There are few dogs that match the companionship of a German Shepherd, which can easily explain why you may want to know if they would do well in an apartment. With the housing market the way it is, why not at least try?
German Shepherds aren’t well-suited for an apartment because they are a large dog breed that requires sufficient room and physical and mental stimulation. They become anxious after being left alone for and extended period and can become very vocal.
Not the answer you were hoping for? Keep reading to get a better explanation for why you might not want to get a German Shepherd for your apartment companion.
Can German Shepherds be Good Apartment Dogs?
German Shepherds (GSDs) can be good apartment dogs but they require vigorous training and attention to prevent common apartment neighbor and landlord complaints, particularly loud noises and damaged property.
That requires more attention than most Americans have the time or energy for, which is why it’s generally not recommended to adopt a GSD while living in an apartment.
German Shepherds Are Intelligent
The intelligence of the GSD is a blessing and a curse. The more intelligent a breed is, the more personality they have and the more fun you can have with them. However, the more intelligent they are the more stimulation they need, too.
They will assign themselves jobs if you don’t, which may include protecting you from everything because they have a protective nature. That would include barking at everything because that’s what they do to protect you.
If they don’t have a job to do or something to keep them distracted, you can look forward to pillow guts, chewed furniture legs, annihilated dog beds, and so much more. Maybe even some chewed-up books and door corners.
The problem is, there aren’t many jobs you can train a shepherd to do in an apartment room.
German Shepherds Don’t Like to be Left Alone
German Shepherds are loyal and develop strong bonds with their owners in as little as a few weeks or months. It’s not a good idea to leave them alone in an apartment if you can help it.
It’s not recommended to leave your shepherd alone for more than 4 hours a day because they can easily become anxiety-ridden by the separation from their owners. As we’ve discussed, this can cause their anxiety to manifest in destructive behaviors.
The general solution to this is to kennel train your shepherd so that they know to go into their kennel when you have to go to work. This isn’t a perfect solution though because they will become bored and they will howl.
It’s better if you can get someone to come over and take care of your shepherd while you’re gone, but this has the potential to cause the sitter to replace you in your dog’s eyes.
German Shepherds are Vocal Dogs
GSDs are very social dogs, and they show how sociable they are by how much they like to communicate. This consistent communication is also connected to their intelligence, as there are several reasons your shepherd will be vocal.
This can be a problem because GSDs have barks that are louder than moving trucks (>86 decibels). It’s not too surprising. GSDs would bark to announce the presence of any predators or any other threats to their owners.
They will also naturally respond to any noises made by other dogs or anything that sounds like howling (i.e. sirens). Have you ever groaned really loudly when you’re bored? GSDs do that too. Essentially, they have a lot to say and a lot of reasons to be vocal, and apartment neighbors will not be happy about it.
German Shepherds Need a Lot of Room
German Shepherds don’t actually require much in the way of living space, which can be a hopeful sign for apartment dog owners. What really matters is having the space to exercise them.
It wouldn’t be a good idea to try to exercise your GSD inside the apartment anyway because there would be a lot of thumping, and all of the excitement might cause your shepherd to bark.
So, to spare your neighbors, there should be a reliable space to take your dog. GSDs need at least 900 square feet of space to run around properly. If there isn’t such a space nearby, your shepherd will need to be taken on a daily walk for at least 45 minutes.
This does have the opportunity to help socialize your dog since you could meet other people from the apartment while walking.
Can German Shepherds Never Live in Apartments?
It isn’t impossible to happily live with a German Shepherd in an apartment, it’s just more difficult. Shepherds can be crate trained to keep them from destroying stuff out of boredom and they can even be trained not to bark. It’s also important to take them out to relieve themselves on a set schedule.
It will certainly make things easier if you train and socialize your shepherd well and give them plenty of mental and physical stimulation at regular intervals, but there are certain things about the German Shepherd breed that you just can’t “fix.”
It’s not the GSD’s fault they were bred to herd sheep in wide open spaces, using their voices to communicate and round up those sheep. You should consider whether it’s fair to the shepherd to make them live in an apartment with you instead of what they were bred for. Can you give them the time and attention they would need?
Conclusion
Good apartment dogs are dogs that can be happy in a small space, can stay calm when left alone, and make little noise. It’s not impossible for the GSD to accomplish this, but it would be harder for them. A senior GSD wouldn’t have any trouble in an apartment if you like to take in senior dogs and give them golden senior years.