Large dogs look very impressive, but there are many issues that must be taken into account with these animals. Any breeder who touts his massive German shepherds as being highly desirable and worth a steep price is not being entirely honest. A dog's worth does not increase with his size.

In fact, breeding “up” in size creates a host of health problems. For one, larger dogs tend to have shorter life spans. Additionally, when a very limited pool of large dogs is used to breed bigger and bigger shepherds, the breeder runs an increased risk of producing puppies with genetic diseases or other conditions that don't appear in average-sized shepherds.

Just as large dogs intrigue Americans, they are also drawn to tiny ones. However, if you see someone advertising “miniature” German shepherds, something is awry. Either the breeder has introduced another breed into the mix — which means the dogs are not purebred German shepherds but rather German shepherd mixes — or the advertised dog is a dwarf.

Dwarf German shepherds can be cute; however, they seem to have difficulties keeping a full coat. They tend to be born sterile, and many are afflicted with hypothyroidism. A dwarf German shepherd or a German shepherd mix could make a perfectly good pet, but if a breeder is trying to pass the dog off as “rare” (and therefore worth more money), you should be on your guard. Whether a German shepherd mix or a dwarf, a “miniature” shepherd is not worth more than a healthy, full-size German shepherd.