Sam Shephard is an experienced German Shepherd owner and has learned over the years how to optimize the health and well-being of the breed.
Who knew there was so much you needed to know about a breed of dog? Anyone who has seen a well-trained and balanced German Shepherd knows how sweet and compassionate these dogs can be. They may have been bred as watchdogs, but they are loving, and when bred with the right care and love, they are loyal companions who truly make the best dogs.
You are reading: Books about german shepherds
In this article, we will take an in-depth look at three books about this breed:
- your german shepherd puppy: month by month by liz palika, deb eldredge, and joanne olivier
- training your german shepherd dog by dan rice
- the sheepdog German in word and image by v. stephanitz
your german shepherd puppy: month by month
Your German Shepherd Puppy: Month by Month, by Liz Palika, Deb Eldredge, and Joanne Olivier, focuses on helping owners understand their German Shepherd puppies and how to raise them to become well-adjusted adult dogs. Here’s an overview of what this book does well and the areas where it might fall a bit short:
this book has depth
This is probably one of the most insightful books you will read on German Shepherd care. This book follows a herder from birth to adulthood, looking even at what happens before he chooses his pup from his litter and after the pup stage.
In addition to the month-by-month chapters, there are also a series of lengthy appendices that discuss everything from how to assess your herder’s body condition to poisonous plants to avoid planting in your garden, as well as common dangers in the house and in the yard. It’s incredibly detailed, which can be off-putting for some owners who just want a little insight into their breed, but it’s very helpful for those who want to fully understand their dog and its needs.
how this book is written
This book takes a unique month-by-month approach, as the title says. It starts from birth, with each chapter detailing one month of a German Shepherd’s first year of life. Unlike puppies that start small and stay small, a shepherd will grow by leaps and bounds during this first year, which is also the most important year for training and behavior changes. Although he’s not done growing at month 12, he’s a young adult, and this book even addresses the challenges that come with transitioning from young adult to adulthood, even beyond month 12.
This approach makes it possible for an owner to obtain very specific and necessary information about their dog’s immediate stage of growth. It is not an overview of the puppy stage, it is a reference that the owner can open to their month and get detailed information about what is going on with their puppy right now. while some may prefer an overview, most owners prefer this more detailed approach.
accessibility
This is a long book, which can be overwhelming for some owners. however, it is divided into smaller and more differentiated chapters, which makes it more accessible and functional. Instead of having separate chapters that focus on diet, exercise, training, and behaviors, it is written to be highly accessible to the owner.
One drawback, however, would be that the 12-month approach makes this book largely inaccessible to people adopting an adult pastor. but for new owners, this book is packed with information that is easily accessible.
writing style
the writing style is informal and friendly, and is encouraging when needed. The three authors of this book obviously have first-hand experience with young shepherds and know that new owners will need both patience and a sense of humor. the wording is designed to help homeowners find the information they need quickly and easily.
class of information and practicality
What makes this book really unique is that it doesn’t just focus on what it’s like to have a puppy. provides very real advice as well as breed-specific information, ranging from the history of the breed, specific health issues, what jobs they are best suited for (such as therapy work and search and rescue), and even legislation that has to do with german shepherds.
See Also: Best Books on Thomas Jefferson – Five Books Expert Recommendations
There is basic and detailed information, which makes it possible for the reader to get what they need from the book. This is where this book really shines, compared to other puppy books: it provides deep and extensive information, in a format that is great both for practical use and for learning about dog training theories and the history and legacy of a dog. race.
training your german shepherd dog
As a dog owner, you basically have two options when it comes to your dog. The most common option is not to train the dog, and most owners just let their German Shepherds grow up naturally and can train them to do a few tricks and not use the hallway rug as a toilet, but they don’t spend a lot of time. or effort in training. the other option is to spend a lot of time and effort on training. For those owners, Dan Rice’s Training Your German Shepherd Dog is a must-read.
The goal of this book isn’t just to give you some tips and tricks to use as you try to get your new puppy used to living in your home; this book is a very detailed approach to training, from standard training to house training. , sit, heel walk, and leash manners, to more advanced training like agility training and herding.
While some owners may not find all the information pertinent to their dog, those who want a well-trained and responsive dog can find all the information they need and more in this book.
training approach
The approach of this book is very different from that of most training guides. The author not only provides a step-by-step training process, but also discusses the theories and purposes of training. this makes it especially valuable reading for someone who wants to better understand their dog.
Many homeowners will say they “don’t understand” why their shepherd chews on the furniture or messes around the house, even when he has access to the outdoors. For those owners, reading up on the breed mentality, as well as the origin and characteristics of the breed, can be extremely valuable.
Chapter Three also includes excellent information on determining whether or not you’re ready for a dog and how to find the right dog for you or your family. one of the small weaknesses of this book is that it does not discuss finding local herder shelters or herder mixes.
However, it makes up for this omission by discussing the danger of puppy mills and not buying your puppy through an akc certified breeder (which generally means the breeder uses ethical and humane breeding, housing and breeding).
One of the highlights of this book is the need to train a breed like a German Shepherd. these dogs are extremely intelligent and active, and like a child who is intelligent and active and has no outlet for that intelligence, a herder can start to misbehave.
also discusses the importance of acting as your pup expects a pack leader to act, so that he is more likely to follow your instructions and try to earn your trust and praise by behaving correctly.
See Also: 11 Best Team Building Books to Read in 2022
This book recognizes that dog training is about more than just giving your dog instructions, it’s about teaching yourself and your dog how to communicate and act. covers very specific methods of training a herder and helps owners correct poor training behaviors that often result in a misbehaving or misbehaving dog.
how effective is this book?
What’s nice about this book is that it takes a very direct approach to training: the more complex types and the basic types. the tips he provides help owners stop undesirable behaviors and he provides very helpful advice for those thinking of buying and breeding one of these intelligent dogs.
Background information on early breeding and the uses of the dog, especially in the military and hunting, can help a new owner understand why the herder does what he does. he even talks in very detailed terms about dog shows and assistance dog training.
While this may result in some of the more complicated topics getting just a quick glance, any owner who wants to learn more about their dog and get excellent, detailed basic training information and an overview of some of the less popular, but still necessary training methods, must read this book.
Because German Shepherds are such a popular breed and because they were originally bred for a very specific purpose, it’s important to spend a little more time and effort to make sure they are well-trained, well-behaved and friendly. friendly. and that their owners understand them and take their place as head of the “pack” in that dog’s mind.
the german shepherd in words and images
Unlike some of the more popular books detailing how to train these dogs or what to expect in the first year or two of life, this book is strictly about the history of the breed and its relationship to humanity. It begins before dogs were even domesticated and talks extensively and very specifically about German Shepherds as a breed, why they were bred, how they were first bred, and how they continue to be bred.
For those who want a very deep and extreme look at the history of not just the breed, but all dogs, this book is an excellent choice. The text, which is interspersed with images of dogs doing everything from being dressed by children to being trained in the army, extensively covers the history of shepherds and the roles they have played throughout history.
what you will find
The first part of the book, which will probably be of most interest to those looking to learn about how the breed has evolved over the centuries, features images of dog show champions over the years and a detailed description why those dogs won and how they relate to the stereotypical herder we see today.
While this book is packed with interesting facts, it’s probably not the most practical book for someone who wants to learn about German Shepherds because they’re thinking of adopting or buying one to join their family. those who are interested, however, in showing this breed, might be very interested in all the information and pictures in this extensive book, especially the sections dealing with the dog show champions of the last century.
the drawbacks
German Shepherd’s biggest downfall in words and pictures is the dated information contained in this book. it definitely does not have the most up to date training or display information. however, for shepherd enthusiasts, this could be exactly the book they are looking for. for those who want to see how this breed relates to other breeds or are just interested in a very extensive look at this breed, from what they should look like, how they should act, where they came from, and how they got their name (in both English and in German), then this is the perfect book. otherwise it is interesting to browse and get brief information about the breed and look at the pictures showing the evolution of the breed.
See Also: 10 great maps of fantasy worlds! | Historical Novels and Epic Fantasy