This post will talk about the Bondi breed. Bondi was a female dog that belonged to Adolf Hitler. In this post, we will present a brief history of Bondi, and we will discover the breed of this dog and finally the physical and behavioral characteristics of her breed.
Hitler’s dog
Adolf Hitler had a female dog named Bondi (1941 – 1945). Bondi was a German shepherd breed. According to reports Hitler was very close to the dog and he took her to the underground bunker in January 1945, where Hitler was hiding. Bondi has her life taken after ingesting the cyanide pills offered by Hitler, and after killing the animal Hitler took his own life.
Who was Hitler?
Adolf Hitler was the leading Nazi of the second world war. With his ideal of territorial expansion and a racially pure society, hitlers and his soldiers led to the death of several people such as Jews, others considered enemies of Germany, blacks and homosexuals. In 1945 after losing the war Hitler took his own life.
About the German Shepherd dog
The German Shepherd dog is a breed that originated in central and southern Germany. It is considered a large dog and was initially a breed created from the breeding of sheepdogs in order to generate an athletic, intelligent and skilled breed to perform great works. Below we will talk about the physical and behavioral characteristics of this breed.
Physical characteristics
The German Shepherd dog must be well balanced, vigorous and muscular. The head of this breed has a wedge shape, being moderately wide in the region of the ears, it has a very strong jaw. Their ears are erect, pointed and aligned. The legs are strong and muscular.
The German Shepherd dog’s coat can be double layered or a long, hard outer hair, both with undercoat. The fur can be found in black colors, with reddish brown, brown and yellow markings, to light gray. It can be unicolor black or gray with a darker shading and has a black mask and cloak.
Behavior/temperament
The German Shepherd dogs are instinctive, flexible and self-confident in temperament. They are protective of the house and guardians, friendly with their tutors and extremely obedient. They are large dogs full of energy and need daily physical activities such as walks and games.
The German Shepherd Dog is a suitable dog for families looking for an attentive and playful companion dog in addition to a strong guard/protective dog.
Health care
German Shepherd dogs are very healthy dogs. However, this breed can present diseases such as Hip Dysplasia, Degenerative Myelopathy, and Dermatitis.
Hip Dysplasia is a genetic alteration, very common in several large breeds. Dysplasia is a malformation in the hip joint that causes discomfort, pain, can lead the dog to limp, have problems with locomotion and worsens with age.
Degenerative myelopathy is a chronic and slowly progressive disease that causes changes in the spinal cord. The disease is very common in large dogs, especially the German Shepherd dog, and can occur between 5 and 14 years of age.
As for reproduction, few reproductive problems are reported. Females tend to be very affectionate with puppies. In dogs selected for work, females may reject the puppies, and these cases must be followed up by a veterinarian.
Before having an animal of the breed, it is essential to talk to a veterinarian to choose the ideal breed for your family. And as soon as you are with the animal, it is important to regularly monitor the animal’s health with exams, vaccines and consultations.
Breed care
The German Shepherd must be brushed 3 to 4 times a week. Its coat does not need to be clipped. It is a breed that has constant hair loss. This causes dirt caused by excess hair around the house, requiring constant cleaning of the yard.
Baths in this breed are indicated with specific shampoos for dogs. Bathing should be done very carefully, especially to avoid getting water into the ear. The animal must always be very dry after bathing to avoid the growth of microorganisms that can lead to dermatitis.
Due to the conformation of the erect ears, the ears may be predisposed to become infected. Ear cleaning should be done with specific products for dogs every week. This way you can check for wax or more serious problems in the dogs ear.
As for nail clipping, it is recommended to cut the dog’s nail once or twice a month. Cutting the nails prevents the animal from getting hurt or even hurting the tutor.
Dogs of this breed should brush their teeth every 48 hours with a dog-specific toothpaste. Constant brushing of your dog’s teeth helps prevent tartar buildup and the resulting problems.
Benefits of having a German Shepherd
German Shepherd dogs have many qualities for people looking for a large, brave and faithful dogs. Below we will talk about some qualities of the breed.
- Brave dog;
- Large dog;
- Attentive and aggressive dog with strangers;
- Dog faithful to the tutor;
- It is an active dog, full of energy;
- Good dog to guard the house.
They are excellent guard dogs. For being very attentive, faithful and aggressive with strangers. They love being close to tutors and love getting a toy to destroy.
German Shepherd dogs are big dogs and need space to spend all their energy. They are energetic dogs, so they need daily physical activity.
They are very intelligent dogs, and they learn a lot of commands so fast compared to other breeds. They may bark, but this can be controlled with good training.
Facts about the German Shepherd
Because it is easy to train, the German Shepherd is a breed widely used by police officers in several countries. It was also used in some television shows such as Rin Tin Tin and the movie I Am Legend, in addition to several appearances as guard dogs in various crime movies.
Conclusion
In this blog post we were able to find out more about German Shepherd dogs. Themes such as the physical characteristics of this breed, in addition to its instinctive, flexible and self-confident behaviors which makes it an excellent company as a guard dog.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Hitler’s Dog
Is the German Shepherd an aggressive dog?
Yes, it can be considered an aggressive dog with strangers. But, in fact, this behavior is just a way to protect the tutors from possible threats. It is a very affectionate breed with its family.
How big is the German Shepherd?
The size of the dogs is measured by the height of the withers, for German Shepherd Males the minimum is 60 cm, not exceeding 65 cm. And females with at least 55 cm, should not exceed 60 cm.
Is the German Shepherd a good family pet?
Yes, they can be excellent family dogs used as guard dogs. Their courage and energy make them very playful. And its aggressiveness to defend its owners makes it a loyal dog and an excellent guard dog.
References
CBKC – Brazilian Canine Cynophilic Confederation, 2015 Official Breed Standard: German Shepherd. Available in: https://cbkc.org/application/views/docs/padroes/padrao-raca_218.pdf. Accessed 19th Jan 2022.
O’Donnell, J.P. (1978). The Bunker: The History of the Reich Chancellery. Group, Houghton Mifflin Co. (Boston).
Pictures from Pixabay.com
