Are German Shepherds Good With Babies?

My brother and his wife are expecting a new baby soon and they have a German Shepherd. The dog is amazing with them, but sometimes when a stranger approaches the house it suddenly turns into an intimidating, barking beast of a dog. Seeing this Dr.Jekyll and Mr. Hyde type personality got me wondering are German Shepherds good with babies?

So, are German Shepherds good with babies? Yes. German Shepherds are famous for being extremely loyal to their families. They are also known to be very protective of their owners. This means that if your German Shepherd is well socialized, they should accept a new baby into the home as the newest member of the pack.  

Most German Shepherd owners and experts answer this question with a resounding “yes”, but you may have noticed that I mentioned, “if they are well socialized.” Unfortunately, there are a lot of poorly socialized and poorly trained German Shepherds (GSD) out there. When researching this topic, I found a lot of really valuable advice on how to guarantee a good relationship between your GSD and babies.

Most German Shepherds are Good With Babies

With a few exceptions, German Shepherd Dogs are considered to be outstanding family pets and particularly good with babies and children.

Adult GSDs, when properly socialized, are patient and tolerant of children and babies, seeing them as the smallest member of their pack.

German Shepherds are protective and fiercely loyal. They have an amazing capacity to tolerate pokes, tugs and bear hugs from toddlers.

This being said, if you have a puppy or adolescent GSD, be prepared to be extra vigilant when training your German Shepherd to be around your baby.  Younger dogs are still learning how to behave in the family and tend to be a bit more impulsive and unpredictable in their behavior. Accidents are more likely to happen with a young GSD.

If You Have a German Shepherd and Are Bringing Home a Baby…

Bringing home a baby is an incredibly exciting moment in the life of every family. 

Remember, your GSD thinks of himself as a key member of your family.  If you have other kids, you would take some extra time to introduce the baby to other siblings and help them to adapt to the new baby.  Do the same with your GSD.

• Just like older siblings, your GSD needs some time to adapt to the idea of having a baby around before there actually is one.  Make an extra effort to socialize your GSD to babies and toddlers as soon as you know you are expecting.
• Set clear expectations for calm behavior and reward your dog when they behave appropriately around other people’s children.
• Let them experience all of the sights, sounds, smells, and experiences that are normal when babies are present. This may include walking next to a stroller or the smell of dirty diapers.
• As the time gets closer, adapt your schedule with your dog so that the changes in routine will not be so dramatic.
• Reinforce your role as pack leader and establish clear territories in the house.  If your dog will not be allowed in the nursery, enforce those limits as soon as you know they will exist.

The first introduction is really important.

Before you introduce your baby to your dog, try introducing the scent of your baby first. Take a soiled blanket or used burp cloth and let your dog smell it.

Some folks recommend that you take your GSD for a good long walk just before the big introduction so that your dog’s energy is low and submissive.

Let your dog smell the baby, first from a distance and then allowing them to approach little by little.  Use reassuring words and praise your dog after the introduction is over.

One thing that must be repeated over and over:

Never leave your baby unsupervised with your German Shepherd (or any dog breed)!

Your dog may be the most trustworthy, calm, and gentle creature alive (or at least in your family) but it is just not a good idea.

A Word About GSDs and Jealousy

Yes, that’s right.

Doggie Jealousy.

It’s a real thing.

Just like “sibling rivalry,” doggy jealousy can be a very real and unfortunate reality after bringing baby home.

If your dog has been the center of attention, it may be hard for them to adjust to taking a back seat. If you observe that your dog has a sudden change in demeanor, seems distrustful or even aggressive towards the baby, or in general starts acting out through destructive behaviors – you may have a case of dog jealousy on your hands.

If this happens, it is best to speak with a canine behavioral specialist to work out a training plan to help your dog adjust to your new arrival while keeping safety as a constant priority.

If You Have a Baby and Want to Adopt a German Shepherd

If you already have a baby (or two) and feel that what your growing family needs is a new dog, you might be inspired in your search to ask if German Shepherds are good with children.  It’s a natural question to ask.

You are most likely thinking about bringing home a puppy in the hopes that the kids and the dog will grow up together to become best friends and companions.

It can happen, but remember, GSD puppies are known for their high energy and somewhat impulsive behavior.  It is very important that you establish strict guidelines immediately upon bringing your puppy home.

This means that you establish where, exactly, your puppy is allowed to be in the home.  Work extensively with your pup to develop and reward calm and submissive behavior. Take extra care to eliminate chewing and nipping behavior as soon as it presents itself.

Remember, you are the pack leader and must establish dominance.

A Word of Caution:  German Shepherds and Aggressiveness

Maybe you are wondering if German Shepherds are good with babies because you have seen an aggressive GSD or have heard some unfortunate horror stories.  Maybe you wonder if you should take your baby to your friend’s house, where a GSD lives or are not sure whether you can trust such a large dog around such a tiny human.

Here are some basic hints from other GSD owners to keep in mind and things to watch out for.

If you do not know a dog intimately, it is always best to treat the animal with cautious respect – no matter what the owner says.  Remember, the dog does not know you and that might mean that its behavior around you or your children could be unpredictable.

Take note if the dog is poorly socialized or just doesn’t like people.  There are some really obvious behaviors that you can observe that will indicate to you if you need to keep a respectful distance.

1. General Aloofness

You notice that the dog does not approach people, does not wag its tail, or seems to dislike interaction.

They often will separate themselves from a group to avoid people or other animals. They may also have a general attitude of “tolerating” those around them.

2. Aggression Towards Other Animals

Even if you do not directly observe aggressive behavior, pay attention for hostile tendencies like curled lips, low growling, raised hair, or flattened ears when another animal (or person) is close to the GSD you are observing.

3. Whining and Nervousness

If you observe the GSD whining, retreating or generally nervous when around people, children or animals, take note.  An insecure animal is an unpredictable and potentially dangerous animal.

When you see a GSD with these behaviors, know that these German Shepherds are not good with babies.

Advise all the children to respect the space of the dog, and take extra precaution to supervise toddlers and babies.

If your German Shepherd displays these behaviors and you have a baby on the way, you will most likely want to consider going through some intensive training before the baby arrives to desensitize your dog and socialize him to be accepting of children.  

If you have a baby and are thinking of bringing a GSD into the home, these behaviors are often present in poorly socialized puppies or rescue dogs.  To save yourself a lot of worry, look for a different, better socialized and more friendly pup.

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