If you are looking to become a German Shepherd owner, it can be useful first to understand the special care and attention that this particular breed requires.
A German Shepherd dog is typically very intelligent, active, and, most importantly, loyal. If you do decide to bring a German Shepherd dog into your home, rest assured, he will most likely become your most loyal companion.
You do have to make sure you train and raise your German Shepherd properly. Each breed of dog has needs that are slightly different from every other breed.
In order to be a truly successful dog owner, it’s important to care for those needs. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to care for a German Shepherd dog.
This first step is easy to understand. As with any dog, you need to decide whether you are up for handling the responsibility of a fully grown adult dog or whether a puppy is all you can handle!
Remember that a German Shepherd Dog is one of the largest dog breeds and can grow up to weigh somewhere between 70 and 90 pounds! That is not to say that a puppy will somehow be easier to deal with or raise. In fact, if anything, a puppy might be a lot more challenging!
If you adopt a German Shepherd puppy, you will have to deal with everything – from potty training to teaching manners to inculcating obedience. Puppies are the same as human babies. They have to be taught everything from scratch. In some ways, then, you will be exerting a lot more energy on a puppy than an adult, fully grown German Shepherd dog.
Typically, adult German Shepherds will come with abundant training. The only problem in raising an adult dog is that you will never know or properly understand the behavioral patterns or inhibitions displayed by the dog. An adult dog will already have many habits put in place, and you might never be able to break them.
The bottom line is, raising both a pup and an adult dog requires a great deal of responsibility. This doesn’t even depend all that much on the breed of dog you opt for. It simply depends on whether or not you are up for the challenge!
Once you have made up your mind that you do indeed want a German Shepherd, and once you have decided on whether you want a pup or an adult dog, it is then time for you to decide where to look for the dog of your dreams!
It won’t be all too difficult for you to find a German Shepherd dog, but you do need to have some idea regarding where to look. If, for example, you are a first-time dog owner, you should ideally avoid shelters. Rescue dogs aren’t the way to get you started, and you might just end up feeling overwhelmed.
Instead, you should opt for buying or adopting from a dog breeder, and make sure you do your due diligence for one who has a good reputation. A breeder is always the go-to option for a newbie dog owner but is also a good option for you if you don’t want to take chances
Let’s say, for example, that you have a family with many little children, or you don’t have a lot of money to invest in. Well then, a dog breeder is your way to go. Buying from a dog breeder offers various advantages, which is why it is recommended for those who have never owned a dog before.
If you buy your dog from a good breeder, you will be sure that the dog is healthy and comes from healthy parents, for example.
If you have had sufficient experience with dogs, then dog shelters might be a great option too; and we prefer it frankly. There are too many homeless dogs that need help and permanent loving homes. If, however, you are considering adopting a dog from a shelter, do make sure to spend a significant amount of time with the dog before bringing him home to make sure you are all a good fit for each other.
German Shepherd dogs are one of the strongest, most energetic dog breeds out there! As such, if you do make the decision to buy or adopt a German Shepherd, make sure that you buy appropriate dog food, full of nutrients, fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.
Make sure that you give your dog lots of meat, including chicken, beef, pork, lamb, etc. These meats are all rich in protein, and dogs are after all meat lovers!
If you opt for dog food, read the labels to make sure the dog food packages do not contain any harmful substances, fillers, or additives.
Because German Shepherds are large dogs, larger than many other breeds, they require a whole lot of space. Remember to never keep your dog in a confined space such as an apartment complex.
If you live in an apartment, make sure that your dog is outside in the yard.
Similarly, your dog will require a sufficient amount of exercise to keep him healthy and to allow him to exert his pent up energy.
Regular walks around the neighborhood are a must, more than once a day, at least.
Your German Shepherd dog can make your daily life a lot more fun filled and satisfying. Using this guide, you can learn just how to care for a German Shepherd dog. Good luck!
by Bobby J Davidson || You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it™ .
Facts About Animal Homelessness:
Here are a some adoptions for consideration: puccicafe.com/adoptions