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1) Origin
The Kunming Wolfdog is relatively young dog breed, developed only in 1950s in China, to meet the needs of military and police in the Chinese province Kunming. The breed was developed from several dogs. The main ancestor is German Shepherd, which was crossed with wolfdogs that were already used in military and with some local dogs as well. The Kunming Wolfdog was not created by directly breeding wolves with dogs, but already existing wolfdogs were used in the breeding process. 2) Utilization As i already mentioned, the Kunming Wolfdog is mainly used by Chinese military and police. It is used for various purposes, either as guard dogs, patrol dogs, but also for maintaining the peace and order. This dog is extremely good for search and rescue jobs, which is mostly thanks to their extremely good sense of smell. The breed was also used to locating bombs and narcotics and they were also used to locate and detect landmines. It is truly extremely good working breed, they love to work and they should have some kind of a job in their life. 3) Companions Even though these dogs were bred to be workers, just like all the dog breeds around the world, they can make good companion dogs as well. The breed is also slowly gaining reputation as a good family protection dog. But it is definitely not a companion for everyone! These dogs are very intelligent, but in order to be good companions, early proper socialization and training is a must. The breed is little bit more demanding than your average dog. These dogs are energetic, powerful, focused and alert. If the Kunming Wolfdog is raised with kids, other dogs or even other pets, they can typically live with them without any problems. And most of the time, they will be protective over them. But of course, you should never leave any dog breed with a very young child unsupervised. 4) Size The breed is remarkably similar to the German Shepherd, which is not surpising, since the GSD is one of its main ancestors. They are slightly taller than the average German Shepherd and it is athleticly built breed. The average height is between 25-27 inch, which is 63-68 cm and weight between 66-84 lbs, which is 30-38 kg. 5) Appearance Most of the Kunming Wolfdogs have skin that hangs loose, triangular ears that are always erect, round eyes with alert expression and black muzzle. They have relatively big head and thick neck and overall formidable appearance. The breed has well boned legs, with pretty small cat-like feet. The tail is very bushy and dense. 6) Coat and color The Kunming Wolfdog has slightly shorter coat then the German Shepherd, but it is still very dense and thick doublecoat. The coat is much thicker and denser during winter months. The most typical color combination is the one, where the body has light to dark tan coloring and a black saddle. As i already mentioned earlier, the muzzle should also be in black color. 7) Exercise As a working dog breed, the Kunming Wolfdog must have high endurance and energy level. And indeed, they do need quite a lot of exercise to stay healthy and happy. They will be always ready for any outdoor adventure, it can be walks, hikes, jogs, many of them enjoy water and swimming as well. They will love to live in a house with big yard, rather than in apartment. It is important to mentally stimulate these dogs as well, otherwise they might become bored and potentionally develop some unwanted behaviour. This is a dog for active owners, it is definitely not a coach potatoe. 8) Recognition The Kunming Wolfdog was officially recognized in China in 1988 as a purebred dog and since then it is continuously gaining recognition all around the world. It is still not recognized by AKC or FCI, but it is recognized for example by Continental Kennel Club or by Dog Registry of America. The Kunming Wolfdog is still a rare breed, but its population is slowly raising. 9) Maintenance The Kunming Wolfdog does shed, and they shed quite a lot, especially during the shedding seasons in spring and fall. You can minimize the shedding by regular brushing, which will remove all the loose and dead hair and it will keep the coat in best possible condition. No other grooming is required. Of course, just like with any other breed, you should regularly check their eyes, ears, nails and teeth and clip them or clean them if needed. 10) Health There are no scientific studies about the breeds health, but it is believed, that the Kunming Wolfdog is usually very healthy dog breed, free from serious genetic health issues and with lifespan around 13 years, which is quite good for dog of this size. But of course, just like all dogs, even the Kunming Wolfdog can suffer from some health issues, similar to the ones of German Shepherd, which are joint problems like hip dysplasia, bloating or declining vision.
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1) Origin
The Grand Bleu de Gascogne is considered to be one of the oldest of all scenthounds we know today. There are several theories about its origin and it is generally believed, that they are descendants of the hounds of Phoenician traders, of the dogs developed by Gauls and also of native French scenthound known as Chien de Courant, a legendary French hunting dog breed with massive body, which is already extinct today. There are historical written evidences about this breed that are hundreads of years old, but the breed and its ancestors most likely lived in France and especially in the Gascogne region since the Middle ages. 2) The Big Gascogne The Grand Bleu de Gascogne is one of the four „Gascogne“ dog breeds. Next to the Grand Bleu, there is the Petit Bleu, Basset Bleu and Griffon Bleu de Gascogne. And not only that the Grand Bleu is largest of all, it is also the ancestor of all other Gascogne dog breeds. And it is believed, that the Grand Bleu de Gascogne influenced many other scent hunting dog breeds as well, such as American Foxhound, Bluetick Coonhound, Catahoula Leopard dog or the Southern Hound. 3) Utilization The word Grand in the breeds name is not only describing the dogs size, but it is an indicator of what game they were used to hunt and indeed, these dogs are used for centuries to hunt large game in packs. They are hunting for example deer, boar, but also wolves. They can also hunt smaller game, but they are much more efficient in big game hunting. These dogs are best known to be absolutely determined and focused on the hunt, for their incredibly good sense of smell capable of tracking hot and cold scent, distinctive and deep howl and high endurance and stamina, all very important traits for a succesfull hunter. 4) Companions Of course, just like almost all the other dogs, even the Grand Bleu de Gascogne can make wonderful companion dog. But because of their high prey drive, chasing instinct, large size and because they are just tireless, they are not suitable for everyone. But if you have a space and time to burn off this dogs energy, than it will make wonderful loving and affectionate companion. They would love to live in a pack with other dogs in the family, but of course, other household pets might be problematic. Even with amazing socialization and training, they can still follow their nose and not obey your commands on 100%, especially if they smell something interesting. But it is an intelligent breed capable of understanding all the obedience commands without a problem. And even though very big, they are absolutely gentle, which makes them good partners for kids. But of course, you should never leave any dog breed with a very young child unsupervised. 5) Size Speaking of the size, what is the actual height and weight of this dog breed? Well, the height, according to the official breed standard, is between 62-72 cm, which is 24-28 inch. And weight is usually between 80-120 lbs, which is 36-55 kg. Females are naturally slightly smaller than males. 6) Coat and color The Grand Bleu de Gascogne is known for its beautiful short and thick blue colored coat. In reality, the coat is white mottled with black, which is giving the dog blue overall appearance. They can have occasional black patches. The coat is weatherproof and it is enabling the dog to hunt outdoors all day long without any problems. 7) Ears Just like many other scent hounds, even the Grand Bleu de Gasconge has large ears. They are iconic part of this breeds appearance. The low set ears curl inward and reach the tip of the nose. Because there is limited air flow into the ears, they can be prone to ear infections and it is imporant to check them regularly clean them if needed. 8) Rarity The Grand Bleu de Gascogne was very popular breed in France. But both World Wars and prior to that French revolution caused a massive decline in the breeds numbers, let alone other external forces, like rising popularity of foreign dog breeds. The breed is not on the verge of extinction, but it is definitely not even close as popular as it used to be and it is remaining quite rare. You can find them in lower numbers in France and its neighboring countries, but also in North America, where these dogs are present since at least the 18th century. Acutally, George Washington owned a pack of these dogs! 9) Maintenance The Grand Bleu de Gascogne is extremely easy to take care of dog. They shed some deal of fur all year long but it is nothing extremely terrible. You can brush the coat from time to time to remove loose and dead hair and to keep the coat in best possible condition. No other grooming is required. Just like with any other dog breed, you should regularly check their eyes, ears, nails and teeth and clip them or clean them if needed. 10) Health The Grand Bleu de Gascogne is typically very healthy dog breed. There are not many scientific studies about the breeds health but it does not seem that it suffers much from any serious genetic health issues, but of course it can still suffer from some problems typical for large dogs, such as some joint and bone problems like hip dysplasia, bloating or ear infections. The average lifespan is around 12 years. 1) Origin
The Griffon Fauve de Bretagne is an old French hunting dog breed, that originated hundreads of years ago. We do not know the exact date of origin, but the breed was already well established in 14th century in France, especially in the Brittany region, where it was mainly used to hunt wolves. It is closely related to other hunting dogs of Brittany region, like Grand Fauve de Bretagne and Basset Fauve de Bretagne. The breed was owned by royalty and even the French king Francois I owned a pack of these hunters. 2) Almost extinct During the 19th century, wolves dissapearred in France, which caused a massive decline in the dog breeds that were used for hunting wolves. And one of these dogs was Griffon Fauve de Bretagne. Luckily, the breed survived. One of the man credited for saving the breed is Marcel Pambrun, who founded the Club de Fauve de Bretagne in 1949 with the goal of preserving and saving the remains of the breed. Today, the breed is not on the verge of extinction, even though it is still considered as rather rare breed. 3) Name This breed has a very descriptive name. The word Griffon is describing all the wiry coated hunting dog breeds of France. Fauve means fawn, or tan, which is describing the color. And de Bretagne means from Brittany, which is describing the geographical location where the breed was developed. So the breeds name can be literally translated as fawn colored and wiry coated hunting dog breed from Brittany. 4) Utilization As you already know, this breed is a hunter. It is the only real working utilization of this breed. It should be a tenacious and adaptable hunter, they can hunt in all kinds of terrain and in any weather. They are very resilient dogs with high endurance and stamina. They typically hunt in large packs and they can hunt big and dangerous prey without a problem. They are absolutely passionate about the hunt, they have high prey drive and chasing instinct, excellent senses, especially sense of smell and they are absolutely determined on the hunt. But today, many of these dogs are not hunters, but companion pets. 5) Companions And they make amazing lively companions. They are perfect fit for active families who like outdoor activities. The breed standard describes this breed as good natured with people, sociable, affectionate and equable. They can make good playful partners for kids and they will enjoy living in pack with other dogs, especially if they live together from the puppyhood. Other household pets might be problematic due to the dogs hunting heritage. It is truly very social animal that wants to be part of your daily activities. Great advantage is, that they are very adaptable and pretty easily trainable. Some people describe this dog as mischievous and goofy and i can guarantee you that you would never be bored with the Griffon Fauve de Bretagne. 6) Exercise As i mentioned in the previous point, this breed is lively companion that is best suited for active families. And it is absolutely true. This breed needs a lot of exercise. Without daily longer walks, hikes or jogs they will become bored and restless, which can lead to some unwanted behaviour, like excessive barking. This is not a coach potatoe that will be satisfied with few short walks around the block. You should also occupy their mind by some fun training sessions or some kind of a playtime, puzzle toys or dog sport. If they are provided with plenty of mental and physical stimulation, they tend to be very docile, calm and relaxed at home. 7) Size This is medium sized dog breed with athletic body and average height between 48-56 cm, which is 19-22 inch and weight between 18-22 kg, which is 40-50 lbs. There are no extreme size differences between males and females. 8) Coat Well, the breeds name says all you need to know about the coat. It is a fauv Griffon, or fawn colored wiry coated dog. The wiry and rough coat gives the dog its unique unkpet like appearance. Their fawn color can be in a range from golden wheaten to red brick. Some black hair on the back and ears are not uncommon. There can also be some white spots on the chest. 9) Maintenance The Griffon Fauve de Bretagne is relatively easy to take care of dog breed. The breed should be regularly brushed, which will remove the loose hair, but their wiry coat usually repels dirt and the coat does not mat, so it is not a hard work. Some longer coated individuals will need hand stripping in spring and fall. Other than that, you should also regularly check their eyes, ears, nails and teeth and clip them or clean them if needed. 10) Health There are no scientific studies about the breeds health, but the breed is not linked with any genetic health issues. Of course, they still can suffer from health problems like ear infections, hip and elbow dysplasia, some eye problems or allergies, but it should not be extremely common in this breed. The average lifespan of this breed is between 12-13 years. 1) Kangal
Lets start with probably the most famous Turkish dog, which is a Turkish Kangal. And be prepared, that most dogs in this list will be very similar to the Kangal Shepherd, as majority of breeds from Turkey are so called Coban Kopegi dogs, which are basically turkish livestock guardian dogs and they only differ slightly from each other. Kangals are sometimes known as the strongest dog in the world, but there some bigger and stronger dogs in Turkey. But nevertheless the Kangal truly is extremely strong dog capable of defending the livestock against extremely strong predators, like wolf. Different coban kopegi dogs differ from each other because they were bred in different parts of Turkey. And the Kangal comes from the Sivas province. It is a vigilant, courageous, powerful and always alert dog breed. 2) Akbash Just like the Kangal, even the Akbash is amazing livestock guardian dog used to protect sheep and other livestock, especially on annual transhumance to the high mountains in summer or to low pastures in winter. Akbash is considered to be one of the fastest turkish livestock guardian dog. And what is its size? Typically between 50-85 cm, which is 20-33 inch and weight between 35-65 kg, which is 77-143 lbs. But some individuals can be much larger than this. 3) Tonya Finosu Most Turkish dogs are strong livestock guardians, but there are few exception. The first one is Tonya Finosu. It is a small, lively, alert and playful spitz like dog with fluffy coat erect ears and tail that is curled over the back and fox like face. The Tonya Finosu is very good alert watchdog, but also loving and loyal family companion. Due to their small size, they are not good choice for guarding purposes, but their alert and watchful temperament makes them great adepts for watchdogs. They create very strong bond with its owner and with the whole family and the Tonya Finosu is known as a tolerant, friendly, playful, lively and cheerful companion. 4) Boz Shepherd The Boz Shepherd is one of the oldest livestock guardian dogs, not only in Turkey, but all over the world. They are native to Toros Mountains in Southern Anatolia. They can be used either for livestock protection, which is their original purpose, but also for personal and property protection. The Turkish Boz is slightly larger than the Kangal Shepherd, they have heavier bone structure, more curled tail than most of other Coban Kopegi dogs. But they are still dogs built for athleticism and agility. They are also calmer and more relaxed than the high energy Kangals. 5) Aksaray Malaklisi If the Boz Shepherd is built for agility and athleticism, than the Malakli is built more robustly and heavier. The Malakli typically has an extremely heavy to excessive bone structure and skull with a strong stop. The Malakli is also described as more agressive, stubborn and as one-owner dog. 6) Pali Another exception from the turkish livestock guardians is Turkish Pali. It is a perfect family companion tolerant even to cold and rainy climates. They are still protective dogs, perfect for watchdog duties, but they are very affectionate and playful with its own family and owners. 7) Karadeniz The Karadeniz Shepherd, also known as Black Sea Shepherd is another Turkish LGD. The Karadeniz is native to the high mountains along the Black Sea coast in northern Turkey, where they evolved over centuries by adapting to local specific conditions, such as harsh mountainous climate, intense rains and higher altitude. 8) Trabzon Zerdava We will finish the video with three very rare dogs from Turkey. There is not much information about neither of them. The first one is Trabzon Zerdava. They are also livestock and farm protectors, but these dogs were also used as succesfull hog hunters. They are very fast, athletic, patient and quite tolerant. 9) Kars Shepherd This Coban Kopegi comes from Eastern Turkey, from Kars province. It is very similar to other turkish LGD, it has long and dense coat, protective, brave and alert temperament and large sized body. They should be slightly smaller than majority of other Turkish LGDs. 10) Rize Koyun The last dog in this list and the last Coban Kopegi in this video is the Rize Koyun. Again, it is extremely similar dog to other turkish LGDs and the differences are only small. This breed comes from the Rize province in the eastern part of the Black Sea Region of Turkey. 1) Origin
The Can de Palleiro is a traditional shepherd dog from northwestern Spain. It is most likely very old breed and the ancestry and exact origin is unknown. It is believed that they evolved from dogs native to Galicia and from dogs that were brought to this region by Galicians during the Palaeolithic era while expanding from the British Isles and European continent. It is more than likely, that the breed share similar ancestry with other European shepherd dogs, such as German Shepherd, Dutch Shepherd, Belgian Shepherd or Portuguese Castro Laboreiro. 2) Utilization The breed was traditionally used by shepherds of Galicia as versatile working dog. As their name, Galician Shepherd, suggest, their primary work was to herd and protect the livestock, but they were also used as courageous farm and property guards. And the breed was excellent for this purpose. They create close bond with the livestock and with the owner, they are very alert, watchful, brave, loyal and they have the much needed athleticism and endurance for this kind of a job. 3) Name The breeds name Can de Palleiro has a very specific meaning. It is from Galician language and it translates something like haystack or hayloft dog. And why haystack dog? Well, when these dogs worked on farms, they would usually sleep in the hayloft, hence the name. But the english name, Galician Shepherd, is very well fitting as well. 4) Almost extinct For centuries, the Galician Shepherd was quite popular working breed in Galicia. That changed in the middle of 20th century with the introduction of foreign shepherd breeds. Local farmers started to prefer these foreign breeds and many pure Galician Shepherds were crossbred with these newcomers. This caused significant reduction of pure Can de Palleiro dogs and this breed almost went extinct. Luckily in 1990s, regional government decided to try to revive the breed and they found few surviving specimen. They also wrote an official breed standard and the official breed club was formed. Since than, the breed is not on the verge of extinction, but it is still pretty rare breed. The Can de Palleiro popularity increased after the breed was shown in TV commercial of a local supermarket chain. After the commercial, many people all around Galicia wanted to buy a Can de Palleiro. 5) Companions You already know that the Can de Palleiro is excellent working dog, but how do they do as companion pets? Well, just like any other breed, they love to live with people, they are loyal to them and they show great affection towards its family and owners. This is an adaptable breed that is typically protective over their loved ones. The Can de Palleiro tends to be suspicious and distrustful towards strangers, but once they get to know the stranger, they accept it as a friend and have no problem with it. The breed truly is very friendly, playful, affectionate and loyal with people they know. It is also incredibly smart breed, capable of learning all the different tricks and commands quite easily. They can also live with other dogs, pets or kids in the family without problems, especially if socialized together from the puppyhood. But of course, you should never leave any dog breed with a very young child unsupervised. 6) Size This is pretty big dog breed with athletic and muscular body. The average height is between 22-26 inch, which is 55-66 cm, and weight should be between 60-88 lbs, which is 27-40 kg. Females are naturally slightly smaller than males. 7) Exercise If the Can de Palleiro is used as a working dog for herding or guarding, they do not need any additional exercise. But if they are kept as companions, they need some kind of a job, some kind of an exercise in their life. These dogs have incredible stamina and they love to go on outdoor walk, hike or jog anytime. They will be ready for any adventure any time you want to. But even though active, they are not hyperactive. With few daily longer walks accompanied with some playtime and fun traning sessions, these dogs will be pretty calm and relaxed when they are at home. Of course, they will prefer, if they will live in a place with big yard, where they can stretch their legs whenever they want to. 8) Coat and color And what about the coat and color of the Galician Shepherd? They have very thick and dense doublecoat, which is helping the dog withstand bad weather, wind and other nature elements. The coat is pretty harsh to touch and it typically comes in light unicolor, such as beige, chestnut, gray or light brown. 9) Maintenance Speaking of the coat, it is important to mention the maintenance and grooming as well and luckily it is nothing hard. These dogs do shed all year long, so be prepared for that. Regular brushing will remove any loose and dead hair and minize the shedding. Regular brushing will also keep the coat clean and it will redistribute natural oils all over it. No other grooming, other than the brushing, is needed. This breed can keep itself pretty clean. Of course, just like with any other breed, you should regularly check their eyes, ears, nails and teeth and clip them or clean them if needed. 10) Health The Can de Palleiro closely resembles its relative, the German Shepherd, but luckily, it does not suffer that much from serious health issues such as hip dysplasia. But of course, they can still suffer from it, and from some other health problems, like various musculoskeletal issues, bloating, allergies and infections, but this should be usually very healthy and hardy breed and the health issues should be rather rare. This is very strong and resistant breed. And what about the lifespan? For a big dog, it is pretty good! Around 13 or 14 years. 1) Recognition
The Old German Shepherd is most often viewed as a long haired German Shepherd and most often it is considered as a variety of the German Shepherd breed, rather than a separate breed. And indeed, the Altdeutsche Schäferhund is not officially recognized by any national kennel club. So what is the reason for the separation from the German Shepherd? Well, to understand that, we need to look at the origin and history of the breed. 2) Origin The Old German Shepherd share the same ancestry and origin with the German Shepherd and their origin dates back hundreads of years. Most likely the ancestors of Old German Shepherds lived in the area of todays Germany since as early as the 7th century and their original purpose was to herd livestock, mostly sheep. Before 1890s, any dog used for herding and protecting in Germany was simply called as German Shepherd dog. But that changed in 1890s, with the introduction of the German Shepherd association. This association wrote an official breed standard for the German Shepherd, where the long-haired variety of the German Shepherd was not accepted. That caused decline in popularity of the long-haired German Shepherds, but some breeders started their own breeding programs and started to call their long-haired GSDs as Old German Shepherds, or Altdeutsche Schäferhund. The situation once again changed not so long ago, in 2010, when the German Shepherd association decided to allow the long-haired type in their breed standard once again. Since than, the long-haired type is again bred within the official German Shepherd association, but some owners and breeders still stick with the term Old German Shepherd and with their own breeding lines. 3) Old German Shepherd vs German Shepherd You already know that the main difference between the Old German Shepherd and „classic“ German Shepherd is their coat length. The Old German Shepherd has much longer coat. But are there any other differences between them? Well, mostly because of the breeding programs, it is said, that the backline of Old German Shepherds is not sloping as much as the normal German Shepherds backline. Their backs are typically much straighter which makes them look healthier. And what about the temparament? I will talk about it later in the video in more details, but many owners claim, that the Old German Shepherd is somewhat calmer, more balanced and more relaxed, especially when they are at home. But overall, the temperament is very very similar. 4) Coat and color As you already know, the coat of Old German Shepherd is pretty long. It is a beautiful long coat with soft undercoat. The tail and legs are typically more bushy and fluffy than the rest of the body. Some dogs exhibit a mane around the neck. And the breeds come in several colors and color combinations, which are most commonly black-brown, black-grey, black-yellow or all black. 5) Maintenance Speaking of the coat it is important to mention the grooming and maintenance as well. And it is slightly harder than with the short-haired GSD, but it not extremely hard grooming routine. The only thing these dogs require is brushing. But it is recommended to brush their coat regularly, few times a week, in order to prevent matting and tangling. The Old German Shepherd also sheds fur all year long and regular brushing will minimize this shedding. You should never shave the coat of the Old German Shepherd, or better to say, you should never shave any doublecoated dog. The doublecoat provides protection in cold, but also in hot temperatures and it provides protection against all kinds of weather. But you can trim some parts of your Old German Shepherds body, such as the area around ears or bottom of their paws, but if you will just brush your dog regularly, you will make good job. These dogs also do not need much bathing. You should bath them only when it is really really necessary and they are dirty. Otherwise there is no reason for bathing them. And of course, just like with all dogs, you should regularly check their eyes, ears, nails and teeth and clean them or clip them if needed. 6) Function The first ancestors of the Old German Shepherds had one main utilization, which was herding and protecting the livestock. But over the time, they found utilization in many other areas and fields. Thanks to their endurance and strength, intelligence, loyalty, incredible work ethic, confidence with nerves of steel and eagerness to please, they are trainable to do almost any task. They can be herding, protecting the livestock, but they can also be property or personal guard dogs, police dogs, military dogs, search and rescue dogs, service dogs or therapy dogs. They can truly do almost any kind of a job and they will excell at it. The one exception is hunting. These dogs are not used for this purpose. The Old German Shepherd can also compete in various dog sports, like Schutzhund, obedience, rally or nosework and tracking. And of course, these dogs can also make incredible companion dogs. 7) Companions As i mentioned earlier in the video, the Old German Shepherd is considered as slightly calmer, more relaxed and little bit friendlier than the German Shepherd. And these are great benefits for companionship. But remember, that the difference is not really big and the temperaments are very similar. It is a docile, obedient, absolutely loyal, but also affectionate, gentle and playful dog breed. They have very well balanced character. It is a good natured dog, known to show affection towards kids, but of course you should never leave any dog breed with a very young child unsupervised. The Old German Shepherd can also live with other dogs or other pets in the family, especially if socialized together from the puppyhood. This is a reliable companion dog whose playful character brings a lot of life into a family. I can guarantee you that you will never be bored with this breed by your side. Overall, it is an excellent companion pet for active families. 8) Exercise And when i said that they are much better suited for active families, i 100% meant it. These dogs are no coach potatoes. If they are not used for some kind of a work, they definitely need daily longer walks or hikes accompanied with some vigorous playtime, which will exercise their body, but they will also need some fun training session or playtime that will occupy their mind as well. Without enough physical and mental exercise, they will become bored and possibly develop some unwanted behaviour, such as destruction or excessive barking. You can also try some dog sport with the Old German Shepherd. These dogs will be always ready for any kind of outdoor adventure, and it does not matter if its raining or snowing outside, they are just always ready. 9) Size The Old German Shepherd is a very strong and muscular, but also agile and athletic dog breed. Its height and weight is the same as the size of German Shepherd, but their long coat makes them look little bit bigger and much stockier. When a long-haired and short-haired GSD will stand next to each other, the long-haired type will just look bigger. And what is the average height and weight? Well, the height is typically between 55-65 cm, which is 22-26 inch and weight between 22-40 kg, which is 49-88 lbs. Females are typically slightly smaller than males. 10) Health The Old German Shepherd is a big dog, and just like all the large dogs, they have higher chance to suffer from bone and joint problems, such as hip and elbow dysplasia. Other health issues associated with this breed are some eye problems, allergies or muscle atrophy. The list of health issues associated with the Old German Shepherd is similar to the one of classic German Shepherd. The average lifespan of this breed is around 12 years. |