Your Responsibilities in Owning a German Shepherd

Owning a German Shepherd is a privilege and a responsibility. These are amazing creatures with incredible intelligence and desire to please. They also posses the genetic traits and drives which have made this dog a supreme talent in police work, search and rescue, service work, home protection, drug interdiction and dog sport. They are your family's best friend and protector.

As breeders, we have responsibilities. We must demand that the sire and dam of each litter be physically and mentally sound. We breed to the world standards meaning our dogs have undergone rigorous tests to ensure they possess the best qualities to pass on to their puppies. Please see our article on Breeding Requirements.

Additionally, we must make every effort to qualify the homes where our puppies are placed. We encourage reading of our articles and any other information relating to raising and training German Shepherd Dogs. We highly recommend positive training classes where your puppy can start learning manners and basic obedience. And we strongly suggest that you participate in an activity such as Search and Rescue, therapy work or dog sport such as agility, tracking, obedience, free style dance, fly ball, frisbee, or Schutzhund.

What are your responsibilities as a new puppy owner?

2. Gently teach your puppy house rules. You cannot expect them to intuitively know what is off limits to chew. Guide them. Be patient but consistent. And everyone in the family must buy into this concept.

3. Enroll your puppy in a positive puppy socialization class. Obedience is not what is important at this stage. It is the exposure to other dogs and people in a different environment. Make sure you are comfortable with the trainer, and everything should be positive. All the puppies in your class must be current with their vaccinations. Ask the instructor if you have any doubts. The instructor should have required you to show your shot record for your puppy. This class should be a thoroughly enjoyable experience for your puppy.

4. Spend time with your young dog. After he passes through the cute puppy stage, don't ignore him. Take him to classes. There is so much to do now with your dog. There are so many dog sports. Agility is so popular that there are agility classes virtually everywhere. If not, get some videos and some equipment and start your own training.

5. Be responsible for your dog's behavior. Do not let him run loose. Always keep him on lead when you are out, and be aware of what is going on. Know that you have a large animal with teeth. It is you—not him—that must direct proper behavior.

6. Control your dog's contact with people. Do not simply let people or children rush up to your dog. Teach people and children how to approach your dog, or better yet, bring your dog to them if they have asked to pet your puppy/dog. Tell them not to move their hands over the dogs head. This can be an intimidating gesture, as it is perceived as threatening. Have them slowly hold the back of their hand out so your dog can sniff. Do not force anything. With a shy puppy, I like to give the child or adult some tidbits of food. Again, don't force anything. Let your puppy/dog figure out that hands are good…they have food.

7. Obedience class is essential for a well-behaved dog. He must be able to SIT, DOWN and COME on command. This is not optional. If you want to go into competitive obedience, you will need to learn formal heeling, recall, finish, and more. But regardless of whether you do formal obedience, your dog must respond immediately to your commands. If you need help in teaching these commands, get it. If you do not have a trainer in your area, there are an abundance of books and videos to help.

8. Your German Shepherd does not need protection training. They will be naturally territorial. If you choose to pursue the sport of Schutzhund, most clubs will not work your dog in protection until you have demonstrated that you have good obedience and tracking skills.

9. You must provide high quality food and good vet care. You must keep your puppy and dog up-to-date on their vaccinations and heart worm preventative. Your dog should be free of fleas and other parasites and be brushed and kept clean. Quality dog food normally is not found in the grocery store. If something does not appear right about your puppy or dog, you must immediately seek medical care. These are your responsibilities--your dog depends entirely on you.

10. If your dog is to spend much of his time outside, a secure area with shade, shelter from bad weather and fresh water is essential. We recommend a good sized dog run for the safety of your dog. But this is not an excuse to leave him there for long periods. He needs frequent exercise and activities. In very hot climates, we recommend installing misters for your dog. Misters are very inexpensive and greatly reduce the temperature. Secure your water bucket so that your dog does not accidently spill his water.

11. When you travel with your dog, you need a dog crate. Do not let your dog run loose in the car. Any accident will result in potentially severe injury or worse for your dog. If a crate is not an option for your car, put him in a seat belt. I have personally never used doggy seat belts, but I have friends who swear by this method of securing their dogs and indicate they are very safe.

12. Have your dog tattooed and/or microchiped. Always have a leather or cloth collar on your dog with identification tags. Never leave your dog with any type of choke collar. The end of these collars can get caught and the more the dog pulls, the tighter the collar. Results could be tragic. You can use them for training, but take them off afterwards.

13. Carefully select the play objects for your dog. Some small balls and toys can get lodged in their throats. Be careful about giving them cooked bones as they splinter and can perforate the stomach. Just use some common sense. There are many safe chewing bones at your local pet stores.

14. Love your dog. You have many things in your life. He has only you and your family.

In this day and time, I am sad to hear about dog attack incidents and breed specific legislation targeting certain breeds known for their potential aggressiveness. I generally believe in the concept that there are “no bad dogs.” There are only irresponsible, uniformed and careless people who do not fulfill their responsibilities as dog owners.

You must know your dog and be honest about his strengths and weaknesses. You must be alpha with your dog, and this is not a matter of brut force. It is a state of mind. You can read more about this in my Puppy Primer.

If your sweet good-tempered dog suddenly becomes aggressive and moody, take him to a vet. There is probably something wrong, and very possibly he is in pain.

This article is in no way comprehensive. I always encourage you to read and study books and videos on canine behavior. And observe. Go to a training class or a park and watch people with their dogs. Notate what you think they are doing right and where you would make improvements. The more you know, the better dog owner you will be. And seek out other opinions. Talk to trainers and dog breeders. The old adage “my way or the highway” doesn't belong in dog training. There are many ways to get desired behavior, and no trainer or canine behaviorist has the monopoly. Do what works.

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