I have a family. I have kids. And we wanted a German Shepherd…but I’ve heard that German Shepherds are only good in working roles, such as police or guard dogs. Are German Shepherds good family dogs? My kids kept hounding me to bring home a GSD, so I decided to investigate if this was true, or urban legend.
So, are German Shepherds good family dogs? Yes. German Shepherd dogs who are raised with children will not be aggressive towards children. Adult German Shepherd dogs can be dangerous around unknown children if they have not been properly socialized. Also, German Shepherd dogs are high energy dogs and often clumsy, so an adolescent German Shepherds may not be the right pairing with a toddler.
If you have young children, a German Shepherd puppy might be exactly what your family needs. German Shepherds have a ton of energy and fall within the top three dog breeds for intelligence, loyalty, and discipline.
What Kind of Temperament and Personality Should I Expect?
By nature, the German Shepherd is a protector. This is one of the reasons they are seen as aggressive. But really, they just want to make sure that the people they love are not harmed. These dogs are very nurturing and loving to their pack of people.
GSDs are high energy breeds.
If given the opportunity, they will happily run around all day chasing Frisbee and balls. Mine personally loves to play in the water. If we allowed her to, she would be in our small pond the entire day splashing and chasing frogs.
Despite their high energy, they are relatively calm dogs with a nurturing nature. They have been known to adopt other animals such as kittens as if they are their own babies.
They usually have a special connection for one member of the family.
They are still a family dog, but they usually imprint on one person in the family and become “their dog”. This is great if you are single or have his and her dogs.
Suspicion is one of their downfalls, but also their strengths.
Unlike some other dog breeds, they do not love and drool over everyone who crosses their path. So when the pizza guy comes to the door, don’t expect your dog to think he is their next best friend. Again, they just want to make sure you are taken care of.
The green-eyed monster of jealousy rears its ugly head in this breed. They always want the attention and to be the star of the show.
If you are caught playing with another dog, they will intervene if they are able to. This might be friendly competition with another dog for a ball, or nudging your hand with its nose to get your attention. If the dog cannot intervene directly, then they will whine and whimper until you pay attention to them, or the other dog is no longer getting your attention.
Due to their high energy level and intelligence, German Shepherd dogs are often seen as needy.
By needy, I mean they need something to do or they need another companion dog. Because of these traits, they are easy to train to do many tasks.
How do I Train and Socialize My German Shepherd Properly?
The key to having a long-lasting relationship with your German Shepherd Dog is to have them properly trained and socialized.
Shepherds are driven by food and affection.
This makes them easily trainable with treats, clickers, or a good pat on the head with acknowledgment of a job well done.
German Shepherds need a job to do.
They can be trained to perform almost any task. However, if you do not give them a job, they will find themselves a job. Usually, it will be something that you will not be happy with.
As with any dog, you will need to invest time in their training. The time spent training your pooch will bring you and them closer and an unbreakable bond will be forged.
It is essential for socialization to occur at a young age and continue into adulthood.
Socialization will help to keep your Shepherd balanced. They need to experience other people and dogs outside of your family to understand that not all strangers are not threats.
A few examples of easy ways to socialize your friend are:
- Going on a walk around the neighborhood
- Going to a pet store which will allow pets
- Going to the dog park
- Going to the Vet even when they don’t have an appointment
Are German Shepherds Good With Kids?
German Shepherds, when properly socialized, are one of the best family pets you can get. They absolutely love young children.
Why?
Because these little people give them so much time and attention. They fulfill the basic fundamental needs the dog has, that is they provide tasks for the dog.
From protection to playtime, kids are ideal to have around when you are training a young Shepherd.
I have four children, the youngest being three years old. Our German Shepherd just turned two. But, the youngest two children and the dog are nearly inseparable. The kids will climb all over the dog and she just takes it licking the kids randomly. When she has enough, she gets up and walks to her bed. But it is far more often that she wears them out with a game of tuggy.
The cutest thing is when the kids pretend they are dogs and play with the dog. She is so gentle with them as if she were a mother dog looking after her own young.
The biggest problem most owners of German Shepherds have is that the dog does not realize how big it actually is. They will want to be your lapdogs even when they get to be 80-100lbs.
Also, they aren’t always careful where their butt goes and may knock down little ones.
Is a German Shepherd Right for Your Family?
So what about you?
Do you want a friend for life?
Then the German Shepherd dog may be right for you. Once you make a friend with a German Shepherd dog, you will have a friend for life. Considered the most loyal breed of dog, the German Shepherd will stop at nothing to please its people.
Are you considering making one of these awesome dogs a member of your family?
If you have children under the age of one, training a puppy might be a stressful time. But the rewards far outweigh the costs.
It can work, and for my family, it did work. When we got our puppy, our youngest was having problems getting around by crawling.
Once the puppy arrived, the chase was on.
The dog provided the needed extra stimulation and motivation for the baby to crawl instead of just rolling around.
Do you have other pets?
No problem, bringing a new puppy into your home will allow the dog to grow with the animals you already have. This will allow the dog to understand that those other pets are part of the pack. As such the dog will look out for your other animals as if they are part of the family.
Where do you live?
Although the ideal spot would be in a home with a large fenced in yard to play and run, Shepherds are adaptable.
As long as they get their exercise, German Shepherd dogs can live just about anywhere.
Related Questions
German Shepherd dogs are one of the best dogs for guarding a home. The great thing about this breed is that they are predisposed to act this way from birth. That’s right, no training needed. That means you can still have a great, fun, and loving dog without trying to make them aggressive.
No, not commonly. In general, dogs are not known for attacking their owners. German Shepherd dogs are not an exception. These dogs are loyal to a fault and will protect their owners in almost any circumstance. There have been a few cases of German Shepherd dogs attacking their owners. But these were only under extremely abusive circumstances.
