Things Nobody Told You About Owning a German Shepherd? - Vet Dr Alex

German Shepherds are the best breed! I have had five GSD in succession and I can't imagine my life without one.

I've owned (actually owned BY) these magnificent creatures for 12 years. I'll never have another dog breed, and I'll never not have at least one around. The only "downside" is that raising one requires the exact same amount of thoughtfulness and effort as raising a human child. However, you get back what you put in.

I have had 4 GSD. 3 were rescues and one I found that was abandoned. Great loyal dogs.

I just rescued a severely malnourished year old GSD To help her gain her weight and strength back, she's on a very high-density protein puppy food (Blue Buffalo), and it's fed by hand throughout the day (bonus for training). The vet and I don't know what the starvation damage will be, if any, from being emaciated at such a young age. While she's ‘full grown’ she's obviously a back yard breeder puppy too as she doesn't have perky ears, making her genetics also unknown. She could be a mix, or she could be a badly bred GSD. Either way, she’ll never be starved or homeless again

I am with my third German Shepherd, and I haven't had a single problem. My first (Ben), saved my life twice (witnessed0. One Christmas morning, the Police used him to flush out a burglar, in next door. My current one (Jack), is very affectionate with everyone, but he'll still show his protective side if he see's a threat. Whenever we're on trips away, it's always the younger children who want to stroke and fuss him. And he just accepts it. When it's just us two, he' acts like a loony; very playful even at 10 yrs. Kids call him the big black bear, there's never any fear of him. All three made great baby sitters.. They'll always be my first choice. Treat them well with lots of love, and they always give it back, many times over. All three have helped with my disability. My second one (Luci), used to undo my shoe laces,

I have 3 rescues, my german shepherd is the best, she is my life

Ours was given to us after “failing” Schutzhund school....best dog ever...male, mostly black stands 26” tall and 95 lbs...very intimidating to people but is actually very friendly

I have been owned by GSD's since age 20, am now nearly 70. I love my kids and actually bought my farm home specifically for my GSD. She ran around the property and got on the porch and howled then laid down and took a short nap. I told the realtor that I would take the house. I now have 2 new GSD's and claim they own me and my job is to pay the mortgage and make their food and treats.

My GSD is the goodest boi ever. He's such a loving pooch.

This video was just LOVELY! Watch how many times you see that classic head tilt! SO adorable!

Ive raised 6 pairs. Then one solo. I miss and love them the most even though it was always a steep learning curve about dogs and especially about larger GSDs They were a LOT of dog which I dealt with best I could and did pretty well. After the last went I turned 70 so I got a different breed medium large to raise. Its just different. A lot easier since I have expereince raising ❤GSD. Once they are raised and know the drill they only require exdrcise and lots of brushing. ❤ see that raw bone? Every week a new big knuckle bone especial as pups to help with the excess energy. Some every day….or theyll eat it in less than 4 hours! My new breed is far less aggressive on the raw bone and that pretty much sums up their difference as far as drive energy and determination…..which I LOVE. im just too old now😢 we give up so much as we age. The good side is my new breed has his own things that are growing on me so its ok…..but deep down hes not a GSD. Hes cute. GSD is magestic

“Working lines” and “show lines” are two different (generally speaking) temperaments and dogs. Keep in mind nervous GSDs tend to fear bite. Some people think socializing their dogs is taking them to dog parks and letting them run nonstop. Socializing your dog is putting him/her on all kinds of places and situations so they can function in society without overreacting.

If you are brushing your GSD only once a week, you are asking for your home, your car and your entire wardrobe to be covered in dog hair. You have two choices with GSD hair - it either comes out with the brush, or it drops everywhere. GSD'S drop hair all the time, but they do have a summer coat and a winter coat, that they shed the summer coat typically around April/ May, and their winter coat around September/ October in the southern hemisphere. The more frequently you brush, the better the dog looks and feels, the more aware you are of any changes on their body, and the less you will have to deal with hair everywhere else. I try to groom daily, or at least every second day. I use a deodoriser / detangler/ conditioner spray, when I use first an undercoat comb, then a slicker brush, then if necessary, the furminator. The "Yours Drooly" Manuka honey with jojoba, or the Coconut oil based spray does wonders keeping their hair feeling soft, looking glossy, and making them nicer to be around. However there are other brands that are also good. As for bathing- if you can tolerate GSD BO so much to only occasionally give your dog a bath, along with the oil and dirt they can get in their coat, your relaxed personal grooming schedule is probably also ensuring that you will never have children, because the opposite sex smells you coming and crosses the street to get away from it Think of it a little bit like having small children - if they are dirty or smell bad, it reflects very poorly on the parent! It does involve some real effort, even with the K9000 hydro washes you see at places like Pet Barn, other pet stores, and occasionally some car washes. With my LSC GSD, using these wonderful machines, she takes about ten minutes to shampoo, condition and rinse, and about half an hour or so, to blow dry properly - and the industrial strength blow dryers these things have are a godsend. You could be there for an hour with most human hair dryers. If you have not been regularly using an undercoat comb, this blow drying is the point where you now experience what it is like to be in the middle of a snowglobe of dog hair. A place where a "furnado" covers every surface, (including you,) within 20 metres, with German Shepherd "magical fibres of love"! Which brings me back to my original point - if you do groom regularly and briefly, and don't make bathing a once in a quarter year event, you prevent a job that is so big and daunting you have to pay a professional groomer a small fortune to tackle the job, You also improve both your dog's and your own quality of life.

for dog food i talked to a dog breeder that made several recommendations and i bought one that was adequate for my dog and i also fed him what i ate and my lab grew to be 120 lbs which surprised every vet i took him to. good food means a healthy dog with less issues and expense

Good advice. I got my GSD 8 weeks old,from a breeder/trainer in Germany. He came with an EU passport, genetic testing, breeding records, a microchip and was registered with the GKC. He has a straight back and just like the original dog that started the breed. I'm not saying that German GSD's are better but you know what you get. Why take a chance? Some breeders in the USA are ruining the breed here.

GSD's do not need alot of exercise, they need a balance of exercise physical and mental stimulation. To much physical exercise can harm them.

I wish my older cat male 6yrs old would not be afraid of my 4yr old female GS, she wants to play with him but he runs away. They're both adorable and beautiful.

Good information. Thanks.

nothing comes close to owning a German shepherd, they are smarter than most people

I absolutely love my German shepherd guide dog.