As a prospective German Shepherd dog owner, it is important to consider how well suited this intelligent, hardworking breed is for you and your family. While a German Shepherd dog can make for a beautiful companion and/or family pet, this specific breed of dog is not suitable for every individual or family.
Deciding to bring any breed of dog into your home and your family is not a consideration to take lightly. For this reason, each prospective dog owner needs to take the time to consider the specific qualities specific to breeds of dogs of interest.
It is the goal of every good German Shepherd dog owner to maintain a happy, healthy, and well-behaved dog, and with this comes a lot of effort and dedication. A German Shepherd dog requires four specific components to maintain this adequate quality of life: ongoing socialization, physical exercise, quality training, and mental stimulation.
If you are wondering whether or not a German Shepherd dog is the right dog for you and your family, please first consider the following questions:
- Do you have the time and energy necessary to ensure the happiness of a German Shepherd dog?
- Are you committed to the ongoing socialization and training of a German Shepherd dog?
- Can you provide a German Shepherd dog the opportunity to get at least two hours of physical activity each day?
If you answered yes to all of the above questions, then a German Shepherd dog may be a wonderful companion for you, and we encourage you to read on!
Ongoing Socialization
Ongoing socialization is essential to ensure that your German Shepherd dog is well-adjusted to a wide range of environments and situations. Not only will proper socialization during your puppy’s early life instill good nature and confidence in your new family member, but early socialization will also reduce future behavior problems. A German Shepherd dog owner must be prepared to take the time to socialize their dog. We wrote an in-depth blog post regarding early puppy socialization which can be found [HERE].
Physical Exercise
With their high energy levels, German Shepherd dogs require an active lifestyle. If you and your family enjoy outdoor activities such as jogging and hiking, a German Shepherd dog may make a wonderful companion. And since German Shepherd dogs don’t tire easily, children can learn how to safely play with their German Shepherd dogs for extended periods given their German Shepherd dog has received proper socialization training.
Quality Training
German Shepherd dogs are well known for their intelligence and willingness to work as they were originally bred to herd and protect sheep. Therefore, this breed must receive consistent and quality training to be happy and well-behaved at home. At a minimum, a new German Shepherd dog owner should be prepared to invest in AKC-approved puppy obedience classes. The more training that a German Shepherd dog receives, the better adjusted a German Shepherd dog will be at home.
Mental Stimulation
By now, you know that a German Shepherd dog requires regular physical activity and a sense of purpose. This breed enjoys learning new things and being a contributing member of its family. Once your new family member has acquired skills in socialization and obedience, a German Shepherd dog must be kept busy mentally. A happy and well-stimulated German Shepherd dog will regularly perform tasks involving agility and observation. For this reason, German Shepherd dogs often participate in organized activities such as ring sport, Schutzhund, and search and rescue.
If you are willing and able to invest in the time, energy, and resources required to ensure the happiness of a German Shepherd dog, including ongoing socialization, physical exercise, quality training, and mental stimulation, then a German Shepherd dog may be a suitable companion for you and your family!
At Kaiser German Shepherds, we make it a practice to stay in touch with our German Shepherd puppy owners for ongoing education and support. We love to see our German Shepherd puppies grow into amazing adult dogs as part of a loving family home!
Thank you for your interest in Kaiser German Shepherds. You can reach us via the contact form below and we will get back with you as soon as possible. If you do not hear from us within a few business days please email us directly at kaisergsdtx@gmail.com. On some occasions we travel for extended weekends to show and title our dogs around the United States.
We look forward to talking with you!
