Why are German Shepherds so Loyal?

When you think of a gentle, loving, beautiful, and overall loyal dog, what is the first dog breed that comes to mind? Some other words you might toss in are easily trained, vastly intelligent, and an excellent guardian. German Shepherd Dogs are without a doubt one of the smartest and most loyal dogs in the world, but have you ever stopped to wonder why are German Shepherds so loyal?

So, why are German Shepherds so loyal? It is the natural instinct for the German Shepherd to be loyal because they are naturally protective and caring. However, a lot has to do with what they were originally bred for, which was being a watchdog and protecting the flocks. Adequate training is also a contributing factor to overall GSD loyalty.

If you are curious about what makes the GSD such a loyal dog, then we have the answers. We are going to dive into the history of the beloved German Shepherd breed and what they were bred for. We will also be discussing different factors that contribute to the loyalty of the German Shepherd.

Why German Shepherds are Loyal: A Look Into the Past

Each and every dog has their own temperament that they are naturally born with. Some may be stubborn and prefer to be independent, while others love to work hard and be affectionate.

The German Shepherd is the latter.

The main reason the breed was bred has a lot to do with the overall temperament as well.

German Shepherds were originally bred to look over the farm as a watchdog.

This gave the dog a distinct purpose. To this day, the German Shepherd thrives on having a unique purpose in his life and pleasing his owner. It gives him confidence and happiness. 

Being a watchdog, the German Shepherd was loyal to his owner and did what his owner commanded him to do.

In that day and age, his main goal was to protect the animals found on the farm and make sure nothing bad happened to them. He was also assigned to protect his owner and his family that was living in the home nearby.

In this day and age, the German Shepherd continues to take pride in being protective of his home and family.

This is even more so true if you live on a farm and need a good, respectful, and loyal dog to watch over the animals on the farm. Whether you have a farm or not, though, the GSD truly enjoys protecting his loved one. 

Being bred for the sole purpose of working and protecting, the German Shepherd became an easily trained breed that pairs well with their natural high intelligence.

Together, these two qualities came together to create a dog that was and remains to be, incredibly respectful and helpful, no matter where he is. That’s why GSD make great pets as well as work dogs for the police and military forces.

Why German Shepherds are Loyal: Their Temperament

Being bred to protect and serve had a major impact on the German Shepherd. But was that the sole contributing factor to their loyal personalities?

Of course, not!

In fact, the German Shepherd is naturally protective. It’s ingrained in their brain to be a helpful dog that will protect his owner, whether this means taking care of his beloved family or risking his life in the force.

German Shepherds are also one of the easiest breeds to train. But just because it’s easy doesn’t mean you should dismiss it. The German Shepherd breed is very protective of the people he loves and cares about, and without proper training, your dog may become more aggressive than he protective.

So how can you make sure that your GSD remains protective while still being a lovable character? Always make sure your German Shepherd is properly trained and never encourage aggressive behavior. And yes, there is a big difference between the two.

Think of it this way:

A German Shepherd should be able to take a walk with his owner without growling at other dogs and people walking your way. The dog should, instead, stop for a moment and place a paw in front of you. He will check the situation to make sure it’s safe before the two of you to continue. This is a calm and safe way of protecting.

If you notice your German Shepherd is starting to become a bit too aggressive, it’s important to find proper training immediately. The good news is that the GSD is easy to train, so it should be a quick and simple fix. However, you want to address the problem as soon as possible to avoid potential devastation with your dog.

With the right socialization and training, you should have no issues with your GSD. They will remain to be the calm, gentle giants that they are. However, their love for their owners and families will ensure that he will respond to critical moments, whether that means becoming aggressive or saving you from a dire situation.

How Loyal are German Shepherds?

Now that we know the reasoning behind the German Shepherd’s loyalty, you might be wondering how loyal they can be.

The simple answer to this question is this:

The German Shepherd is extremely loyal to his owner and will stop at nothing to make sure he is happy, healthy, and protected. 

The German Shepherd is known for putting himself in the line of danger to protect his loved ones. However, this is just another reason why proper training is so important. An overly protective German Shepherd can become aggressive and cause more harm than good without even knowing it.

Keep in mind that the German Shepherd prefers to be loyal to a single owner.

You can combat this and add more members of the family to his ‘loyalty list’ by having them play with the GSD more often, take him on walks, and feed him. This will gain more loyalty with the GSD. It is not a major concern, as the GSD will always protect his home and family, but more one-on-one time never hurts.

To put it simply, the German Shepherd is an incredibly loyal dog.

He was bred to protect and serve, and this type of work combined with his instinctually intelligent and caring nature proved him to be a loyal dog that works well in homes, farms, police forces, therapeutic and service situations as well as the military.

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