Is a German shepherd right for me?
What is a GSD's personality like?
German Shepherds are known for being loyal, steady, high drive, and extremely intelligent.
They are undyingly loyal to their family - and even within a family they will sometimes choose a favorite person to attach themselves to. While they look fierce, Shepherds are big teddy bears around the people they love most. They're often extremely sweet and gentle around children and love to sit on the couch and relax with their family.
Protecting their family is also natural to the breed. Commonly, a GSD will growl or bark when someone unknown comes on the property - although a well bred and socialized German Shepherd will not be aggressive or attack unless trained to do so.
Because of their high intelligence, they need lots of exercise and stimulation to keep their mind and body working. They generally love the ball, water, and walks. They're very food and toy driven which, along with their high intelligence, makes them easy and fun to train.
is a GSD a good pet for everyone?
German Shepherds are very active dogs. They have lots of energy and love to work. They're also extremely intelligent, and get bored easily. They love to hike, run, play in the water, chase a ball, go on walks, etc. They're the ideal dog if you have an active lifestyle. If you live in the city, this breed can still work for you! Just ensure that you set aside lots of time for walks, dog parks, and ball time.
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German Shepherds also need consistent training with a firm hand, or their dominant nature will take over and then you're in a pickle!
If you don't have time to ensure that your pup is well socialized, exercised, and trained, a GSD may not be for you.
why purebred?
While German Shepherds are some of the best dogs on the planet, you do have to be careful about the specific German Shepherd you bring into your home. Because of their high drive and protective nature, a Shepherd that has not been carefully bred, raised, and trained to have an even, family friendly temperament can end up aggressive and hard to control.
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While rescuing from a shelter can be a very viable option for a lot of breeds, you should be very careful before getting a Shepherd from a shelter, especially if you have children in the home. Even though German Shepherds are not aggressive by nature, neglect, lack of training and attention, and bad breeding can all have a negative effect on a GSD and make them lash out when they not normally would have. Poorly-bred or under-socialized German Shepherds can be high-strung, nervous, unable to focus, and difficult to train.
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In addition to this, hip and elbow dysplasia are common health issues in German Shepherds. To ensure the longterm health of your pup as well as the emotional wellbeing of your family, making certain that your puppy comes from health tested, quality lineages is extremely important in this breed. ​
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Here at Lionheart, all of our dogs come from generations of health and temperament tested lines. They are also raised by our family and handled by children from day one to ensure proper socialization before going home. All of our Shepherds are imported from Europe to guarantee that they are from quality, health tested, championship lines - some of the best in the world!
Do Shepherds get along with children?
In short - yes they do! There is a reason they are known and beloved as "nanny dogs!" German Shepherds are naturally protective of children and are usually very gentle with them. This of course depends on the child and how rough the kiddos are being with the Shepherd - a dog can only tolerate so much! Teaching your children how to behave around other dogs is as important as teaching your dog to be around children.
Another key part is ensuring that your pup has been introduced to kids at a young age and spends lots of time with them as a puppy. The sooner a dog is introduced to a sound, texture, article, person, or experience and the more time they spend around said item, the more comfortable they will be with that item for the rest of their life. We are a family of nine, and the pups are raised, held, and handled by kids from the moment they are born. All our pups go home well socialized and used to being handled by kids - a great start for a family dog!
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Read this article for some more information on this how to ensure your Shepherd and kids get along!
how big will my german shepherd get?
An average German Shepherd female can weigh anywhere from 55-70 lbs and will have a height between 22-24 inches. A typical male will be 75-90 lbs and grow to 24-26 inches high. This is of course the average, and you will come across many GSDs who happen to fall above or below this range.
should i purchase a male or a female GSD?
Choosing a male or female really depends on your personal preference. They both make great pets!
While there are subtle differences between the two sexes, some females tend to have more of a "male type" personality and vice versa. The slight personality differences between the two will not have have as much of an impact on the ultimate temperament of the dog as good breeding, ensuring socialization from a young age, and consistent training will.
That said, males tend to be more chill about life in general, but can also be more dominant or aggressive. Females are more high strung and can be more moody, but will be less pushy.
If you already own a dog, we generally recommend choosing a puppy of the opposite gender. Males and females always get along great with each other!
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Read this article for a little more information on male and female GSD differences!
What health issues are common in GSDS?
There are several main health concerns that come to mind with the German Shepherd breed. Most common are hip and elbow dysplasia and DM (degenerative myelopathy), which is a genetic disease. All of our males are hip and elbow tested and our females have hips tested at a minimum.
All of our Shepherds are also imported from Europe, and come from healthy, championship lineages, cutting down on as many health issues as possible.
how much exercise does a GSD need?
German Shepherds do best when they are regularly active for an hour or two a day. Because of their size, energy level, and intelligence, they need stimulation and exercise on a regular basis. This doesn't mean you have to take your GSD on a two hour hike every single day! Simple activities like fetch, hide and seek, a few short training sessions, and walks at the park will do the trick. Shepherds love mental stimulation, so training and agility courses are very rewarding to them. Lack of stimulation in a Shepherd can lead to destructive behaviors such as excessive chewing, digging, whining, barking, etc. Keep in mind that just 15 minutes of focused mental stimulation can wear them out as much as an hour of exercise - and the reward you get from a well trained dog is a great payout!
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Read this article for more info!
What is the difference between a short and long coat German Shepherd?
There is of course the obvious difference in the coat length! When you picture your traditional German Shepherd, you are probably imagining a short or "stock coat" German Shepherd as this is the most common kind. Long coat Shepherds are the exact same breed, but come from two parents who carry the long coat gene. Long coat Shepherds are beautiful and majestic and have long, full coats.
Shedding is fairly similar between the short and long coat. In fact, the long coat sometimes seems to shed even less than the short! However the hairs shed are longer, so it always seems to work out to be fairly even between the two where shedding is concerned.
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In addition to the difference in look, short-haired German Shepherds are more commonly chosen to be bred as guard dogs and police dogs and so are often more active and intense. Long-haired Shepherds are more likely to be selectively bred as family pets (they also are slightly less desirable in the show ring) so they tend to be a bit calmer and more laid back. Obviously this is a generalization and there are stock coat shepherds that are very calm, and long coat shepherds that do great as working dogs.
What does shedding and grooming look like in a german shepherd?
German Shepherds shed year round, there's no getting around that! However, the most intense shedding occurs twice a year when they blow their coat in the spring and fall, and the rest of the time it isn't quite so intense. You can also cut down on the shedding by consistent grooming and brushing. German Shepherds are a double coated breed - they have a thick undercoat for warmth and a coarse outer coat designed to protect them from the elements. Your Shepherd should be brushed out with a basic dog brush 3-4 times a week, plus the occasional use of an undercoat brush to keep the undercoat from getting matted. By staying on top of brushing you are helping keep the hair off your couch!​
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Read this article for more tips on grooming your GSD!
is it easy to train a German Shepherd?
German Shepherds are a joy to train. They are intelligent, eager to please, excited to work, and are very food and ball driven. We're continually shocked how quickly our puppies pick up on basic commands. While we cant't guarantee this will happen with every puppy (as much as we wish it would!) we have heard reports back from many of our owners that their puppy was housebroken within a week of coming home!
However, while the intelligence of a Shepherd is a benefit, it can also be difficult to manage. They are strong, dominant dogs with a will of their own, and the smarts to carry it out. They need to be handled with a firm hand or they may begin to think they are the "head of the pack" when it comes to your household. They cannot be neglected or trained halfheartedly or their strong nature will start to show, and at that point be very difficult to manage.
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A training program of some kind is well worth considering when it comes to a German Shepherd, particularly a trainer that specializes specifically in GSDs. Someone who knows and understands the breed, their intelligence, and dominant nature will know how to handle and train a Shepherd better than your local PetSmart trainer will. If you are running into trouble when the puppy is around 6-8 months old, we HIGHLY recommend getting professional help. It is much easier to teach a new dog new tricks, so to speak. Don't wait until bad habits are formed.
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There are few things more frustrating than a Shepherd who has not been trained properly, but there is nothing more rewarding than a well trained Shepherd. It's worth the time and effort to get to that point! Don't worry- puppy stage doesn't last forever, and all your efforts will be more than worth it in the end!
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Want more training tips? We LOVE Leerburg! They have tons of training videos, articles, tips, and know how to handle the German Shepherd breed better than any other website we have come across.