The German Shepherd is a beautiful dog breed that evokes all the qualities a person would want in a canine friend: loyalty, intelligence, protection, energy and strength. All of that said, owning and raising a German Shepherd is a unique and long-term project that one no one should just jump into willy-nilly.

A German Shepherd puppy is going to be a big bundle of fur, eyes and curiosity when not eating and sleeping. About the half the size of a full grown pug, a Shepherd puppy usually spends his first few weeks stumbling around, tripping on his big paws, and generally getting his nose into trouble learning his world. That said, at puppy age these dogs make great companions for kids and learn quickly how to play well.

Within a year, while still a puppy mentally, a German Shepherd will already be two-thirds of the way to its full size. His ears will be up straight, the dog will start gaining size, and can be as tall as a man’s waist. It’s at this age that training is critical. German Shepherd puppies may look like a full-size dog at one year but they still have all the energy of a little kid. Worse, they have the size, speed and strength to jump fences and get out, causing problems. Anticipating this risk is key for a dog owner, especially in dog-proofing his backyard for the puppy.

German Shepherds need room to move around, be outside, but still be sheltered. A normal backyard fence is insufficient to keep this dog type contained, so it’s a wise idea to upgrade the backyard fence with a chainlink layer on the internal side to keep the dog from getting out. German Shepherds also need plenty of walking, running and exercise. This cuts down on the rambunctiousness of the breed as well as chewing damage and digging.

Clearly, any new children and people also need to be carefully introduced to a young German Shepard as well to avoid accidental injuries. Babies and toddlers should be prevented from contact since they have a bad habit of pulling and slapping, which a dog can misinterpret and then nip the child to cease the behavior. With good dog training, the German Shepard can be a reliable and trustworthy canine, but owners should always be aware of the dog’s strength and capability.