“Take this trouble for me; Make sure my Shepherd dog remains a working dog, For I have struggled all my life for that aim”
Rittmeister Captain Max Vom Stephainiz 1864 – 1936
One of the main keys to successful German Shepherd Ownership is on going, positive obedience Training and socialization.
Give a German Shepherd good structure, leadership and rules in their life or they will structure their own life, and make their own rules.
They have been bred for high prey drive and high activity level. If the German Shepherd dogs do not have an outlet for their drive, they will get themselves into trouble (chasing cars, bikes, barking, chewing, aggression, digging and other unwanted behavior). A German Shepherd needs obedience training, proper socialization with both people and other animals, daily exercise and play and they must be part of your family. These are working dogs that need a job, even if they are to be a family dog. Boredom and loneliness can lead to behavior problems. The German Shepherd's personality and activity levels vary from dog to dog. Breeding, training, socializing and the care they receive are a large part of what determines each dog's personality.
It is important to know that the German Shepherd dog is:
- Highly active indoors
- Highly active outdoors
- Highly vigorous and energetic
- Highly consistent in behavior
- Highly dominant to strange dogs
- Moderately dominant to familiar people
- Highly territorial
- Highly emotionally stable
- Highly sociable with children
- Low sociability with strangers
- High rate of learning
- High problem solving ability
- Highly protective
