Comments on: How to Select a German Shepherd

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.

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.

on 8/8/2006 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.

on 8/8/2006 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.

on 11/22/2005 Think long and hard about German Shepherds. They shred, need a lot of walks and mental exercise, they are not cheap to feed (plenty of meat and milk when young). You need to train the dog every day, and when around the 18 month old stage; plenty of walks is a must, every day, even if it's raining. Be aware of health issues in the breed, and contrary to what other breeders say German bred dogs are not the greatest animals for pets, they have hyper issues.

on 11/22/2005 Try to get your German Shepherd puppy from German bloodlines. In Germany, a hip and temperament check is mandatory before any breeding can take place (which results in healthier offspring). Other health problems (such as bloat, allergies, and excessive shedding) are much more rare in German breed dogs than in American bred. There are very many breeders in the U.S. who specialize in importing and breeding dogs from Germany, and who follow strict German rules in their breeding programs.

on 11/22/2005 As German Shepherd puppies grow, be careful about how you play with them. Too many people inadvertantly over-arouse a puppy with teasing and rough play, and the dog is unable to distinguish good from bad behavior as he grows. If calm and serene behaviour is encouraged from the beginning (by providing an environment that reflects peace and quiet), more stimulation can be introduced later in a puppy's life. Using a calm environment and attempting to build a more peaceful and sensible dog just doesn't work once over-arousal is learned and becomes a behavioral building block.

on 11/22/2005 Give your German Shepherd lots of love and attention. If you want a dog on the end of a chain to "protect" your property, do yourself and the dog a huge favor by NOT getting one.

on 11/22/2005 I love my dog. He is very active and needs a lot of attention. If you choose a shepherd, be aware that you must spend a lot of time with the animal. He needs your love and attention.

on 11/22/2005 No doubt as German Sheps. are too much protective so, they bark too much on strangers. Which may disturb Family people or the Guests. Best thing to prevent them is train them in the age of 3rd Month to 6th month. This is the best time. Though you can not prevent them barking, but you can command them to be quiet. I have noticed that some people beat their SHEPS. for setting them quiet. So, to get rid of this future ugly behaviour train them in their little age. One more thing that makes them too much barky is, Never set them alone or in a cage. It is a very good way for any DOG to become barky.

on 11/22/2005 Especially when these dogs are alone, they will become extremely destructive. So give them limited freedom. However, when they see a family member, they can be the most loving and most loyal dogs in the world. Somehow they hate being left alone.

on 11/22/2005 Consider saving an abandoned or neglected GSD from a rescue organization. There are many sweet dogs out there who need homes. Adopting an adult means the dog is already housebroken. These pups quickly become your best friend and part of the family.

on 11/22/2005 Shepherds love games. They will play many of the games little kids play like hide and seek. It's a great way to exercise both their bodies and their minds and builds great rapport.

on 11/22/2005 Lots of love, upkeeps with the Vet. Stay with one good dog food, I find they have a tendency to have a stomach upset if changed. Our dog Bruno lived to be 18 (human) years old. Hip dysplasia finally set in at a very old age.