MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON THE KING SHEPHERD
What is a King Shepherd Dog?How is their temperament?
How much exercise do they need?
How much do they eat?
Are they prone to any genetic health problem, more so than other breeds?
What about grooming?
How much do they cost?
What is a King Shepherd Dog?
A King Shepherd
resembles a large German Shepherd Dog.
The breed was originally developed on the East Coast using American
bred German Shepherds, crossed to flock guardians, which were then
crossed with European bred German Shepherd dogs.
The intent was to develop a superior family companion and
protector that was capable of performing a wide variety of working
duties ranging from police service, to guide dogs, to search and
rescue dogs. The original breeders also
wanted to produce a dog which was free of the many health and
temperament problems, which has been affecting German Shepherd Dogs.
How big do they get?
Generally, when
full grown, a male King Shepherd can range from 27 to over 32 inches
at the shoulder and weigh from 110 to over 140 pounds.
Females are slightly smaller ranging from 25 to 30 inches at
the shoulder and weighing from 90 to over 120 pounds.
How is their temperament?
King Shepherds
display a stable, sound, temperament.
They are not hyper or overly aggressive.
While very loving with their families and friends, they are
generally aloof with strangers. Kings
are extremely intelligent and are very trainable, in both obedience
and as personal protection dogs.
How much exercise do they need?
A moderate
amount, usually two fifty-minute walks per day are sufficient.
How much do they eat?
An adult usually
requires about 3-4 cups of dry dog food per day.
We strongly recommend that you use a premium brand of dog
food, one that is meat based (chicken, poultry or lamb) without
soybeans or artificial preservatives.
Along with the dry food, wet food should be added, in the form of a
meat stew, soup or a can of premium wet food.
Vitamins C and E should also be added to the dog’s daily
rations.
Are they prone to any genetic health problem, more so than other
breeds?
Generally not.
While there are infrequent cases of hip dysplasia, which is a
problem with most large breeds of dogs, most breeders have been able
to greatly reduce the incidence by having their dog’s hips x-rays
analyzed by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals or the University
of Pennsylvania’s PENNHIP program.
What about grooming?
King Shepherds
come in two distinct varieties, smooth coated and long coated.
The smooth coated Kings look much like large German Shepherd
dogs. The long coated Kings have a coat
that closely resembles that of a Belgian Tervuren.
Both varieties shed and require a moderate amount of
grooming. A good five-minute brushing
twice a week is more than adequate.
How much do they cost?
Depending on the
quality and breeding rights, a King Shepherd can range in price from
$1,250.00 for pet quality, to over $2,000.00 for a show
quality/breeding dog.