Things You'll Need:
- Dental Kits (for Dogs)
- Dog Beds
- Dog Brushes
- Dog Collars
- Dog Dishes
- Dog Food
- Dog Leashes
- Dog Shampoo
- Dog Toys
- Nail Clippers For Dogs
- Portable Vacuums
- Dog Shampoo
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Step 1
Choose a German shepherd if you want an intelligent, loyal and hard-working companion. They make excellent watchdogs.
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Step 2
Remember that they are eager to please and enjoy their training. Be sure to establish who is in charge, as German shepherds tend to be dominant dogs.
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Step 3
Try a German shepherd if you're looking for a good family dog. They are very tolerant and gentle with children, though they may be overprotective.
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Step 4
Adopt a German shepherd with confidence if you have other pets; they get along fairly well with everyone.
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Step 5
Expect your puppy to get big. Adult males weigh between 65 and 90 pounds and stand 24 to 26 inches at the shoulder. The female is usually about 10 pounds lighter and an inch shorter than the male.
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Step 6
Expect to pay between $200 and $1,000 for a good-quality dog.
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Step 7
Consider adopting from a rescue group. Many are already housebroken and finished with the chewing stage. There is usually nothing wrong with the dog; the owners didn't research the breed and later discovered that they were incompatible.
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Step 8
Remember that German shepherds are eager to please and very intelligent. You must be consistent and firm while training them.
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Step 9
Note that shepherds shed a lot. The No. 1 reason people give up their German shepherds is because they shed too much.
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Step 10
Be prepared to enjoy 10 to 13 years with your new dog, as this is the average life expectancy of German shepherds.
Comments
thewhisperer said
on 6/6/2009 That kind of rake really works well for grooming the dead undercoat out of a GSD. GSDs are very intelligent and should at a minimum be obedience trained. Once you have a trained dog, you will never want an untrained one. GSDs can be taught to do all sorts of things, from backpacking to pulling wagons, to you-name-it. They are instinctively loyal and want to please their human. Dogs from German lines tend to be more dominant and more likely to challenge their humans to see who is boss.
thewhisperer said
on 6/6/2009 http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.dogspot.co.za/trainingequipment/T%20RAKE.jpg
thewhisperer said
on 6/6/2009 Shedding isn't a major issue if you groom the dog when he seasonally sheds undercoat, about 2 to 3 times a year. A German T-grooming rake http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.dogspot.co.za/trainingequipment/T%20RAKE.jpg
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 I have had a German Shepherd about 10 years, and I have to say mine does not get along with any of our pets. We have horses, other dogs,and other small animals. We had to get rid of our cat so she wouldn't kill it, and she bites at our horses. They seem to be great with kids, and protecting the our home. But other German Shepherds I have come across have been much nicer, so it may just depend on the dog.
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 As with any large breed of dog, the German Shepherd can be a very dangerous animal if it is left untrained. Establish who the boss is as soon as possible, and praise the dog for accomplishing positive things. If you put your dog in an outside pen, make sure it is at least six feet in height and you have buried the fencing at least twelve inches into the ground.
The German Shepherd likes to play, and because it is a big dog, small children tend to get knocked over, so make sure you always supervise the dog around children.
I have always had mine on a leash even when moving him from the vehicle to the house or the pen. Remember they need much loving and plenty of training.