• DOG TIPS
  • DOG HEALTH
  • SMALL SPACE HACKS
  • DOG LIFE
  • ABOUT LDSA
  • DISCLOSURE
LARGE DOG SMALL APARTMENT
LARGE DOG SMALL APARTMENT
  • DOG TIPS
  • DOG HEALTH
  • SMALL SPACE HACKS
  • DOG LIFE
  • ABOUT LDSA
  • DISCLOSURE
  • DOG LIFE

German Shepherd Facts – Everything You Need to Know Before Adopting

  • August 15, 2021
  • Danasia Fantastic
german shepherd

German Shepherd facts should be on top of anyone’s Google list before adopting this popular breed. Smart, courageous, and confident, it’s no wonder that German Shepherds consistently rank high among dog owners. Although this breed is quite popular, many owners bite off more than they can chew when they initially adopt one of these guys (I know I did with Miles!).

To avoid a rocky start with this breed – or even worse, returning the dog to the breeder or taking him to the pound – we’re going to cover every single thing you need to know about the German Shepherd before you purchase, or better yet, adopt one of these guys. These German Shepherd facts will help you better understand what you’re getting yourself into before bringing a Shepherd home.

German Shepherd Facts from History to Health

German Shepherds are the consummate working and guard dog. They are known for their versatility, from herding to police and military work. This is largely due to their history and breeding.

History of the German Shepherd

German Shepherds descend from the family of German herding dogs that varied in type from district to district until the late 19th century. At that time, a German cavalry officer, Max von Stephanitz decided to develop the ideal German herder.

Using their combined experience, von Stephanitz and like-minded breeders throughout the country crossed various strains from the northern and central districts of Germany to create the German Shepherd we know today.

German Shepherds were originally bred to be herding dogs. Therefore they needed to possess agility, speed, stealth, intelligence, and laser focus. The implementation of modern livestock management saw an end to the need for Shepherds in the field. That’s when people began to use their vast array of skills in other areas such a guard duty and police work.

Temperament

One of the most important German Shepherd facts to know is that their skill set is what makes them both incredibly great dogs and incredibly frustrating dogs.

German Shepherds are loyal, intelligent, protective, and focused. They are devoted to their family and will oftentimes instinctively jump into protection mode if they sense danger. This can and does happen even without training.

While these are excellent qualities in a dog, there are some downsides, as well. The intelligence of German Shepherds makes it difficult to train for new dog owners or owners not familiar with the breed. While training generally involves making your dog work to earn your approval, it can sometimes feel like the roles are reversed with the German Shepherd.

In addition, without proper socialization, the protectiveness of the breed can lead to an overly aggressive view of the world. German Shepherds who haven’t been properly socialized with a variety of experiences, people, and animals will often view everyone and everything as a potential threat. This makes socialization a key part of owning this breed.

Energy Level

German Shepherds are a high-energy breed. They were bred to be herders, which means they like to be on the go. With such a high energy level, they need lots of exercise to remain both physically and mentally healthy and happy.

With German Shepherds the old saying “A tired dog is a good dog” definitely holds true. Without proper exercise, German Shepherds are prone to destructive behavior, as they have to get out their energy in some way. Examples include murdering throw pillows or chewing on inappropriate items.

German Shepherd Health

One of the most important German Shepherd facts to know is that this breed is a generally healthy one, prone to relatively few issues. That being said, there are some health issues that are more common in this breed than in others.

Three things that German Shepherds are prone to more than other dogs are degenerative myelopathy and elbow and hip dysplasia.

Degenerative Myelopathy

Degenerative myelopathy is a progressive disease of the spinal cord which affects older dogs. This degenerative disease slowly causes lack of feeling in the dog’s hindquarters, resulting in loss of coordination, wobbliness, and eventually, loss of control of bodily functions.

Elbow and Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a condition in which the hip socket and ball of the thigh bone don’t seat correctly, allowing the hip to become partially or completely dislocated. It’s usually a congenital defect but can be caused by old age.

Similarly, elbow dysplasia is a condition in which the elbow frequently becomes dislocated.

Bloat

The last health issue that can affect German Shepherds is one that can be a danger to almost all large dog breeds – bloat.

Bloat happens when a dog eats and/or drinks too fast, causing the stomach to distend. It’s a painful condition that can become deadly if the stomach twists. In this case, the stomach actually folds over onto itself, cutting off blood flow. If this occurs, surgery must be performed immediately to save the stomach and the dog’s life.

Care

Like all dogs, German Shepherds require high-quality food to function at their best. Always choose a grain-free food that uses natural sources of protein like real fish, chicken, or beef. Stay away from anything with the words “byproduct”, “corn”, “cornmeal gluten”, and the like.

Grooming a German Shepherd is relatively easy. They only require an occasional bath unless they get dirty outside. They do, however, require frequent brushing. This breed has a double coat. Regular brushing helps keep dead hair removed and the coat healthy. Twice a year, this breed will “blow” its coat and require frequent brushing to get rid of all the hair that will by flying off of him.

General German Shepherd Facts on Care

While not specific to the breed, these facts are ones that all dog owners should remember. Be sure to take your dog to the vet once a year for a checkup, bloodwork, and heartworm test. As he ages into his senior years, he’ll need to have a twice-yearly checkup complete with bloodwork to ensure his continued good help.

In addition, be sure to adequately socialize your German Shepherd puppy. All dogs should be properly socialized, but for a protective breed like the German Shepherd, it’s even more vital. This breed needs to understand that the world is not something from which to constantly protect his family.

Know These German Shepherd Facts Before Adopting

Loving, loyal, intelligent, protective, and incredibly devoted to his family, the German Shepherd makes an excellent family dog, just be sure you know what you’re getting into.

These German Shepherd facts can help you better understand the breed and what you’ll have to do to keep him healthy, happy, and well-adjusted throughout his life.

Share
Tweet
Pin it
Share
Share
Share
Share
Share
Danasia Fantastic

Creator of Large Dog Small Apartment and TheUrbanRealist.com. Obsessed with gigantic dogs, home decor and incredible cocktails.

Trending Now!
canary mastiffs
View Post
  • DOG LIFE

Canary Mastiffs – Everything You Need to Know

  • Danasia Fantastic
  • March 14, 2022
National Dog Day
View Post
  • DOG LIFE

5 Ways To Celebrate National Dog Day

  • Danasia Fantastic
  • August 23, 2021
black german shepherd
View Post
  • DOG LIFE

Meet Miles- My New German Shepherd Puppy!

  • Danasia Fantastic
  • August 15, 2021
summer diy dog treat recipes
View Post
  • DOG LIFE

Summer DIY Dog Treat Recipes

  • Danasia Fantastic
  • August 15, 2021
1 comment
  1. Afton Jackson says:
    May 4, 2021 at 12:10 am

    I really appreciate you talking about the importance of socializing when taking care of a german shepherd. Luckily, my neighborhood has a good community of dog owners that can help me out when I start taking care of one so it can have playmates. I’ll look around for any pet stores that offer german shepherds and make sure we take it to the neighborhood park often to play with the other dogs.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

JOIN OUR SOCIAL FAMILY!
SEARCH
Become A Member Of Our Wonderful Community!

Subscribe here!

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Large Dog Small Apartment
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.