I want to get a German Shepherd but SCARED!!!?

Question

I'm kinda scared of German shepherds but its always been my dream to own one.....cuz kinda looks cool....going for a jog in the morning with a huge german shepherd...wow. Are they friendly? Do they have unusual behavior?

Thanks in advance.

I've NEVER owned a dog before (or any pet for that matter)!!!

Answer 1

I recommend researching the breed thoroughly because although they are great dogs they are not suited to all types of owners. They are a very intelligent breed that needs plenty of exercise and something to do, be it obedience, rally, schutzhund and etc. because a bored GSD can be very destructive and they need a strong owner because without one they can become unruly, aggressive and hard to handle. They also need lots socialization, you need to let them get to know the world they live in so they will not be fearful of new things. They need training because they are very smart dogs and they will try to outsmart you so you need to teach them to obey you and you need to be a fair leader so the dog will respect and listen to you.

GSDs have some health problems such as Hip Displaysia, Pannus, Bloat, Pancreatic Enzyme Insufficiency, Cardiomyopathy, Skin allergies, Pyotraumatic dermatitis but if you research the breeder you buy from, health concerns will not be a big issue because reputable breeders do all testing to ensure healthy dogs. The average life span of a GSD is 12 years.
All dogs, regardless of breed, need ample attention especially as puppies to ensure they become well mannered and confident companions.

Answer 2

Please do some research. Also if you are afraid of an animal, DO NOT get one. Getting an animal just because you think it looks cool is not a reason. They are living beings and require lots of love, attention and training.

Shepherds can be stubborn as well. After doing research on dog care and research on breed traits, if you do decide to get a Shepherd, you should get that animal into obedience training. The sooner the better. You must establish the alpha position or the dog will not respect you as leader. Kind, but firm correction is needed when the animal misbehaves. You must be consistant with what is acceptable behavior from the dog or it won't know what is expected of it.

Shepherds are a wonderful breed but please do some research and know what you are getting into before you ever get any kind of animal. They are a lifelong commitment and sadly too many people get an animal without doing the proper research beforehand. They don't know what to expect or how to handle the problems as they occur and then the poor animal pays the price too often. Educate yourself before getting any kind of animal.

Answer 3

Please don't get a German Shepherd just because it looks cool. They are beautiful dogs, but they do need at least 2 hours of exercise a day (1 hour twice a day) and they shed very heavily. They are, of course, considered one of the more "aggressive" breeds which is why you often see them doing guard or police work.

They are very lovable and affectionate dogs if they are trained right. You need to be very, very dedicated about training and socialization at the puppy stage, because once the puppy hits 1 year, he gets VERY strong, and you don't want that kind of strength anywhere besides under your control. I wouldn't say that they are prone to aggression problems but believe me, handling an aggressive GSD when he is fully grown is not an easy task. They have a very strong protection instincts and this can translate into aggression if they are not handled properly as pups.

The second thing about the German Shepherd is that a lot of the time, the dog needs a job. This is not the kind of breed that will happily sit at home on the couch for six hours waiting for you to come home. They do not like isolation and they get bored very easily. Enroll your dog in a class like obedience, trick class, agility, tracking, schutzhund or even help him become a therapy dog. These are all great ways to exercise your dog's mind and balance him out psychologically as well as physically.

Be sure to do your research. The German Shepherd is a popular breed and it should be easy to find information about it on the internet or at your local library. All in all, they are great dogs, but this is not the breed for everyone.

Check out this link: http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/2788/thegsd.htm It will tell you quite a bit about whether a GSD is right for you, and the quirks and characteristics of the breed.

Answer 4

Getting a dog because of the way it looks is a very bad idea. There are lots and lots of great breeds out there. I would recommend that you do some research and pick a breed that matches your lifestyle. Things like: Do you live in an apartment or house; do you like to be inside or outside; do you want to be able to pick up the dog and carry it around; do you want to be able to travel with your pet; do you have enough room for a big dog to run; do you have enough time to spend with a dog that needs an hour or more of exercise every single day; do you have children in your house or do you want children in your house (remember dogs live 10 or more years); do you have allergies; do you want a cat; etc.

German Shepherds are great dogs but they need to be well trained or they can be difficult to deal with. If you like the look there are smaller breeds out there that might be a better fit for you that look kinda` like them (through the eyes, or body or ears).

Getting a dog should be a fun learning experience, the more you learn about dogs and the more you learn about the breed before you pick it the less chance that the dog will drive you crazy (or make you afraid) or that your home will be a terrible choice for the dog. Don`t rush into to it, picking the right dog should be 99% of the experience of getting a dog. Actually picking a puppy and bringing it home is only 1%.

Judy

Answer 5

There are several sites on the web that offer compatibility tests for people considering pet adoption. German shepherds are considered a large to extra large breed so you need to have enough room in your home to begin with.

As far as your fear of a specific breed it's unfounded. A large breed isn't any more prone to aggression than a smaller breed. If anything larger dogs tend to be more confident and as a result less aggressive.

A dog is only as friendly as it's owner trains them to be. ANY BREED can be trained to be mean including psychotic little lap dogs.

Finally do not adopt a dog because You think it will "kinda look(s) cool to going for a job" with one. Very bad reason to adopt a dog, very bad

Answer 6

Never get a dog, and definitely not a potentially giant dog, just to look cool. Please do your research on them first and find out if the breed is one that fits in with your lifestyle. Goggle them and see the various sites that talk about them, their history, and their medical issues because all breeds have them and if you are adopting a dog then you have to be ready for all it entails when it comes to money.

I would also go to check out your local shelters in your area - most ACOs (animal control officers) see quite a bit of animals and know a lot about various breeds and may be able to steer you towards one that fits your lifestyle. Every dog is different, even of the same breed, so be sure to know their temperment before adopting and be as prepared as possbile. Dogs are lot of responsibility but they are so much fun and you can't buy the kind of love they give freely.

And also, agressive of any kind cannot be loved or trained away. If a dog is dog agressive or human agressive (2 totally different things) that cannot be changed. A DA dog can be trained to be handle-able around other dogs and shouldn't be kept with other dogs unless you are an experienced handler. A HA dog unfortunately should be humanely put to sleep, which is sad to say and do, but it's reality that people need to know. Many a person has gotten hurt by any # of breeds of dogs because signs of HA were ignored.

Answer 7

If you've never owned a dog before a German Shepherd might be too much for you to handle. I would volunteer at an animal shelter and get some experience walking dogs and get over any fear you have about them before you actually buy one yourself. They are friendly to their owners but they are a working dog and need a strong owner whose not afraid of them. If you do not come across as being in charge your dog will take over and try to be the boss.

Answer 8

For starters, I only get female german shepherds, just because they are more loveable, and more eager to please... I just bought a german Shepherd puppy (she just turned a year old ) and I was raised with Shepherds my whole life... I have never had a problem with any of them... My dog is sooo docile and playful -she also doesn't have an aggressive bone in her body... I trained her all myself and she was perfectly trained by 10 weeks ( they grasp things quickly)... Just show the shepherd as much love as possible and make sure they know you are the pack leader and you'll be fine --Once you establish dominance, they will be willing to serve you forever and not think twice about it... They are very loyal animals and sooooooooo intelligent. They are great with kids and other animals -but beware, because shepherds are very loyal to only people they know -they are reserved (not aggressive) around strangers --Meaning, they don't run up to strangers and want to be pet, they could care less about anyone else other than the people they know (my dog will ignore people when out and about, but will sit and allow people to pet her when approached) -- But keep in mind, they should not be aggressive towards anyone (if you happen to have a dog that is, consult a trainer to focus on behavior -nip it in the butt immediately)... All my shepherds lived to be approx. 12-13 years old, all of which had to be put down because of their hips (which happens quite quickly). None had any other diseases.

Here's something else about food... Make sure you do not feed your puppy lots of protein, because shepherds will grow too fast and their bone structure will not catch up and in turn, end up with skeletal problems.... Also, do not feed them any puppy food --make sure it is large breed puppy formula or adult dog food... My shepherd is on Newman's Own Advanced Organic Dog Formula... Which makes her coat sooo healthly and shiny... Her teeth are sooo white and she never itches anything... She has been on it since she was approx. 3-4 months old...

One last thing, when training your dog, it is wise to not punish/hit your german shepherd... This will either make them hand shy, fear biters, or aggressive... Your shepherd will eventually be a big dog -keep that in mind...

Also, I found that my dog loves to be around family... They say most Shepherds do... So please don't buy the dog then tie/crate your dog outside... They must be inside dogs and must get plenty of love and affection... Shepherds are a lot like people, they respond to what they are giving... If you love them, they will love you back... And my dog actually hugs and kisses me when I get home... And a cute story: one day I was watching a TV show and I got teary eyed while standing in my kitchen... My dog, sat back and pawed me and did a little whine/growl, like she was asking me if I was alright... Shepherds can sense your mood --I think that is the coolest, she definitely is my little daughter...

Good luck! :)

Answer 9

German Shepherds are great dogs. There is no reason to be afraid. You should either get yourself a nice well bred puppy, or adopt a nice trained older dog. They don't have any unusual behaviors, they are dogs. You train, you socialize and you love. You get back what you put into them.

Answer 10

German Shepherds are somewhat aggressive by nature. Depending on the owner and trainer they can become almost none aggressive at all or more aggressive. ie. seeing eye dog/police attack dog. But they are VERY loyal to their owner. If you do get one they are very active and will need a lot of activity or you may see your favorite pillow cases and china sets all over the place. They shed a lot, and you need to train them to be non aggressive at an early age. But if you do this they can be one of the most amazing dogs to have... EVER