Rusticity, a pillar of our selection
In our vision of breeding, a dog's health is not limited to the absence of genetic or joint disease. It also depends on its ability to adapt naturally to its environment, to withstand climatic variations, to digest a variety of foods and to thrive in an environment rich in natural stimulation. This is what we call rusticity.
6 week old Des Crocs Véritables Puppy
This is why our dogs live in packs, have access to large outdoor parks, on natural ground, in contact with organic elements such as earth, plants, wood, hay, farm animals and even small local fauna.
This lifestyle strengthens their immune system, particularly through a richer intestinal microbiota, promotes their psychological balance through interaction with their environment and stimulates their musculature, agility and adaptability.
Of course, they always have access to perfectly insulated and weatherproof shelters, where they can take refuge at any time. However, their preserved hardiness often pushes them to prefer to stay outside, in contact with the elements, even in cold or rainy weather, which demonstrates their great natural resistance.
We believe that the working dog must retain its natural qualities to remain fully functional, balanced and close to its original type.
Diet also plays a fundamental role in maintaining this hardiness and transmitting it to offspring.
We favor a natural diet rich in fresh, digestible and minimally processed elements (see the feeding section for details).
This contributes to the development of a varied intestinal microbiota, the first line of defense against disease, as well as the prevention of digestive, skin and metabolic disorders, and to an optimal general condition, both in terms of energy and coat quality.
Weaning Des Crocs Véritables puppies from the 4th or 5th week
A selection that takes into account adaptability
We ensure that our breeding dogs are naturally exposed to climatic conditions. This allows them to develop:
– A dense and functional coat
– Good thermoregulation
– Natural resistance to temperature variations
A dog bred under overly artificial conditions (constant heating, sterilized floor, standardized industrial food) can pass on adaptation weaknesses to its offspring.
Preserving hardiness means preserving the very essence of the German Shepherd: a robust, versatile, enduring dog, capable of evolving in nature as well as in a family, and whose overall health depends as much on its genetics as on its lifestyle.
(This topic is also covered in the section Living with a BA/ Hardiness )
