If you are looking for a dog that's good with the family and is loyal, get a German Shepherd. They are wonderful dogs that originated in Germany. Although some people get intimidated by the shepherd's size, this dog, with proper training, is actually very gentle and friendly. One of the best things about German Shepherds is that they are very smart. They can be easily trained to be both a guard dog and a family dog. German Shepherds owners who are new to them should know a few extra care needs for these wonderful dogs. Below are some common tips.

Brush and Groom them Regularly

German Shepherds have double coats, this mean that they have very thick fur. Shedding may be a big problem if you don't brush them often so take some time to groom them properly. Most German Shepherds have short hair, however there are some that do have long hair. Long haired German Shepherds are a bit rare, and they will need more attention when grooming. Use a special shampoo to keep their fur clean, and treat them for parasites like ticks and fleas every now and then.

Diet

Never overfeed your German Shepherds. Health risk arises from weight problems so watch what they eat. As puppies, always give them the right amount of nutrition. You can also introduce rare meat when they are older. Never give them raw meat since these could carry bacteria such as salmonella and e coli. Cook the meat first and bring it up to temperature where the bacteria die before feeding it to the dog.

Exercise

They are very active dogs. If you are planning to place them in a cage, make sure you release them every day for exercise. A good wide space is idea for them to run around but a good walk around the park will do just fine.

Health

German Shepherds are prone to degenerative myelopathy, which is an illness that damages the nerves of the lower part of the dogs body, making it loose control of it. This illness is actually carried down from the dog's genes so if it's blood line has a history of degenerative myelopathy, there is a big chance that the illness it will develop on it. This is not seen until the dog is older, about 8 to 14 years old, so even a healthy puppy can end up with degenerative myelopathy. it is incurable, but there are ways to minimize it's symptoms and let the dog live for a longer time. Proper exercise and diet is key.