Some dog breeds have a firm and lasting relationship in the public’s heart and consistently place in the top 10 of the ranking of most popular dog breeds in the world.
The strong and noble German shepherd dog(GSD) is one of these lasting favorites. In fact, for the past 10 years, the german shepherd has been the number two most popular dog in the united states and it’s been in the top 10 for decades.
Let’s check out seven reasons most people prefer the german shepherd above other breeds
7 German shepherds are highly Intelligent dogs
It’s a well-known fact that german shepherds are highly intelligent, they can learn and do almost every task you give them perhaps this is why the largest percentage of police dogs all over the world are German shepherds due to their high intelligence and versatility.
German shepherds are also widely trained as service dogs to aid people with disabilities, some german shepherds are trained to compete in dog sporting events.
German shepherds will explore everything with their noses, you’ll find evidence of their very thorough sniffing everywhere including walls, doors, and windows.
All dogs have a better sense of smell than humans ten thousand to one hundred thousand times better in fact they have millions more scent receptors, but compared to other breeds the GSD ranks near the top in such scenting ability.
It’s no wonder they make such great police and detection dogs.
Among many other jobs, GSDs are also known for their bomb and drug-sniffing work tracking, and search and rescue.
GSDs are incredibly smart if you’re a german shepherd owner, you have a strong suspicion your dog might actually be smarter than you are.
In addition, they have a legendary desire to cooperate and work with us, a trait many see as a wish to please their humans, no wonder this breed exceeds at so many activities and is a top obedience competitor because german shepherds are one of the brightest breeds.
Be sure to be consistent use positive reinforcement methods, provide plenty of mentally stimulating toys, and play brain-challenging games.
6 German shepherds are healthy
German shepherds are one of the healthiest dog breeds, they can live up to 13 years if they are properly cared for.
GSD love to exercise thus they are free from weight problems.
They are prone to several health risks such as hip and elbow dysplasia which later leads to arthritis, degenerative myelopathy, and other diseases but the risk of suffering from these diseases is greatly reduced if proper nutrition and veterinary care are given.
Despite common german shepherd health issues, these large breed dogs tend to live very happy lives they share an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years much like their large dog breed counterparts. Like the golden retriever for example.
5 German shepherds are highly adaptable
Part of the reason why german shepherds are popular is that they are adaptable to any kind of lifestyle and living situation, homes with large yards are ideal for german shepherds but they can easily adapt to apartment living as long as they get enough exercise.
The german shepherd’s temperament is calm and caring, they are considered a good house dog, and their intelligence respect, energy, loyalty, love, and alertness make them good family pets.
If you’re planning to get a german shepherd you don’t have to adjust your current lifestyle, GSD can easily adjust itself and suit your lifestyle.
German shepherds are all-weather dogs, they have a double coat that enables them to tolerate both cold and hot weather if the weather is too hot they might dig a hole and lay in the cool dirt.
(4) German shepherds are active
German shepherds have high energy levels, and they can spend their whole day outdoors, if you love jogging hiking, and hunting, german shepherds are one of the best companions you can have.
If you have children at home, they can play with GSD as long as they can, because these dogs don’t get tired easily therefore you need to walk your dog to the park and provided some sort of exercise.
This breed only thrives with enough regular exercise to burn off all that excess energy, if you don’t give your GSD daily workouts- your dog will get that energy out somehow and most likely in ways you don’t want.
3 German shepherds are devoted to their families
German shepherds are well known for their devotion to their families, they can become very affectionate towards their owners and in turn, become protective of their owners, they are known for being fearless and self-confident.
GSDs will assertively stand their ground and are suited to either watchdog or guardian whichever the situation demands they can be aloof with strangers yet are not hostile.
Natural Protective Instinct
This natural protective instinct is reassuring to the german shepherd owner but it also comes with a certain responsibility.
Spend time socializing and training your dog to ensure its companion feels comfortable around strangers and other dogs. If you do, you will benefit from all this dog has to offer.
German shepherds are loyal and protective and this is a great personality that can be found in dogs
German shepherds have a particularly strong sense of loyalty, they would protect not only their owners but also all their family members in a household.
They have a strong sense of loyalty and protective instinct and this makes them good guard dogs.
However, proper socialization and training are required so that they won’t become overprotective.
GSD provides constant companionship, in truth german shepherd owners are never lonely because their loyal canines are always by their side.
Although GSDs are sometimes slow to welcome strangers, they are gentle and loving with their families they have affectionate and dedicated personalities.
They can be particularly fond of children, this means your GSDs want to spend time with you rather than being left alone all day.
Allowing your german shepherd to be with you as much as possible will bring out the best in your dog
2 German shepherds are obedient and easy to train
German shepherds have high intelligence thus they can be trained for various purposes.
GSDs dogs are obedient, making them easier to train compared to other breeds, not only do german shepherds perform well in task training, obedience training wouldn’t be any problem for them as well.
They will listen and obey your commands if you need any job done just ask your dog.
GSD owners need to understand their dogs were developed as working dogs, in fact, the ideal german shepherd has a body suited to the hard work that is considered its primary purpose.
This means your dog can excel at almost anything from dog sports like rally, agility, scent, work therapy, and service dog. GSD can do it all. The only thing holding your dog back is the time and energy you can commit to training.
It’s no wonder people always think your dog is a service or police dog, german shepherds require a lot of commitment, have a lot of energy, and need to exercise every day, and a walk around the block is not enough.
They love Playing fetch, running or other activities that let them burn off a lot of steam are a must.
If you’re not an active person, the GSD probably isn’t right for you, time and effort into training are also really important. GSDs are smart dogs and need both direction and discipline.
If they don’t have someone to dominate them or don’t know who’s boss is, the results can be chaotic.
If you are timid and unable to put your foot down and control your dog, a german shepherd is a bad idea
1 German shepherds are friendly to other pets and children
Most German shepherds are fine with other pets as long as they have been socialized properly, they can get along well with cats and other dogs.
Some German shepherds can even become gentle and caring towards other pets. GSD loves children if given proper socialization training from an early age.
GSD loves to play with children only if they are well-trained to do so.
When they are young, proper puppy training is essential, along with love, care, and respect toward your pooch.
Also, make sure not to allow children to play with this dog when eating or trying to remain alone.
These are very social dogs who want to spend time with their humans, the more time your dog gets to spend with you the happier your companion will be.
They may exhibit aloofness with strangers rather than immediately adoring everyone they see but that only makes their love even more special plus these loyal and dedicated guardians are gentle family pets who are willing to put their life on the line to protect their loved ones and you can’t ask for a more loving friend than that.
