The Top 10 Most Asked Questions About German Shepherds
I was curious as to what the most searched questions about German Shepherds were. And then I was curious about whether or not you guys were curious about this as well. If you're reading this, you're my kind of curious!
According to my search, these are the top 10 most asked questions, with a brief answer for each.
# 10: Are German Shepherds More Active Or More Laid Back?
German Shepherds are definitely more active than most breeds. They come from herding dogs whose primary style of herding was to patrol the line between fields where sheep were allowed to graze and fields or gardens where they were to be kept out. That style of continental herding meant patrolling back and forth all day long, 7 days a week. German Shepherds are born distance runners and will require a lot of exercise.
# 9: Do German Shepherds Get Along Well With Other Animals?
This is a multifaceted question. A German Shepherd raised with farm animals will often get along fine with them. But if you don't want them to herd, then a lot of training will be involved. If you mean other dogs, I would say German Shepherds are more reactive than average. Their breed standard states that they are "aloof with strangers." That is typically their attitude with strange dogs as well. As far as small animals, German Shepherds do have a lot of prey drive. Be smart, take it slow, start early, be safe, and training is key.
# 8: Are German Shepherds Good Family Pets?
German Shepherds make great family pets if that family does their research, understands dog training, pack structure, and most importantly, if they pick the right dog or puppy. Not all German Shepherds are the same. Not every puppy in a litter is the same. Do your research on how to select a puppy, and always demand to see both parent's OFA, PennHip, or hip ratings from Europe.
# 7: Are German Shepherds Prone To Any Health Issues?
As was previously discussed, German Shepherds, especially ones from American lines, are known for hip issues. But no matter if you choose American lines, working lines, European show lines, etc, always make sure both parents of your dog have been tested for hip dysplasia and are negative. They are also known for a disease called Degenerative Myelopathy, also known as DM, which is a degenerative disease of the spine. DM can be tested for.
# 6: Do German Shepherds Make Good Guard Dogs?
German Shepherds make excellent guard dogs. They are not fond of strangers. They do not like strangers in their territory. They are fairly large. They like to bark, and they're quick to bark. Those things added up make them very effective at keeping people off your property and out of your house.
# 5: Are German Shepherds Easy To Train?
German Shepherds are easily one of the, if not the easiest dogs to train in the world. German Shepherds love bonding with their owner/handler, and if you're experienced with rewards based training with minimal corrections, you will have no issues.
# 4: How Long Do German Shepherds Live?
The lifespan of a German Shepherd Is typically listed between 9-14 years depending on the source. To extend that lifespan, exercise your dog regularly. Don't overfeed your dog. "120lbs of pure muscle, the vet said so," when the max weight is 90lbs is fiction. The dog is very overweight. If your vet told you that, get a new vet immediately. And last but not least, don't forget to only buy dogs from health tested parents. If you rescue, you have to accept you rolled the dice and hope for the best. But exercise and weight management will extend the life of every dog.
# 3: Do German Shepherds Shed A Lot?
Yes. So much. Not quite as bad as a husky, but they're not far behind! A good diet and the appropriate grooming tools aren't optional here, unless you plan to pay a groomer. Also make sure you have a good vacuum cleaner. Pro Tip: Pet vacuums are a scam. Every company has a non-pet version of the one they market to homes with pets that's exactly the same, but cheaper!
# 2: How Much Exercise Do German Shepherds Require?
If you're going by time, 30 minutes - 2 hours is recommended. If you're going by distance for a walk, jog, or run, 1 to 3 miles (1.5 to 5 kilometers) is ideal. The more, the merrier. Just make sure that you build up to the level of exercise you want to do. For instance, don't adopt or buy an adult dog that hasn't been exercised much and decide take them on your daily half marathon. You can get them to the point that they can do it, but they will need time to get their cardio and strength up.
# 1: How Big Do German Shepherds Get?
German Shepherds are a medium/large breed. The height at the withers amounts to 60 cm to 65 cm for male dogs and 55 cm to 60 cm for female dogs. The trunk length exceeds the dimension at the height at the withers by about 10 – 17%. The weight is 30kg-40kg for males, and 22kg-32kg for females. That's roughly 48.5lb-70.5lb for females and 66lb-88lb for males. US standards go up to 75lbs for females and up to 90lbs for males, which isn't much of a bump up from the international standard.
For dogs that are taller by an inch or 2, extra weight is allowed. But any male over 100lbs is either extremely too tall due to bad breeding, or it is overweight. The same goes for females over about 80lbs. In America, we think bigger is better. In German Shepherds, bigger means the dog is poorly bred, won't live as long, and will likely experience worse joint issues than in standard dogs. Stick with good breeders, of in standard-sized German Shepherds whose parents are health tested and you'll be fine.
By the way, Old Fashioned German Shepherds often refers to oversized dogs, some of which are mixed with Great Pyrenees. German Shepherds in the old days, ie 1899-1950s, were much smaller than today's German Shepherds, not larger. Avoid anyone advertising "Old Fashioned" dogs at all costs. If 60-90lbs isn't enough dog for you, German Shepherds aren't the breed for you. You need to check out the Mastiff breeds like the Rottweiler or Cane Corso! They're pretty cool dogs and are built and meant to be massive!
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