German Shepherd Traits and Behaviors

German Shepherds are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. They are known for their intelligence, loyalty, and courage. 

Here are some of the most notable traits and behaviors of this remarkable breed:

• Loyalty: German Shepherds are known for their unwavering loyalty to their owners. They are fiercely protective of their family and will do anything to keep them safe.

• Intelligence: German Shepherds are intelligent dogs. They are quick learners. And are used as police or military dogs because of their ability to learn complex tasks.

• Trainability: German Shepherds are very trainable. They respond well to positive reinforcement and are eager to please their owners.

• Energy: German Shepherds are high-energy dogs. They require a lot of exercises and mental stimulation to keep them happy and healthy.

• Playfulness: German Shepherds have a playful side to them. They love to play fetch and other games with their owners.

• Protective: German Shepherds have a natural protective instinct. They will protect their owners and their property at all costs.

• Herding: German Shepherds are herding dogs. They have a natural ability to control and move livestock.

• Barking: German Shepherds are vocal dogs. They will bark to alert their owners of anything out of the ordinary.

• Socialization: German Shepherds require early socialization to prevent them from becoming overly protective or aggressive.

• Shedding: German Shepherds have thick coat that sheds heavily. They require regular grooming to keep them healthy and clean.

We always want our dogs to be happy and healthy. German Shepherds are wonderful dogs. We wouldn't want anything to affect them negatively while growing up, so here is an article to explain common 1 year old German Shepherd behavior. If you have noticed any drastic differences then you may want to contact a vet, just to make sure everything is alright!

Overall Behavior:

German shepherds are loyal caring dogs and overall 1 year old German Shepherd behavior can vary. By this age they have probably formed a stronger bond with you. Doesn't mean they won't misbehave at times, as they are maturing out of their puppy stage around now. So don't be mad if your German shepherd acts a little destructive still. Just means you need to keep up with their basic training. Try to spot out any aggression in your German Shepherd. While German Shepherds are mostly friendly sweet dogs, they can have a strong intolerance to strangers. Make sure that your German Shepherd is very well socialized with everyone in your household, especially children and small pets. Your German Shepherd should definitely be out of their teething stage by the age one. No worrying about your puppy chewing up your furniture and other belongings. By this age you want to make sure your German Shepherd respects you. This is very important, so if your Shepherd ever nips or bites at you not playing, you need to make sure to let them know that's not okay. Just tell them "off" and give them a little pat on the nuzzle, letting them know what they did with their mouth was wrong. Continue this if they do it a few more times. If they keep it up and it's a natural habit think about contacting a trainer.

Nutrition:

German Shepherds are very athletic energetic dogs. They need to have a strong diet. We have an article called "What Can German Shepherds Eat?" You can check it out to see what foods are best and to help you watch out for those toxic foods too. Make sure they are eating regularly. It's good to know a German Shepherds average weight. Males range 65-90 pounds. While females are about 50-70 pounds. Try to not go under or over the average weights. Make sure there is no lack of appetite or excessive eating. It's best to schedule meals to keep them healthy. Two or three times is a day is a good way to spread it out. Just make sure your dog isn't going without eating for 12 hours. This can cause nausea. The amount you feed your Shepherd a day should be based on the weight, age, and activity level of your dog. The average amount of food a day for the German Shepherd is five to eight cups. So you can half this and give them however much that is in two meals. Since you don't want them going over 12 hours without eating I would give them one meal at around 10am and the next at around 8pm.

Health:

Your dog is still maturing and growing. You will want to take a trip to the vet for their yearly checkup, just to get everything checked out. Dogs need checkups at least once a year. Watch out for any health problems that could be severe. If you have spotted any of these in your German Shepherd definitely visit your local vet: - Vomiting - Change in personality - Unexplained Weight Loss - Loss of appetite - Excessive gagging, sneezing, or coughing - Diarrhea - Excessive thirst or urination - Red or swollen gums - Difficulty urinating - Runny eyes or nose - Change in sleeping patterns - Labored Breathing - Dry itchy skin These are common signs of your dog being sick. This can be minor or serious. That's why you must contact a vet so it doesn't get worse. Now here is a list of common health problems in one year old German Shepherds. You don't have to worry about major diseases and dysfunctions in the body, as those normally start at around 5-6 years old. - Ear Infection - Heartworm - Kennel cough - Influenza - Lyme Disease - Fleas or ticks You can prevent these, as I stated earlier, by getting your check ups regularly. Read this article to learn how often to take your dog to the vet. If your dog does get one of these problems not to worry. These are small and minor. They can be cured with prescribed medicine or other things that help prevent it. Like for fleas and ticks they have collars, and for heartworm they have treats.

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