Wonderful breed with a few things to know before you commit to a German Shepherd

I've had my German Shepherd for 1 years and overall it's been an amazing experience. bonds deeply with family. incredibly smart. The personality of this breed really is special — intelligent, loyal, protective.

That said, there are a few realities I wish someone had been more upfront about. degenerative myelopathy risk was a real surprise. And heavy shedding year-round took some adjustment. These aren't dealbreakers by any means, but they're worth knowing going in.

Health-wise, degenerative myelopathy. We had one scare a couple years in that cost a few thousand dollars. Pet insurance is strongly recommended. But despite these things, I'd still give the breed 4 stars — the companionship and personality far outweigh the challenges.