How much might a trained German Shepherd cost?

A trained German Shepherd can cost well more than $30,000, depending on the dog’s bloodlines and type of training.

Understanding what goes into training these dogs makes it easier to appreciate the costs associated with getting one of them.

How Does Environment Make a Different for German Shepherds?

One of the things that make a difference in raising German Shepherds is raising them in an indoor environment with easy access to the breeder’s family, rather than in a kennel setting.

There are other reasons GSDs do better raised indoors.

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We cannot emphasize enough the need for German Shepherds to be raised to live in the house. Simply put, outdoor living can bring out behavior problems.

GSDs are large dogs that can become very destructive if left to their own devices.

Digging holes, chewing up lawn furniture, and overturning trash cans to scavenge are all potential nuisance behaviors to think about if your dog is left alone.

A German Shepherd is big enough to jump over or climb most fences easily.

A dog that gets out of the yard is likely to get hit by a vehicle, attacked by other animals, or end up picked up by animal control and ending up in the pound.

When the dog that you get has been trained for indoor life, you don’t need to think about the money spent on acquiring a trained dog going to waste.

Your dog will have a much easier time becoming an essential part of the family.

How Will a Trained Shepherd Learn to Adjust to a New Home?

Many breeders who train their Shepherds before selling them will take care of crate training before the dogs go to their new homes.

Taking care of crate training gives new owners extra time and makes it easier for the dogs to adjust.

These dogs will likely become used to riding in a vehicle from an early age, becoming perfectly comfortable with car rides.

Training is also likely to include climbing stairs inside a home and getting used to different conditions out in the yard.

Breeders who train their dogs before sending them to their new homes will get them used to bathing, ear cleaning, and nail trimming.

When a dog has become used to bathing and grooming, these tests will be easier for the new owner to perform.

What Commands Will Trained German Shepherds Know?

Trained German Shepherds will know how to walk with a leash and collar, including following the handler.

Leash training is often one of the more frustrating parts of training a dog, making early leash training all the more critical.

According to Kraftwerk K9, training in shorter intervals makes the most significant impact, something that most GSD breeders who train dogs practice.

Rewards-based training allows puppies and young dogs to learn commands more effectively. A dog that learns their name quickly will be more likely to come when called.

This training will also include learning that “No” means stopping.

Coming, then sitting, and staying on command, will be essential commands that these dogs learn as well.

Either sitting or lying down on command are useful commands for dogs to know, especially when you need your dog to stay quiet.

This video shows how easily a well-trained German Shepherd will follow commands, as demonstrated at a German dog show.

These dogs have a strong desire to please that serves them well at any task.

Do the Bloodlines German Shepherds Come from Make a Difference?

German Shepherd Corner points out the fact that there are different German Shepherd varieties and these different types may play a role in the price.

Dogs bred from American show lines are the types of German Shepherds that the average person is probably the most familiar with when they think of this breed.

The image that these dogs have is one that is unforgettable.

The AKC standard defines the German Shepherd as being a gentle, loyal family pet.

These traits help make the dog one of the most popular choices for families, especially with kids.

K9GermanShepherds highlights dogs from West German show lines as also being very important in the world of German Shepherds, having a high probability of being free from hip dysplasia.

Dogs from West German working lines have many of the traits first popularized in the original Shepherds that Max von Stephanitz bred.

These German Shepherd Dogs are famous for their working abilities and overall versatility.

The East German Shepherd, also known as the DDR Shepherd, originates in breeding programs established by the East German government.

East Germans bred this line with the intention of having them serve as a “competitor” to West German dogs.

Eickental K9 regards DDR Shepherds as being among some of the most effective protection dogs that exist. Getting one of these dogs fully trained will cost more, on average.

Czech German Shepherds were initially bred for border patrol duties.

These dogs, like their East German counterparts, are seldom used as pets. Like the DDR German Shepherds, these dogs will also usually cost more to acquire.

If you have decided to get a trained dog, the right breeder makes a difference.

The best breeders for producing these dogs are motivated by more than breeding for profit. A breeder with the right attitude will provide dogs that do their jobs well.

One of the things that you need to be willing to do is ask questions about everything from the bloodlines to how the breeder will train the dog.

The more information you have, the more easily you can make an informed choice about a dog.

Whenever possible, consider asking to see and interact with some of the dogs available to see examples of their training for yourself.

Even though each dog is different, interactions with their dogs will help you understand what you can expect.

How Do Specific Training Types Impact German Shepherd Prices?

The specific type of training that a German Shepherd dog receives may also determine the price that you could pay.

Although the most common form of training that German Shepherds receive is for protection, there are other forms of training possible.

Big Sky Working Dogs defines Schutzhund, the most well-known form of training, as a sport that blends together elements of tracking, obedience, and protection.

Dogs trained for Schutzhund are trained more for their competitive abilities than anything else.

However, a dog with this type of training will handle commands well, and also show a willingness to learn new concepts.

Some dogs might be trained for search and rescue, which requires some slightly different skills from the tracking used in Schutzhund.

A dog with full search and rescue training can readily be volunteered for help locating the missing.

Dogs trained for guarding are also likely to cost more because of the more specialized level of training received.

German Shepherds, with this type of training, offer a level of personal protection that goes well beyond what a family pet provides.

Trained German Shepherds often cost $30,000 to $40,000. Dogs with the most specialized training may cost as much as $60,000.

Although you are making a major investment, it is one that is likely to be worth what you pay.

Do German Shepherds Train as Service Dogs Cost More?

Katie Nowak points out how specialized the requirements for service dogs are, which is why these dogs are often somewhat hard to come by.

Service dogs often have long waiting lists.

Service dogs assist people who have conditions protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA.

One of the reasons these dogs must have such good training is because they are allowed in public locations not usually open to dogs.

Many people associate service dogs with guide dogs who help the blind. German Shepherds have a long history of performing such work.

However, acting as a guide dog is one of many roles that a service dog can fulfill for the disabled.

Service dogs may also assist people with intellectual disabilities like autism or psychiatric conditions like PTSD.

A service dog may also be trained to help people with mobility-related diseases like MS, cerebral palsy, or Parkinson’s.

Because the tasks that these dogs perform are often reasonably complicated, they require dogs with the right set of traits and an extensive amount of training.

The extra costs associated with getting one of these dogs to help cover their training.

Service dogs that have received training might cost from $15,000 to $30,000. However, some have been known to cost as much as $50,000 for the most specialized training.

A trained German Shepherd is a significant investment worth your time and money.