Here it is in a nutshell, accept and love these qualities of the GSD or perhaps this is not the right breed for you. Remember, your puppy will be your companion and responsibility for at least the next decade.
This is a working dog. The need for a strong, willing and able canine for specific purposes is what led to the development of the German Shepherd Dog. To this day, good breeders work and train their stock to ensure that the workability of this breed does not get lost and watered down as it is a hallmark of the breed. That being said, this is not the dog for everyone. If you are looking for a lap dog and/or couch potato to be calm all day, think again. This dog needs a job.
This dog needs training and structure– a bored and unchallenged German Shepherd Dog can be destructive! This breed (like most) but possibly more so than others, needs structure and boundaries. You will get a host of behavioral problems if you do not establish yourself as the leader. Dogs want someone to follow. If they do not have a leader, (which is providing consistency, structure, rules and boundaries) they will step up to the plate. This can be truly disastrous.
The shedding. This breed sheds a lot… whether you have a stock coat (traditional) or a long coat, they shed! The most notable is their semi-annual shed which they do twice a year and the hair is everywhere! There are things you can do to minimize this… feed a quality food, add in a supplement or vitamin, brush them daily, invest in a blower and blow out their coat to get the loose hair – but regardless, you will always be dealing with dog hair.
We love our German Shepherds. For us, they are the best breed – there are no other dogs quite like them. If you can accept and understand these three aspects of the German Shepherd Dog, this may be the breed for you!
