How long does a German Shepherd live?
Regular veterinary care, yearly vaccinations and proper feeding are vital in maintaining your
dog's health. With proper nutrition, routine veterinary care, and regular exercise and grooming
your German Shepherd should live to 10 to 13 years.
How much will a German Shepherd puppy cost ?
Generally a good German Shepherd puppy will cost between $500 and $1000, depending on his
lineage, appearance, and breeding. Only a good breeder can tell you with any accuracy what
your puppy grow up to look like and what inherited traits are present. If you are looking for
a dog to do a specific task, find a breeder whose specialty is that job. If you want a pet,
look at as many litters as possible and talk with the breeders about their dogs.
Reputable breeders offer guarantees on their puppies and are a great source of information
in the care of your pet. The German Shepherd Dog Club of America
has a referal service.
How much room does a German Sheperd need ?
While German Shepherd Dogs can adapt to virtually any living situation, they need considerable
daily exercice to maintain physical and mental fitness. Without regular exercice, both
physical and mental, your Shepherd may become overactive and difficult to live with. However,
your Shepherd should never be allowed to run free but should be protected by a fenced backyard
or a large kennel run.
How much training does a German Shepherd need ?
Basic obedience training is an essential part of responsible dog ownership. It will make
your dog a better companion and will help establish a stronger bond between the two of you.
A German Shepherd Dog is a natural guard dog and does not need training for this. Protection
training is very dangerous in an unstructured environment and should be avoided without
obtaining the advice of a very good qualified trainer.
Should I breed my German Shepherd ?
In most cases, the answer is NO. Breeding dogs is a great responsibily and there is
significant financial investment involved (often exceeding $1500 or more) in breeding a
litter properly, and a great deal of time must be spent to socialize your pups so they
reach their full potential. The average litter size of a German Shepherd is 8 to 12
puppies. As one of the most popular breeds in the country, approximately 60,000 German
Shepherd Dogs are registered with the AKC yearly. Unfortunately, many of these dogs lack
the qualities that make the German Shepherd Dog such a desirable breed. Only the best
German Shepherd Dogs should be bred. He or she should be certified free of hip and
elbow dysplasia by x-rays submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animal (OFA) and
screened for other things he may pass onto his/her offspring.
Remember too that overpopulation is a serious problem and 15 million dogs are put to
death each year in animal shelters nationwide.
Will spaying or neutering change my dog's temperament ?
One of the best things you can do for your dog is to spay or neuter. The basic
disposition of your dog will not be changed by removing his or her reproductive
capability and will not, in itself, make your dog obese or lazy.
Having a litter is not, in any way, beneficial to a bitch and can occasionally lead
to problems, even death. It is a medical fact that spayed bitches are more healthy and
live longer than unspayed bitches. Neutered males cannot develop testicular cancer.
Neutering a male will remove his psychological need to mate and he will be more tolerant
of other male dogs.
The AKC permits spayed and neutered animals to participate in all phases of obedience,
tracking, herding and junior handling, but not in conformation classes.