I am a first time dog owner and am considering a german shepherd?

Question

I have heard that this may be a more challanging breed for a first time do owner. Is this true and if so why? I have type 1 diabetes and difficulties with sensing hypoglycemic reations. I have read that the german shepherd breed is particularly good at training to detecting this (plus I am very active and want a dog that will run with me and is playful). I am willing to do whatever work and time is needed. I intend for my dog to be a constant companion. So, I was wondering (not having owned a dog before) when I read this caveat--just what it means.

Answer 1

you could apply for a companion dog that is already trained for to detect your hypoglycemic reations and ask for a german shepherd.

http://www.cci.org/site/c.cdKGIRNqEmG/b....

http://www.k94life.org/

http://www.neads.org/services_new/servic...

try these sites and maybe they can help. good luck

Answer 2

we have 2 german shepherds and they are a hand full. they need training puppy and dog school ETC, and heaps and heaps of exercise otherwise they will dig, chew and destroy things! hope u have a really BIG yard... they are very smart and need 2 use there brains. but if u have and can do all above they are loyal. loving and protective.

Answer 3

Hello, It sounds like you are up to owning a Shepherd! I have had them for some 30 years along with many others and if well bred they are gentle loving obedient and easy to train..they do like some exercise, and are wonderful companions! My current Shepherd was raised with other cats and dogs, Socialization with children, & other animals is a must! If you want one look for a well bred one..make sure you see the parent or parents, make sure the dogs parents have been checked for hip dysplasia, very important in larger breed dogs! And check out the parents tempermants!

They are generally one person animals and take to famlies well but usually excepting one person more than the others.  Mine is a love, she is beautiful, intelliegent, loving, and was so very easy to train!  As with  any dog do not use force and scare tatics, be kind and respectful, wishing you well, and thinking you will be a good dog owner!

Answer 4

Shepherds are great dogs as long as they are trained and bred properly.  They are first and foremost a herding breed with a long history of being used for guarding.  Good herding dogs are suspicious by nature or the stock they guard gets hurt or killed.  You need to socialize the heck out of them to overcome the natural tendency to be aloof and overly cautious.

They've been the number 3 dog in popularity for a long time running which means they are over bred.  There are good shepherds, bad shepherds and everything in between.  You need to do your homework.  Temperaments vary and they can also have a lot of health problems.  German shepherds used to be the poster child for the worst of the worst problems until recently when, unfortunately, many other breeds are catching up to them.

On the plus side, shepherds bond closely with their family and generally have one favorite person.  This would make them highly intuned with their owners and likely to sense something off about you from the norm.  I would tend to think a female would be more sensitive to you, but won't jump into that debate because in the twenty years plus I've had shepherds they've all been male except for one lone female...  

I didn't know how to play with my first dog, so he wasn't playful.  Fault of the owner, not the dog.  Since then I have learned how to incorporate play into our relationships and we have a grand time playing.

I would recommend a book called "Purely Positive Training, companion to competition" by Sheila Booth (she's a schutzhund trainer) as a great starter book.  

Answer 5

Be sure to buy one from a reputable breeder. If you find one for cheap, chances are you're going to have a nightmare on your hands.

They can be excellent dogs if they are well bred, and have an owner that knows how to handle them.

Good luck.

Answer 6

NO they do not chew alot, I have owned several and none did,

They are the SWEETEST DOG!!!!!!! They are loyal and protective, and can be the best jauging partner. AND are very playfull!!!! Mine is devoted to our family! Took out 2 alaskin huskys to protect my cousin when she was younger!!!!! We did not have to put him down due to it, he was protecting us!!! the owner was the one that provoked his dogs. To me they are THE BEST OF THE BEST!!!!!!!! They are strong and fierce guard dog, but will be the best dog you could ever own!!!! Hop[e you get one and give it tons of love!

Answer 7

Well, I assume GSDs are challenging because they are large, dominating, extremely active, and will develop into "bad dogs" if not properly socialized, trained, and regularly exercised.  The GSD is a natural guard dog, which can translate into aggression as an adult if the dog was not well socialized from an early age.  They also need a very firm leader; you have to know how to be in charge (and it's not the same as it is with humans) ;)

My cousin recently got a GSD pup and it seems that she and her husband had NO idea what they were getting into.  They are NOT first-time dog owners, but neither have ever had a dog quite this large, and apparently they were unprepared to devote adequate time to training and exercising her.  The pup is 8 months old now and I can just foresee its future.... =(

Obviously it sounds as if you have much more time to spend with a dog though... which is great!  But I would definitely say that raising one properly will be a lot of work, ESPECIALLY for a first-timer.

And about GSDs sensing hypoglycemic reactions... what is it exactly that makes this breed so good at detecting this?  (not saying that it's not true, just curious) =)  Are there other breeds that can be trained to do this?

And how much training would that entail, for your dog to be able to detect those reactions?  Is this something that you would be training the dog to do, or would it be trained by someone else?

Answer 8

yes it would be a great breed, get obediance training and tell them what youd like, all dogs are challenging just look up breed and talk to owners get all the info you can, and good luck and wish well on your diabetes and your new life companion

Answer 9

GSDs can be challenging because they are working dogs and need a good deal of physical and mental stimulation.  First time dog owners often are not ready for the commitment of time any dog takes, let alone one that was bred to WORK.  These dogs also seem to be particularly needy of early socialization, which every dog needs.  I think perhaps as a trainer I may simply see the horrors of GSDs whose owners insist that because people live in their house and they own other dogs then their dog is socialized, but that is far from the case.

However, getting a dog of any breed assuming that it will be able to sense a particular reaction is not a good idea.  I would hope you would look for one already proven to detect your condition.  That will give you a tremendous edge over a first-time *puppy* owner who must do all the socialization and all the training themselves.  You will need to set firm boundaries and be consistent , but you will be able to see the temperament of an adult dog much more clearly.

Good luck in making your decision.  

Answer 10

they have a LOT of energy and shed insanely. I would reccomend a labrador. thats what i have and she is the best companion I have ever had. I think german shepards are great, but they are just too big, and shed too much for me.

and they will not just detect your problem. most of those dogs have been trained.

i think you're better off with one of the more common service dogs such as a lab or golden retriever.

Answer 11

all i know is that they apparently chew a lot.  most puppies do-but esp. german shepards.  i have also heard that they can range in personalities-very sweet to very naughty.  good luck!

Answer 12

German Shepherds are powerful dogs with a high level of intelligence and trainability, but like many dogs can become dangerous or destructuve if raised improperly. With their uncommon strength, agility and strong sense of loyalty, they can be trained to attack and release on command. Poorly bred GSDs can be fearful, overly aggressive, or both. GSDs, along with Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, and Dobermans, are often perceived as inherently dangerous, and are the target of Breed Specific Legislation in several countries. If a GSD is violent or aggressive, it is often due to the combination of poor breeding and the owner's lack of control, training, and socialization. GSDs are often used as guard, seeing eye, and police dogs and more specifically search and rescue, narcotics dogs, and bomb scenting dogs which further contributes to the perception of their being a dangerous breed. However, many GSDs function perfectly well as search dogs and family pets - roles where aggressive behavior is unsuitable. for more details visit: http://puppylounge.com/index.php?option=...

Answer 13

My friend has two of this particular breed. They are extremely protective of their owners. They require obedience training also and are very intelligent. My friend won't walk her dogs in her neighborhood because they act like they want to eat the other dogs.  visit www.dogbreedinfo.com and good luck.