• Fact 2 - Origin of the breed: Alsatians originated in Germany and was originally bred for hunting and guarding sheep
• Fact 3 - Size: The weight of Alsatians range from 75 - 95 pounds
• Fact 4 - Size: The height ranges from 24 - 26 inches, up to the shoulder
• Fact 5 - Alternative Names of Alsatians and Nicknames: German Shepherd Dog, Alsatian Wolf Dog and the Deutscher Schaferhund
  • The association with Germany was unpopular following the World wars and the breed was therefore given the name of the Alsatian Wolf Dog after the German-French border area of Alsace-Lorraine
  • In 1977, the name Alsatians was changed back to German Shepherd Dogs
• Fact 6 - Coat and colors of Alsatians: The coat is normally medium, straight and hard and comes in a range of colors including black, grey, tan, gold and white
• Fact 7 - Life of Alsatians: the life expectancy of this breed of dog is between 12 - 14 years
• Fact 8 - The names of dog breeds are separated into different dog types which are referred to as Dog Groups. The name of the dog group for Alsatians is the Herding dog breed
• Fact 9 - After the first year of life, dogs are considered to be adults - they equivalent to 16 human years!
  • After 2 years, they are equivalent to a 24 year old
  • After 3 years, they are equivalent to a 30 year old
  • Every year after  add five human years to determine the equivalent age of the dog
• Fact 10 - Choosing Alsatians as pets! The following considerations should be taken into account when choosing this particular breed of dog as a pet:
  • How much it will cost to feed and train the dog?
  • How much time will it take to groom the dog?
  • How much time will it take to exercise the dog on a daily basis?
  • Are Alsatians suitable for children?
  • How much will it cost for vet bills, pet or dog health insurance, medication and vaccinations?
• Fact 11 - Every breed of dog is susceptible to certain health problems and illnesses. Alsatians are prone to health problems and illnesses such as:
  • - Congenital heart disease
  • - Skin diseases
  • - Hip dysplasia (abnormal development of hip joints)
  • - Panosteitis (an inflammation of long bones in the legs)
  • - Bloat
• Fact 12 - Alsatians were originally bred to help with various jobs and tasks such as:
  • - Herding or Droving various animals including cattle
  • - Tracking
  • - Police work
  • - Performing Search & Rescue
• Fact 13 - Breeding Alsatians for appearance was only introduced in the 19th Century
• Fact 14 - It is estimated that 85% of dogs visit a vet in a year
• Fact 15 - The average cost of owning a medium sized dog, over a 10 year period, is estimated as over $13,000! This provides a good idea of how much it costs to raise Alsatians

For in depth information we highly recommend Dog Names and Breeds.