German Shepherds at WorkHave you ever wondered what German Shepherds do besides play fetch, eat and sleep? Most people who own dogs teach them to sit, stay, come and also teach them to obey their owners. They are the pets that always sit on our laps, bark at people when they knock on the door, and chase the postman in the summer when the family is out. Working dogs perform jobs such as police dogs, military dogs, guide dogs and herding dogs. The German Shepherd breed comes from Germany from a mix of different shepherd dogs. They were first trained in Germany as outdoor dogs. In 1906 the first German Shepherd was sent to the United States. Since the 19th century, the number of German Shepherds has increased. Approximately 80,000 German Shepherds are brought to the United States from Germany each year. Many more are born but are not brought from the United States. German farmers learned to breed dogs so they could get the characteristics they wanted. German Shepherds are the most intelligent dog breeds. They are the most popular dogs in North America. German Shepherds weigh 55-95 pounds. A male weighs slightly less than the female. The height of a male is 24-26 inches and the female is 22-24 inches. They have long, stocky bodies, pointed ears, almond-shaped eyes and long, thick tails. They have black spots all over their body. The color of the fur is shaded yellow, light brown, brown and sometimes gray. Their thick fur helps them stay warm and dry in the winter. They have a double coat in the summer they lose their outer fur so they aren't as hot. German Shepherds are affectionate and gentle with their owners, they are very fierce and protective guard dogs. They have a truly exceptional sense of smell. When... middle of paper... they are 2 years old, the owner and dog go home together after completing training. After a while the owner and his dogs begin to travel everywhere together. German shepherds, meanwhile, "don't have an extreme work ethic," he says. “Not everyone can handle a German Shepherd. They tend to become more protective as they age; there is a fine line between keeping your person safe and protecting them. Guide dogs guide their owners along stairs and sidewalks. They help their owners so that they do not come across anything such as benches, fences, hanging tree branches and many other things. These special dogs have been guiding people for more than hundreds of years. When service dogs are done for the day, they like to lie down and play with their toys just like most people do. Guide dogs for approximately 8-10 years. During this time the dogs walk approximately 5,600 miles.