Thinking About A German Shepherd
The German Shepherd is and likely always will be one of the most popular breeds of dog in this country. Loyal, brave and incredibly intelligent, it is not hard to see the appeal. Still, it is not a breed for everyone because a lot of those appealing traits can be a problem for some pet owners. Before you commit to German Shepherd financing, take a look at some of the traits that the GSD exhibits and decide whether or not they are a positive or a negative to you.
They Are Very Loyal
Like a lot of working class and guard dogs, the German Shepherd loves their people. This means that they will always want to be around you and you will never have to wonder what your dog is off doing. When you are in a room, they will usually want to be in the room. If you are looking for a companion and another member of the family, a GSD is a good choice for you.
Of course, this loyalty comes with some consequences. If you work a lot or travel often, you might just end up with a very unhappy and frustrated dog. Because of their high level of intelligence, this will likely manifest itself as destructive behavior.
Unless you are willing to devote a good amount of time with your German Shepherd, you should not get one.
They Are Incredibly Smart
Likely one of the smartest dog breeds, the German Shepherd has an intellect that allows them to learn to do just about anything. This intelligence combined with a nose that smells better than most dogs has made them the dog of choice for military and police duty. If you want a dog that can be trained to do virtually anything with ease, a GSD is a great choice.
The flip side to this of course is that, if not stimulated, they can get quite bored. There is nothing worse than a smart, agile and bored dog. The trouble that they could get into has no bounds.
So, once again, if you do not have the time to spend with your GSD, they are not the right dog for you. They need to constantly be stimulated, exercised and their training must be continually reinforced. Luckily, if you get puppy financing from one of our lenders, you can request extra money to put towards training.
They Have Thick Coats
Your German Shepherd will have a thick outer and a dense inner coat. This gives them a striking appearance and protects them from the elements very well. Particularly striking are long haired German Shepherds.
The potential problem with this thick coat should be fairly obvious, they will shed. In fact, that dense inner coat of theirs will shed twice a year. Its nothing a little grooming and vacuuming can not take care of but if you have an issue with pet hair, understand that a GSD will be a heavy shedder.
They Are Very Protective
The GSD loves its people and is very protective. They are also fearless and confident guardians. If you want a dog that will protect your family, there are few better choices.
This protective nature also means that they will be suspicious of strangers and will need to be well socialized. They will need constant socializing to keep them from getting aggressive towards other dogs and strangers. A GSD owner should be committed to keeping their dog socialized and they must stay up on training.