What are some German Shepherd Characteristics?

German Shepherd dogs are one of the most popular breeds around the world. This breed, initially created exclusively for sheep herding, hence the name, evolved through several trait selections, focusing on the abilities of the dog as a working dog. Nowadays, their adaptability makes German Shepherd dogs perfect for a wide variety of uses, the most common you’d be familiar with are within the military, police enforcement K9 units, drug detection, private security work and also search & rescue activities. They are among the top choices for family pets due to their loyalty and intelligence. When you put that combination together and include relevant training German Shepherd dogs will also perform amazingly when working for those with disabilities.

Capable and intelligent, brave and devoted, German Shepherds are very a versatile dog and can easily be trained to perform the wide range of duties mentioned above. Despite public opinion they do not have an inherent aggressive temperament and are actually naturally reserved when meeting strangers – both humans and dogs! German Shepherds don’t easily make friends and trust people, but once a person earns their trust, they are very loyal, devoted and protective animals. It’s no surprise to understand why a well-trained German Shepherd dog is a great choice to protect and watch over your family. However as sophisticated and intelligent animals, they do need stimulation, exercise, affection and time with the people to be considered part of the family. Whilst their behavior traits will show a combination of being a quiet, loving and calm dog they can also assertive and strong willed, hence the need for necessary training.

Since the very early days of this breed’s development one of their vital characteristics was the ability to be easily trained. GSDs can quickly be trained at home but enrolling them in specialized training classes can be extremely beneficial both for them and their owners. They are very intelligent, learn quickly and love feeling connected with their owner through mental challenges, games, and exercising. It is strongly recommended you join in with dog obedience classes, both for the professional training provided but also socialization with other dogs. Make the effort and dedicate some time to train and stimulate their minds and you’ll realise what a smart do you have – they can easily get themselves into trouble without some discipline! It’s recommended you set you expectations and boundaries around their behavior to ensure a balanced German Shepherd-owner relationship, clearly establishing you as the alpha and dominate person in the relationship at an early age.

German Shepherd dogs need both obedience training and early socialization, and should be exposed from an early age to a variety of people, other dogs and various environments. This way, they will be used to and familiar with a wide range of situations, people, sounds and smells, making them more adaptable as they grow and develop from being a puppy, into a juvenile dog and finally into adulthood. They often received an unwarranted reputation for being aggressive, and indeed on the job training for certain dog careers will encourage and reward that type of behavior, but typically by nature they are not aggressive and those such career dogs are extremely well trained and respond without fail to the instructions given by their owner. These strong willed animals need do need to be guided from puppy to adult with boundaries being set, and more importantly enforced to maintain the required level of obedience.

German Shepherd dogs need plenty of physical exercise and mental stimulation throughout most of their lives, and this can easily be incorporated with a combined training programme and daily walks. These key aspects will ensure their healthy development, both physical and intellectual. As with many dogs as they grow they will be bounding with energy which must be channelled to keep a healthy and engaged mind. Even as adults they will need around 30 to 45 minutes of daily exercise but there are plenty of activities you can do with your German Shepherd: you can run/jog together, swim, play fetch with their favourite ball or even a Frisbee, go on hikes together or play hide and seek! It is strongly recommended you integrate sufficient exercise into their training program and always remember that, in order to have a healthy, well-tempered and behaved dog, you need to stimulate both their minds and body.

We’ve already mentioned that German Shepherd dogs are not aggressive by nature and are well known as reserved guard dogs. These traits make them perfect as pets for families with children, for when they are raised properly, with appropriate training, they are amazing when interacting with you and your children and will become an integral part of your family. They are intelligent, very playful in their early years, protective and obedient, and they will take care of children, love them and look out for them. Their herding instinct will always look to keep the family ‘pack’ together when out for a walk. Possessing natural intelligence training is not difficult and they will quickly learn what behavior is appropriate and accepted and what is not, especially in terms of their relationship with children and other pets; socialization in their early years is essential to ensure your German Shepherd is a great friend for your children.

When you are considering which breed of dog to purchase, if you think you would like to own a German Shepherd, you should be fully aware that they will not be happy and will not thrive if you just want a dog to hang around the yard and the house. Once integrated with your family they will want to part of the family group. With interesting and challenging activities they will reach their full potential and you will enjoy all impressive capabilities.

In summary valued for their courage, intelligence, tenacity and loyalty, German Shepherd dogs are impressive in roles such as search-and-rescue units, military activities, disabled assistance service but are also very well suited to family life. Remember to provide physical and intellectual stimulation, training from an early ages, good food and you will be rewarded with a fantastic dog as a family member, who will provide you with many years of faithful service and loyal companionship.