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Loyal and intelligent, the German Shepherd has a long history as a working dog and as a family companion. But how do you decide if a Shepherd is for you? This helps you choose the right German Shepherd for your family, provides insights into the breed's temperament, delivers advice on taking care of and training your dog, offers tips on participating in a variety of competitions and much more.
List of contents
Introduction 1
Part 1: Getting to Know German Shepherds 5 Chapter 1: Making the Decision of a Lifetime 7
Chapter 2: Setting the Standard for the Breed 15
Part 2: Finding the German Shepherd for You 25 Chapter 3: Looking for Love in All the Right Places: Breeders and Shelters 27
Chapter 4: Picking the Perfect Puppy 39
Part 3: Bringing Up Baby 51 Chapter 5: Shopping for Dog Stuff 53
Chapter 6: Welcoming Your Dog Home 65
Chapter 7: Feeding Your German Shepherd 77
Chapter 8: Training Your Dog 87
Chapter 9: Dealing with a "Bad Dog" 103
Chapter 10: Grooming Your Dog 119
Part 4: Keeping Your Dog Healthy 131 Chapter 11: Working with Your Dog's Other Best Friend: His Veterinarian 133
Chapter 12: Dealing with GSD Hereditary Health Problems 147
Chapter 13: Taking Care of a Sick Shepherd 163
Chapter 14: Caring for an Aging Shepherd 179
Part 5: Having Fun with Your German Shepherd 187 Chapter 15: Exercising Your Dog 189
Chapter 16: Showing Off Your Dog 201
Chapter 17: Putting Your Shepherd to Work 217
Part 6: The Part of Tens 225 Chapter 18: Ten (or So) Tips for Traveling with Your Dog 227
Chapter 19: Ten Fun Games You Can Play with Your Shepherd 237
Appendix A: Glossary 243
Appendix B: Resources 249
Appendix C: The Official AKC Breed Standard for the German Shepherd Dog 255
Appendix D: GSD Abbreviations 261
Index 275
About the author
D. Caroline Coile, PhD, is an enthusiastic dog breeder and exhibitor. She is the author of 34 dog books and many dog-related magazine articles, and she's the winner of 20 national dog-writing awards.
Summary
Loyal and intelligent, the German Shepherd has a long history as a working dog and as a family companion. But how do you decide if a Shepherd is for you? This helps you choose the right German Shepherd for your family, provides insights into the breed's temperament, delivers advice on taking care of and training your dog, offers tips on participating in a variety of competitions and much more.
