|
The German Shepherd
is a highly intelligent breed, very trainable, and
willing to learn if you make the tasks challenging
and fun at the same time. If you begin with a dog
that has a sound temperament and is calm means a
solid foundation for a well-behaved friendly
companion. German Shepherds have a certain
self-confidence that comes from their intelligence
and sturdiness. Because of this, this breed makes an
excellent watchdog and guard dogs but with the
proper socialization as a puppy, it would not be
overly aggressive or fierce.
In recent years, poor
breeding has produced some timid German Shepherds
and some that are very aggressive, almost fierce. It
is highly recommended that you work only with a
top-quality, reputable breeder so that you get a
puppy that has the right temperament to be a family
companion. If home protection is one of your top
considerations, a German Shepherd is an excellent
choice, but you do not need to look for a
particularly aggressive dog.
The breed is naturally protective of home and
property but the best German Shepherds are calm and
open to human contact unless the situation calls for
other behavior. If you need to have some formal
protection/guard training, choose your trainer
carefully, as particular as you would choose your
breeder to ensure the experience is good for
everyone involved.
The breed has been used for everything from drug
detection to finding leaks in natural gas lines. In
fact, one group focuses strictly on preserving the
German Shepherd’s heritage as a working dog, with
emphasis on protection training. This breed has a
natural feel for being useful and with proper
breeding and diet can exhibit a great deal of
endurance in outdoor activity. The German Shepherd
is very strong, muscular, and active, which is why a
loving but firm hand with training is essential.
You will find your training your German Shepherd
is easier than other breeds simply because they are
always eager to learn and obedient even with minimal
training. Just remember to plan to spend plenty of
time with your German Shepherd since this breed does
not do well when left alone for long periods. In
fact, this dog is happiest if you give it a task or
two, something done on a regular basis. German
Shepherds were bred to be working dogs and will not
shy away from outdoor exercise. Therefore, if you
can work some training and obedience in with this,
you will end up with a highly responsive pet.
If you have heard that German Shepherds have a
reputation for being unstable in temperament,
chances are you are actually hearing stories about
dogs from irresponsible breeders. Because of the
popularity of many purebred dogs, such as the German
Shepherd, individuals started to breed them because
they knew there was money to be made from selling
the puppies. Unfortunately, lack of clean living
conditions, poor socialization as puppies, and
inadequate training produced many of these
“unstable” German Shepherds.
For this reason, it is critical that the training
and socialization begin from the moment the puppy is
born. Trying to change the behavior of an adult dog,
especially one as intelligent and strong as a German
Shepherd, can be a study in frustration. Almost any
dog, if left to itself for a long time, can be
destructive. If the puppy began its life with no
special attention or time spent with humans, the
results can be disastrous. However, if you make sure
your new dog has a good start in life, and you can
be creative in your time spent with this wonderful
breed, the German Shepherd is an incredible choice.
Sitemap |
Web Feeds |
