Are You Ready for a German Shepherd?
Please think about your lifestyle before getting a dog. If you work long or irregular hours, travel extensively or are rarely at home, now may not be the time for getting a dog. Remember that a German Shepherd needs to spend time with his pack (you and your family). This could mean that you may have to adjust your schedule to spend sufficient time with your dog.
You must be willing to commit 10-15 years of your life to taking care of this dog. It is not a good idea to get a dog just for a child, or when not all of the family members are willing or able to share in the responsibilities that come with bringing a dog into your home.
The German Shepherd is a very active breed, and requires exercise and training on a daily basis. A dog that gets left out in the yard for long periods of time is not necessarily going to exercise itself, so you need to be out there, interacting with your dog, making sure that it stays in good physical condition, and is mentally stimulated as well.
Getting a Rescue Dog
Breed-specific rescues are a great place for finding the right dog for you. The rescue dogs appreciate the love and nurturing they receive at the hand of their owners, and bond deeply with them.
Rescue dogs come from many places. Some are found as strays or are brought in from shelters. But owners who no longer have time for them, may have developed allergies to them, or have suffered financial difficulties also give their dogs up for adoption. Many are given up because the lack of training by the owners has allowed them to develop bad habits.
VGSR conducts temperament evaluations on every dog before considering acceptance into rescue. Once a dog is taken into a VGSR foster, it is given appropriate medical care, exercise and training. The VGSR foster volunteer provides a stable environment and basic training, and evaluates the dog's personality more thoroughly to determine if it is good with children, other dogs, cats, etc., so that it can be placed in the “forever” home that best fits its needs.
VGSR has put into place its application and interview process prior to adoption because we want to make sure that the right dog goes to the right home. There are individual variations within each breed, and the procedures we have put into place minimize the possibility of a dog being placed in an environment that is unsuitable for its well-being.
The Right Dog for You
Many factors go into the determination of which dog will be the right one for you. When making your selection, please pay particular attention to the age of the dog.
That puppy might look really cute, but are you sure that you are able and willing to put up with the work that goes along with having a puppy? They are babies, and as such will chew things, make messes in the house, and need to be taken out every couple of hours to relieve themselves (yes, even in the middle of the night in a driving rain or snow). An adult dog on the other hand would generally know not to do any of the above, can stay at home all day while you are at work, and is easily trained since adults have longer attention spans and are more focused.
If you are looking for a dog that will be your constant, loyal companion, consider getting a rescue dog from VGSR.
