important not to forget about a sufficient number of walks, as well as physical and mental stress.
