Pic credit: bruev
German shepherds are the 2nd most famous dog breed in the world. They have been around the world since the late 80s but got real fame in the 1960s when the effects of World War 2 faded. They were primarily kept as herd/guard dogs for herding sheep.
German Shepherd Dogs have been known best for their guarding and companionship qualities for hundreds of years. They are a part of many military forces and also act as police officers around the world. In America alone, they are 3.5 million in number (United States - Are there more Pit bulls than German Shepherds in the USA? – Skeptics Stack Exchange), and their popularity has been increasing in developing countries too as a home dog.
Let’s explore what makes GSD a good home dog?
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Intelligence
German shepherds are intelligent animals after monkeys. Their IQ level is between 80-90 making them an ideal pet, to train in any manner you want. They can understand your every gesture and command if trained well since the beginning of their childhood. You can train them to play hide and seek, dog puzzles, herding, jumping, and fetching. Once they are trained well, you won’t get worried about your children getting bored, because this dog will be a great playmate for them.
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Protective and courageous:
As mentioned earlier, German shepherd are also guard dogs. It is an ideal guard dog for your family because he will not give it a second thought during danger to protect his owner. However, they can be overprotective in front of strangers and friends and won’t shut up. For that, you can make them socialize a lot with your friends and neighbors so that he doesn’t embarrass you in front of them. An adult shepherd is high maintenance, you can consider purchasing one when he is a puppy. That will make it easy for you to train them and also for the dog to easily get used to your family, as grown-up dogs are more attached to their previous owners.
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Friendly companion
German shepherds get attached to human beings effortlessly. However, they avoid being friendly with other pets and dogs of their breed. But in the case of humans, they will give you more love in return for your affection by playing, licking, cuddling, and listening to you all the time. He will never leave you in your thick and thin.
Your children will be safe with them as they are highly kid-friendly. If you want someone to play with your children without getting tired, get them a German shepherd, but obviously after proper training.
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Energetic
They are highly energetic dog breeds who require 2 hours of intense physical activity daily. If you don’t keep them active, they spend their energy doing the wrong thing by tearing objects, harming people, and showing other behavioral issues.
If you are looking for a couch potato dog who will just lie down alongside you then this dog is not for you. They are a bit less active when they are a few months old but their energy increases as they grow. You will have to take them on long walks, running, and hiking regularly. Lastly, they need more space to release their energy, you can’t simply shut them in a compartment.
Hope this helps. To learn more about dogs check out the features and characteristics of GSD.
