Name: Athena
Breed: German Shepherd & Great Pyrenees Mix
Are they better for new or more experienced dog owners?
Another factor to consider when bringing home a new dog is the level of care they need to keep them happy and healthy.
It is important to keep in mind that some dogs are easier to care for than others and therefore easier for new dog owners to care for.
Physical Appearance of the German Shepherd
German Shepherds have a majestic and noble appearance. They are a large, muscular breed with bundles of energy and speed to boot. German Shepherds have a relaxed, sloping gait that covers large areas in a few moments, making them ideal for herding sheep.
Facially, German Shepherds tend to have a square head, long muzzle and pointed ears, as well as large, cute, inquisitive eyes. Their double coats are medium in length and consist of a thick undercoat that helps keep them warm and protect their skin, as well as either a slightly wavy or straight topcoat.
Puppy Background and Pricing
The German Shepherd parentage is the result of 35 years of meticulous breeding by Captain Max von Stephanitz. He started with a wolf dog and set out to produce the perfect shepherd. He succeeded just in time for the need for such dogs to decrease significantly. Fortunately, his prodigy, Horand von Grafrath, was registered with the AKC in 1917 and quickly became known as the ideal working K-9.
The other parent, the magical Pyrenees, was trusted by generations of shepherds to guard their flocks grazing on the snowy peaks of the Pyrenees. It worked on its own, for days at a time, feeding and driving away wolves, rustlers and other predators. Some have evolved into devoted family pets with «an interesting constant gaze straight out of the past,» to quote one fan, Peggy Adamson.
Energetic
Dog breeds can vary greatly in terms of energy, but German Shepherds have much more energy than most. Once again, they are rated 5/5 by the AKC for their energy level, indicating that they have boundless energy! Are you starting to see a pattern yet?
All this energy helps a German Shepherd to work all day. It is one of the many reasons the breed is so popular for working dogs. But if you don’t find an outlet to burn off some of that energy, whether it’s playing games or going for a swim, your German Shepherd is likely to become restless and destructive.