Are German Shepperds good family dogs?

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Answer by Genuine55
Submitted on 8/5/2004
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The answers isn't going to come in a yes or a no. To generalize all German sheperd dogs as being wonderfull family dogs isn't exactly a safe consumption. Due to all of the uncontrolled breeding of this wonderfull dog over the past 40 years a few problems have shown up in some dogs. However most germen sheperd'sare great dogs. There great because they seem to have a very deep concern for what you want them to do. This is why they make such excellent working dogs. As with any dog if you don't socialize the puppy it could lead to behavioral problems later as the dog becames an adult. If you show a well bread german sheperd what is excpected of him or her in a consistant and caring matter,(like how to be with and protect you children). Then you may be suprised at how loving, caring, and protective the German Sheperd dog really is.

Answer by Elyse
Submitted on 2/6/2005
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My father grew up with german sheperds and now my family has had two. The first dog i had was names matt. He was the nicest dog could ver meet. Some people where scared of him because he was a very larger lean german sheperd but when they got to know him you could never forget him.MAtt had hip desplacia even as a puppy wich effected him his hole life. By the time he was only 7 I could almost beat him in a running race. Matt died at the age of 7 but would always be remembered. The second dog i have is named Sasha. She is almost 3. She is not as gentle as matt but just as friendly. She is very hyper at times but still is great with all ages. She is a very powerfull german sheperd, she has a very musular bilt and can jump over any fence if she wanted to. Sasha gets so determind some times that she will chew throught the wire fencing on her cenle and climb out through a hole a little bigger then here head, just to come play with you. I would trust sasha with almost any one. I have no regrets about having german shepards. They are very smart and loyal animals with the will to please. And thats whats so great about them.

Answer by Jax
Submitted on 5/17/2005
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My dog, Roxey, was a German Shepperd/ black lab mix. She was a good, well trained, affectionate dog for seven years. She was an excellent guard dog, hostile only towards strangers and smaller dogs. A few weeks ago, my 4 year-old-niece was in the kitchen with Roxey, playing, when she made a sudden movement and Roxey attacked her. Angelina was lucky, Roxey'sbite only cut her in three places around her eye. While it was bad and she will have permanent scars, we know it could have been much worse. We never could have known that our family dog would ever attack the little girl she was used to playing with. Sadly, we put Roxey down, because we couldn't take another chance. While she was the best dog I ever had until that day, I will never again get a dog of that breed. It's just not worth it.

Answer by candice
Submitted on 6/3/2005
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we have a GSD & he is great, he will be 7 years this month. we didnt have children till 3 years ago, he is alright with them, takes care and watches over but i am already haveing problems with his hind quarters. he has saved my life- no really- more than once, i know that if i didnt have him something bad would have happened! the two coats of hair is a problem, i sweep up a pile every night. they (well mine) seemed two think he was a puppy till he was about 5 1/2 years old. all i wanted was for him to grow up a little, now i wish he would slow down! the tail is a tree trunk! he is really smart and catch on to things quick, example i had to take him into the vet witch he hates they had to run some x-rays on him so i thought for sure he would need to be put under,nope my 112 lb dog just laid there for them.anyways they are really cute when they are puppies and their ears start to stand up! i dont know what i'mgoing to do for a dog when he is gone, i just lost my greyhound of 16 years last week, and i know i cant have another greyhound, and i'mnot sure i could replace my "scout" with another either.anyways hope i helped, and hope you get the chance to enjoy this beautiful breed!

Answer by Tango
Submitted on 9/5/2005
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I agree with all that is been said about the qualities of the bread. As people, all dogs are different.I had good and bad ones with the kids and visitors. The common pattern of the aggressive ones where that they had been raised alone, specially at night and with very poor socialization. The famous question of where is your dog tonight? applies very specially to German shepherds. If you want a sound and reliable family dog make him sleep in your bedroom and get mixed with kids and people in general since his early stages. Never put him in a kennel nor tied him up. Give him obedience buy handling him yourself from six months onwards. A good German Shepperd should be gentle with everyone and courageous when the circumstances require it. Emotional stability is particularly desired. In order to deploy those qualities they need lots of affection. Aggressiveness is in the nature of the dog so don't push for it. And remember that dogs are particularly influenced by its owners character.

Answer by Michelle
Submitted on 12/12/2005
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I have grown up with dogs all my life. As a child my parents bred Dalmatians. And through the years there were labs, border collies, chihauhaus, huskies, and pit bulls as family dogs. Moving out of home and living by myself was a sad experience mainly because I missed having a dog. Even though I know it is often a bad idea to get a puppy when your life is unsettled as mine is, I soon accepted the fact that my life will never be complete without a dog at my side. And so started my love affair with the German Shepard breed. I had no prior experience with them, but looking at two Shepard pups in almost cruel conditions at a puppy mill will really make your heart commit fast. I brought home a male, solid black shepard pup and named him Diesel. He was malnourished, antisocial, and terrified of men right off the bat. And he was already 18 weeks old. I worried at first that he would grow to be a terror of dog equal to my weight. But I treated him no different than any of our homebred, well socialized pups - I took him everywhere. He went to parties, parks, restaurants, and even worked with me at a horse farm I was employed at. About 3 weeks after the day I got him, he came out of his shell. Diesel has never shown aggression in any way - children can hang on his ears, and the only danger they face is being licked to death. He is extremely loyal. No leash required. I walk through crowds, he follows at my side. Obedience seems to be a strong point, he's very trainable. And the breed itself posesses incredible intelligence. I would recommend shepards as family dogs to anyone with the time to raise any puppy. But your time with a German Shepard will be especially well spent. Even with Diesel's shaky beginning he is an example of the breeds' strength of character. But as with all dogs, be sure to research other breeds and really focus on what YOU need in a dog. Shepards can require alot exercise, as most working breeds often do. And a community with a leash law and no fenced in yard may not be an ideal enviroment for a German Shepard. Hope my opinion helps to answer your question.

Answer by Danielle
Submitted on 4/8/2006
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yes German shepherds are VERY good family dogs i have 3 of them and they are all very intelligent. They are protective but not too protective they will back off at my command. shepherds are loyal and smart too. they are always by your side and act as a guardian for your child or children. they will stay by your side as well. Easy to train because they are smart. My shepherds even open my front door like the one with the turning knobs, and i didn't train them to do that! shepherds will also get along with anybody you welcome into your home and they get along with all children my shepherds will play with my sons who is 8 friends but not too rough they know how little they are, and they will get along with any pet you have and with anybody elses pet as well. so i hope this answered your question because German shepherds are the best dogs ever! Love, Danielle (me!!) Sabre (shepherd 1) Lilly (shepherd 2) Dagger(shepherd 3) and i even have 6 cats and 2 horses and they get along with them too!!!! <3 xoxoxoxo

Answer by JL
Submitted on 7/1/2006
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I love German Shepherds! 4 years ago when I was a teenager, someone broke in our house. At the time we lived in a bad neighborhood in Dallas. Anyways, he popped the window with a crowbar and my parents did not hear it cause they sleep with a fan on at the other end of the house. Our German Shepherd Tyson sure heard though. The man didn't even get through the window before Tyson got to him. That woke my dad up! The man was bleeding so bad that my dad had to pull him off and call 911. He didnt run....he couldnt. He just laid there and waited for the cops. My dad said he had to have 100+ stitches on his face. And what room was he going to breaking into? My little sister who was 11 months at the time. Whats more amazing is that Tyson was never trained for that, actaully the only thing he could do was sit and shake. But he sure knew what to do at the right time!

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Question by Katie
Submitted on 1/14/2004
Related FAQ: rec.pets.dogs: German Shepherd Dogs Breed-FAQ
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Are German Shepperds good family dogs?

Answer by Tanisha
Submitted on 1/31/2004
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If they grow up as pups with the kids they should be fine. However they will be protective of the kids and may be mean to others(like guests). Siberian Huskies are great with people. I trust mine with my baby sister. They are very gentle and patient. Especially the females.

Answer by Johnny
Submitted on 4/5/2004
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Shepperds are great family dogs. And I agree with Tanisha in that it is best if they grow up with the kids as a puppy. Also make sure to take the time to train them correctly - this will help with the problem of them being mean to guests. However they will always be very protective of the family, which can be a good thing. You just need to train them that barking as a warning is OK, but barking and nipping uncontrolled is not OK. We have had 2 sheppards and they were both wonderfull dogs.

Answer by Alex
Submitted on 5/20/2004
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German Sheperds are the best dog ever. They make good guard dogs, watch dogs, show dogs, etc. All German Sheperds are great and obedient dogs. If you want a loyal dog German Sheperds are the way to go. The all around best dog is the German Sheperd by far because of it's versatility.German Sheperds come in all shapes, colors, and sizes.

Answer by Jim
Submitted on 5/22/2004
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German Shepherds are a great family breed. I have a white shepherd and I had a black and tan.I would trust them with any child. But as with any breed socialization is a must!

Answer by Chantale
Submitted on 6/11/2004
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We just adopted a beautiful German Sheppard and I connected and bonded with her within the 1st hour of getting to know her. She is gentle, calm, and so very loving. I have a 2.5 yr old boy (rough & tough!), a 3.5 yr old boy (also rough & tough) and a 9 yr old girl. Sasha (the dog) is WONDERFUL with them. Never has attempted to show the kids who's boss- they are! I can't speak for all German Sheppards but I can say that adopting Sasha was the most wonderful move for our loving family. She is a delight and a very welcomed addition to our home.

Answer by hayley sweet
Submitted on 6/14/2004
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yes they are protective,my dad had a german shepperd and a little dog came a startted to bark at him and the germen sheppered killed the little dog.

Answer by UB
Submitted on 7/9/2004
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I grew up with Shepherds and shepherd mixes.. they were always wonderful dogs as well as they were trained. Poor socialization in ANY dog is a problem. Shepherds are smart and sometimes will see who is alpha, but overall, they are wonderful pets. I helped foster shepherds for a rescue and with love, attention and care they are wonderful, but like anyone/anything they each have their own quirks and should be respected.

Answer by chewy
Submitted on 8/10/2004
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mutly is a black mut hes just a pupey but verery hiper.

Answer by GS
Submitted on 8/14/2004
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I have a German Shepherd and agree with everyone else about their great disposition.These dog's can be trained very easily and respond well to the orders they have been givin.Although my shepherd dosen't like strangers or people who he doesn't see on a daily basis, he is great to his family and would do anything to protect us.I would recomend this breed of dog to just about anyone who is responsible enough to care for an animal.I hope maybe this could help you along on the purchasing of your dog.

Answer by lk
Submitted on 9/21/2004
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i own two german sheperds a son and father they are both very protective of our home they love our children and are very territorial.they are a little iffy around adults but would never harm a child.

Answer by Polina
Submitted on 9/25/2004
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I agree with the others, if a German Shepherd is trained and cared for correctly then almost everything will turn out great. My family and I just adopted the sweetest little German Shepherd puppy ever, well best one I've ever seen, and she is extremely friendly, almost everyone loves her.

Answer by Coopy68
Submitted on 9/26/2004
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Sheppards are beautiful dogs. We recently adopted a Black and she is a very gentle, loving dog. She is getting protective already though, and I agree that you need to teach them there limits. I also had a German sheppard when I was a boy and my little toddler sister would crawl all over him. He never even growled but watch out if anyone got aggressive around any of us though.

Answer by fred
Submitted on 10/1/2004
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I think that German shepherds are a great dog, but they are very hard to train. I suggest that you only get one if you have a lot of time to spend with it. peace out Fred

Answer by chantal
Submitted on 10/3/2004
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Yes German shepards are the best family dogs you could require for children, I have a white female which is 7 years old and she has always been gentle towards any children, she follows my son everywhere and I can rest asure that she'll protect him no matter what... She's better than the so-called labrador with children.

Answer by JJ
Submitted on 1/16/2005
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NO THEY ARE PERFECT FAMILY DOGS I SHOULD NOW MY GRANDPARNTS ONLY GET SHEPHERDS AND 1 OF THERE DOGS STOOD IN FRONT OF ME SO THE OTHERE DOG COULD NOT HURT ME I SAY THEY ROCK

Answer by KYLE
Submitted on 4/21/2005
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GERMEN SEPHERDS ARE ONE OF THE BEST FAMILY DOGS YOU CAN HAVE.THEIR VERY PROTECTIVE AND SWEET.I SAY GET ONE!!!!

Answer by NICHOLAS
Submitted on 6/13/2005
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I THINK GERMAN SHEPERDS ARE LOVEABLE AND PROTECTIVE!!!!

Answer by GT
Submitted on 6/13/2005
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I LOVE GERMAN SHEPARD'S TO DEATH!!! AND I DO THINK THEY ARE A GREAT FAMILY DOG!!! MY PARENTS AND THERE PARENTS HAD THEM AND I HAVE HAD THEM AND WOULD LIKE TO SAY THEY ARE INCREDIBLE DOGS!!!THEY ARE NICE, PROTECTIVE,LOVABLE,AND PRETTY!!!

Answer by Tex's Mom
Submitted on 10/29/2004
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If your puppy is allowed to be part of your family and grow and bond with each member he will be loyal and committed to the family. Never tie or beat or restrain your sheperd outside. He must be taught to obey your voice and listen to your commmand. Allow him to socialize with your family and friends. If you follow the above advise he will reward you with loyalty and trust. Shepards are the best dogs and extremely loyal to there owners if treated well!

Answer by ronnie
Submitted on 11/1/2004
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ronnie

Answer by BM
Submitted on 11/8/2004
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I'd like to say that German Sheppards are a great breed. I had a German Sheppard when I was growing up. When I was 9 years old, my parents were gone out for the weekend and I had a young babysitter... the first night, my house was broken into and Jigs, my german sheppard, was there to protect... and protect he DID!! He was an excellent dog, and lived to be 12 years old!

Answer by yur mother
Submitted on 12/18/2004
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wtf

Answer by dude
Submitted on 1/18/2005
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that stinks why don't you just look it up on the Internet?

Answer by K.M.S
Submitted on 1/20/2005
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I have seen and been around alot of Germen Sheperds but I have never had one. Although I have thought about getting one. Also from what I have heard about Germen Sheperds is that they make wonderful pets and that they are very protective and loyal dogs. So you should look forward to getting a Germen Sheperd for you and your family.

Answer by crosey
Submitted on 2/18/2005
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Im buying a germen sheperd this summer and i need to know which is better, females ro males?

Answer by Kris
Submitted on 2/19/2005
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The first dog I ever got is a German Sheperd and I am still amazed with her she is 5 yrs old now and she is the smartest most loyal companion ever. Although it is in how they are raised just like kids.She is good with other animals even cats she is good with kids and adults yet she is protective of our home I think she is the most perfect dog ever.Show your sheperd love and respect and you will get it back 100 fold

Answer by dee
Submitted on 3/1/2005
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i got brought up with german shepperds and they are rearly good guard dogs i agree with some of them and they are very good around children my german shepperd was very good around my son he would let him crawl over him and every thing

Answer by herburt
Submitted on 5/2/2005
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Ihave hade a german shepard but we had to give her away that was sad.BUT thay are REALLY pertective!

Answer by confused
Submitted on 5/21/2005
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well i need a good family dog..non shedding..does any one know of any?

Answer by stew
Submitted on 6/4/2005
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I had been aroud shep's for the last 47 years, rread doge, would tust them more than a lot of people.

Answer by Aleisha Bailey
Submitted on 6/5/2005
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Yes because they are really easy to train and don't flustered easy!

Answer by Megan
Submitted on 7/11/2005
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I think Shepperds would be a pretty good family dog but, will be very protective. I would recermend having your children to be 6 and older.

Answer by Kristin
Submitted on 7/23/2005
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I have a three year old G.S. and also have an 8month old son. Allison ( The dog) is extremley gentle and tolerant with the baby who is now crawling all over the dog. As far as guests go, Alyee is usualy pretty good except for a litle excitement.

Answer by caitlin
Submitted on 9/4/2005
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my grandma has a german sheperd that's seven weeks old, will they ever atack you if they dont know you?

Answer by Shane
Submitted on 9/19/2005
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Yes, they are good dogs. I had a mixed and he was a very good dog he never bit any of our guest. Then we had one when we got the other one he did what he was told to you would tell him to watch the gate he did then he was going blind and he got a little to protective so my dad had to shot him.

Answer by Shailendra
Submitted on 9/27/2005
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German Sheperds are a wonder to own. Very matured and understanding. Sometimes will try to test the Alpha Member of the pack.you have to make them understand in a gentle manner that you are the Alpha Member of the Pack. My Sheperd Sunny expired at the tender age of 1.5 Years due Medical Negligence. My Mom still weeps for him. They are a support to the family.

Answer by sugarnspicelb
Submitted on 10/22/2005
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I have had my shepperd for 2 years and she is my best friend. they are great protectors. Taylor (the dog) wines and seems to be worried whenever someones picks up are messes with the children.She is also very protective of me and does not like when my husband messes with me. If you're thinking of getting a dog I strongly suggest getting a shepperd.

Answer by rodeoer
Submitted on 10/28/2005
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i have three German Sheperd they are the greastest dogs EVER!!! He is one of my fav. dogs i ever had!!!! i had alot!! German sheperds are very protective over thier owners. Mine are very nice to people but if they think something is bad about them then they could get mean!!!!!!!