Your Shepherd's Own Space
Whether you are bringing home a puppy or a rescued adult, you will need to provide a place just for your German shepherd. The best way to do this is to set up a crate in a busy area of the home, such as the kitchen, family room, or home office. Your shepherd will want to have a safe cubby to retreat to but will not want to be left out of any of your activities.
Though your shepherd will want to be where the action is, he will also need to be kept safe and secure. Usually this means creating an area that can be sectioned off from the rest of the house with doors or baby gates. You will want your shepherd to be able to spend time with you without having to keep an eye on him at all times, particularly during the housetraining phase.
Shepherds have been seen spreading their front toes and using their paws very much like hands to open drawers and cabinet doors and to wiggle locking devices, like bolts and latches. Take this skill into consideration when deciding on your dog's space and also pay attention to what the shepherd might find in the drawers or cabinets.
The shepherd's area should also be in a part of your house with very few valuables, breakables, or toxic substances. Additionally, the area should be easy to clean in case of any accidents. Rooms that have hard floors, such as tile, linoleum, vinyl, or high-grade laminate floors, are all excellent choices. This type of floor will also teach your shepherd how to navigate on slick surfaces.
