To keep your German Shepherd healthy, you should know how to do a routine health check, know when to take your German Shepherd for urgent care, and have important emergency care phone contacts on hand. The American Kennel Club (AKC) defines the breed standard for German Shepherds.

Shepherds love to chew. If you leave them to their own devices, they will chew shoes, furniture, walls, and anything else that will succumb to their vice-grip jaws. You'll be far more successful in redirecting your dog's chewing than in trying to abolish it — do so by providing him with chews that tire his active jaws.

To be sure that your new dog is a bona fide German Shepherd Dog, he needs "papers" — proof of your German Shepherd's pure ancestry. The papers consist of a litter or individual registration certificate issued by a registry. In most cases, the registry is the American Kennel Club (AKC), but German imports are registered with the SV (short for Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde — the German Shepherd Club in Germany).

Cancer occurs frequently in all breeds of dogs, and some breeds are predisposed to certain types of cancer. Unfortunately, the German Shepherd is one of them. For example, hemangiosarcoma, a malignant cancer of the circulatory system, is seen more often in German Shepherds than in any other breed. No screening tests are available, and the hereditary component, if any, is not known.

To ensure a lifetime of good health for your German Shepherd, spend a few minutes checking for these signs of a potentially dangerous health situation. If you see any of these signs on your German Shepherd, a trip to the veterinarian is in order: General: Lameness, lack of coordination, asymmetry of muscles,

The American Kennel Club (AKC) determines the accepted breed standard for German Shepherds in the United States. Here is a shortened version of the AKC breed standards of German Shepherds: Overall strong, agile, well-muscled, and full of life Longer than tall, deep-bodied, with an outline of smooth curves

If your dog, cat, or other pet needs immediate medical help, you don't want to be caught fumbling with a phone book and trying to find the right number. In case of an animal emergency, keep these numbers near your phone, and make sure you program them into your cell phone! Your veterinarian's phone number