Introducing my girl Schatzi, German for sweetheart. She is a year and a half, full blood German Shepherd I got from a breeder in Camp Hill, Alabama. I picked her out when she was 4 weeks old and went and picked her up to come home four weeks later. She is a major diva who enjoys playing frisbee, getting into whatever water she can find, kicking (yes, I said kicking) around her soccer ball, chewing bones and taking your pillow when it's bed time.

1. Protection

Especially if you are a girl like me, being alone in a college town can have its scary moments. One of the homes I’ve lived in got broken into and that’s when I realized I needed to find a way to feel safe in my house again. That’s when I got Schatzi. German Shepherds are one of the top dogs used for the purpose of protection.

2. Loyalty

There is no feeling like coming home to someone always being excited to see you. German Shepherds tend to connect very closely to one person and create a bond that is full of mutual trust. I can always count on my girl to be by my side and take care of me when I’m down.

2. Exercise

I am not a self-motivated person to go out and run and be active. When you have a German Shepherd you have to be active. Being such a high energy dog, they have got to get outside and do something every day. Some of our favorite things to do is go on hikes, go swimming and go to the dog park.

4. Responsibility

Being responsible for another living thing other than yourself is a huge lesson! Taking care of a dog isn’t easy and it isn’t for everybody, but it’s a great feeling watching your pup grow into a full grown dog and know you are part of their journey as they are part of yours! Having my Shepherd I learned how to take care of something and how much sacrifice it takes to do so.

5. Love

There is nothing like the love from an animal, but the love of a German Shepherd is extra special. Of course I am biased, however, the reason I think so is because they aren’t the type of dogs who want to be petted and want to snuggle with you all the time. So when they crawl into your lap, like a tiny 20-pound lap dog, or snuggle up into your arms at night when you get into bed, it’s a big deal. They can be the sweetest dogs, but only when they want to be.

6. Brains

German Shepherds are so smart! This makes them so much fun. If you take the time you can teach them to do any kind of trick. I’ve seen it all, from smiling to loading the dishwasher. Sometimes they can be too smart for their own good, but as long as you don’t let them become smarter than you, all goes well. (Yes, my girl knows how to FaceTime and we do so frequently.)