Let's say Bonjour to Kodiak
German Shepherd Dog, 6 Months old
My favourite thing about Kodiak is...
He absolutely loves everyone and is always excited to greet them, people and dogs alike. He’s a little ball of energy and is always over the moon to see me, whether I left the room for a couple of minutes or left the house for a few hours. He’s so friendly and good-natured, and absolutely adores and idolises his older brother Nanook (who also has a profile on here!).
The biggest challenge with Kodiak is...
He’s really reactive with other dogs - he’s not aggressive, but he gets so excited that he will bark and lunge to get to them and, even though he’s still a puppy, being a larger breed this can be intimidating for smaller dogs. He has a rebellious streak and doesn’t like to listen. He’s also exhibiting early signs of separation anxiety and really doesn’t like to be parted from me or Nanook.
The most surprising thing about owning a German Shepherd Dog is...
As I said on Nanook’s profile - how much they shed! I was prepared for the potentially negative traits of the breed that Kodiak definitely has.
What I wish I’d known about German Shepherd Dogs is...
How important it is not to let them get too dependent on another dog in the home! I think this has really exacerbated the negative traits of the breed in Kodiak. He’s still a puppy so we’re working on these of course, but being the second dog, and also coming from a hobby breeder rather than a reputable one, he’s a lot more stubborn and it is taking some time.
Did you know?
Long before Lassie, the first canine film star was a German Shepherd Dog known as Rin Tin Tin who was rescued as a puppy in 1918 from a World War I battlefield by Lee Duncan, an American soldier. He made 26 films, had his own radio show and even his own private chef!
