You might be familiar with the cartoon “Paw Patrol” if you have kids.1 If you haven’t seen the show before, it’s a cartoon featuring a child protagonist who leads a group of dogs that work search and rescue missions (aka the Paw Patrol), with each dog having certain skills relating to a specific job—such as policeman or fireman. Throughout the show, there have been eleven dogs in the Paw Patrol (originally, there were six; the others came later), including Chase.
If you have watched the show before, you might have wondered what type of dog he is. Chase is a German Shepherd!2 Chase is a 7-year-old German Shepherd who works as both a police and traffic dog, as well as a super spy police dog.
The Lowdown on German Shepherds
While German Shepherds are a dog breed that has garnered a bit of an (unfair) reputation as aggressive, this really isn’t the case. After all, this breed is used often in real-life police work (though not as super spies), military work, and other similar jobs. And there’s a reason the German Shepherd is suited to this kind of work.
The breed is a working dog breed, so they enjoy having something to do. They’re also fiercely loyal and courageous, making them suitable for the work the military and police do. Plus, this dog breed is extremely intelligent, making them easier to train for such complicated work.
However, the German Shepherd also makes an excellent family dog. This dog’s temperament will, in large part, come from how it’s been trained. If a German Shepherd is trained from an early age to do military jobs, it will have a different temperament than if you adopted one and put it through standard obedience classes and training. And when it comes to family life, the German Shepherd tends to form a strong bond with its “pack”. The breed also does well with children (provided they’ve been socialized from a young age). Best of all, the German Shepherd is protective, so you’ll have a great watchdog with this breed.
How Does Chase Compare to a Real German Shepherd?
Wondering whether Chase, the cartoon German Shepherd, shares any traits with the real thing? He does! Chase is athletic and not afraid to lead on rescue missions. He’s also obedient and highly loyal to the leader of the Paw Patrol group. And when there’s no work to be done, his playful and competitive side emerges among his friends.
This cartoon pup has quite a bit in common with his real-life counterpart!
Things to Know if You Want to Adopt a German Shepherd
Maybe you’ve watched Chase on “Paw Patrol” and thought you’d like to get a dog like him. If that’s the case, you should know a few things before adopting a German Shepherd.
Training
Properly training your German Shepherd is a vital part of owning one. This isn’t the sort of dog you can adopt and then never give any training to. That will only lead to behavioral issues down the road. Your pup will need to know that you are in charge; it will also need to be socialized with other people, children, and pets from a young age, so it will get along with all.
Luckily, the German Shepherd is extremely smart, so training shouldn’t be too difficult. But if you feel like you aren’t up to the task or don’t have enough time to devote, you should look into getting a professional trainer for your pup.
Exercise
The German Shepherd is an active breed, so you’re looking at around 45–60 minutes of daily exercise. Too little exercise and your dog will look at other ways to burn off extra energy (and these ways will be more destructive than a romp in the backyard). Daily exercise also helps to prevent your pet from becoming overweight, which is important as obesity can lead to other diseases.
Exercising your pet can involve going on a run or walk, playing in the backyard, hiking, going to the dog park, or anything else you can think of. Switch up activities regularly to keep your German Shepherd’s mind engaged as well!
Grooming
Thankfully, the German Shepherd is easy when it comes to grooming. Most of the year will only require weekly brushing, but fall and spring will need daily brushing as these are the heavy shedding seasons for this breed. Other than that, it’s really only a matter of keeping your pup’s teeth clean and having its nails trimmed when they get long.
Health
Every dog breed will have specific health issues that it is more prone to, and the German Shepherd is no exception. The good news is the breed is a relatively hardy one. But you’ll need to keep an eye out for a few things, including hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, bloat, and pannus. That’s not to say all German Shepherds will develop these diseases, only that they are more at risk for them than other dog breeds.
Final Thoughts
Chase, the police/traffic cop/super spy pup from the cartoon “Paw Patrol”, is a German Shepherd that matches up with his real-life counterpart quite well. German Shepherds are loyal, obedient, intelligent working dogs that excel doing jobs in places such as the military. However, the breed can also make a wonderful family pet—you simply need to know how to properly care for and train it.
If you’re thinking of adopting a German Shepherd like Chase, you’ll have to put some work in during its early years, but you’ll also have a protective, loyal companion for life!
Featured Image Credit: Characters by Guru Animation Studio Ltd., Spin Master Ltd. All rights reserved to the copyright owners.
