Howdy guys! wondering to have a dog in your house for the first time and thinking of a German Shepherd? As a first-time dog owner, you need to know all the qualities of your dogs and they should be easy to care for, must be social and obey you, and be easy to train. But the main query that remains in the mind of first-time owners remains is whether a German Shepherd is a good dog for the first-time owner.
Yes, German Shepherds can be good first dogs for those who want to make them pets for the first time because of their obedience as they are easy to train and remain friendly with the kids. German Shepherd dogs are a highly loyal and affectionate breed which makes them suitable for the family. On the other hand, they are energetic and strong breeds and need exercise daily.
However, there may be a dilemma in your mind, and may be curious to know more about new German Shepherd, their nature, activeness, and much more before having this big dog.
This article is all about German Shepherds that will help first-time owners to know the important facts about them.
Before getting a new German Shepherd it’s important for the pet owners to know their nature and that suits their lifestyle though there are some concerns that you should look for before getting them in your house.
I had also a German Shepherd as my first dog and here in this article, I will share all the experiences and challenges that I faced during the growth period of my German Shepherd. I hope this post will help you a lot and you will get informative information.
Let’s go through the topic of why German Shepherds are good dogs for first-time owners and the challenges you should avoid that I faced during the care of my German Shepherd:
Table of Contents
What Are The Reasons That Make German Shepherd A Good First Dog?
Oh no, it’s not necessary to have only a German Shepherd as your first pet. It depends on your interest and which large dogs you love the most. No dog breeds are bad, it only depends on the training and care provided by their owners from the initial stage of their life.
Some breeds easily adopt the environmental condition they are provided while some face a little bit of issue.
If you are having a dog for the first time it only depends on you which breed you want and whether they suit your living standard or not. The area of your yard is also considered if the area is smaller then the toy dog can be the best option while if the area is big and want some energetic breed that can protect you then you should go for a German Shepherd.
You will not regret having a German Shepherd breed as your first dog but what makes them a good first dog? You should know this!
Following are the reasons that make German Shepherds good first dogs for owners:
Social:
Every first-time dog owners want their puppy to be social and easily attached to them. If you are having German Shepherds as first-time pets then it’s easy to make them social. They are a highly affectionate breed and easily get attached to their owners.
Socialization depends on how much time the owner spends with them, rather it allows them in behaving well with the people they are living with. However, it should be started from the initial stage so that they should be familiar with you and easily obey you.
Early Socialization on the other hand also allows them to be good friends with the kids. Even grown-ups are good for children unless they are properly socialized.
If your German Shepherd dogs are socialized properly there will be ease to be more friendly with you and will act like a well-behaved dogs.
Easy To Train:
No dogs are usually trained from when you bring them home but the effort and initial training all them to be socialized and well-behaved. Some breeds catch the training sessions easily while some take a little bit of time.
German Shepherds fall in the category of an intelligent breed and are easy to train. It is their heredity that makes them perfect with the skills of protectiveness. If you look at their history then people also used this breed for herding as they had the skills to protect their sheep.
This breed can do various tasks if trained properly. Because of their skills police as well as the military used this breed in search and rescue operations and other services.
Protective
German Shepherds are extremely protective towards their owners and if you own a German Shepherd then you also want them to be protective but this happens because of training.
When German Shepherds are puppies then they need your care and affection, you can’t expect them to protect you from the beginning.
German Shepherds are stronger breeds and can protect you from unknown dangers. They are also energetic and have great stamina which also makes this breed the best to guard dogs.
They can hear a high pitch of frequencies than humans, this allows them to sense upcoming dangers and warn you so that you could not be harmed. All these skills of protection can only be gained when they get proper training.
You may start training them from the very initial stage of their life or may hire some professional. Well-behaved and trained dogs are always easy to handle.
Minimal Health Issues
As a first-time dog owner, you need to get such a breed that has minimum health issues. However, there are some or more health problems present in all breeds but you want that breed that has minimum health issues.
German Shepherds are generally healthy breeds with minimum health issues. Although they have a sensitive stomach you need not worry this can be prevented by a proper diet plan and it’s not so serious.
They are also prone to some genetic health issues like hip dysplasia which may occur due to a poor breeding process. In such a case, you must choose the right breed that is originally bred and avoid commercial dog breeding.
Easily Adopt the Weather
One of the best things to consider before getting your first German Shepherd dog as a pet, they should adapt to all the weather easily. It means changing weather conditions should not affect their health.
German Shepherds are a double-coated breed that allows them to remain warm in the winter season and cool in summer. This also allows them to remain unaffected due to changes in environmental conditions.
If you have decided to have a German Shepherd as your first dog then you must know their behavior and must know some of the facts about them.
Let’s discuss the other facts that can help you buy your first pet:
Important Facts You should know about German Shepherds
Hope! you have made up your mind to buy a German Shepherd as your first dog and can be ideal for you. You should also see some interesting facts that will make your concept crystal clear before buying this breed.
However, I am throwing light on some of the positive aspects of German Shepherds. But you will have to get the right decision before adopting this dog seeing its nature, behavior, and strength.
Now its time for us to take a quick look at some of the important facts that you should know about German Shepherds:
Need Special Care and grooming
If you are having a German Shepherd as your pet then you need to take special care of them and brush their fur daily for some time.
This means that when they face the problem of shading then you should brush them at regular intervals. You can also grab important tips on how to brush a German Shepherd that will help you a lot in brushing technique.
You also need to use good grooming tools. I use Hartz Groomer Combo Brush that you can get on Amazon with great reviews from customers. This brush helps your German Shepherd remove undercoated fur and eases brushing like a professional.
Loyal and protective
German Shepherds are highly loyal and protective. If they are fully attached to you and your family then you can be able to see their loyalty and protectiveness. Once they get attached to you then they can save you from the upcoming dangers of even strangers.
Their protective nature comes from their heredity as in earlier times also people used this breed to hear and protect their sheep. To know more about their protection behavior you can also see our post will German Shepherd protect you?
Their protective behavior allows the families to choose a German shepherd as their first dog. According to American Kennel Club, the German Shepherd was the third most registered breed in 2020. So you will not regret having this pet as your first dog. Aggressive Nature
No doubt Germans Shepherds are friendly and loyal breeds but they can be aggressive when they see some danger coming towards them because of strangers or some dogs.
Proper training and well-socializing German Shepherds from the initial stage of their life allow them to behave well and this could make them calm. They better understand the actual danger that harms you.
It’s important to spend more time with them as this allows them not to fear anymore and they will also be happy. You should try to adopt at least 8 weeks older puppies as it is not the right thing to separate them from their mother at a very early stage, this can be the reason for their aggressiveness.
Best Guard dog
If we see the history of German Shepherds they were used to herd sheep and other livestock. It means they have great protective instincts.
If trained well and know their property then they become the best guard dogs. so guys if you want your first-time dog as a guard dog then you should provide them with proper training, you can hire a professional to do so.
German Shepherds are natural guard dogs and because of their activeness, they can protect your family members.
Lifespan
Before getting their first dog as a pet new owners must know how long they live. You want your pet to live longer and provide the best services for a long period. If you are interested in having a German Shepherd as your first dog then you should know their lifespan.
The normal life span of a German Shepherd is around 13 years. You should provide them with a well-balanced diet and proper nutrition that lets them live healthier lives.
Energetic
German Shepherds are a highly energetic breed, You should take care of them from the very beginning. Their energy can’t be wasted sitting in a crate only.
You can make use of their energy in making them a guard of your house but this will need training and the healthy environment you have provided to them.
Also, you will have to look at the food they eat, always follow a proper diet plan, feed them high-quality food and never eat poisonous food that may affect their health.
Need Regular Exercise
Now you all know that German Shepherds are full of energy and strength. To maintain their stamina they need regular exercise to be fit and healthy all the time.
An Adult German Shepherd requires exercise a minimum of 2 hours daily. Exercise not only allow them to be fit but it provides them healthier life also. It also prevents them from the issue of bloating.
Bloating can be prevented when you let your dog go for a regular walk or make them run to a limited area. Rather you can also prefer some professional for exercising them.
Easy To Train
German Shepherds fall in the category of intelligent dog breeds and because of their intelligence, they are easy to train.
You should also start training from the initial stage of your life. This not only allows them to behave well but also helps them to follow the command you want to make them learn.
You can also learn their unusual behavior like why German Shepherds tilt their heads and many others that you have to notice.
As a good dog owner, you must take care of your breed as they need proper care at the initial stage of their life.
Provide them with a healthy environment and make them proper shelter where they can feel safe. You may try a crate that must be comfortable and as per their size.
You should also know how long can a German Shepherd live in a crate. You should make your German Shepherd always happy so that they should live a healthy life.
Final Thoughts:
Hope! I provided you with some important facts about German Shepherds and if you are willing to have this breed as the first dog in your home then you will never regret it. I have also been living with a German Shepherd and I am a happy dog owner.
German Shepherds can be your best dog seeing all their qualities and characteristics. They should be always fit to provide you with the best service.
Here is a quick review recalling the qualities as a first-time owner, you should look for.
- German Shepherds require special care and proper grooming.
- Spend as much time as you can with your German Shepherd dog so that it can be easily attached to you.
- Never live them alone for a longer time as if you own a GSD puppy they will have to live in a new environment.
- Proper training allows them to behave well and provide the best service you need from them.
It’s important for all GSD owners if you are bringing a German Shepherd puppy as your first pet in your home, it should fit and suits your lifestyle. Take proper care of them so that they live a longer life.
Related Questions:
How long does it take for a German Shepherd to get used to a new owner?
German Shepherds can take some time to get used to a new owner and the changes associated with a new home. On average, it takes about 6-8 weeks for a German Shepherd to become comfortable with its new owner.
During this time, the new dog owners need to provide consistent positive reinforcement and training to help their pups become better adjusted.
Can German Shepherds live Outside?
German Shepherds are an energetic breed and need a spacious yard to move here and there. Initially, they were also best herding dogs and used to protect the livestock of their owners.
Also, they spend most of their in-home so yes they can live outside but not for a longer period seeing the outer dangers and climatic conditions.
Are German shepherds OK to be left alone?
German Shepherds come in the category of active dogs and can be left alone for some periods, but it is generally not recommended to leave them alone for extended periods or regularly.
It is important to provide your German Shepherd with regular exercise, mental stimulation, socialization, and companionship whenever possible.
Leaving them alone too often can lead to destructive behavior such as barking, digging, and chewing on objects.
Is owning a German Shepherd hard?
Owning a German Shepherd is not necessarily difficult, but it does require time and commitment. German Shepherds are intelligent and active dogs that need regular physical and mental exercise in order to stay healthy.
They are typically very loyal and affectionate with their family, but they can also be protective of their territory and may become aggressive if provoked. If you are willing to adopt this dog as your pet then you should consult a reputable breeder.
Why do German Shepherds tilt their heads?
German Shepherds tilt their heads because of their hearing and vision capacity. They can hear high-range sounds that we are not able to hear.
They also tilt their head seeing some dangers around and may warn their owners. Also, think over some of the infections in their ear that may also cause them to tilt their head.
Will German Shepherds protect you?
German Shepherds are known for their strength and if we look at their history people also used them in herding and protecting their livestock.
Yes, German Shepherd protects their beloved ones if sense any dangers approaching them. But proper training allows GSD to achieve this skill of protectiveness up to the full mark.