Alsatians

Alsatians are a breed of dog that comes from Germany. They were originally bred as sheepdogs as far back as the beginning of the 18th century. This breed is also known as the German Shepherd Dog. This is a sturdy muscular dog with a slightly elongated body and even though its bone structure is light, the bones are solid. Adult males usually weigh between 66 and 90 pounds and adult females weigh between 48 and 70 pounds. While all the dogs in this breed have a coat of straight, hard hair of medium length, the colors can be black with traces of tan, all black, all white or black with traces of red.

There are generally four recognized breeds of alsatians. The West German lines are a combination of the older breeds used for herding sheep and those kept as family pets. The DDR lines from the former East Germany are more closely related to the traditional Shepherd Dogs with a straighter back and a denser, longer and darker coat. The Eastern European lines are very similar to the DDR lines and are prized as working dogs. The dogs of the American lines are noticeably different with a sloping back and collapsed hips, two qualities that disqualify the dogs from international dog competitions.

Alsatians are very intelligent and agile dogs. Because of the work drive they display, they are used in many different occupations, such as police dogs, seeing-eye dogs, guard dogs and search and rescue dogs. They have an innate sense to protect their territory, which is why they make excellent guard dogs. However, they can also be wonderful companions to adults and children.

Some of the health problems that occur in alsatians include dysplasia of the hip and elbow. Another disease that is quite common in this dog is von Willebrand’s disease, which is bleeding internally or bleeding in the joints. They are also prone to skin allergies, bloating and a deficiency in the pancreas. The average life span of this bered is 10 to 12 years.