German Shepherds have significant downsides, primarily high-maintenance needs including intense daily exercise (1-2 hours), heavy year-round shedding, and potential for severe, costly health issues like hip/elbow dysplasia, bloat, and arthritis. They also require intensive training and socialization to prevent territorial aggression, destructiveness, or separation anxiety.

What are the disadvantages of owning a German Shepherd?

Disadvantages of German Shepherd Dog: The dog has a large body odor and is easy to lose hair; The size of the dog is relatively large, which requires a certain amount of time, energy and money to raise and train the dog; The amount of exercise and feeding space required by the dog are relatively large.

Can a German Shepherd turn on its owner?

Will German Shepherds Attack Their Owners? Usually, German Shepherds are extremely loyal and will be friendly around their owners, sometimes even being overprotective. A German Shepherd's aggression will normally be aimed at strangers. However, there are also examples of German Shepherds attacking their owners.

Can German Shepherds be left alone for 8 hours?

While an adult German Shepherd can physically hold it for 8 hours, it's generally not recommended as a regular occurrence due to their high energy, intelligence, and need for mental stimulation, often leading to boredom, separation anxiety, and destructive behaviors like chewing or digging. For an 8-hour absence, providing vigorous exercise beforehand, arranging for a dog walker, ensuring enrichment (puzzle toys), and creating a safe, stimulating environment (crate or gated area with background noise) is crucial, with shorter periods being ideal, especially for puppies and seniors.

Who shouldn't own a German Shepherd?

German shepherds are super smart but they can't train themselves. They need lots of training, socialization, and guidance to be the good dog they were born to be. If you can't spend time training your dog every day, you should not own a German shepherd. German shepherds are working dogs.

The Truth About GERMAN SHEPHERDS

What I wish I knew before getting a German Shepherd?

These loyal and loving dogs can be prone to separation anxiety and typically don't like being left alone for hours on end. Crate training can help address this issue since it gives the dog a safe and comfortable retreat. However, a crate should never be used as punishment or for very long periods.

What's more aggressive, a German Shepherd or a pitbull?

A report circulated by the American Animal Hospital Association revealed that Pit Bulls bite the most people, at 22.5%, followed by mixed breeds and German Shepherds. Many incidents involving dog bites or attacks are improperly labeled as pit bull attacks, even when the dog involved is not a purebred pit bull.

What is the 7 7 7 rule for dogs?

The "7 7 7 rule" for dogs is a puppy socialization guideline, originally by Pat Hastings, suggesting exposing puppies to 7 different people, 7 different locations, and 7 different surfaces/objects/sounds/challenges (variations exist) by about 7 weeks old to build confidence, resilience, and prevent fear or anxiety as adults. Key experiences include meeting diverse individuals, visiting different places like a vet's office or friend's house, walking on various substrates (grass, tile, carpet), and encountering new objects and gentle challenges (like tunnels or boxes).
 

How long can dogs hold their pee in German Shepherd?

A healthy adult dog can typically go 8 to 10 hours without urinating—but that doesn't mean they should. Holding it in for too long isn't ideal. In fact, consistently waiting that long can lead to discomfort and increase the risk of urinary tract issues.

Can a German Shepherd be a house dog?

Adult German Shepherds can range from being calm and patient to bouncy and boisterous, depending on their personality, training and socialisation. Some can make great family pets in homes with children of all ages, but dogs should always be supervised around young children.

Do German Shepherds pick one person?

German Shepherds will generally attach themselves to one person in the family, but they can still be a good family dog.

Do dogs warn before they bite?

Yes, dogs almost always give warnings before biting, but these signals are often subtle and easy to miss, like lip licking, yawning, freezing, or showing "whale eye" (white of the eyes), escalating to more obvious signs like growling, snarling, or snapping at the air before a bite, with bites without warning often indicating suppressed signals due to past punishment or sudden pain.
 

Why do people give up German Shepherds?

Many German Shepherds end up in shelters because their owners underestimate the breed's energy, training needs, or long-term commitment. Others are surrendered due to life changes such as financial struggles or housing issues. Sadly, overbreeding and irresponsible breeding also contribute to the problem.

How often should you bathe a German Shepherd?

German Shepherds don't need baths as often as you might think. Most thrive on a schedule of every 6–8 weeks, with extra washes added when playtime gets messy. Regular brushing is far more important for coat health and shedding control, while baths act as a finishing touch.

Are German Shepherds bad for homeowners insurance?

Unfortunately, even if the dog you are hoping to adopt is very tame, german shepherds and many others are considered by most insurance companies to be an aggressive breed.

What is the 10 10 10 rule for dogs?

The "10 10 10 Rule" for dogs primarily refers to a puppy potty training method: 10 minutes outside in the designated spot, allowing 10 feet of space to sniff and circle, and staying for 10 minutes of supervision to reward them if they go, otherwise bringing them back inside to a crate for 10-20 minutes before trying again. It can also relate to nutrition (treats < 10% of calories) or general training discipline, but the potty training version is the most common interpretation.

What is the 21 second pee rule?

Because researchers find that all mammals that weigh more than six-and-a-half pounds or so take about the same time to pee: 21 seconds, plus or minus 13 seconds.

How long does 1 hour feel to a dog?

An hour for a dog doesn't pass like it does for humans; due to their faster metabolism and perception, a human hour feels much longer to a dog, with some suggesting it's closer to 7 minutes of their time, making a work day feel like days, and explaining their intense excitement when owners return from seemingly short absences. They sense time through routines, smells, and body changes, not abstract clocks. 

At what age is a dog not trainable?

This question is a common one, and the short answer is simple: a dog is never not trainable. While the popular saying "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" might make you think otherwise, the truth is that a dog's age has no bearing on its capacity to learn.

Why do police use German Shepherds and not pitbulls?

German Shepherds are calm-under-pressure, they're highly intelligent and trainable, and they love to work. This makes the breed well-suited for working in high-stress situations, and it's no surprise they've been used in police work for more than 100 years.

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