Amy Morford

The German Shepherd Big Book: All About the German Shepherd Breed: What Every Shepherd Owner Needs to Know About His or Her Pet Amy Morford

You love German Shepherds. They are great family dogs exhibiting fierce loyalty, impressive good looks, intelligence, courage, and a highly protective nature. Who can blame you for wanting a German Shepherd as your lifelong "best friend" and protector? Not so fast! While it's true that the German Shepherd is a popular, highly valued and desirable canine companion; the breed, much like all breeds, is not a perfect fit for every person, setting, lifestyle or family situation. Amy Morford created the The German Shepherd Big Book to help you figure out if a German Shepherd is a good pet for your individual needs as well as determining if you can meet the demanding emotional and physical requirements of the breed. This book is not intended as a training guide. It was created to familiarize you with the German's Shepherd's background, main characteristics, dominant traits, and health concerns; with tips on selection and care. Morford kicks off with a fascinating history of the breed--thoroughly explaining how a dog that was originally bred to herd sheep morphed into a drug and cadaver discovery working dog; a service and therapy dog to the blind, deaf, and disabled; protective family pet, military dog or police patrol partner. In the second chapter, Morford examines the time, money, energy-level, and lifestyle required to meet the needs of a German Shepherd so that both the dog and its human companion aren't miserable because of a failure to provide proper food, shelter, exercise, and companionship. To assist in selecting your first German Shepherd, Morford compares and contrasts American versus German bloodlines; male versus female: a puppy versus an adult dog; various coat types and colors; and breeder versus rescue adoption. Two must-read chapters concern how to select a breeder and common health problems experienced by the breed. Don't buy a German Shepherd without reading those chapters!