German Shepherds – Some Tips When Looking For A New Dog

German Shepherd Dogs are loyal,smart and suited for a wide variety of tasks as well as making great family pets. They've been popular ever since they were introduced after the first world war. As they make good family pets, here is a bit of information you may want to have on hand when taking a look at adding a German Shepherd to your family.

When looking to add a new German Shepherd puppy to your family, be sure to choose a reputable breeder. You can avoid many German Shepherd health problems this way. Due to the popularity of the dog, many people breed them, but they are not always concerned with quality. Look in a specialist dog magazine or paper to find a good breeder or contact the breed council.

Diet is important. Just like with humans what you feed, your German Shepherd ultimately is one of the deciding factors in its health, growth and development. Talk to your veterinarian about what types of things should be in the diet of a large breed like the German Shepherd.

Your GSD is very smart. He deserves the opportunity to be all he can be. German Shepherd training will give him the qualities needed to be a great family dog that will be a joy to own. Its not hard but requires persistence on the part of the owner.

One of the biggest German Shepherd health concerns you will have with your dog is the chance that it might develop and suffer from hip dysplasia. This is a common ailment among larger breed dogs and affects the joints of the dog's shoulder and elbow. The effects are similar to the ones people with arthritis suffer from. To avoid this, regularly exercise your German Shepherd but don't over do it especially with puppies. The first six months are a critical developmental time for a puppy.

Other German Shepherd health concerns include Hemophilia A. This blood clotting disorder affects the males and can be hereditary. Although not subject themselves, the females can be carriers. Pancreatic Insufficiency causes food to not be digested properly. Treatment is a life long process. Bloat or Gastric Torsion is also common. Feeding two smaller meals a day instead of one large one can help prevent this painful condition.

Many of these conditions can be hereditary. With this in mind, be sure to check with your breeder to be sure that the parents do not have these conditions. General German Shepherd health maintenance can be achieved by routinely taking your pet to the vet for vaccinations. These active, social dogs require regular exercise and lots of attention. If you take good care of your German Shepherd, you will have a healthy, happy friend for many years.

Whether you are looking for a German Shepherd puppy or an older dog, be sure to consider a shelter. There are many German Shepherd rescue groups that can provide that can provide you with a healthy dog that would otherwise go without a home.