German Shepherd Dogs – Too Good For Most People
It has been said that the German Shepherd dog (often called Alsatian) act the way all human beings are supposed to act. They are incredibly loyal, highly intelligent and brave. They have been bred for centuries not only to interact with mankind, but also to be an essential life partner. Throughout the world, German Shepherd dogs herd sheep, rescue disaster victims, tackle criminals, guide the blind and star in movies.
But if German Shepherd dogs are so great, how come so many wind up in animal shelters? These incredible animals are abandoned by the thousands every year, not because they have something wrong with them, but that their previous owners lacked the basic German Shepherd information on what life is like with this special breed. If you are considering getting a German Shepherd, please take into consideration what life with a Shepherd is like before you get the dog or puppy.
Let’s look at the biggest reasons for owners abandoning German Shepherd dogs – the dog’s energy, the dog’s intelligence and the dog’s health. First, let’s take a look at how energetic this breed is. Although this will vary from individual German Shepherd to individual German Shepherd, these are dogs bred to be on the go all day. They need to be active and to find things to do. If they don’t get this exercise, they will use their extreme intelligence to find things to do in order to get your attention. These efforts from such a large dog may or may not be destructive.
Getting a German Shepherd is a commitment to giving them regular exercise – and for you to get regular exercise, as well. They make excellent jogging, cycling or horseback riding partners (The dog jogs next to the horse – you don’t ride the dog!) A thirty-minute brisk walk even once a day is not much to ask for. They also need room to run free in a yard, so living in an apartment is usually not good for them.
German Shepherd dogs have thick coats that shed a lot. They need to be brushed every day. This is often not a problem for most dog lovers, but some people cannot stand a shedding dog. German Shepherds also need regular exercise every day, or else they get a bit hyper and mischievous. They have been bred for centuries to work all day, not sleep all day.
German Shepherds are incredibly intelligent and will find things to do, whether or not they are good for you or the dog or not. They need a job, even if the job is family pet. If they are a family pet they need to be involved with the family and not tied to a post and left outside. They are strong dogs, which can surprise people not ready for the power of big dogs. By knowing all of this German Shepherd information, you can now decide if this magnificent but demanding dog can fit in your life.
Many people love collecting anything and everything having to do with German Shepherd dogs. Writing a book on dog care for newbies, including a large section on German Shepherd information could sell a million copies.
