|
Missouri German Shepherd Rescue
Love In Action - Restoring Hope for German Shepherds an IRS 501(c)3 non-profit organization |
BEFORE YOU GET A GERMAN SHEPHERD Evaluate your life and your family's lives. Are you ready for a lifetime commitment of 12-14 years? Are you ready to consider this dog your family member? Are you ready to deal with the time, effort and money it takes to have a dog?
HOURS Are your hours at home irregular due to work or your social life? Will the dog consistently be home alone for very long hours?
SOCIAL LIFE Do you mind having to go home after work ... staying home a lot on weekends to care for and exercise your dog ... even if it means curtailing some social activities?
TRAVEL Do you plan to travel a lot in the near future?
TIME Is your time already precious to you because you have kids to concentrate on and constantly drive to lessons/practices/games?
FULL FAMILY SUPPORT Is everyone in your family excited about getting a German Shepherd Dog, or would some rather have another breed?
If you answer yes to any of these questions, please reconsider getting a German Shepherd Dog now. Wait til your circumstances change. You'll be glad you did and so will any dog you adopt.
General German Shepherd Information:
The German Shepherd Dog is a large, active dog with a dense double coat. This double coat sheds year round, and produces even greater volumes of fur when the dogs "blow coat" in the spring and fall. Some shed more than others. For some owners, this is not a trivial point.The breed was developed for service as a herding and general purpose working animal. The desire to "work" or do something is genetic and is stronger in some GSDs than in others. Most adult GSDs are loyal, loving, protective, and intelligent. Without proper training GSDs can also be rambunctious, destructive of property, and exhausting to live with. It is up to you to guide your dog to suit your lifestyle and that of your family. Most, if not all, GSDs need training and a structured lifestyle to thrive in the home and become a canine good citizen. You should consider the following recommendations as your basic commitment to your new GSD. Take at least an 8 week obedience course to assure that you are the dog's leader. Be prepared to socialize your dog by exposing it to as many people and situations as possible to develop its confidence. Vigorously exercise the adult GSD at least 20 minutes daily. Brush the coat daily. Trim nails every other week, clean ears, and brush teeth weekly. Vacuum often during shedding seasons. If a change of residence is required, make sure that your GSD is welcome at the new address. Realize that a GSD is a very social animal and should not be left alone for long periods of time. Before a problem gets out of hand be willing to call a trainer, a behaviorist, or a member of the local rescue group for help.
Still Not Sure If a GSD Is Right For You?
There are many articles and tools online to further assess if a German Shepherd is right for you. For example, consider completing a dog breed quiz such as this one provided by Animal Planet to take an unbiased look at what you are looking for in a four legged addition to your family, the results may surprise you.Want to know more? Read what it takes to adopt and maintain a healthy, happy German Shepherd.
If you still think a GSD is right for you and you've done your home work and are interested in adopting one of our MOGS Dogs, it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Some Helpful Further Readings:
|