If you are considering adopting a German Shepherd, you may be wondering what to care for a German Shepherd and how much time and energy it will take. German Shepherds aren’t the lowest maintenance breed out there, but they don’t need as much as other breeds.
Are German Shepherds high maintenance? Although German Shepherds are fairly low maintenance when it comes to haircuts, working off leash, and encouraging obedience, this breed can be high maintenance in terms of shedding, activity requirements, and separation anxiety.
Learn everything you need to know about high maintenance German Shepherds and what you need to know about their maintenance, including their grooming, training, and health.
Index
Why German Shepherds are low maintenance
German Shepherds are not low maintenance in every way, but there are some areas where you can expect minimal maintenance to be required.
Haircuts
German Shepherds have a medium length coat that will never need to be trimmed. The thick undercoat of a German Shepherd keeps it warm in the winter and will shed in the summer to keep it comfortable, and in fact, trimming or shaving the coat can ruin its protective qualities.
No strap
Unlike some breeds, like many beagle dogs that are happy enough to sneak out of the yard or get off their leash if given the chance, most German Shepherds stay with their owner and don’t run away.
If you want a dog that can spend some time in the backyard without worrying about jumping the fence or digging up, the Shepherd might be a good choice.
Training
If you want a dog that you can train to not drag you down the road when you go for a walk or do counter-navigation at the first opportunity, the German Shepherd is a good choice. Once your pastor understands what you want from him, the chances of him doing his best to obey are good.
Why are German Shepherds high maintenance?
Of all the breeds in the world, the German Shepherd is far from the lowest maintenance dog to be found. Physically and mentally, Pastors require a fair amount of maintenance. Here are some things to prepare:
Break off
German Shepherds don’t need their coat cut off, but that doesn’t mean keeping all that fur isn’t a chore. German Shepherds have dense, luxurious double coats that can shed a lot, especially in season.Smart and active personalities
German Shepherds were never designed to be pets. While many German Shepherds can and do live happily as family pets, they only do well in homes that offer lots of activity and commitment.
Your German Shepherd will want to be a part of everything you do and will probably need an extra commitment outside of his normal family activities.
Velcro dogs
The bond German Shepherds tend to have with their family or their caregiver is one of the things that makes them so trainable and eager to please, but it also means that many of them don’t like to be separated from their person.
German Shepherds tend to be “velcro dogs” that stick to their person at all times, and it is not uncommon to find separation anxiety in the breed.
German Shepherd care
German Shepherds need love, high-quality food, and adequate shelter, just like any other dog, but there are other aspects of caring that should not be ignored. Here are some things you will need to do for your Pastor in particular.
Cleanliness
German Shepherds need regular brushing to remove matting and dead hair from their coat and to stimulate new hair growth. They will need to brush their German Shepherd three to four times a week for most of the year and spend hours each week brushing during the shedding seasons.
Hard black German Shepherd nails typically need to be regularly filed or trimmed, unless your dog is very active on rough surfaces that naturally wear down the nails.
Training
German Shepherds are highly intelligent dogs that require regular training from puppyhood to adulthood. For most Pastors, the minimum basic training will be insufficient.
Your Pastor needs activities, tricks, or work to do to keep himself properly stimulated and avoid destructive behavior. Don’t get a German Shepherd unless you are willing to train him to do things with you.
Exercise
The German Shepherd is a very active breed that needs a lot of exercise. If you don’t give your dog enough exercise, it will be apparent that he is running all over your house creating chaos. Most pastors need at least an hour or two of active exercise a day in addition to training.
Food and supplements
If you want your German Shepherd to grow strong and healthy, they need high-quality food. Since most German Shepherds are very active, a high protein diet is ideal for them.
Since German Shepherds tend to be prone to joint problems, you should add nutritional supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin, and omega 6 to their diet.
Common health problems
In many ways, the German Shepherd is a very healthy breed. However, there are some health problems that are, unfortunately, quite common. Here are some things to keep in mind and what can be done about them.
Degenerative myelopathy
It is a terrible genetic disease of the spinal cord that occurs in several breeds, including German Shepherds and German Shepherd crosses. There is nothing that can be done to prevent or treat degenerative myelopathy .
As the disease progresses, the paralysis increases until the spinal cord has completely degenerated and the hindquarters are immobile.
If your dog is diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy, you can help delay the onset of severe symptoms and help your dog cope with his mobility changes by providing physical therapy, boots and special splints to protect and stabilize the legs and, in the advanced stages, a wheelchair.
Elbow and hip dysplasia
Unfortunately, the graceful lines of the German Shepherd do not necessarily lead to great joint health. While many dogs never experience problems, a large number have problems with elbow or hip dysplasia, especially as they age.
There are a number of things that can be done to delay the onset or reduce the symptoms of these problems.
Spaying or neutering : Ongoing research suggests that it may be beneficial to spay or neuter your dog after the first birthday to prevent improper growth that can lead to joint problems.
Light exercise during the puppy stage : Dogs that exercise too much during the puppy stage are more prone to developing joint problems, so only exercise your puppy five minutes twice a day per month of age.
Low-impact exercise throughout life : Low-impact exercise, such as walking or jogging on sand or other soft surface, swimming, and posture exercises can help your dog develop the muscles and tendons around his joints to support his function even when joints begin to degrade.
Supplements : Research has shown that supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin are extremely effective in preventing and treating joint diseases in dogs and have no negative side effects, so supplement your dog for a lifetime.
Swelling
Bloating is sudden bloating of the stomach that can be life-threatening. It occurs in most deep-chested breeds, such as the German Shepherd. To prevent your dog from bloating, do not allow him to exercise for at least 45 minutes after eating and consider feeding him smaller portions.
Related questions
When is the fearlessness of a German Shepherd a problem?
Although a German Shepherd’s courage is often an asset, that fearlessness can cause problems if your German Shepherd takes on challenges he’s not prepared for, such as trying to intimidate a much larger dog, or bravely lunges into unforeseen danger. like chasing off an intruder who has run into a busy street.
Are German Shepherds sociable?
German Shepherds who are slowly raised or introduced to other animals and who are carefully socialized with other people are generally very sociable animals and make wonderful companions. They are appreciated for their loyalty and thrive when treated like part of the family.
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