The German Shepherd Handbook: The Essential Guide For New & Prospective German Shepherd Owners

This is the BEST book on German Shepherds I have read and I've read sooooo many. I'm researching the breed as best I can before we get one and I'm also training to become a qualified dog trainer and groomer. I've read a LOT of dog books...Usually, a book on 'German Shepherds' is just another general dog book with a GSD on the front. Some of them go so far to discuss dogs but change the name of the breed within the text to 'GSD' and leave the rest of the text as is. I recently purchased a book that didn't manage to swap out all of the 'Golden Retrievers' for 'German Shepherds'... the author in question has around 20 breed specific books for sale that sound like they are all just one book with a teeny edit- badly done in the case of the GSD version.The German Shepherd Handbook is NOTHING like the others. It's fantastic. Throughout, breeders from the UK and USA (rare that we get UK perspective let alone both) give their combined wit and wisdom on EVERY aspect of German Shepherds alongside a very objective and informative author- from finding a breeder to selecting a pup, innoculations to feeding, working dogs vs show dogs/pet, puppy biting to grooming.I am so pleased I got this book and if I had bought it 18 months ago, I would have saved a heck of a lot of money on other useless titles.

We felt privileged, to be asked by Linda , to help with this book on the German Shepherd.We must admit, that we approached this idea with some trepidation .this undertaking from her , was going to be no easy task, writing a book about what we consider to be the most incredible breed of dog in the world, after over 50 years of daily involvement in our Breed, we are very proud of it, and very, very protective of it.What Linda has done is write a book , that should be a must have, for anyone contemplating either a puppy for the first time , or replacing a much loved family member whereby the memories of the joys and perils of puppyhood are in the distant past. An excellent reference book with tips to help throughout the dogs life. We will ensure that no pup will be leaving us, in the future without a copy of this book in their puppy pack. So many congratulations Linda, on what you have achieved.

I bought this book because I am soon to have a GSD puppy and I haven't had a dog for over 25 years. I learnt so much from this book about dog behaviour, modern effective training, health care, nutrition, exercise needs and puppy development. It is a purchase I have no regrets about making. German Shepherds have been in my family for a long time and yet I still found so much I didn't know.If you are considering adopting, rehoming or buying a GSD this book is a definite must have for your research. GSD's are a breed that you must research in depth PRIOR to acquiring because they need ++++++ exercise and mental stimulation

This is a really comprehensive book!Easy to read, but covers all the facts, warts & all.Having owned them for over 40 years even I acknowledge they are only nearly perfect and this covers the best and the worst case scenarios with the breed.I have learned some new facts and hope that this book may help educate others about this superb breed!

If you are thinking of getting a GSD or are a current owner this is a comprehensive, ‘must have’ manual. It covers a lot of important aspects in detail, is well laid out and easy to read.I liked the way that the origins of the breed were discussed in relation to the way the breed has developed in certain countries and how that affects the attributes of the breed, rather than just being a brief history lesson. The use of expertise from breeders is particularly helpful, although I couldn’t agree with every comment made.When contemplating the purchase of a pup, there should always be a heavy emphasis on choosing the right breeder and the advice here was spot on, especially getting across the idea that if the breeder is not asking you a lot of questions then you should be thinking again! We took our time and talked to many breeders before finding the right ones. Whilst it won’t protect you from all heartache, knowing that the pup has been carefully bred from health scored parents, raised well in those critical early days and that you have a life-time of back up and support is worth it’s weight in gold.Just as important is finding the right trainer. No matter how many shepherds you have had, each one is unique and will present different challenges to you, plus the fact that training with other dogs as distractions is essential to building that relationship with your dog. Whilst all the breeders were advising training, it might be helpful to give some advice on how to find a good trainer as this is such a big industry now and not all trainers are equal!The health sections were great because they were focused on issues affecting Shepherds, included useful diagrams and pictures and explained diseases well. I also liked the fact that holistic and natural remedies and approaches were included.For anyone thinking of getting a German Shepherd and for current owners this is a comprehensive, easy to read book that I know I will be referring back to for it's many useful pieces of information and tips on handling issues.