German Shepherds are a fantastic breed and a wonderful dog for many people. However they are not the right dog for everyone. Here you'll find some common questions and information to help you decide if a German Shepherd is the right dog for you.
How big will they get?
Do German Shepherds need a lot of attention?
Some breeds are people dogs, others are fine with spending most of their time alone. German Shepherds were bred to form close bonds with people and they need to be a part of the family. Shepherds will not be happy if they're left alone outside most of the time, they want to be wherever you are. If you spend a lot of time away from home or want a primarily outside dog then a German Shepherd may not be right for you.
Do I need a large yard? Are they inside or outside dogs? Do they need a lot of exercise?
German Shepherds are bred to be athletic and to work. They require daily vigorous exercise and will not be satisfied with a walk around the block but going for a jog, playing ball, hiking, swimming and doing other things with you will keep them happy. They are very good in the house if given adequate play time and training but if you're looking for a couch potato you should consider a different breed.
Are they easy to train?
German Shepherds are highly intelligent and want a "job" to do. They need activities to keep their mind busy and they need to know who's the "pack leader". Training your dog is an important commitment and "sending them away" to a trainer and hoping they come back well behaved will not work. You need to invest the time yourself. If you do this properly you'll have a fantastic dog. German Shepherds are very intelligent, easy to train with the proper techniques and want to please their owner.
How often do they need to be groomed?
Shepherds have a double coat. This makes them versatile and able to work in extremes of weather conditions but it also means that they never stop shedding. The typical year-round shedding is relatively light and is reduced further by feeding a high quality food and probiotic. Brushing them once a week will usually suffice. Twice a year they will "blow" their coat, for a period of several weeks they lose their entire undercoat. During this time the hair comes out in clumps and they need daily brushing or a "blow out" with a dog blower. Frequent baths are not advised for Shepherds, we typically only bathe them if they get extremely muddy or dirty. Too frequent bathing removes the protective oils and can lead to skin problems.
How are German Shepherds with other dogs?
Do they get along with other animals?
German Shepherds were developed as a herding breed. If properly introduced to other animals a well bred Shepherd will consider most other animals to be a part of his "flock" and will be caring and protective of them. Our cats often sleep with the Shepherds and usually have a Shepherd following them "herding" around the house.
This page last updated December 21, 2009
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