GSD Dog Care

Is a german shepherd dog right for me?" We have many folks that inquire about the german shepherd breed as they are contemplating the purchase of a new puppy. This page is intended to be informative about the GSD breed, so that people are more aware of all of the factors to consider when purchasing a new dog. We have been raising german shepherds for 30 years and feel that we can give a good summary from personal experience on what to expect with a german shepherd.

German Shepherds are in the top five category for intelligence, especially with repetitive activities. If trained in a proper way, a german shepherd can learn quickly when other breeds may need countless, grueling, training sessions to learn the same thing. German Shepherds are also known as one of the best working dogs. They love a challenge and love to work! If we put a dog, like a GSD, in a home where their intelligence and activity levels are "left to themselves" we may not like the results. What we have found over the years is that people adopting a german shepherd, must be willing and able to match the energy levels of this noble breed. If you are in a daily routine that takes you away from the home most of the time( without your dog), a german shepherd may not be the right breed to purchase. They are not happy when they are in the backyard most of their life. They want to be with their owners, being part of everything going on, and feeling challenged on a day to day basis with exercise and activity. They are too intelligent to live a totally sediment lifestyle. Our way of getting people to be able to fairly evaluate if they have time for a new dog is by asking if they have time to take the dog to training classes while their pup is young and impressionable. If the people honestly do not have time for this, or feel that it is unnecessary, it is obvious that they are uninformed and unlearned as to the needs of this beautiful breed.

Many clients have come to us wanting a german shepherd dog solely for the purpose of protection for the family. If folks are looking for an impressive dog that will bark when strangers come, they must also realize that a german shepherd can be a liability when they are not taught boundaries and limitations with their defense drive. We are asking for trouble and a lot of pain and grief when we adopt dogs solely for the purpose of protection without placing any time and effort into training the dog.

We, at FineGermanShepherds, feel that much of the temperament of a german shepherd dog depends on the genetic make-up and lineage that the dog is coming from. For instance, we have a dog that we specifically purchased for the intention of her pups being more suitable for K-9 handlers. This dog is from working GSD lines that are "over-drive"and "do or die" personalities. The lineage consists of some of the best known police patrol lines we could ask for. She is not expected to have the same drive and motivation as the world class lineage that we breed for companion and show. A working line dog has personality and determination that will take them above and beyond the handlers expectations when called upon to do rescue or search. People wanting a nice companion dog should not look to this kind of working lineage to meet the everyday requirements of an average family. The dog would easily get bored, and the family would be exasperated, feeling that the dog is always needing to be "on the go." If a client is looking for a nice companion dog, it must be from countless lines of a more calm, laid-back lineage, where the main focus for temperament is in breeding the ultimate companion dog. So, "Does the lineage of a german shepherd matter when contemplating a purchase?" You bet it does. If a breeder does not know the lineage of their dogs, and the lines that their pups are coming from, the buyer should beware. Do not purchase a pup from a backyard breeder who is clueless as to the lineage their pups have come from. Remember: "You get what you pay for."

2006 Brenna-Rommel Litter Graduating >From Puppy Class Together! A trained german shepherd dog is always a joy and pleasure to own. They are so faithful. When we invest time, energy, training, and love into them, we receive back from them in a positive, rewarding way. They shower us with loyalness, obedience, and affection, in a confident and proper manner. Let's keep training our dogs!" Sincerely, Maureen, Joseph, and Benjamin....Owners of FineGermanShepherds.

Health issues are extremely important when purchasing a pup of any breed, but we must be aware that every breed has its strengths and weaknesses. In any larger breed, such as a GSD, bone structure must be of upmost importance. We have had so many clients come to us over the years with sad stories about their "last german shepherd" that they purchased from a "backyard breeder" and how they "had to put the dog down" with severe, debilitating, hip-dysplasia. It is very important to know that the german shepherd a client is considering for purchase, has had all of its lineage checked and certified against hip-dysplasia. This is call an "OFA", which stands for "Orthopedic Foundation for Animals."This gives the percentage rate for the pups from certified lines, a much greater chance at being excellent boned and solid structured. Many dog breeders who raise larger breeds, shy away from this intricate X-ray, because they fear that their dogs may not pass, or they may not want to have the added expense. They may say "Well, my dog does not seem to have any trouble walking or running, so I know he has no dysplasia." Here is the truth on this subject: Many dogs with severe hip-dysplasia do not show any signs of pain until they are older. They may have moderate to severe cases without any symptoms for a long time. Here, at FineGermanShepherds, we only use OFA certified lineage in our breeding program. Generation after generation is all certified against this disheartening disease.We want our clients to take a nice-sized larger pup home from us with the assurance of knowing that we as breeders have done everything possible to insure the bone health of their puppy.

We are strong advocates on believing that it DOES matter what kind of food is fed to a german shepherd dog. We have sent puppies home to people who took the pups from their high-quality food that we fed them, to cheap commercial brands. This is "hard for us to swallow", as we feel that what goes into the dog will come out in its health and longevity. We never dictate what kind of food we feel a german shepherd should eat, but we stress that people should research the highest quality foods possible for the lifestyle their dog is in. We are not against adding healthy, nutritious, "people food" into the dogs diet if the owner chooses this kind of diet. Whatever works the best for the chemistry make-up of your dog, that is high-quality food, would be encouraged by us. Usually a meat based food works the best on a GSD. Corns and other grains are not always as productive.

Last but not least, we hope that we have been able to relay the message to every potential client, that german shepherd dogs need exercise, discipline, and affection. They need time and attention invested into them to be the "best dog ever owned." I am concerned at the many people that lead extremely busy lifestyles and lack the knowlege to know that a dog needs lots of time. A german shepherd loves to go where you are going, whether it be on a hike to the mountains, or swimming in the lake. They want to go on the family vacation, whenever possible, and hopefully we will have spent time training our dogs so that the dog is polite, mannerly, and socialized around strangers. We have placed some pictures on this page to show some of the MANY activities we do with our german shepherd dogs. They are a very big, warm, rewarding part of our family's lives, and I hope if you choose a german shepherd dog, you will be as privileged as me to say, "These are the best dogs I have ever had in my life!" Sincerely, Joseph, Maureen and Benjamin from FineGermanShepherds.