Before You Buy a German Shepherd, Ask Yourself the Hard Questions

Every prospective dog owner has read articles about the best dog food, the right training methods, the perfect leash, and which toys are safest. Those things are important, but they're not the questions that concern me the most as a breeder.

The questions that keep me awake at night have nothing to do with kibble.

They have everything to do with what happens five years from now...or ten.

When someone contacts me about purchasing one of my German Shepherd puppies, I'm not just placing a puppy in a home. I'm placing a living, breathing family member that will hopefully be with you for the next 10 to 15 years. That is a commitment that deserves much more thought than simply deciding whether you have room in your house today.

The question isn't, "Do you want a German Shepherd?"

The question is, "Will your life still have room for a German Shepherd when life doesn't go according to plan?"

Let's Talk About Real Life

Life changes.

Sometimes those changes are exciting, and sometimes they're heartbreaking. Before you bring home a puppy, ask yourself how those changes might affect your dog.

What if your work schedule changes?

A German Shepherd puppy cannot spend 10 or 12 hours alone every day while you're at work. Even as adults, German Shepherds thrive on companionship, exercise, and mental stimulation. They are not dogs that do well being ignored or left in the backyard.

If you're working long hours now, what is your plan?

Will someone be home?

Can you afford a dog walker or daycare if necessary?

Do you have the time to train and exercise your dog after a long day?

What happens if you travel?

Everyone loves vacations.

But what happens to your dog while you're away?

Do you have family members you trust?

Will you board your dog?

Can you afford quality boarding?

Would you rather travel less often so your dog can remain with you?

If your dream is to travel the country, have you considered whether your German Shepherd will be joining you?

What if you move?

Many people buy a home, then years later relocate for work or decide to downsize.

Can you easily find housing that accepts a large German Shepherd?

If you decide to move into an apartment temporarily, will your dog still have enough exercise and space?

If your dream is to sell everything and live in an RV, have you honestly thought about how your dog will fit into that lifestyle?

Your dreams may change, but your dog still depends on you.

What if your relationship changes?

It's an uncomfortable subject, but it's one every responsible owner should think about.

What happens if you get married?

What if you have children?

What if you and your partner separate or divorce?

Who keeps the dog?

Will both people still be committed to its care, or will the dog become another casualty of the breakup?

Dogs don't understand broken relationships. They only understand that the people they loved are suddenly gone.

Can you afford a dog for the next 10 to 15 years?

Buying a puppy is usually the least expensive part of ownership.

There are annual veterinary visits, vaccines, heartworm prevention, flea and tick control, quality nutrition, training classes, grooming supplies, boarding, emergency veterinary care, medications as they age, and unexpected injuries or illnesses.

Ask yourself honestly...

If an emergency vet bill costs several thousand dollars, do you have a plan?

Because emergencies rarely happen at a convenient time.

What if life gets difficult?

People lose jobs.

Families experience illness.

Parents become caregivers.

Financial hardship happens.

None of us can predict the future.

I'm not asking whether your life is perfect.

I'm asking whether you've thought about how your dog will remain a priority when life becomes imperfect.

Who will care for your dog if something happens to you?

This is probably the hardest question of all.

If you became seriously ill...

If you were hospitalized...

If you passed away unexpectedly...

Who would take your German Shepherd?

Have you talked to that person?

Would they be willing and able to provide the same level of care?

Responsible ownership means having a plan, even for the things we hope never happen.

German Shepherds Aren't Temporary

German Shepherds are incredibly loyal dogs.

They don't stop loving you because life becomes inconvenient.

They don't ask to be rehomed because you changed jobs.

They don't leave because you had a bad year.

They simply continue waiting for you to come home.

That's why, as breeders, we ask so many questions before placing one of our puppies.

We're not trying to invade your privacy.

We're trying to determine whether the home you're offering today is likely to remain a loving, stable home for the next decade or longer.

Those questions aren't about judging you.

They're about protecting a puppy that has no say in where it spends the rest of its life.

The Final Question

Before you decide to bring home a German Shepherd, don't ask yourself whether you want one today.

Ask yourself whether you're prepared to love, protect, provide for, and include that dog in every chapter of your life over the next 10 to 15 years.

Because to a German Shepherd, you aren't just their owner.

You are their entire world.

And they deserve someone who has thought beyond today.