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Is German Shepherd A Good First Dog

Is German Shepherd A Good Dog For A First

Are working line German Shepherd Good for First time dog owners????

On the other hand, a German breeder is bred for working ability, as well as to fit the breeds traditional appearance.

Before you can breed a German Shepherd in Germany, they must pass several tests to prove that they measure up to the physical and mental benchmarks for which the breed is known. German Shepherds tend to have a more energetic and driven personality.

But the only way to guarantee what kind of dog youll get as a first-time owner is to spend time with them. So go to the shelter and meet your new best friend before you even take them home!

Is The German Shepherd The Right Breed For You

When choosing a breed for your next pet, you want to make sure the dog suits your preferences but also that you can meet the dogs needs. If you love going for runs or long walks, dont have dog allergies, and love teaching your dog new tricks, a German Shepherd may be the perfect breed for you.

If you want to do a little more research, check out The German Shepherd Handbook. If youre not sure about this breed, our article on the most popular dog breeds may help you narrow down a breed that would be more suitable to your and your future pups needs.

Why do you love German Shepherds?

Important Things To Check About The German Shepherd Puppy

  • Ask the breeder if you can see his parents
  • Check if his parents had any genetic disorder
  • check if the puppy is fully healthy
  • ask to the breeder any health check up reports done in the past.
  • Ask about his temperament.
  • Make sure to check correctly any health issue or genetic disorder that the puppy could have and make sure his temperament is friendly.

    There are a lot of things you have to consider before you buy a puppy. We have an Article which will explain everything in details to you.

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    Pros And Cons To Owning A German Shepherd

    Like any breed of dog, the German Shepherd comes with both pros and cons, so its important to take these into consideration before you decide whether theyre the right dog for you.

    Keep in mind that for the majority of German Shepherds, their pros far outweigh their cons, provided that theyre raised correctly of course.

    Should I Get A Male Or Female German Shepherd

    Are German Shepherds Good First Dogs? Prepare Yourself ...

    It depends on your living conditions and lifestyle. Male German Shepherd is generally larger build and larger muscle than the female German Shepherd. So they should eat more. Males may exhibit more protectiveness due to their muscular build and larger size.

    Both male and female German Shepherds are highly energetic and require ample exercise.

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    A German Shepherd Is First Dog In The Us To Test Positive For The Coronavirus

    Three cats have previously tested positive in the U.S., but experts say the risk to pets remains low.

    A German shepherd in New York has tested positive for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19the first confirmed case of a dog contracting the virus in the United States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on June 2.

    The dog is believed to have been infected by its owner, who also tested positive for the virus, and is expected to make a full recovery. There is no evidence to date that pets can spread the virus to people.

    This case further highlights the importance of pet owners with COVID-19 avoiding contact with pets and other animals during their illness to prevent spreading the virus to them, says Kate Grusich, a spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control .

    The dog had been showing signs of respiratory illness after his owner tested positive for the virus. A private veterinary laboratory initially tested the dog and got a presumptive positive result. Additional testing by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories of the United States Department of Agriculture confirmed the labs resultthe standard procedure to officially ascertain a positive case of COVID-19 in an animal.

    A second dog in the same home tested negative for the virus but did have antibodies in its system, indicating that it may have been exposed, according to the USDA.

    German Shepherd Vs Labrador: Which Is Better For First

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    Which dog is the best for first-time owners, a German Shepherd or Labrador?

    If you have limited your choice to German Shepherd and Labrador, Ill say Im not surprised.

    These two breeds are the most popular ones in the USA, and theyve held that position for years.

    Both dog breeds look amazing and can be a great addition to your family.

    But if youre inexperienced, you might be wondering which dog is the best first-time owner.

    Thats why Im going to help you choose by comparing them.

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    Other Pets Friendly Dogs

    You are thinking about getting a GSD puppy, but you are not sure that he will be in a great relationship with your cat? He can be if you train your puppy. With training, everything is possible.

    And not only with the cats, but German Shepherd can also be good with any other pet or animal, only if you train him well.

    But if you are adopting GSD, you may want to be more careful. The best time to start to train this dog breed is from an early age, but if you are adopting an adult dog, you must be more careful. Usually, you will need more time to train an adult dog than to train a puppy, but its still possible to create a great relationship between your dog and another pet or animal.

    Theyre Extremely Loyal And Protective

    ARE GERMAN SHEPHERDS GOOD FOR FIRST TIME OWNERS

    German Shepherds have a great personality, especially when it comes to their loyalty and protective nature. Once you build that initial loving relationship with your new German Shepherd, you can be sure that hell always have your back and protect you in the case of an intruder or an approaching stranger.

    Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the German Shepherd is a popular choice for families as a good first dog.

    If you are wondering why the German Shepherd is so loyal and protective, you only need to remember that he was originally bred for herding sheep and livestock. Its in his genes to serve and obey, hence another reason why he is used as a police dog.

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    Are German Shepherds Aggressive

    German Shepherd Dogs have always been blamed by the news channels and people to very aggressive dogs. What they never do is looking at the cause of the problem.

    German Shepherd Dogs are amiable dogs, but there are still a lot of accidents happening around the world because their owners do not train them properly.

    German shepherd dogs need constant socialization and exercise. This breed has a lot of energy to consume to stay physically and mentally healthy.

    There are a lot of factors which can lead to an aggressive dog, but the main ones are:

  • Lack of exercise.
  • Poor training.
  • Bad experiences in the dogs life
  • Imagine your self close in a house for 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Will you get angry? The answer is obviously yes.

    German Shepherd dogs need to walk, they need to play, they need to see new places and know new people and pets.

    It will take their mind fresh and stimulated and happy. A happy dog will never get angry.

    Be careful when strangers are approaching your door or garden.

    If your dog has not been completely trained, it may harm him.

    German Shepherd Dogs are very possessive about their place, and they do not tolerate that any stranger crosses their borders.

    So make sure to be careful because you do not want that your German Shepherd Dog jumps on the delivery man.

    Your Lifestyle Should Match Your Dogs Personality Traits

    Aside from money, the following are important factors for decision-making:

    • Time.
    • Health.

    Do you have a full-time office job? Raising a German Shepherd is also a full-time commitment.

    You should consider hiring a pet sitter or finding a doggie daycare. They can facilitate physical exercises and mental stimulation for your dog.

    What about when you get home? Having a German Shepherd may not allow you to lounge in front of the TV all the time.

    German Shepherds are active and want something to do. Without the necessary physical and mental stimulation, theyll find something destructive to do.

    Health is also a very important factor.

    Caution: Having a German Shepherd could worsen asthma and other respiratory problems.

    This is because they are notorious shedders. They have pet dander that can trigger asthma attacks.

    If its a child with asthma, check with their pediatrician. Asthma can be tolerable or severe. But your pediatrician should know if having a German Shepherd is okay.

    Another thing to consider is the possibility of being exposed to zoonoses. Zoonoses refer to diseases that are transferred from animals to humans and vice versa.

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    Are German Shepherds Good Family Dogs

    German Shepherd dogs could be an excellent choice if you are considering to adopt a German Shepherd Dog as a Family pet.

    I think most of the dogs can be excellent family pets, but it all depends on the type of training you provide them.

    Pros
    You cant leave him alone homefor long hours.

    A Dog is an innocent creature, and it does not know how to live in a family house until you teach him properly.

    Proper training and socialization are essential to make a dog an excellent family pet.

    When you bring your German Shepherd Dog for the first time at home, the first 24 hours are considered to be very crucial.

    If your German Shepherd is a puppy, then you can have more time to train and socialize him as it is younger and will start understanding the world that surrounds it very slowly.

    But for an adult rescued dog, the story is a little different.

    German Shepherd Dog that has been abused in the past can take more time to adjust in the new family because it will take some time to make them trust you and your family.

    For this, it is essential to be very kind and loving in the first months when the dog is new at your household.

    I have article about this topic check it out later. Are German Shepherd Dogs good family Dogs?

    German Shepherd is extremely loyal and devoted dog. He will do everything to protect his family and people he loves.

    German Shepherd Loves Children

    Is a German Shepherd a Good First Dog?

    Yes, absolutely! With the proper training from an early age, your German Shepherd can be the next nanny of your kids, especially if you have a female.

    But if you have kids and a German Shepherd in the house, you must teach all of them some basic things. Usually, kids dont understand that dogs arent toys and that they cant do whatever they want.

    Teach your children good manners, train your GSD well, and we are sure there will be no problems at all.

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    Raising A German Shepherd Properly

    So one important thing to know is that without proper upbringing and strict training from a young age, your German Shepherd will not turn out the way you might want him to.

    They can quite quickly develop aggression towards other animals and people if they are not raised properly. Hence, a weak upbringing is the main reason why these dogs can often end up being aggressive.

    As you should know by now, the German Shepherd is a dog that requires a lot of attention, and you really cant slack off with this. Otherwise, things can turn for the worse over time.

    With a great upbringing and with plenty of love, socialization, and training, your German Shepherd will be a brilliant companion and friend for a very long time.

    So you can make sure your German Shepherd gets the best upbringing he can, you should do a few things with him from a young age. As a first-time dog owner, it will be pretty challenging to know exactly what to do with them, so here are some things you should do when they are very young.

    Health Issues And Lifespan Of German Shepherds

    Because German Shepherds are prone to health problems, you need to prepare yourself mentally, emotionally, and financially with the thought of your German Shepherd getting sick in her later years.

    Possible causes of these health problems are their large size, body shape, genetic characteristics, and careless breeding practices.

    Some of the health problems commonly seen in GSDs are the following:

    GSDs also have a relatively shorter lifespan than smaller-to-medium-sized breeds, likely due to the presence of these health conditions.

    According to the American Kennel Club, their average life expectancy is around 7 to 10 years, although many GSDs will live longer than that.

    While there is still debate around the idea that purebred dogs have more health problems than mixed breeds, vets unfortunately observe this to be true.

    Inbreeding and the lack of diversity in the gene pool increases the chances of the same genetic diseases to appear in purebreds.

    Of course, you can minimize the chances of these diseases from appearing early and ensure that your GSD will live a full, healthy life by adopting the following measures:

  • Exercise your dog daily and keep her at a healthy weight.
  • Feed her high-quality food.
  • Visit your vet regularly.
  • Choose a puppy from a responsible breeder.
  • With these points in mind, your GSD companion will stay by your side for a long time.

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    Socializes Well With Other Dogs

    Similar to humans, German Shepherds can be trained to be good with other dogs. However, this really depends on how you raise and train them.

    In other words, they dont have it in them by nature. Yet, theyre fast learners, so you wont find a hard time training them to socialize well with other dogs.

    Gsds Provide Constant Companionship

    Are German Shepherds Good Family Dogs?

    In truth, German Shepherd owners are never lonely because their loyal canines are always by their side. Although GSDs are sometimes slow to warm to strangers, they are gentle and loving with their families. Their affectionate and dedicated personalities are a bonus of the breed, and they can be particularly fond of children. This means your GSD wants to spend time with you rather than being left alone all day, every day. Allowing your German Shepherd to be with you as much as possible will bring out the best in your dog.

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    What Colors Do German Shepherds Come In

    The most common colors are black and tan, black and red, black and cream, or black and silver. These colors cover the dog in one of these three patterns:

    • Saddleback the black overlays the dog’s back and sides . The rest of the dog is tan, red, cream, or silver. Usually there’s some black on the face, as well.
    • Blanketback the black extends further down the shoulders and hips.
    • Bicolor like a Doberman or Rottweiler, which is mostly black with small tan/red/cream markings specifically confined to the head, chest, and legs. Honestly I don’t know why this pattern is called bicolor, which simply means two colors. As we’ve just seen, the other two patterns also have just two colors.

    Another common color is sable, which is an overall shade of gray, golden, or red, with black-tipped hairs that create a “dusted with black” effect.

    A less common, but perfectly acceptable, color is solid black.

    “Faulty” colors

    Then there are two controversial colors: blue and liver:

    • Blue German Shepherds have inherited a color-modifying gene that changes their black pigment to smoky gray. Many blue dogs look as though they’ve been dusted with flour.
    • Liver German Shepherds have inherited a color-modifying gene that changes their black pigment to brown .

    Blue and liver are considered serious faults by the official German Shepherd clubs and breeders who show their dogs in the conformation ring. But you can still register these dogs and compete with them in activities such as obedience and agility.

    Are German Shepherds Short Haired Dogs

    When people hear the term Short Haired to describe a German Shepherd dog, they imagine a very Short Haired German Shepherd. They often mistake them as some rare variant or a separate breed.

    In fact, for a purebred German Shepherd, short hair is nothing unusual. The purebred Short Haired German Shepherd accounts for about 85% of the breed, making them the characteristic German Shepherd dog.

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    Important Facts You Should Know About German Shepherd

    Hope! you have made your mind to buy a German Shepherd as your first dog and can be ideal for you. You should also see some interesting facts that will make your concept crystal clear before buying this breed.

    However, I am throwing light on some of the positive aspects of German Shepherd. But you will have to get the right decision before adopting this breed seeing their nature, behavior, and strength.

    You can also watch this video that will also tell you the important facts about the German Shepherd and it will be useful to you before the adoption of this breed.

    Now its time for us to take a quick look at some of the important facts that you should know about German Shepherd:

    Which German Shepherd Is The Best

    Is german shepherd a good dog for first time owner? 13 ...

    There are different types of German Shepherd, but the two main categories in which are German Shepherds categorized are working line and show line.

    Before you decide to buy a German Shepherd, ask yourself want I expect from my dog, and what my goal is?.

    If you want a good family dog, then a show line is a good choice for you. But if you want to become a professional dog handler, trainer, or to go on the different sports events with your GSD, then maybe is working line is a better choice for you.

    But take this seriously, this breed is really high energy, and you need to have enough time if you want to be a good and responsible dog owner.

    If you have never before had a dog, and you dont have any knowledge, first educate yourself. After that, our recommendation is to get a show line.

    To learn more about the difference between these two types, you can do by clickingHERE.

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