Can German Shepherd be a good pet? Choosing the best dog type to bring into your family is a major and important choice. A popular dog breed, often called a great family pet is the German Shepherd. They are smart, loyal and can do many things.
As the name tells, These dogs first came from Germany in the late 19th century. Well they were originally used for herding sheep, can’t doubt that considering their personality.
German Shepherds have a unique look such as, strong muscles with a proud look on their face. They often catch peoples attention because of their impressive size and good expressions.
But before getting a German Shepherd, you need to think about a very important question, that If this type of dog is good for your family whether they can adjust to your lifestyle?
In this article, we will have a look at what are the characteristics that make German Shepherds special and you will also get some tips which will help you choose and find out if they’re good for your family.
Lets get with German Shepherd Characteristics:
1. Intelligence:
German Shepherd is a smart dog breed, as their intelligence is known worldwide. Their smart brains help them learn fast and handle different tasks. This makes them good for families wanting a dog they can teach, train and play with.
They are intelligent by nature, but they also become smart and skillful through learning. They are very intelligent dogs and they usually score high amongst various intelligence tests.
For some important tasks such as police work, search and rescue, and other services, these dog breeds are the best because of their exceptional abilities, as they are able to follow difficult orders and solve problems hence becoming excellent and reliable for such tasks.
Moreover, they have a strong brain power that encompasses good instincts, loyalty and protective nature; making them not just intelligent pets, but great family pet as well.
2. Loyalty and Protectiveness:
They have a very keen sense of loyalty towards their owners and quickly form bonds with family members. They show great loyalty by being devoted partners.
They are famous for their wonderful defence skills, which make them great guards. This makes them perfect at being the best guard and friend you could have.
German Shepherds is born with a natural gift of sensing danger and even in calm places they are always mind on guard. Their guard characteristic is the best and that makes them good for police, army etc.
In other words, loyalty and guarding skills are in the nature of a German shepherd. They serve as great guards for any household and eventually become a member you would never want to lose.
3. Activity Level:
German Shepherds are energetic dogs. At first, these dogs were raised for herding and used as work animals. They have a lot of energy always and need regular playtime to do well.
These smart dogs are really good at many jobs, from crime work to finding and rescuing. They have strong bodies and their great stamina make them really good at this tasks.
Each day, they need to take long walks and play hard. This keeps them happy as well as stimulates their minds too. Not doing their exercise can lead to bad behavior.
Families that like outdoor things and can do daily exercise every day will really enjoy this dog breed.
4. Shedding and Grooming:
German Shepherds are famous for their special two-layer hair. Their coat has a close inner one and on the outside it’s rougher.
This dog breed loses hair usually, but they shed more during changes in seasons. This is what we call “dropping their coat” or heavy shedding period.
To deal with their shedding well, you need to groom them often. Brushing them every week helps take off its loose hair and makes less of it to fall.
When German Shepherd lose lots of fur, a daily brush is needed. They should not bathe too often to keep their natural oil-coat healthy. As well as cutting their nails, cleaning ears and proper care for teeth are things to take care of.
In general, regular grooming helps reduce hair loss while also keeping your German Shepherd’s coat healthy and good-looking.
5. Size and Space:
There must be space for medium to large-sized dogs like German Shepherd to move around freely. They weigh somewhere between 50-90 pounds and grow tall up to nearly 22-26 inches on average.
Because they are big and have lots of energy, they need plenty of space to grow. Ideally, they should be able to use a yard with a fence for exercise and to play around.
They are not good for small flats. Families who have big yards or can get to open places might find this breed more suitable.
6. Socialization:
German Shepherds, should be socialized at an early stage to ensure that they have a smooth adaptation to other dogs and people. They are friendly, highly loving and attach themselves closely to the families.
Adult and child can also be happy with this dog friend. Nonetheless, those pets could be more freindly after some training and socializing.
They are great candidates of socialization, as their nature is to satisfy people with loyalty that help them to mix easily with different people as well as animals. If you and your family want a well-socialized pet, you must give up some of your priceless time to train these dogs.
7. Allergies:
German Shepherds, known for their smartness and faithfulness, can get allergies. These allergies can come from different places, like food or things in the environment such as pollen and dust. They could also be due to touching something that causes an allergy reaction.
Signs can show as scratching, skin redness or bumps and ear infections. It might also cause trouble with digestion. Finding out the allergy is very important, and it usually needs a vet’s help.
Handling allergies might need food changes, special shampoos with no allergy-causing stuff and medicines like anti-allergic ones. Keeping them clean and living in a clean environment can help ease problems.
Would a German Shepherd suit your family?
Now that we’ve examined the key characteristics of German Shepherds, let’s assess whether they are a good fit for your family:
• If your family routine involves activity and time outside, a German Shepherd could match your lifestyle.
• Families looking for a trustworthy and a guardian pet may like the German Shepherd’s as a pet.
• People who want to train and be with their dog will find this breed easy, as they learn and adapt things quickly.
• German Shepherds normally live for 9-13 years. They will be a long lasting pet to you, so be ready for a long commitment before getting one.
• German Shepherds can be protectors. This could be good or bad, depending on what your family needs. – They usually do well with kids, but they should be watched over.
• But, if you don’t have much space or can’t handle grooming needs and are prone to allergies then a German Shepherd might not be the best pick.
Conclusion:
German Shepherd dogs can be great for families, but they need the right home and someone who promises to care.
Their have great qualities, like being strong and fast with a sharp sense made them very needed in different jobs. They are also loved as good-natured friends, which has earned them a place among the top dog breeds cherished around the world.
Check your family’s way of living, space at home and time to spend on training. Then decide if a German Shepherd is good for your household.
Always remember that taking care of your dog means meeting their needs and making sure they have a good life.
