c/o Faery Tails Corgi Rescue of St. Louis Inc.
P.O. Box 515105
St. Louis, MO 63151
314-779-7882
information@corgirescuestlouis.org
If you have adopted a GSD from us, contact us anytime about your dog.
Country of Origin: Germany
Bred For: Originally a herding dog. Also used for military/law enforcement work, search and rescue, tracking, assistance dog (for the blind and physically disabled), guardian and all around companion.
Average Lifespan: 10 - 14 years
Size: Large - 65-100 + pounds. Males stand 24-26 inches at the shoulder, and females stand 22-24 inches.
Colors: Black and tan (tan or reddish with a black back), bicolor (black with tan points), golden sable (golden tan with black tipped hairs), gray sable (steel or silver gray with black tipped hairs), or solid black. You also see solid white dogs although this is considered a disqualification according to AKC standards.
Coat Type & Grooming Needs: Rich, medium length, dense, double coat (undercoat and top guard hairs). Though a AKC disqualification, longer haired (coated) GSDs are found ** (see below for more information). Sheds heavily year around and loses large amount of hair twice a year (blows coat). Brushing at least several times a week advised to help control shedding.
Typical Personality & Exercise Needs: Intelligent, confident, discriminating, steady - responsive to consistent & gentle training from an owner who is as smart and capable as he is. Naturally reserved and protective, must have large amounts of daily mental & physical activity to keep dog well adjusted. With proper socialization they can be good with children who are considerate of animals, although not appropriate with very young children in most situations.
Complied in part from the AKC Breed Standard and Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyers Guide by Michelle Welton
Why GSDs end up in shelters/rescues: Too much hair shedding, got too big, untrained, too much energy, not enough time for a dog, barks all the time while tied outside, etc. Many of the reasons GSDs are given up can be resolved with training. A GSD is highly intelligent and social and needs to be included as part of the family and given proper attention and exercise daily.
**More about Long haired German Shepherd Dogs
Long haired (coated) German Shepherd Dogs are NOT mixes as some assume, but are purebred dogs and regarded by many as more attractive than standard coat of the German Shepherd Dog breed, although they cannot be shown in the conformation ring. Here is a link to a page with more information about the long coat German Shepherd Dog: http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/2788/lhgsd.htm
Serendipity German Shepherd Dog Rescue (Columbia Missouri)
Central Illinois German Shepherd Dog Rescue
German Shepherd Dog Rescue of Northern Illinois, Inc.
Save Our Seniors German Shepherd Rescue
Echo Dogs White Shepherd Rescue (national)
Badgerland German Shepherd Rescue (Belleville WI 53508)
Mississippi Valley German Shepherd Dog Rescue, Inc. (Moline, IL 61265)
Paw prints, GSD, & life preserver clip art is copyright Ahead Graphics. Background is copyright FTCR.
Some Graphics Courtesy of GRRRfix
This website is copyright Faery Tails Corgi Rescue of St. Louis Inc.All information and advice on this website is given in good faith. FTCR makes no warranties or guarantees and expressly disclaims all liability.