| The Alsatian Dog or Alsatian Wolf Dog, more | | | | this particular breed has two coats of hairs, it is |
| popularly known as the German shepherd dog, is | | | | important to brush out the coat daily in order to take |
| particularly liked for its willingness to work, keen | | | | off dead hair and massage its skin. An Alsatian does |
| observation and learning skills, loyalty and ability to | | | | not usually need a full bath too often and mud and |
| protect its master. The name "Alsatian" originated | | | | dirt on the coat can be removed by spraying water |
| from the British and American veterans of the First | | | | on the outer coat. The dog's toenails should be |
| World War who brought home some of the German | | | | trimmed once every three months. It should also be |
| farm dogs and renamed the breed since they were | | | | check regularly for parasites like fleas. A dust powder |
| afraid of the anti-German sentiments that continued | | | | or other anti-flea aids may be used to eliminate the |
| to prevail even after the war. A well-trained Alsatian | | | | fleas. |
| dog will bravely perform its duty even in dangerous | | | | In feeding an Alsatian dog, dry food should be |
| situations and is so intelligent that it has the initiative | | | | preferred in order to prevent tooth decay. Select a |
| to carry out its work even without someone looking | | | | good dog food that contains the necessary nutrients |
| at him. | | | | and vitamins that could keep the dog healthy. A |
| But the development of its potential qualities would | | | | supply of clean water should always be available for |
| require that the Alsatian dog undergo a rigorous | | | | the dog. It is best to house the dog in a cool and |
| obedience training especially considering its high | | | | shady area. Bring the dog out for daily walks |
| intelligence and strong tendency for independence. | | | | especially in the cool evenings. Since an Alsatian is |
| Alsatians have a dominant personal and would likely | | | | very protective of its owner, it is important to put a |
| want to be the leader of the group. When training an | | | | leash on it in order to keep it from instinctively |
| Alsatian, a trainer needs to be firm and patient. Good | | | | attack others that it perceives to pose a threat. |
| dog training should progress from basic obedience | | | | Although it is properly called Alsatian wolf dog, the |
| skills to increasingly challenging tasks. Regular exercise | | | | veracity of whether or not there is wolf blood in the |
| and a balanced diet are likewise important for the | | | | Alsatian breed continues to be uncertain. Although |
| Alsatian at this stage. | | | | modern research shows the Alsatian is related to a |
| A well-trained Alsatian can easily follow signals like sit, | | | | more primitive wild dog, the exact ancestry of the |
| down and come and can behave in a calm and | | | | Alsatian continues to be uncertain despite claims that |
| steady manner in any circumstances. Since it is | | | | it is a progeny of a wolf-shepherd mix developed by |
| suspicious of strangers and is extremely loyal to its | | | | breeding wolves into the original Alsatian breed. |
| owner, it can best serve as a good guard dog and | | | | Although the Alsatian is supposedly identical to the |
| protect both the owner and the surrounding | | | | more popular German shepherd, the term Alsatian |
| premises. | | | | has later on been used to refer exclusively to the |
| However, an owner of an Alsatian dog needs to pay | | | | pure white variety of the German shepherd breed. |
| particular attention to its health and grooming. Since | | | | |