“Yoooo Rinty!” The command that sent my TV hero Rin Tin Tin to save the day! As a kid growing up in the 1950’s, I loved the Rin Tin Tin TV show. I never missed an episode and after done watching I would head to the back yard with my grandfather’s police canine Rex to relive all the memorable moments. I was Rusty and Rex was Rin Tin Tin. I was a very fortunate kid to have had Rex as a playmate. Growing up with a German Shepherd is one of the best experiences a kid can have. I have loved the German Shepherd breed all my life and working with this incredible breed of dog has been such a joy for me. That being said the German Shepherd is not a breed for everyone. Owning a German Shepherd is a responsibility that should not be taken lightly and on a whim. They are a noble, courageous, and very smart breed of dog but great care must be taken in training and socialization. Do it right and you will have an amazing companion, but raise it wrong or choose the wrong dog and you will have more problems than you can imagine. It is not hard to raise, train, and socialize a German Shepherd puppy but it does take a consistent commitment of your time and effort.
The German Shepherd is America’s second most popular dog!
According to the AKC registration data, the German Shepherd is the second most popular dog breed in the United States, second only to the Labrador Retriever. For me, that is bad news. Right now you are probably wondering what is wrong with me. Why do I feel this way? I breed German Shepherds so I should be happy that I will be able to sell lots of them. Isn’t being in business all about the money? Not for me! I don’t raise German Shepherds for the money. If my goal was making lots of money I would have a cushy desk job on Wall Street instead of running around my yard with a pooper scooper. Trust me, there a lot easier ways of making money than breeding dogs. I love this breed of dog so much and I see so many inferior quality German Shepherds being produced by money hungry breeders for a quick dollar that it breaks my heart. This noble unique breed can be the best dog you have ever owned but if you get one of inferior quality, it can be your worst nightmare. Because of that, I want to emphasize that you do two very important things – educate yourself about the breed and be smart about choosing the right German Shepherd for your family.
German Shepherds are the Cutest Puppies – little living Teddy Bears…for awhile!
Adorable aren’t they? German Shepherd puppies are the cutest little puppies. I’m talking “want to take the whole litter home” cute. They look like living, cuddly Teddy Bears. But at 6 months of age they will weigh 40-50 pounds and be so full of energy you’ll wonder what you were thinking when you brought one home. They are a powerful, energetic dog that is a cute cuddly puppy for a very short time. Enjoy the “puppy” moments because you have some work ahead as your living teddy bear becomes a large, powerful adult.
Here’s the Good News about German Shepherds!!!!!!!
First, let’s talk about the good things about the German Shepherd breed. German Shepherds are very intelligent. A good one learns very quickly and can reason things out in complex situations. Those breed traits is why they are the original Seeing Eye Dog. They were the first breed trained for that very responsible job at the beginning of the guide dog program. When I say they learn quickly, I mean it. You usually only need to show a good German Shepherd a command 3 or 4 times and they know it. Then its just a matter of perfecting things through repetition.
German Shepherds are incredibly loyal and loving with their families. There is no better breed for a family with children. A German Shepherd will lay down its life for its owners. Their devotion to their people is renowned. That is why they have make such great police K-9s as they form a bond with their human partner that is unequaled.
German Shepherds are great with kids and thrive on all the interaction a child will give them. I have one owner who worries that his daughters give the dog too much attention and will wear the dog out. I reassure him that a German Shepherd thrives on that kind of attention.
And here’s the Bad News about German Shepherds!!!!!!!
So those are the things that make them an amazing addition to your life but there are negative things that you should consider –
A lot of people are intimidated by them. I have walked down the street with Malibu, my highly trained service dog, and seen people cross to the other side to avoid walking by her. German Shepherds have gotten a bad reputation because of poorly bred ones from puppy mills and backyard breeders that have unstable temperaments and are poorly trained and not socialized. So if you decide to own one, do not be offended by peoples reaction to them. Just make sure that your dog is well socialized and trained so it can be a good ambassador for the breed when it is in public.
German Shepherds are a dog that requires training and socialization. You cannot tie your German Shepherd to a dog house in the backyard, feed and water it once a day, without it becoming aggressive and even dangerous. They need to live in the home with human contact and interaction. This is a breed that loves people and they want to be with you all the time. They are often jokingly referred to as “velcro dogs”. Own a German Shepherd and you will never go to the bathroom alone again. If I have the whole Haven Kennels pack loose in the house, it can get very crowded when I go the bathroom. Whether I am out in the yard gardening or quietly sitting reading, they enjoy lying nearby watching me. They love going for a ride in the car and want to accompany me everywhere I go. So if you do not want that kind of devotion, get a breed that is more independent.
German Shepherds require exercise. I mean serious exercise! A couple of 15 minute potty walks are not going to do the job. These dogs are Olympic-level athletes. Their idea of good time is jogging with you for a mile or a long Frisbee play session. You will wear out your throwing arm before they lose interest in playing fetch with a tennis ball. If you can’t devote the time to exercising them, get a lap dog.
German Shepherd puppies are “mouthy”. All puppies chew when they are teething but for some reason German Shepherds like to chew well past the “milk teeth” stage. In the dog world, they are referred to as “land sharks” or “German Shredders”. You will need to puppy proof your home before you bring home a German Shepherd puppy or your Gucci bag can become a chew toy. Most of them outgrow the chewing but some don’t so you have to spend time teaching them what is acceptable to chew on and what is not. We have a 7 year old rescue shepherd that lays in the yard chewing rocks or a piece of firewood. When she comes in the house, we have to check her mouth as she brings rocks in the house with her. Gemma’s rocks create a real hazard when we are mowing the lawn but she only chews the rocks and the wood, and never touches personal items in the house.
The German Shepherd in the picture above is Malibu’s sire, ROM CH Kysarah’s Rolling Stone aka Mick. He’s a handsome fella isn’t he? What a gorgeous coat all groomed for the show ring! Would you think he was quite so pretty if that coat of fur was distributed all over your home and clinging to your clothes? As a German Shepherd owner I never wear black and try to stick very neutral earth tones so the hair doesn’t show. The other nickname that German Shepherds have earned is “German Shedders”. All breeds of dogs will shed twice a year with the change the seasons but with German Shepherds the shedding is pretty much constant, with heavy periods of shedding twice a year, and a slow dribble of hair year round. They have a double coat of medium length hair with a dense outer coat of straight hair that lies close to the body and is sometimes wavy and wiry. The under coat is soft and downy leaving wisps of hair that will float all over your home. Tumbleweed is what I think of when I open the window and the breeze starts them gathering in clumps rolling along on the floor. Around here we call dog hair a condiment. If “dust puppies” collecting under your furniture is going to bother you, a German Shepherd is not the dog breed for you. If you are bringing a German Shepherd into your family, make sure you a good, strong, dependable vacuum cleaner.
German Shepherds require training and they love it. They are a “working dog” so they need a job. There is no limit to the things you can teach them to do which is why they make such great service dogs. They thrive on training and love to learn new things. You should make a commitment to work on training for ½ hour every day. If you don’t want to work on training daily with them, they are the wrong breed for you.
They need to be socialized. One of the breeds characteristics is its aloof nature around strangers. It is not a Golden Retriever. It will treat all strangers, human and canine, with suspicion. Because of this aloofness, you will need to constantly socialize your German Shepherd. Start out with puppy training classes and continue to take the dog out in public with you as much as you can. Constant interaction with the public will give your dog the opportunity to learn the difference between good strangers and bad ones. But please do not go to dog parks. Dog parks are the worst place to take a dog. You have no idea if the other dogs there are healthy or not. Your dog can pick up diseases and parasites because other people do not take care of their dogs. And it is a prime place for dog fights. Not every dog at the dog park is going to be well socialized and trained. I have seen owners in dog parks that are so busy socializing with other owners or glued to their cell phones that they are totally unaware of what is going on with the dogs – until it is too late and a fight has broken out. Save yourself a lot of heartache and expense and stay away from dog parks.
Please give your decision to bring a German Shepherd into your home a lot of serious thought. And take the time to find a good one. Don’t just pick the first one you find becasue you are in a rush to find a dog. German Shepherds do not do well being passed from home to home. They love with such intensity that being rehomed breaks their heart. Bringing any dog into your home is a big commitment, both emotionally and financially. Give it the careful thought it deserves!