Whether you are considering adding a new German Shepherd into your family, or you are just researching breeds for the time being, you might be wondering about the temperament of the German Shepherd. What is the typical German Shepherd like? Will he or she get along well with other pets? Is a German Shepherd a good choice for a family that has children? We’re going to cover all of that information here to help you make an informed decision about this breed.
The German Shepherd is known for its intelligence, obedience, loyalty, and fearlessness. If you adopt a puppy or an adult dog from someone who has loved the dog and cared for it properly, chances are, you’re going to develop a relationship with your dog that is positive and healthy. However, if you received a German Shepherd from someone who used the dog for fighting, being a watchdog, and never gave it any affection, then chances are that it will take a lot of work to change the way the dog looks at the world. Years of neglect and not receiving any attention will wreck havoc on their emotions, causing them to to harden and not be quite so trustworthy of humans or other animals.
German Shepherds and Other Pets
If you are an animal lover, you might have other pets at home, whether they be cats, dogs, birds, iguanas – you name it. If you are considering adding a new member to your family, you might want to stop and think about how it will make the other pets in your household feel. Will it be stressful for them? Or are your current pets a more on the laid-back side, and willing to accept a new playmate?
The good news is is that German Shepherds are usually pretty tolerant of other animals in the home, especially dogs. Since they do enjoy playing and were bread to herd farm animals, they might see cats as more of something to chase, but the breed tends to get long well with other dogs, particularly if they are of the opposite sex. German Shepherds of the same sex, such as two male dogs, tend to get territorial and may fight.
German Shepherds and Children
Perhaps you are considering adopting a German Shepherd, but you aren’t sure if they would be a good fit with children. Most German Shepherd dogs are fine with children, particularly older children. Small children might not know how to handle a dog, and that can result in the dog acting negatively toward the child. Since German Shepherds are a larger breed, they run the risk of knocking a child over or hurting him or her unintentionally during play. All children should be taught proper behavior around any animal, and no child and animal should ever be left alone together.
German Shepherds can be a friendly, wonderful breed that can bring your family years of joy and love. Adopting one is a big commitment, but if you are willing to put the time and effort into training one of these delightful breeds, then you are sure to have a friend for many years to come.
