German Shepherd, Is it the Right Breed for You?

German Shepherds are fantastic companions. They are very beautiful, smart, loyal and intelligent. Getting a big dog breed is quite a commitment though so there are a few things you should know about them before hand.

This dog breed needs a lot of exercise and can't be cooped up in a small space all day long. These dogs are of the working dog breed so they like to be active with their owners or other dogs. Very protective of their loved ones, German Shepherds are also very friendly and kind hearted dogs. Just like with any other breed, they need to be well socialized and trained so they don't become aggressive. They are very strong dogs and definitely require a lot more food than smaller breeds so that is something to keep in mind. It's important to feed your dog good nutritious food so it could become a bit expensive.

German Shepherds have grooming requirements to keep them looking good and healthy. They have a medium length coat and they are shedders. You would need to prepare yourself for the dog hair in the home. Some people aren't up for that. The German Shepherd makes a great guard dog, watch dog and family companion. If you are looking for these traits in a dog and you have an active lifestyle then a German Shepherd would be a great choice for you.

Hip Dysplasia

German Shepherds are very popular dogs. They make wonderful companions and guard dogs as well. They are known for a few serious health problems and that's something to consider before you get one or something to look out for if you already have one.

A very common problem that German Shepherd dogs are known for is hip dysplasia. This can show up in dogs as young as two years old. It's a very painful and frustrating disease that is hereditary. A few signs of hip dysplasia in your German Shepherd are lack of energy, trouble standing and walking and limpness in the hind legs. You will be able to notice if your dog is in pain with the lack of activity and tiredness. If you see any of this behavior in your dog, you should definitely take them into the vet for some x-rays on their hips. It's really important that you catch it as soon as possible so your dog can begin some sort of physical therapy and health supplements that would be needed for them to get better.

Don't ever let this problem go on for too long as it is very very painful for your sweet dog. It's up to you to take care of this and do whatever you can to make it better.

Can My German Shepherd Eat Watermelon?

Watermelon is a harmless treat for your German Shepherd. I buy the seedless kind and I do not feed them the rind. The seeds and the rind could possibly cause some stomach upset and I don't suggest giving them watermelon in large amounts too often. Balling the melon with a melon baller and feeding them as little treats here and there work great! You don't have to worry about what's in it. Watermelon is mostly water and can not harm your pets. So enjoy!

Dog Pregnancy

If your German Shepherd becomes pregnant, she will be for about 9 weeks. Your normal feeding and exercise among other things must change to accommodate her and her unborn puppies. You aren't just feeding her anymore... she may be eating for 4! Adding vitamins and protein to her food is a great idea. Keeping her on a regular exercise routine as you did before she became pregnant is very important. The exercise needs to be more calm and laid back so she doesn't strain too much.

Some of the symptoms in the first couple weeks may be some weight gain, possible morning sickness and just being a bit restless at times. If you are unsure of what's going on, take her into your vet for an ultrasound to make sure you are taking all the proper precautions to help her along with a healthy and easy pregnancy.

Preparing for the puppies and making your German Shepherd comfortable is the first and most important thing at the beginning of this process. A whelping box is something you should set up for your dog to nest in and give birth. This will keep the mess out of your living room, bedroom or wherever she would decide to have her babies. Make sure it's well padded and in a spot that she can have some privacy and feel protected and secure. I wouldn't suggest trying to deliver the babies as they like to have some space when the birthing process takes place. I would just stay near by just in case you are needed.

Walking Your German Shepherd

The German Shepherd is a very strong dog breed so you need to train him or her to walk beside you first off. This will keep them from taking you on a walk! For more control of your dog, using a choke chain or a harness is recommended. Treats always work wonders with German Shepherds when it comes to training them and rewarding them for good behavior.

This breed needs a lot of exercise so that is something you need to take into account before bringing one home. If you already have one then you know they need a good lengthy walk everyday. It will keep them happy, healthy and sane. Socializing them on walks beginning at a young age is extremely important so they learn how to interact with humans and other dogs without being aggressive. This way you will see how they react in these situations and you can correct them right away if needed.

I suggest you working with your German Shepherd amongst family pets and friends before taking him/her out into the public. You must make sure they are prepared and will listen to every command you give them when around others so you don't have any problems. German Shepherds are great dogs and deserve all the love and attention you can give, they will do the same for you :)

Dog Depression

Just like with any dog, they like and need companionship. If they are left home all day long alone, they can become depressed just like humans. They are a very people oriented breed and need to be socialized and they need human interaction.

In many cases, German Shepherds that are taken from their environment and put into a shelter or if you adopt a German Shepherd and bring it home you may notice some signs of depression such as whining, pacing, loss of interest in toys or exercise, barking and a lot of nervous energy. A few other signs of depression in your German Shepherd are loss of appetite, weight loss, aggressive behavior and restlessness. These are all signs to look out for.

You may be wondering what it is that a dog has to be depressed about... here are a few things that can cause it: some kind of medical condition, drastic weather changes and environmental changes. All of these things can cause depression in humans as well. If you see any signs that I have listed ( which there are quite a bit more ) it's very important that you take your German Shepherd to the vet to nip it in the bud right away before anything worsens. We are responsible for their health and their happiness.

How Often Should I Brush My German Shepherds Hair?

When you brush your German Shepherds hair you need to start at the head and go all the way down to the tail. You can use a wide tooth brush or you could use a Furminator to remove all of the loose hair underneath the top coat. This way you don't have to do any back combing. If you do use a wide tooth comb then you do have to back comb to remove all of the dead hair stuck underneath. You will want to get under his or her chin as well as around the top of the head. Be gentle when doing this, you don't want to hurt your dog.

This should be done about once a week, you don't want to do it every single day as that can cause them to get bald patches. All German Shepherd puppies should get used to this right away and it should be made a pleasurable experience for them since it will happen so often through their life. When brushing your German Shepherd you should always check for fleas and anything else that shouldn't be in the fur. Your dogs fur will go through changes twice a year, we all know it as shedding but it's actually called moulting. This is when your dog sheds all of the inner coat which is under the outer coat. It needs to be brushed out so the new fur can come in.

So basically brushing your German Shepherd once a week is in order. If you let him go too long with out brushing then the hair will begin to mat and it will be painful for them to be brushed. We don't want that and neither do they.