Page 2 | 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?

Favouritefruits · 29/04/2025 09:36

GS will have one owner and will be very loyal to that one person! They will pick their favourite and there’s nothing you can do 😂

Be weary of hip problems, they are a beautiful dog but can be expensive with their health issues. I love GS but this is what puts me off, after loosing our boy at just 8years old I’ll never put myself through it all again. We have two gorgeous playful kittens now! I didn’t realise how content I’d be with cats, they are so funny and playful, real little characters so I’m firmly in the you should get a cat rather than a GS category.

PADDY17 · 29/10/2025 11:52

We have recently adopted a black GS from a rescue Centre, along with a 1 year old Collie cross at the same time. I could not separate them as they came to the rescue Centre together. She is prob about 2. Not too sure of her background but we are finding her an absolute handful. The Collie is a dream in every way, so eager to please, brilliant on the lead and is so good with people and other dogs. She is already protective of me but tends to nip and she has absolutely destroyed the house with eating and chewing things up.
We have bought her every single chew toy known, we have her with us most of the time and play interactive games and try incorporate it into her daily life. We play with her a lot and know the cues for when she is overstimulated or tired but nothing seems to be working. When we do leave her to even go to the bathroom she cries and cries. She is walked at least 3 times a day and is getting better on he lead but I am exhausted and very stressed with the amount of training that is required.
I am not a newbie to having dogs and the training that goes in to having one as my older two both 14 and 15 passed away in the past year ( Collie and Husky) But we had them from pups so we trained them well. I am just wondering is she a lost cause and should we give her back to the shelter. Or does she just need military training :) We have another 2 weeks to decide. I obviously really do not want to have to do that but the constant nipping and destroying the house is nerve wracking. Also whenever anyone else comes in to the house, she puts herself right up against and in front of me and barks and barks at them. I realize she is prob very traumatized but it is not as if we are ignoring her at all, She spends 99% of the time with me.
Another suggestion was to crate train her but I really don't know if she would take to that at all as she is 2 years old and we would also have to crate train the other dog too.

Any suggestions would be really appreciated as this is breaking my heart. I want to love her but I am also worried that she could bite someone.

Pharazon · 29/10/2025 12:02

Best breed ever provided they are well trained - and they are so wonderfully easy to train that there’s no excuse not to. Can be absolute buggers as puppies though. Don’t get a show line one and make sure you check parents hip scores.

PADDY17 · 29/10/2025 12:19

Pharazon · 29/10/2025 12:02

Best breed ever provided they are well trained - and they are so wonderfully easy to train that there’s no excuse not to. Can be absolute buggers as puppies though. Don’t get a show line one and make sure you check parents hip scores.

So do you think that that we will be able to train her from 2 years of age? We have no clue of her history yet. I did write a post explaining all but not too sure if it posted

Sleepalldaylong · 29/10/2025 13:24

PADDY17 · 29/10/2025 11:52

We have recently adopted a black GS from a rescue Centre, along with a 1 year old Collie cross at the same time. I could not separate them as they came to the rescue Centre together. She is prob about 2. Not too sure of her background but we are finding her an absolute handful. The Collie is a dream in every way, so eager to please, brilliant on the lead and is so good with people and other dogs. She is already protective of me but tends to nip and she has absolutely destroyed the house with eating and chewing things up.
We have bought her every single chew toy known, we have her with us most of the time and play interactive games and try incorporate it into her daily life. We play with her a lot and know the cues for when she is overstimulated or tired but nothing seems to be working. When we do leave her to even go to the bathroom she cries and cries. She is walked at least 3 times a day and is getting better on he lead but I am exhausted and very stressed with the amount of training that is required.
I am not a newbie to having dogs and the training that goes in to having one as my older two both 14 and 15 passed away in the past year ( Collie and Husky) But we had them from pups so we trained them well. I am just wondering is she a lost cause and should we give her back to the shelter. Or does she just need military training :) We have another 2 weeks to decide. I obviously really do not want to have to do that but the constant nipping and destroying the house is nerve wracking. Also whenever anyone else comes in to the house, she puts herself right up against and in front of me and barks and barks at them. I realize she is prob very traumatized but it is not as if we are ignoring her at all, She spends 99% of the time with me.
Another suggestion was to crate train her but I really don't know if she would take to that at all as she is 2 years old and we would also have to crate train the other dog too.

Any suggestions would be really appreciated as this is breaking my heart. I want to love her but I am also worried that she could bite someone.

This is heartbreaking to read @PADDY17
Are you working with an animal behaviourist to deal with the issues?
Please don’t give up on her as she probably needs more time to adjust and it will set her back again if you abandon her.
There is no criticism of you implied here as you are clearly an experienced and dedicated owner.
How long have you had her?

PADDY17 · 29/10/2025 14:30

Sleepalldaylong · 29/10/2025 13:24

This is heartbreaking to read @PADDY17
Are you working with an animal behaviourist to deal with the issues?
Please don’t give up on her as she probably needs more time to adjust and it will set her back again if you abandon her.
There is no criticism of you implied here as you are clearly an experienced and dedicated owner.
How long have you had her?

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We only have her 2 weeks so I really do understand that she needs lots of patience and time. We actually have a dog trainer and dog behavior specialist coming to us on Sat and we are prepared to the time and energy in. My main concern is the biting. What if she bit a child.
We have another 2 weeks to make up our minds. The thoughts of her going back to the shelter ( and it is a lovely shelter btw) breaks my heart but the thoughts of her biting someone is causing me a lot of anxiety. She doesn't even know how to play fetch which is so sad. She is learning that now, she just does not know how to give the ball back.

Sleepalldaylong · 29/10/2025 15:16

PADDY17 · 29/10/2025 14:30

We only have her 2 weeks so I really do understand that she needs lots of patience and time. We actually have a dog trainer and dog behavior specialist coming to us on Sat and we are prepared to the time and energy in. My main concern is the biting. What if she bit a child.
We have another 2 weeks to make up our minds. The thoughts of her going back to the shelter ( and it is a lovely shelter btw) breaks my heart but the thoughts of her biting someone is causing me a lot of anxiety. She doesn't even know how to play fetch which is so sad. She is learning that now, she just does not know how to give the ball back.

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That’s so positive that you have professionals coming on Saturday. They will be able to advise whether she is dangerous or not so try not to worry about that for the moment.
I dread to think what the poor darling has been through in the past to make her how she is at the moment.
I really hope you can find a way forward as GSD are the most loyal and wonderful dogs. We had a dark sable GSD who we lost a couple of years ago but are planning to get a black one soon.
Any chance of some photos?

PADDY17 · 29/10/2025 15:21

Sleepalldaylong · 29/10/2025 15:16

That’s so positive that you have professionals coming on Saturday. They will be able to advise whether she is dangerous or not so try not to worry about that for the moment.
I dread to think what the poor darling has been through in the past to make her how she is at the moment.
I really hope you can find a way forward as GSD are the most loyal and wonderful dogs. We had a dark sable GSD who we lost a couple of years ago but are planning to get a black one soon.
Any chance of some photos?

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Ah I a so sorry for your loss.It is so difficlt losing a much loved pet. Our Husky died last August 2024 and our Collie died a year later to the day. We had them 15 and 14 years.
I will try upload some photos. I am not great at this but let me see if I can. She is a Black GS.

Sleepalldaylong · 29/10/2025 15:28

PADDY17 · 29/10/2025 15:21

Ah I a so sorry for your loss.It is so difficlt losing a much loved pet. Our Husky died last August 2024 and our Collie died a year later to the day. We had them 15 and 14 years.
I will try upload some photos. I am not great at this but let me see if I can. She is a Black GS.

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Best of luck. Please update with how you get on with her on Saturday

PADDY17 · 29/10/2025 15:31

This was the other day, she stole my husbands jacket fro its hanger and decided it is hers now to lie on, even though we bought her a really nice bed. The rescue centre told us she would not be used to the heat in a house so they like to sleep on the cold tyles until they get used to their new beds.

PADDY17 · 29/10/2025 15:32

And some more

Sleepalldaylong · 29/10/2025 15:33

She’s gorgeous but she does look so sad. It’s early days so don’t despair 💐

PADDY17 · 29/10/2025 15:38

Sleepalldaylong · 29/10/2025 15:33

She’s gorgeous but she does look so sad. It’s early days so don’t despair 💐

I hope she is not sad with us and that is why she is the way she is :( maybe she is missing the girls in the shelter although they have 45 dogs at the moment to look after so I doubt she would be getting as much attention as she is getting here.

ImthatBoleyngirl · 29/10/2025 15:40

Mine is amazing! Sweet, soppy and so easy to train! She's 5 years old and I've yet to see any aggressive behaviour. She play fights with DH, but has excellent bite inhibition. If I put my hand anywhere near her mouth when they're playing she will push it away.

My kids were 8 and 6 when we got her and she's always been well mannered with them.

Obviously any dog has the potential to be aggressive, but her default nature is calm and gentle. I would 100% recommend!

Sleepalldaylong · 29/10/2025 15:42

PADDY17 · 29/10/2025 15:38

I hope she is not sad with us and that is why she is the way she is :( maybe she is missing the girls in the shelter although they have 45 dogs at the moment to look after so I doubt she would be getting as much attention as she is getting here.

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I’m sure she’s not sad with you but she is probably adjusting to the new environment and you dont know what trauma she has experienced in the past. It will take time

EveryKneeShallBow · 29/10/2025 15:43

@PADDY17 i had to respond to your posts. We have a black shepherd that my daughter unadvisedly bought from a Facebook post. He was a beautiful puppy, and she worked and worked on his training but oh my goodness the biting! He was only playing really but it just really hurt and we absolutely despaired of getting him to stop. Nothing worked. But eventually he just grew out of it.

Since getting him, we now have two small boys in the house and he is the gentlest, kindest boy, so very very protective and loving. Don’t give up. It takes a lot of work, patience and love but they are so worth it.

PADDY17 · 29/10/2025 15:52

EveryKneeShallBow · 29/10/2025 15:43

@PADDY17 i had to respond to your posts. We have a black shepherd that my daughter unadvisedly bought from a Facebook post. He was a beautiful puppy, and she worked and worked on his training but oh my goodness the biting! He was only playing really but it just really hurt and we absolutely despaired of getting him to stop. Nothing worked. But eventually he just grew out of it.

Since getting him, we now have two small boys in the house and he is the gentlest, kindest boy, so very very protective and loving. Don’t give up. It takes a lot of work, patience and love but they are so worth it.

Ah thank you. That is so reassuring to hear. She is indeed very beautiful, I am hoping the trainer can advise on Sat. I am prepared to put int the time and even put up with the house being wrecked. But the biting is scary, my arms are black and blue from the strength of her.

Talkinpeace · 11/11/2025 17:43

Neighbours have a GSD puppy that yelps indoors the whole time
(every few seconds most hours of the day starting at 6am )
I cannot understand how the noise does not drive them mad - they are in the same room.
I'ts not a trait I was aware of before.

Giggorata · 11/11/2025 17:54

l love them but would think twice about the breed these days, after seeing the exaggerated sloping backs on modern GSDs.
The Czech Shepherds look much more like the GSD we had in the sixties, with straight backs but I understand they are less family friendly and better for guard and police duties.
We ended up getting a Beauceron, another large Sheherd, who has all the loyalty and soppiness for the family but is also a dedicated guardian and watchdog.