A German Shepherd puppy can be a great addition to your home. Known for their intelligence, loyalty, and strength, these pups can be the perfect companion. What German Shepherds are not is easy. Therefore, they are probably not the best pick for a first-time dog owner unless you are very willing to educate yourself before buying your puppy and willing to put in the time and probably money to learn to be an experienced owner. So let’s get into the pros and cons of a German Shepherd.
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Questions to Ask Yourself: Breeder
Are you willing to research breeders until you find one that breeds responsibly as evidenced by papers proving she has tested her breeding pair for the many genetic issues German Shepherds can have if bred irresponsibly?
Once you find a breeder and you are convinced it is not a puppy mill or backyard set up are you willing to pay the premium cost and perhaps travel several hundred miles to get your puppy?
I started my research on the American Kennel Club site. Being on this site does not guarantee the breeder is a good breeder, however, that’s still up to you to determine. Ask about genetic testing of the dam and sire. Ask if they have any titles. This will indicate the breeder has spent time with her dogs as getting titles take commitment. If possible visit the kennel before buying and see the parents as they are the source of your puppy’s character and genetics. The best breeders love their dogs and breed primarily to make the German Shepherd breed better. It’s not inexpensive to breed dogs. A lot goes into it in terms of both money and time. Of course, they also want to make a profit and there is nothing wrong with that.
I paid 2000 for Japer and he was worth every cent. His breeder was Atlas Shepherds and Addy was great about answering questions and I appreciated that she had questions to ask of me as well. She wants her puppies to succeed in their new home. She will take the dog back if it doesn’t work out and in fact, had a very handsome and large male who had been returned by a woman who got in over her head. These are not dogs to buy on a whim folks!
Space
I have two kennels and an exercise pen in my house just for Japer! I also have a large fenced backyard. Jasper takes up as many square feet in my house as I do. Are you prepared to devote that much room to your new dog? Jasper has not reached the phase in his training where he or my house would be safe with him loose. If I am not directly interacting with him he is in his exercise pen next to my chair. If he gets too rambunctious in his pen or won’t settle I put him in the kennel next to my chair to settle him. At night he sleeps in another kennel in my bedroom. An adult German Shepherd is a big dog and will as an adult need a BIG kennel. These are not cheap, however, 90% of training issues can be handled by crating your dog when you can’t watch them.
I was never a person who cared about a pristine lawn so the fact that Jasper has attempted to dig his way to China and has some unfathomable penchant for eating trees has not been an issue for me. Would it be for you?
I’m not prone to collecting fragile knick-knacks, but if I were, Jasper’s happy tail would be a problem. His tail on high wag is almost a lethal weapon! He could knock over a small child just wagging his tail.
It’s a Question of Time
All dogs take time if you are a responsible owner. They need attention, grooming, feeding, training, trips to the vet and exercise. German Shepherds will become destructive and possibly aggressive if you don’t give them time and that will be your fault, not the dog’s if you’re failing to meet his needs. They need exercise. Jasper gets two walks a day and multiple trips out to the yard to dig holes and eat my plants. He also gets two training sessions a day anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes long.
I have the privilege of working for myself and a retired husband who drives me around as my job requires day travel. Jasper goes with us on just about every trip. I’m convinced Jasper thinks it’s his job to ride along with us. That’s a good thing because German Shepherds NEED a job to be happy. There is something very sweet about your big-headed 80lb dog sticking his head on your shoulder to be petted. I do keep a roller handy. Have I mentioned the German Shepherd shed? The added benefit is I am unlikely to get car-jacked!
My point is if you worked an 8-hour day away from home I’m not sure how happy a German Shepherd would be and an unhappy German Shepherd is 70-90 pounds of booming bark and destructive powerful jaws. I’m not saying it couldn’t work just that you need to think about it carefully.
Do you have the patience and stamina to spend 4-5 months with limited sleep? Puppies need to go out about every three hours, sometimes more in the beginning. This includes at night, in the rain, in the snow, and so forth. I was lucky with Jasper as he was pretty much good from 5 months but the first few months were reminiscent of a newborn, only with teeth.
The Saga of the Rolling Tumbleweeds: Grooming
German Shepherds are beautiful! Whether long coat, smooth coat, or in between they are handsome animals. They have a double coat which makes them impervious to cold though I have to say Jasper does not much like the heat. German Shepherds Shed. They shed so much that even if you do brush them daily you will probably have tumbleweeds of hair hiding under your furniture and possibly find dog hair in your teeth! Start grooming early to get your pup used to the idea. Which brings me to nail trimming.
Jasper does not like nail trimming. We have come to an understanding that in this subject I don’t care what he likes and he now semi-calmly tolerates it but he is not happy and it was an interesting journey to get to the point of his reluctant tolerance. One of you will be dominant in the relationship and you want it to be you. I’m 65 so it is not a matter of strength. It’s a matter of attitude, persistence, and being more stubborn than your dog. Having raised two teenagers I had an edge, as I had already mastered “the voice”. Still, it took study and preparation on my part to be ready to deal with such issues. At times it was very hard and I questioned if I had gotten in over my head!
Just to clarify 90% of my training and interaction with Jasper is based on positive reinforcement. 10% is not. There are things Jasper does not want to do not even for a cookie but if they must be done for his better being he will be made to do them and folks sometimes it takes more than a cookie.
Money, Money, Money!
Big dogs eat a lot. They need bigger and therefore more expensive kennels, bowls and such. They will outgrow your first collar and probably your second as well. All dogs need chewing opportunities but big dogs go through those bully sticks pretty fast! Then there are the vet bills and most likely you will need training classes, possibly several. Jasper developed leash reactivity toward other dogs, I think from being in his second class with reactive dogs. He might of been leash reactive anyway but whatever caused it, we are still working on it and it has involved training beyond my ability. That’s an added expense. I want to be able to do dog sports with Jasper and I have been able to do some but AKC disqualifies you if your dog is reactive. NASDA does one dog at a time so I’ve found a spot for Jasper there but my point is dogs cost money.
Do you have the resources to deal with the expenses?
Conclusion:
There was a study done in Pennsylvania on the most aggressive dogs. You’d probably guess Pitt Bulls on the top. Nope. Chihuahuas then Dachshund. That’s right a wiener dog is more aggressive than a German Shepherd! The difference is these are small dogs that can’t kill a person. A large dog hypothetically could and as the news tells us sometimes does. If you are going to own a large powerful dog you will have to deal with that stigma and be willing to handle your dog responsibly just as you would a gun if you owned one. Are you ready to take on that responsibility?
You might also keep in mind landlords may be OK with a Chihauajua but they probably won’t be fine with your 90-pound German Shepherd however unfair that is considering! Just things to consider.
So there you have it. If I haven’t discouraged you from getting a German Shepherd yet, maybe they are the dog for you, but there is nothing wrong with smaller easier dogs. They can bring just as much joy and companionship to your life.