A German Shepherd is an incredibly intelligent dog. He is athletic, strong, and loves a good challenge. Your German Shepherd must be well trained from puppyhood, or he will get bored and can be destructive in your home. A shepherd should not be left alone for long periods of time.
Your German Shepherd can be a good family member, and will be loyal to all. Expose your dog to people outside of your family often, so he will learn that strangers with normal behavior are friends. Your German Shepherd will know if a stranger is acting abnormally, and may bite defensively.
If you purchase a German Shepherd, be sure it is from a reputable breeder. Follow the dog's line back to look for aggression, nipping or shyness. Unfortunately (as with many dog breeds), there are some German Shepherd breeders that are not reputable, and will sell you a dog with a back history of aggression and other problems. If you are adopting, spend a lot of time with the dog before you commit. Share your family's lifestyle with the adoption agency and let them find the perfect dog for you.
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Training
Enroll your dog in a good training class, and possibly in activities such as flyball or agility classes. German Shepherds are not happy unless they have a job or mental and physical stimulation. If they are trained well, there is practically no limit to what they can do. Due to their high intelligence, German Shepherds are used as sheep dogs, guard dogs, police dogs, rescue dogs, military dogs and guide dogs.
Exercise
Your German Shepherd needs a good dose of strong, hard activity daily. You will be doing your shepherd a favor if you combine his exercise with training and challenging tasks.
Grooming
German Shepherds require daily grooming. They shed constantly, with seasonal heavy shedding. Bathing should be done sparingly to avoid skin oil depletion.
Health
Although there are some amazing German Shepherd breeders in the country, there are just as many that are not. Overbreeding of this dog has led to hereditary diseases such as hip and elbow dysplasia, blood disorders, digestive problems, epilepsy, eczema, inflammation of the cornea, dwarfism and flea allergies.
A German Shepherd is an incredibly intelligent dog. He is athletic, strong, and loves a good challenge. Your German Shepherd must be well trained from puppyhood, or he will get bored and can be destructive in your home. A shepherd should not be left alone for long periods of time.