Is a Germand Shepherd the Right Breed For You

There are a number of things to consider when deciding on the right breed for your family. German Shepherds are a breed that have specific requirements to ensure they are a happy, healthy, and well-rounded dog. Whilst there are breed specific characters to consider, as with any breed, each dog is an individual, with different drives and physical needs. However, there are some basic requirements relevant to all German Shepherds that should be considered when first deciding if they are the right breed for your family:

𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 – Do you have the time and effort to put training into your German Shepherd? This is an ongoing requirement, not just when they are a puppy. Every moment spent with your German Shepherd is a training moment. German Shepherds want to be around their people most of the time, they do not do well locked outside in a backyard with little interaction. They will start to show signs of stress which will affect their behaviour. They require ongoing training and commitment and to build a bond with their caregiver.

𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 – German Shepherds are prone to antisocial behaviour if not regularly exposed to different scenarios and situations. They require regular socialisation with other dogs in a controlled and safe environment, they need to have positive experiences with different types of animals, people, vehicles, places, and objects. By the same token, flooding a German Shepherd/any dog can cause them to stress and display reactivity. Get to know your dog. Learn some of the stress signals so you can recognise. Flooding is a form of “socialising”. For instance, you decide to socialise your GSD with other dogs and you take him to the park. There are plenty of dogs there for him to meet. Whilst this may sound like the ideal plan, in reality it may overwhelm your dog. If we miss the signals, and carry on “socialising”, it could have the opposite effect to the one we are expecting. Your dog may become reactive, because his previous attempts at communication (stress signals) were ignored.

𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭 - German Shepherds can live for on average for 10-14 years; during their lifespan, they need to have regular check-ups at the vet as they can be prone to some medical conditions which are expensive to treat. This is one of the many reasons that they are relinquished to a rescue. German Shepherds are a large breed dog, resulting in higher veterinary bills than smaller dogs if they ever need surgery, they must also be provided with good quality food. German Shepherds may also need assistance from a professional trainer to help with any arising behavioural issues.

𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 – German Shepherds shed A LOT of hair! They need regular brushing to keep their coat well maintained otherwise they can become matted and itchy. No matter how much you brush or groom your German Shepherd, there will be plenty of hair everywhere around the house! Shaving a German Shepherd is not an option, they have a double coat that helps to regulate their body temperature acting like a layer of insulation!

𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 – German Shepherds are an active breed that need to be given exercise daily and provided with mental stimulation in the forms of walks, games, training, challenges, and puzzles to keep them active and amused. They are a clever breed that need to keep their mind working or they will become bored and develop problem behaviours.

These are the bare necessities for a German Shepherd to live a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life; please consider if you can meet all these basic requirements of a German Shepherd, if you can, then the next step is to do some further research on this wonderful breed. Learn as much as you can about them. Take the time to find a reputable breeder or rescue. There is no doubt that you will experience “teething troubles” (sometimes literally) so you need a breeder or rescue or will provide back up support. You also need a breeder/rescue who have done their best to pair you with suitable match temperament wise. Out of a litter of puppies, each one of them will have different characters. Your breeder should have got to know their characters. They should ask you about your lifestyle and what you expect from your new best friend. Some of the puppies will be forward and confident, some may be more timid and less confident. If you are an outgoing person who has a hectic social life that you will include your dog in, the timid one may stress in such environments. If you are a bit of a home bod, then the party animal out of the puppies may not be sufficiently stimulated. A rescue should ask you what you expect from a dog and try to match you with a suitable candidate. If you have cats, it is not the best idea to take a 4-year-old who usually chases anything furry and expect him to get used to it.

If you cannot fulfil all of the requirements listed above… then a German Shepherd is not the breed for you! However, if it is then adopting a rescued dog can be extremely rewarding - take a look at the dogs in our care to see if you could give one a loving home: http://www.gsdwelfarefund.co.uk/dogslist/

Care Topics - Grooming Your GSD

To complement our existing Behavioural and Health topics we are now also adding General Care topics to help you provide your German Shepherd with the best care you can provide. This first article looks at grooming your German Shepherd and is provided by Debbie Hill, our chairman at the GSD Welfare Fund. If you have any tips or tricks for grooming your dog then share them in the comments below.

Grooming the German Shepherd Dog

Before you start grooming your German Shepherd, make sure that you have habituated him to the equipment you will be using. Let him see the equipment and pair it with a treat. Progress to touching him with the brush and reward him. If you have a nervous dog, don’t try to rush it. Think about using “The bucket game” (Chirag Patel) or chin targeting. You will find notes on this on our behaviour and training Facebook group. Once you have habituated your dog to the tools, you can start to brush him gently. Short sessions to begin with to stop him getting stressed or bored. After a couple of minutes, stop brushing and reward your dog with a treat or a game. Then resume the grooming for another couple of minutes and then reward with a treat or a game. Make grooming an enjoyable experience for him. 

With the standard coat GSD you can get away with grooming once a week or so, but with a long haired GSD, it probably needs to be done every other day. I prefer to use a rake on long coated and standard coats. I opted for the Karli double row rake. This will get the dead undercoat out. Once you have finished raking him, you can “polish” him with either a zoom groom or a slicker brush. I tend to use the zoom groom. You will be surprised how much dead hair this gets out. Don’t forget to check for knots. Their Trousers (boys) or bloomers (girls) can get tangled. If you have a long coated GSD, they are prone to knots behind the ears. I tend to cut these out if they are too bad as it can be painful for them if you try tugging the knots out.

Do not be tempted to bath your GSD too often as it can dry their skin. Every 3 months is plenty. I don’t even bath mine that much. Be mindful that some shampoos are carcinogenic. Try to use a more natural one with less chemicals. I like Cooper and Gracie or Avogel neem shampoo. Do not use human shampoo on your dog and avoid some of the dog shampoos available in the bargain stores. They are cheap for a reason. Some people use baby shampoo, but remember, Johnson and Johnson were successfully sued over cancer claims regarding their baby powder. Rinse thoroughly.

One of my best buys is my blaster. I could not be without it. You will be amazed at the dust and dead hair this blows out. I leave it at the back door, and give the dogs a quick blast as they come in if it has been raining or if they have been in puddles etc. They are powerful and noisy so the dog needs to be gradually habituated to it. Start by pairing the noise with treats. Do not have it too near the dog at this point. Only when your dog is not worried by the noise, progress to directing the nozzle towards his back from a distance making it an enjoyable experience paired with treats. Gradually work up to directing the nozzle on his coat. If the noise is too worrying for your dog, (some dogs are noise sensitive) try using ear mufflers on him, but remember, you will have to habituate him to these too. There are special licky mats (bath buddies) that you can use while blasting your dog.

Check nails and ears regularly. Most dogs hate having their nails clipped. If they struggle as you are about to clip a nail, it can cause a problem. Always habituate your dog to the clippers and then use the bucket game (Chirag Patel) or chin rest (instructions for this on our training and behaviour Facebook group. Be careful not to cut the quick as this is painful for the dog. Look at the back of the nail and you will see the “vein like” quick. I usually put my finder under so I am protecting the quick when cutting. Cut at an angle. If you do and it bleeds, you can use cornflower to stem the flow of blood, but your dog will certainly be more wary next time. I like these clippers. Doggy man 7 inch. They are more expensive than some but are good. 

Ensure your dog's ears are kept clean. Start with a good ear cleaner applied in the ear and clean with cotton wool. The Cooper and Gracie range is nice. If you dog has any issues with his ears, try Thornit. I have used this for years and have known it clear problem ears when all else has failed. Just a quarter of a teaspoon in each ear. Again, habituate your dog then use the bucket game or chin rest.

Join our Facebook group if you have questions or would just like to talk with like minded owners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/230713463690105