Being one of the most popular breeds in the country, we all know how it is extremely easy to fall in love with a German Shepherd. With those cute puppy eyes and an attractive, sometimes intimidating overall presence, it is hard to ignore a German Shepherd Dog.

If you are thinking of adopting a German Shepherd but are wondering if they are safe around babies, here is everything you need to know about them.

To address your concern whether or not German Shepherds are good with babies, the simple answer is yes! German Shepherds are known for being family dogs and that is one of the reasons why they are great around kids. However, several factors of a German Shepherd’s personality contributes to its overall behavior. Hence, to help you make an informed decision, we have gathered all the information that you need about a German Shepherd so that you can be sure if adopting this breed would be a wise decision for your family or not.

Maturity

The very first thing that any dog owner should know about them is that German Shepherds mature late in comparison to other dogs. On average, it will take around 3 years for a German Shepherd to completely mature. The reason why this makes a difference is that until that time, they are still analyzing the strength they possess due to their large size. In the process, they might unintentionally harm someone because they wouldn’t know how powerful they are. They are also known for playing it rough when young, so they can be a risk with babies at home.

However, there are several other traits that if catered to in the right manner can cover this aspect well and you can deal with it too. However, we believe that taking care of an infant and a German Shepherd at the same time can be a bit hectic, because you will need to give a lot of attention and training to both.

Highly Trainable

This is one of the most exciting aspects of owning a German Shepherd. German Shepherds are known to be highly trainable dogs. This means that if you teach your dog to socialize with other members of the family, other pets, outsiders, and other animals, they will not harm the babies around them.

One thing that you must know is that you will have to be a good leader as this is something a German Shepherd would highly respect. You can attend obedience classes with your dog to make sure that it knows from a very young age how to respect its owner. Once that is taken care of, you can enjoy the perks of owning a German Shepherd.

Loyalty

While dogs, in general, are called man’s best friend and are loyal to their owner, German Shepherds are distinctively known for their loyalty. This can be connected to the above point and plays well when there are babies in the picture. If trained and socialized properly, a German Shepherd will know that not only does it needs to respect the owner, but also protect the family.

German Shepherds are highly protective animals and once trained in the right manner, they will feel the same way about the little humans in the house as well. This is an added benefit of owning a German Shepherd who is well-trained. However, this does not mean that you can leave your dog alone with your baby. Even if you own any other dog breed or any other pet in general, you always need to have supervise it around your child. You cannot expect a baby or a dog to be good when left unattended, no matter how intelligent or well-trained they are!

Regular Exercise

Another very significant thing to keep in mind when thinking of adopting a German Shepherd is that you will have to give your time to him regularly. Even if you have trained your German Shepherd well, he will still need to exercise to keep his health intact. This will also ensure that the dog does not  use its energy in the wrong way. Regular exercise and walk should be taken care of so that the dog does not end up being frustrated or bored.

The arrival of an Infant

Lastly, for those who already own a German Shepherd or are thinking of adopting one before having a baby, things can be a bit different. You will have to train your dog in advance for the arrival of the baby so that when that happens, your only option is not to give up on the dog.

The reason behind this is the fact that a German Shepherd might act the same way as your older kid (if you have one) does at the arrival of a younger sister/brother. While the addition to the family is a joyous occasion, your dog may feel insecure because of the attention the newcomer will get. Hence, preparing your German Shepherd for your baby’s birth is a great way of dealing with things.

Another reason why this needs to be done is to set a new routine that involves the baby as well. In order to do so, you can use a doll wrapped in a cloth to train your dog for different scenarios. From park walks with a stroller to grocery shopping and having the baby in the car to also taking care of the barking habits when the infant would be asleep, you need to train your dog for everything.

Our suggestion in such a situation would be to make your dog feel comfortable and make them feel confident that they will always be equally important and loved. After all, your dog is also a child of yours whom you have brought up to be this loving creature! For any further assistance, services, or products for your dog, feel free to contact us!

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by Maria A Davidson || You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it™ . 

Facts About Animal Homelessness:

1. Only 1 out of every 10 dogs born will find a permanent home.
2. The main reasons animals are in shelters: owners give them up, or animal control finds them on the street.
3. Each year, approximately 2.7 million dogs and cats are killed every year because shelters are too full and there aren’t enough adoptive homes. Act as a publicist for your local shelter so pets can find homes. Sign up for Shelter Pet PR.
4. Approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats.
5. According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), less than 2% of cats and only 15 to 20% of dogs are returned to their owners.
6. 25% of dogs that enter local shelters are purebred.
7. About twice as many animals enter shelters as strays compared to the number that are relinquished by their owners.
8. It’s impossible to determine how many stray dogs and cats live in the United States. Estimates for cats alone range up to 70 million.
9. Only 10% of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered. Overpopulation, due to owners letting their pets accidentally or intentionally reproduce, sees millions of these “excess” animals killed annually.
10. Many strays are lost pets that were not kept properly indoors or provided with identification.
11. According to The Humane Society, there are about 3,500 brick-and-mortar animal shelters in the US and 10,000 rescue groups and animal sanctuaries in North America.

Here are a some adoptions for consideration:  puccicafe.com/adoptions