Does anyone have a German shepherd?

hayley3602 · 2025-04-25T20:42:54+00:00

Hi we are considering either getting a cat or German shepherd in the future or maybe both. I have 3 kids who are 17,15 and 9 years old. They have all been brought up around dogs. We lost our old boxer boy before Christmas. He lived with us for nearly 12 years and was the perfect dog so loving towards the kids but unfortunately his breed is prone to a lot of health conditions and he battled 4 cancers during his life. I don’t think I could go through all that again. My husband had mentioned about maybe considering a German shepherd? Does anyone have a German shepherd with kids? What are they like?

lolly07766 · 25/04/2025 21:55

In my opinion they are the best dogs in the world. Easy to train, loyal, loving, protective and super clever! I lost my girl last September and miss her so much, she was 13. You must spend time training them though and they will give you the very best back. They like to be active and busy and love learning new things. They will return the love 10 fold. Super dogs!!

Original poster

hayley3602 · 25/04/2025 22:06

sorry to hear about your loss. It’s heartbreaking. I always said I wouldn’t get an other dog but I really miss not having one in house. I read that they very clever and easy to train. My boy was trained but had that stubborn streak 🤣 How was your girl with other dogs? I read they can also be quite vocal? Was your girl vocal? X

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BlueEyedBogWitch · 25/04/2025 22:19

There was one at my work. I was brought up to be a bit scared of them, but my goodness, she was the sweetest, loveliest girl. Desperate to look after everyone and do the right thing, and I’ve never seen a dog so loyal and protective of her owner. We were all devastated when she died.

She was noisy though! A total burglar alarm!

I’ve been looking at pics of her owner’s new GSD puppy tonight, too. Another good girl in the making.

lolly07766 · 25/04/2025 22:46

I spent a lot of time training her when she was young, agility etc, she was absolutely fine with other dogs, I ran two pubs for most of her life and she used to lay in the garden, people would come in with their dogs and she took no notice. She was the kindest sweetest soul. But obviously no two dogs are the same, I really think it was because I spent time with her training. She loved the kids and grandkids and was so gentle. It honestly broke my heart when she went, she took a piece of me with her. I have mostly had German Shepherds, one Golden Retriever, but they are the best. The bitches are more protective of you though I think.

caramac04 · 25/04/2025 23:27

I have a GSD. He is a very gentle house dog, not particularly vocal but does bark at the foxes in the garden at night. Will bark at the doorbell, one woof. More vocal if someone knocks on the window. Great with dgc who were all under 11 when we got him.’
He is super clever, walks well on the lead and not at all aggressive. Some are bred to have a high prey drive and that’s to be avoided in a family pet. He is a bit scared of neighbours cats on their drive 😂
I absolutely love him. He has fitted in so well with our old dog.

mondaytosunday · 25/04/2025 23:38

My mother had one. She was a gentle giant and perfectly behaved. My mother couldn’t bear getting another dog after she passed.

CraftandGlamour · 26/04/2025 00:01

We lost our boy at just ten years last summer. He was utterly wonderful. Gentle, loving, loyal. He thought he was a lap dog 😀. I still miss him deeply. They shed a lot, be warned!

Fraaances · 26/04/2025 00:23

They are the best people ever! Your doggy would love having a kitty best friend. Mine used to snuggle up with mine all night. When they’re young they will play together and you will think they’re the most adorable things you have ever had.

Original poster

hayley3602 · 26/04/2025 08:38

Thanks for replies. A German shepherd sounds like the perfect breed for our a family. I was a little concerned about how vocal they were (our old boy wasn’t vocal at all lol) I’m currently a stay at home mum so will have a lot of time to do training/training classes with dog. I also like going out on long walks. We are an active family. So I think the German shepherd would be great for us. Xx

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JustAnInchident · 26/04/2025 08:47

I know two, was three until one was put down last year, between two families I’m very close to, enough to know the dogs well anyway. Those three are/were all absolute pricks, aggressive, territorial and so bloody loud. I do believe it’s down to training and boundaries, or lack thereof, but they’re actually dangerous. I’ve never moved so fast as when I realised one was loose in the yard and I’d just got my kids out of the car! I don’t think that the breed as a whole are terrible… but I can only assume that they need decent consistent handling and training and maybe these ones haven’t had that? I don’t know, but personally I wouldn’t get one, based on my personal experience. The other posts do show them in a better light though!

Original poster

hayley3602 · 26/04/2025 08:57

JustAnInchident · 26/04/2025 08:47

I know two, was three until one was put down last year, between two families I’m very close to, enough to know the dogs well anyway. Those three are/were all absolute pricks, aggressive, territorial and so bloody loud. I do believe it’s down to training and boundaries, or lack thereof, but they’re actually dangerous. I’ve never moved so fast as when I realised one was loose in the yard and I’d just got my kids out of the car! I don’t think that the breed as a whole are terrible… but I can only assume that they need decent consistent handling and training and maybe these ones haven’t had that? I don’t know, but personally I wouldn’t get one, based on my personal experience. The other posts do show them in a better light though!

Edited

I agree I defiantly think it’s down to training. From what I have read German shepherds require a lot of socialising and training from a young age. I don’t think it’s a breed you can get if you are not willing to put in the time socialising and training them. Xx

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Samesame47 · 26/04/2025 09:12

My DD’s grew up with a GSD, my youngest was only 3 months old when we brought him home at 8 weeks. He was the best, kindest, sweetest boy in the world. He was a godsend when they were 3 and 4 and one would want to run one direction in the park and the other wanted to do something else, he’d round the stray one up and bring them back. I remember a period of doing lots of renovations on the house, he would always position himself between his girls and the randoms coming in and out of the house. He notified us at 4am that our shed was being broken into, he slept by my girls beds when they were unwell and his was amazing at clearing up the scraps on the floor from the days of high chair feeding/weaning. I’ve not been able to bring myself to get another shepherd (maybe one day) as he left too big shoes to fill. I couldn’t recommend one highly enough. He was fully black and long haired, huge head and everyone used to say he looked like a bear. Over the years I lost count of how many children he cured of dog phobias, he was always Mr Reliable and perfect in every situation. We trained him as a search and rescue dog, he didn’t have much in the way of speed but was a highly intelligent and methodical worker, he also got his PAT certification. He was my constant companion for 10 years and 5 years on there’s not a day goes by that I don’t think about him.

caramac04 · 26/04/2025 10:06

oh yes the shedding! Not known as German Shedders for nothing 😂
Look closely at the breeder and breeding lines. The prey drive is great for guarding and possibly police work but unless you’ve got a huge place to guard you don’t want that.
Training is key, they are intelligent dogs who shouldn’t be left alone for long periods as they can get bored and stir crazy.
Honestly I couldn’t wish for a better dog.

Original poster

hayley3602 · 26/04/2025 10:42

caramac04 · 26/04/2025 10:06

oh yes the shedding! Not known as German Shedders for nothing 😂
Look closely at the breeder and breeding lines. The prey drive is great for guarding and possibly police work but unless you’ve got a huge place to guard you don’t want that.
Training is key, they are intelligent dogs who shouldn’t be left alone for long periods as they can get bored and stir crazy.
Honestly I couldn’t wish for a better dog.

Aww that is adorable. Your wee dog resting his head on your German shepherd. Yeah we would def look closely into breeders. We did with our last boxer before we got him. Xx

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pippapumpkin · 26/04/2025 10:43

Horrendous puppies, you really have to put the work in to train them but once you come out of puppyhood and have trained and socialised them they are the most wonderful, gentle family dogs.

emmatherhino · 26/04/2025 11:01

We did.

She was the best dog. Gentle, funny, affectionate. Perfect with young children. It broke me when she died.

Only issue was she was a long haired one and the hair got everywhere, but what she created in extra housework she more than made up for in her love and personality.

My lifestyle isn't suitable for a big dog anymore, but a gsd would ld be the first breed I'd go for if I could. I have chihuahuas now 😂😂

emmatherhino · 26/04/2025 11:03

She wasn't any harder training than any of thr other dogs I've had and wasn't particularly vocal- just when she did bark it was deep! She also liked to sing along to music.

AlannaOfTrebond · 26/04/2025 11:24

We had them when I was a kid - best dogs ever.

So clever, loving and protective - if my brother and I tried to have a sword fight with sticks, the sticks would be removed by our GSD in case we hurt each other! Ours would bark when the doorbell rang or if someone they didn't know came into the garden without coming through the house first, but rarely other than that.

Thinking about them to write this has really made me miss them.

Sleepalldaylong · 26/04/2025 11:28

Best dogs in the world. They only shed twice a year - for six months each time 😀

C080889 · 26/04/2025 11:32

Ours was amazing. Such a gentle soul. I would have another in a heartbeat.
Amazing dogs.
The fur. Wow. Just wow. But loved brushing him.
He was not remotely aggressive to people. One night I was out walking him and he went crazy at a man who was walking towards me. He sensed something. I never felt safer.
If a cat looked at him he would face the wall in fear but I have no doubt that night he would have protected me at any cost!

lolly07766 · 26/04/2025 23:55

@Samesame47 I feel your pain ❤️

gertrudebiggles · 27/04/2025 00:49

GSDs also prone to LOTS of medical issues and cancers unfortunately

Hip dysplasia, IBD, allergies, bone cancer, spleen cancer...

When trained well they're lovely though

Runningoutofpatiencefucksandmoney · 27/04/2025 01:10

I've had 6 GSDs throughout my life. I lost my last girl in February and am still completely devastated 💔. You could not wish for a better breed - absolutely fantastic dogs and hugely protective and loyal. I feel so vulnerable without one in the house - better than any alarm system.

caramac04 · 27/04/2025 09:58

I had a dodgy looking character at the door, cold calling for tree work, yesterday.
I took my GSD with me to the door, told him to ‘Guard’ before I opened the door and held him by the collar.
The caller was slimily polite but I didn’t like him. Gut instinct.
He saw the dog and stood well back, didn’t try to push for business.
My dog isn’t trained to guard but he looks the part and certainly would protect me and the house.

GinBlossom94 · 27/04/2025 20:02

The best breed, I’m on my 4th. Just be warned of the land shark phase! My girl is currently 14 weeks and teething, she will chew ANYTHING she can get her mouth around - a stag bar, chew toy or an ankle or an arm. It hurts A LOT, obviously she is being trained but she’s young and these things are going to happen