From the book: "Choosing A Dog"
... by Nancy Baer and Steve Duno ...

Page 216-17
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Breed Profile: The German Shepherd is a large dog that, though, included in
the herding group, is in fact one of the most versatile breeds. It is strong,
agile, loyal, and highly intelligent, and possesses one of the keenest noses
in the dog world. The GS is courageous and very territorial and will
instinctively protect its home. It tends to be suspicious of strangers until
its owner accepts the person or persons into their home. The Shepherd becomes
truly bonded to its family, perhaps more so than any other breed, and
consequently can suffer from separation anxiety when apart from its people.
If boarded for a length of time, it can become depressed, may refuse to eat,
and can lose an appreciable amount of weight.

This breed makes a great family pet when properly trained, and it will love
and protect your children almost to a fault. It can be suspicious of your
children's friends, which could lead to a biting incident if the child shows
fear or flight. The Shepherd may want to chase cars, bikes, or joggers and
may be dog-aggressive.

It is essential to train and socialize a Shepherd from puppyhood with people
and other dogs. Training is not always easy with a Shepherd: it is so
intelligent that it will think of ways to avoid doing what you are asking of
it. The most intelligent breeds, contrary to popular belief, are not the
easiest to train. The opposite is oten true.

The GSD, because of its great popularity, has been overbred. We see many
poor-quality, flighty American-bred Shepherds with behavioral and structural
problems. Many suffer from hip dysplasia, shoulder problems, and pan
osteitis, an inflammation of the growth plates of the bones, whcih can be
aggravated by keeping a Shepherd puppy on high protein puppy food past eight
months of age, causing too rapid growth. Breeders who supplement their
bloodlines with imported German stock tend to produce more active, stable,
structurally sound dogs. Do not buy a GSD from a pet store.

Best Home: A house with a secluded fenced yard is essential. The owner of a
GSD should be a strong, confident, emotionally secure leader who desires a
smart, protective, athletic dog. This is not a breed for an insecure or
immature person. The Shepherd is very sensitive and will reflect the mood and
emotion of its owner, often with alarming results.

Do not let a Shepherd assert itself against you or achieve dominance in any
venue. Like the Rottweiler, it will quickly take charge if you spoil or
placate it. Allow this and you open yourself up to aggression problems.

Children are okay provided no roughhousing or chase games are permitted.

Daily exercise is mandatory. Obedience, herding, retrieving, or agility work
will direct the Shepherd's energy and built its confidence. The elderly and
the disabled may have trouble controlling this active, dominant, intelligent
breed. Time to train, exercise, and socialize this dog must be available.

From:  
"The German Shepherd Dog
In Word And Picture"

"Trust is a sine qua non, and obedience is the foundation of every training: both go hand in hand, and both are inseparable. Blind and servile obedience is not rooted in trust, but fear, and only rebels when out of reach of the whip. Such service we do not demand from our dogs, but an obedience which is joyful and always willing, founded in love for the master, and such, (as we have already seen) founded on the satisfaction of a natural craving, which therefore must be consolidated by a wise training from earliest puppyhood. with a young dog who is obedient in this sense, who waits upon the eyes and mouth of his master, who comes joyfully when called, even from his feeding dish, or from his companions at play, because he knows he will be rewarded for his obedience by a kind word and by an affectionate pat, by a special tit-bit, or, as the highest reward, by sharing in the activity of his master: with such a dog every thing is possible later on. for joy in work is combined with its accomplishment. This, as the outpouring of the power accumulated in the dog, is the result of sound nerves and a serviceable body build: and here again it is a matter of breeding training both directed to a special purpose with a definite goal in view."

by, Max v. Stephanitz

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German Shedders....errr....Shepherds are real shedders.  The GSD is a double coated dog with and undercoat that sheds twice yearly (blown) and guard hairs that shed all year.
Here is a tip for grooming:
Seasonal shedding is normal.  To reduce this brush and comb out the dog then a warm bath with a conditioning shampoo and dry with a power dryer.  I use a professional dryer to force all the shedding hair out.  Use a slicker brush, a greyhound type comb, and a rubber curry.  Then keep up with it by brushing and combing a few times a week.  It should take less time than vacuuming the house.

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"Mickey Jagermeister" an 18 month old GSD displays the wonderful temperament of this breed as he takes care of "his" little chick.

How Big Will A GSD Be?

The full adult size of your GSD will depend in large part on the genetic background of its parents. The AKC Standard states that adult males should range between 24-26" at the shoulder blade, females from 22-24". Males within the standard may weigh anywhere from 65-90 lbs. depending on their bloodlines. Females may weigh anywhere from 55-80 lbs. (Again, much depends on the genetics and bloodlines. The above are only a rough idea.) Although your pup will reach close to adult height by 10-18 months, he or she will continue to fill out until up to 3 years old.

Always be wary of breeders who emphasize "oversize", "huge", "big-boned" breeding stock or puppies. Bigger is not better in German Shepherds. The German Shepherd is not built to have a skeletal and muscular structure of an oversize breed and the breed can lose its known versatility with too much size. An inch or so out of standard may be acceptable providing the general line is not consistently out of standard. A responsible breeder will offset an oversize dog by breeding with a line that is a bit smaller in order to maintain the standards as closely as possible.

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When Will My GSD Puppy's Ears Stand?

Although some puppies' ears stand as early as 8-10 weeks, don't be concerned if your pup's ears don't stand until 6-7 months (especially pups with large ears) after teething. Some pups ears never stand. This is known as a "soft ear". Sometimes taping is successful. "Soft ears" are a genetic trait, and dogs with soft ears should not be bred even if taping is successful. It is a disqualification in showing. Some GSDs ears stand but wiggle at the tips when the dogs run. This is known as "friendly ears". Friendly ears are not a disqualification but are not a desirable trait.

One method of "taping" ears is to take a pink foam roller and attach it with eyelash glue to the inside of the ear (the pinna). Do not block the ear canal. Taping may take up to 2 months. But again, be cautious about considering breeding a dog whose ears have had to be taped.

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What Is The Life Expectancy Of A GSD?

Most lines of GSDs will live to between 10-13 years of age. 11-12 years is probably a very reasonable expectation. A GSD becomes "middle-aged" between 5-7 years old, and is generally considered "geriatric" at about 10. Their food intake and exercise and nutrition needs may change over this period of time. They may begin to develop stiffness in their joints (much like people do as they get older). Healthy teeth are important as bacteria from decaying teeth can affect the health of the dog.

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GSDs are known for such
positive characteristics as:

• Versatility and Intelligence: GSDs can be used for SAR (Search and Rescue), as guide dogs for the blind, assistance dogs, herding, apprehending the "bad guy", narcotic and bomb detection, protection, warming feet, watching over homes, and accompanying us on every adventure.  There are few things a good GSD cannot do.

• A good GSD offers intelligence and devotion that is hard to match.  A poor speciman offers heart break.

GSDs, however "can" have:

• Drawbacks:   Neurotic, sickly, unsound, aggressive, shyness.

Due to popularity around the world, some specimans of the breed do have genetic and temperament problems.  This is true among any popular breed.  A neurotic dog will never be reliable in the average home.  As well, high drive dogs often are not suitable for the average dog owning home. 
Because GSDs bond with us so strongly they can suffer from over attachment separation anxiety, fearfulness and over protectiveness.

• Bite Potential:   Moderate to High

• Training:   Due to the GSDs intelligence, size, etc., they need an owner who is assertive but fair.  They need training and sensible management.    Professional training or training with an obedience class or club is suggested for the average dog owner.  Training should begin as early as Puppy Kindergarten.
  ~TRAIN - SOCIALIZE - AND TRAIN SOME MORE~
  Do not reward cowardice or aggression.  Do not comfort cowardice.   Motivate proper behavior and reward.  Also, do not reinforce whining or barking for many GSDs can be quite vocal and can become annoying.  Males, in the average pet owners home, should be neutered.  Also, these dogs have a lot of energy and need an outlet or they will find one!  Play sessions, exercise and training are a must to keep a GSD happy and well behaved.  Please do not isolate your GSD.   Remember they love their humans and will become upset (leading to inappropriate behaviors) if separated from their people for long periods.

• Children:   Some GSDs are excellent and some are dangerous.  Remember to do your homework before buying from a breeder.   Genetics and early socialization have a lot to do with how a GSD behaves with children.  Rescuers have often tested an adoptable adult GSD, but remember to do your homework regarding children and dogs, socialization, training etc., etc.

• Other Pets:  GSDs can have high prey drive or also be dog aggressive.  Consultation with a respectable breeder and trainer/behaviorist is suggested with any dogs with this behavior.  It can be managed in many cases and many GSDs are able to live with smaller "prey like" animals as well with other dogs.

• Possible Health Concerns: 
  Orthopedic problems (such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, spinal degeneration, development problems);  autoimmune disease;  Subaortic Stenosis (SAS); thyroid dysfunction; skin disorders; gastrointestinal problems; poor temperament.
  
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"What Is The Altdeutscher Schaeferhund?"
In nineteenth century photographs one can see sheep tending dogs in Germany.   One can also observe the modern herding dogs of Germany still working.  While observing these dogs of today and yesterday, one will see dogs that look like Australian Shepherds,  Border Collies, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Briards, Poodles, Schnauzers, Belgian Shepherds, Bouviers, and of course, like the twentieth century German Shepherd Dog.  Before the 1890s, all of these dogs were called German Shepherd Dogs if they worked sheep in Germany.  The dogs that are not bred to a standard are now called Old German Shepherd Dogs (Altdeutscher Schaeferhund) and those that are bred to the breed standard are known as the German Shepherd Dog (Deutscher Schaeferhund).

Another Altdeutscher Schaeferhund link.