A German Shepherd is an intelligent and loyal dog that becomes very attached to its human family and very protective. A well-trained and well-loved German Shepherd can be the best pet you will ever see and it can bring you a lifetime of love and joy. An improperly trained German Shepherd will have problems that can be both unpredictable and dangerous if not dealt with. If you do not have time to dedicate to a dog then do not get a German Shepherd.

The German Shepherd breed of dog was first domesticated in Europe over one hundred years ago and it was bred to help herd animals in Europe. That is where the German Shepherd gets its name. But this herding instinct can go horribly wrong if it is not first corrected by a responsible owner, who knows how to care for their dog. It is important to make sure your German Shepherd does not display its natural herding instincts at any time.
A German Shepherd can learn to socialize very easily as long as it is taught at a very early age to socialize with other animals and people. A German Shepherd dog craves a social atmosphere and they love to be around people so if you take the time to socialize your dog with other animals and other people you can easily eliminate this problem that seems to have grown into a huge myth that Shepherds hate other animals. A properly trained German Shepherd can interact very nicely with other animals and strangers as well.

Your German Shepherd will need a lot of exercise, it will want to constantly be in motion and it needs a job to do. That job can be as simple as to be in training to be the family dog but that requires hours of attention each day from everyone in the family and also a lot of empty outside space for your dog to run in. A bored German Shepherd will resort to its natural instinct to hunt and herd and that can lead to nothing but a lot of trouble.
There is one of the few very common German Shepherd problems that is not usually well publicized but it is absolutely something you should be aware of. A German Shepherd sheds a lot and it is all year long. It is not just a winter or summer coat they are shedding, they need year round grooming to help them deal with their shedding coat. If you hate vacuuming up pet fur then you may want to avoid getting a German Shepherd.

German Shepherds are extremely intelligent animals that get very attached to their human families and can make the most loyal and dedicated pet you have ever owned. But be ready to spend a lot of time with your dog as the German Shepherd requires a lot of attention. But you can rest easier knowing that it also trains very easily and it probably is just as anxious to learn what you want to teach it as you are to train it.

This article is full of German Shepherd training advice. If you need extra information along with your dog training books then use this article.