Spaying Or Neutering Your Gsd Is A Good Thing
Here are only a few truths of the many benefits of spaying or neutering your GSD:
Spaying and neutering can reduce many health problems.
Spayed or neutered pets often live longer, healthier lives.
Spayed or neutered dogs do not necessarily get fat or lazy.
Spayed or neutered pets are often more affectionate companions.
Spaying your female German Shepherd eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the possibility of breast cancer.
Neutering your male GSD eliminates the possibility of testicular cancer and lowers the incidence of prostate problems.
Having your pet spayed or neutered is a very important part of responsible pet ownership.
This one process, to spay and neuter your GSD, greatly increases the lifespan of your dog!
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German Shepherds Are Sloppy Family Members
Create a set routine and schedule and stick to it to avoid accidents and train your puppy faster.
Say hello to your new sloppy family member
Your German Shepherd!
They not only shed everywhere, but also dump water out when drinking, spill their food and
Have total disrespect for your carpets!
As a first time German Shepherd owner, heres your crash course in house training your new dog:
- Take your puppy out every 2 to 3 hours and especially first thing in the morning, after eating, after play or exercise, and right before their bedtime.
- Puppies, like a toddler, will have accidents because they dont have full control of their bladders at first.
- You must have them in a secure area or watch them all the time to avoid any accidents.
- Dont yell or push their face into the mess!
- Its your fault for not watching your dog, reading their body cues, or sticking to a routine.
Theres so much to know about house training your new family member that youll be surprised what you dont know after you read the full guide to potty training your German Shepherd.
No matter what you will clean up some kind of bodily function when owning a German Shepherd. So, do yourself a favor and stock up on pet stain and odor remover!
Bone And Joint Problems
A number of different musculoskeletal problems have been reported in German Shepherd Dogs. While it may seem overwhelming, each condition can be diagnosed and treated to prevent undue pain and suffering. With diligent observation at home and knowledge about the diseases that may affect your friend’s bones, joints, or muscles, you will be able to take great care of him throughout his life.
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Coat Color And Grooming
The German Shepherd was originally bred to herd flocks in harsh climates, and their medium-length double coat fits the job perfectly, acting as protection the dog from rain and snow and resistant to picking up burrs and dirt.
The coat types of the German Shepherd are as varied as their color. Some German Shepherds are longhaired. However, the “ideal” German Shepherd has a double coat of medium length. The outer coat is dense with straight hair that lies close to the body, and is sometimes wavy and wiry.
The coat comes in variety of colors and patterns including black black and cream black and red black and silver black and tan blue gray liver sable and white. The American Kennel Club doesn’t recognize white as a color for this breed, however, and won’t let white German Shepherds compete in conformation shows, although they’re allowed in other competitions.
Sometimes jokingly called “German shedders,” the breed sheds year-round, and generally “blows”sheds a lot of hair at once, like a snowstormtwice a year. If you want a German Shepherd, be prepared for hair on your black pants, on your white couch, and pretty much all over the house.
There’s no magic solution to shedding, and we just have to accept it. However, brushing two to three times a week will help more of the hair come out in a brush, rather than on your furnishings. And a sturdy vacuum cleaner doesn’t hurt either.
Final Thoughts On The German Shepherd Growth Chart
There are many health issues caused by abnormal weight and height of a German shepherd. The vast majority of these problems are not obvious to the owner.
Thats precisely why its so important to learn about the average German shepherd size. Being aware of the average weight and height of a German shepherd gives you the opportunity to manage potential threats to your dogs health.
This article showed you the average German shepherd weight and height chart. It also taught you about the milestones of a full-grown German shepherd.
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Are Alsatians More Expensive Than German Shepherds
As noted above, theyre the exact same dog, so you should pay the exact same price. However, we wouldnt put it past certain breeders to try to milk a few extra bucks out of unsuspecting customers by using the more pretentious Alsatian name.
Regardless of what you call them, these dogs can be the most expensive breed on the planet at the high end. In fact, one German Shepherd sold for $230,000 to a Minnesota businessperson, so youd better save your nickels and dimes if you plan on buying one of these elite dogs. That specific dog could speak three languages and help train horses, though, so its no doubt worth every penny.
Of course, most German Shepherds wont cost anywhere near that much. However, the reason some breeders can charge so much for these dogs is that they truly can be trained to do almost anything.
The average cost of a purebred German Shepherd can range from $500 to $1,500. However, if you want one with premium bloodlines, you can pay as much as $20,000 for the honor. Thats only for people who want to breed or show the dog, though.
You can also likely find a perfectly good German Shepherd at your local pound or from a rescue group. While a pound dog might not speak multiple languages, it can provide you with years of loving companionship. You can spend the $230,000 you saved on dog biscuits.
Be Aware Of Weighty Issues
GSDs are meant to be wedge-shaped with a lovely tucked up waistline. Having said this, its unfortunately all too easy for a GSD to pile on the pounds and lose that midriff definition. If this is the case watch out for hidden calories in training treats. Keep up the rewards but be sure to cut back on your dogs meal-time kibble, and weigh out their ration at the beginning of the day and put some aside in a pot to use as training treats.
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As A Large Dog Breed German Shepherds Usually Live Up To 10 Years
Dogs are amazing companions to have in your life but, unfortunately, they dont live as long as us.
Most long-time dog owners know the pain of losing a dog its a horrible experience that no one should have to go through but that we all endure eventually if weve had a dog.
And thats especially unfortunate for owners of German Shepherds as this breed lives on average 7 to 10 years.
Yes, there are recorded cases of GSDs living beyond 15 years and up to even 18 or 20 years, but thats very rare. There are two main reasons for this:
- The aforementioned health concerns that some German Shepherds have and that get more and more likely as the dog gets older.
- The simple fact that the GSD is a large dog breed and larger breeds just have a shorter lifespan than smaller ones.
Still, if youve got a healthy puppy, if you take good care of it, and if you have a bit of luck, it will likely grow beyond 10 years and maybe even reach 15 thats not too shabby!
Who are German Shepherds right for?
As you can see, there are lots of factors to consider before getting a GSD. So, while there isnt just one type of person that the GSD is right for, there is lots to think about before getting a German Shepherd.
In general, the right GSD owner can be characterized as such:
German Shepherds Will Explore Everything With Their Noses
Youll find evidence of their very thorough sniffing everywhere walls, doors, windows, and more. All dogs have a better sense of smell than humans 10,000 to 100,000 times better in fact thanks to having millions more scent receptors. But compared to other breeds, the GSD ranks near the top in scenting ability. Its no wonder they make such great police and detection dogs. Among many other jobs, GSDs are known for their bomb and drug sniffing work, tracking, and search and rescue.
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Your German Shepherd Dog’s Health
We know that because you care so much about your dog, you want to take good care of her. That is why we have summarized the health concerns we will be discussing with you over the life of your Shepherd. By knowing about health concerns specific to German Shepherd Dogs, we can tailor a preventive health plan to watch for and hopefully prevent some predictable risks.
Many diseases and health conditions are genetic, meaning they are related to your pets breed. There is a general consensus among canine genetic researchers and veterinary practitioners that the conditions weve described herein have a significant rate of incidence and/or impact in this breed. That does not mean your dog will have these problems it just means that she is more at risk than other dogs. We will describe the most common issues seen in German Shepherd Dogs to give you an idea of what may come up in her future. Of course, we cant cover every possibility here, so always check with us if you notice any unusual signs or symptoms.
Getting Your German Shepherd Back To Normal Shape
Whether a German shepherd is underweight or overweight, youll need to do something to change their situation. And one of the best ways to do this is to change their diet.
- Underweight: Obviously, youll need to increase the content of their food. However, make sure you dont force them because this might lead to more bad than good.Slowly transition to providing higher fat content. A simple trick for this is to mix their normal food with that of a higher fat content.You might also consider feeding them puppy food since its typically made to provide plenty of nutrients.
- Overweight: When it comes to overweight German shepherds, you should simply cut off their food.However, dont take it too far since their behavior may also change. Instead, take it slowly so they wont notice.Dont worry because if you continually do this, theyll eventually end up eating half the amount of food they were eating originally.
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You Live An Active Lifestyle
German Shepherds are high-energy dogs and they always need to be out and about. Walking, hiking or playing fetch with your German Shepherd for at least one hour a day is the minimum.
On top of that, your German Shepherd is a working that always needs to explore new places and has some time to do. With a German Shepherd, you are no stranger to jogging, running, biking, hiking, camping, and anything in between.
Grooming: Do German Shepherds Shed A Lot Are They Easy To Groom
About shedding….
I have good news and bad news.
The good news is that German Shepherds have only one shedding period a year.
The bad news is…. their shedding period lasts for 365 days. In other words, German Shepherds shed constantly.
How is this different from most breeds?
Most breeds shed a few hairs here and there throughout the year. But the vast bulk of their shedding occurs only twice a year for three weeks in the spring as their thicker winter coat switches over to a cooler summer coat, and for three weeks in the fall as the summer coat switches over to a winter coat.
Not German Shepherds. They shed a TON during those spring and fall coat-switching seasons. Plus they shed moderately the rest of the year.
So year-round, you’ll find hair on your clothing, on your carpets, and under your refrigerator. Frequent vaccuming will become a way of life.
You might be wondering, “How can a shorthaired dog shed so much?” The answer is that German Shepherds have a double coat. They have a short outer coat , plus a woolly undercoat . Breeds with a double coat always shed more than breeds who simply have an outer coat but no undercoat.
German Shepherds come in a long coat, as well as a short coat. Both coats shed heavily.
Now, about grooming….
How much grooming is required depends on whether a German Shepherd is shorthaired or longhaired.
Longhaired dogs need trimming
Along with brushing and combing, longhaired German Shepherds need trimming every few months.
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Why Get Dog Insurancefrom Pumpkin
German Shepherds are a generally healthy breed, but unexpected ruh-rohs can happen to any dog at any age. If your pup gets hurt or sick, pet insurance can help you say yes to the best care, even when its costly. When it comes to shopping for this breed, youll want to choose an insurance like Pumpkin that covers hereditary conditions German Shepherds are prone to developing, and that can be costly to treat. While a reputable breeder will conduct genetic testing on your pups parents to help minimize the chances of passing down hereditary conditions they cant always be avoided. Lets look at some common ones, and how Pumpkin Insurance could help cover the cost of care!
German Shepherds Are Known As A Mouthy Breed
They tend to use their mouths as an appendage thanks to their herding heritage. Its even right there in their name, ShepHERD. This mouthing behavior is natural, so expect your GSD to mouth you and chew anything that will fit inside their mouth. However, that doesnt mean you should allow it. What might be cute in your small puppy will get more powerful as your dog grows up. Training your dog not to bite your hand or the chew on the furniture is essential with this breed. Teach your German Shepherd to channel those instincts safely and appropriately.
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Get Ready For Negative Public Perceptions
Thanks to the media, history, popular culture, and surely many mishandled dogs, German Shepherd dont exactly have the best public image. If it hurts your feelings that some people are automatically scared of your dog, a German Shepherd may not be right for you. If you have a German Shepherd, let this motivate you to make your dog a great breed ambassador and help change negative stereotypes.
Is A German Shepherd A Good House Pet
German shepherds can be very gentle companions and family protectors with proper training and socialization. Its an ideal breed for active households. The intelligence and protective demeanor of this breed can make it a good choice for families with children as long as the dog is properly trained.
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German Shepherds Need To Be Trained To Behave Around Kids Cats Or Other Dog Breeds
Now, were not saying that German Shepherds cant live well with kids or cats they certainly can! Even if you just get a random GSD and not give it any special training or socialization, the dog may still get along just fine with a cat or a newborn baby.
However, in general, the social awkwardness and guard-dog nature of GSDs means that they often need to be socialized well if you want to make other additions to the households down the line.
This means:
- Make sure your growing German Shepherd dog meets other peoples babies and kids to get comfortable with them.
- Make sure that you teach your growing GSD to get along with other dog breeds in the dog park or at home. You can even arrange dog playdates with other peoples dogs to achieve that!
- If you have a cat or are thinking of getting a cat, make sure your German Shepherd is accustomed to interacting with cats without any aggression.
So, once again while planning a baby or having a cat arent reasons not to get a GSD, they do mean that you should socialize and train your German Shepherd properly.
German Shepherd Feeding Guide By Age
As mentioned above, the age and development stage of your German Shepherd will play a big part in what foods are best suited for him.
To make your research easier, were breaking down the GSD feeding guide into age-based categories. Simply find your dogs age or developmental stage below to find the right information at the right time.
Be sure to check with your vet before beginning, switching, or stopping a feeding program. The information provided here is for research purposes only. Always take your vets advice for your individual dogs needs.
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Things To Think About
Now that you know what you should be looking for in the ideal good first dog, were going to spend some time going over the major characteristics and traits of the average German Shepherd. These are all important things to consider when youre deciding if this breed will be a good first dog for you.
Keep in mind that not all of these characteristics will be considered positive. However, they will definitely allow you to understand what you should expect when you buy or adopt a German Shepherd and determine whether or not you think you can handle a German Shepherd for your first dog.
Check out this super 5-minute video all about the German Shepherd, including a brief history, care, and training. It will also give you a great insight as to whether you think the German Shepherd will be a good first dog for you:
Okay, so lets get right into the 9 things to know