Shepherd Dogs – Part Two, An Amazing Dog Breed

This is the second part of the Shepherds Dogs.They are much more than their definition:dogs trained to herd and guard sheep

6. Carpathian Shepherd Dog – A true country dog, devoid of frills and yet striving to please. This noble canine is treated as family by the peasants, shepherds, livestock owners in the Carpathian region, which would be modern day Romania. It has been known to take on dangerous foe such as bears to keep the livestock safe. This large-sized dog has beautiful almond-shaped eyes and a proportionate muscular body that is more rectangular than square. It stands around 29 inches at the withers and can tilt the scales at around 100 lbs. The Carpathian Shepherd Dog has a life expectancy of up to 14 years.

7. Dutch Shepherd Dog – Dutch Shepherd dogs come from Holland and enjoy the reputation of being among the most versatile herding dogs in the world. They can contribute to their master’s household in other ways too, for example they can be trained to do guard duty as well. The animals possess a friendly, outgoing, and cheerful disposition. The Dutch Shepherd dog is a medium-sized dog but has the constitution to survive in harsh conditions. It can weigh up to 67 pounds and measure 25 inches at the withers. Interestingly, the breed can be found with three coat variations – long-haired ones are rare, short-haired ones are easy to find, and wire-haired ones are slightly less common. Although very popular in their native Netherlands, these animals have still to gain widespread popularity in the U.S. It is worth noting that health and temperament related conditions are less prevalent in these dogs because they have not been bred extensively.

8. German Shepherd Dog – Probably, the most famous of all herding breeds, the German Shepherd is a relatively new breed. It has gained worldwide popularity as a loyal family pet that is considerate with children. In England, this breed has gained popularity as the Alsatian. Media has probably used this breed more than any other in various film, magazine, and ad portrayals. Although bred for herding, these animals are now primarily used as working dogs and are popular with police forces around the world. A fully-grown German Shepherd is a big fellow that can weigh around 88 pounds and measure up to 26 inches at the withers. Although this animal is not hostile or aloof, you have to earn its friendship which once given, the animal will sustain even at a cost to its life.

9. Karst Shepherd Dog – The Karst Shepherd dog hails from Slovenia where it is regarded as a national treasure and yet the animal was on the brink of extinction till a few years back. It has gained reputation as a very good guard dog that ensures the safety of the herder’s livestock. The animal has distinctive looks and also a strong individual temperament. It needs good training and socialization from a very young age so that it can slip into the role of a family dog. At 24 inches and 94 pounds, this is a hefty dog with a shaggy coat and a bushy mane. The animal is not very suited to apartment life; it needs space and lot of exercise. The life expectancy of a Karst Shepherd dog is between 11-12 years.

10. King Shepherd – This breed is probably the most recent of the shepherd breeds out there. It came into existence in the 1990s. At 30 inches in height and up to 150 pounds in weight this is an impressively big animal. The breed was developed using the Shiloh Shepherd, German Shepherd, and the Alaskan Malamute. The dogs are easy to train, confident in temperament and will work as herding dogs, companion dogs, and also working dogs. A King Shepherd is a healthy breed with a lifespan of around 11years. This large-boned animal needs a lot of exercise and is not really meant for an apartment lifestyle.

If you have a family and you want a great pet look into the various shepherd dogs,you will not be sorry.