How to Select a German Shepherd
In the 1950s, German shepherds were the most popular dogs in the AKC's registry. Unfortunately, many breeders produced puppies without considering pedigrees, and inbreeding caused health and behavior problems. They are also known as Alsatians, and in Germany, they are called Deutsche Schaferhunden.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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
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Choose a German shepherd if you want an intelligent, loyal and hard-working companion. They make excellent watchdogs.
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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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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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Adopt a German shepherd with confidence if you have other pets; they get along fairly well with everyone.
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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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Expect to pay between $200 and $1,000 for a good-quality dog.
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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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Remember that German shepherds are eager to please and very intelligent. You must be consistent and firm while training them.
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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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Be prepared to enjoy 10 to 13 years with your new dog, as this is the average life expectancy of German shepherds.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure you or someone in your home is willing to spend 30 to 60 minutes a day playing with and exercising the dog.
Keep your shepherd in a secure yard.
Get a portable vacuum if you plan to keep your shepherd inside. They shed constantly.
Check out the breeder and the dog's pedigree carefully. There are still a lot of health problems associated with inbreeding.
Find a puppy whose parents are both OFA certified if possible; this is a veterinary certification on the soundness of the dog's hips.
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Comments
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Leilani Luckett
Apr 30, 2010
No dogs ever try to please their owner. They try to please themselves. Your happiness doesn't do anything for them. The praise, treats, and toys that you give them is what they want. No dog is eager to please their owner. They do things for their own satisfaction. A behavior rewarded is a behavior repeated. -
thewhisperer
Jun 06, 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.
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Aug 08, 2006
If you're thinking about getting a German Shepherd dog; beware. A good German Shepherd dog will be expensive. Most important is to look for a reputable breeder who has been around, has the credentials, and will answer questions as long as you ask them. I bought a German Shepherd 7 months ago, I have all the paper work, AKC papers, and the breeder is there whenever I need to ask a question. This is quite a dog, a loving, caring family dog.
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Aug 08, 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.
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Aug 08, 2006
When selecting your pup, go at feeding time. The pup that gets to Mom's teats first is usually the stronger of the litter. We did this with our Shepard, who is now 9 years old, and he is a huge boy, very intelligent, gentle in nature and gets on fantastically with my Pekingese. He even rescued her from drowning in the swimming pool. Caesar has never had a health problem in all the years that we've had him.
