Do German Shepherds make good family pets?

[Sillyspuddy]

Thinking of getting a German Shepherd puppy. We have 4 cats and a Cavapoo aged 10. My 16 year old daughter would look after it most days. Is this safe? Do they get along well with other animals? If anyone has experience with this breed, would they make a good family pet?

Thanks in advance

@Wolfiefan I think if nobody has owned that breed, then you can't comment on it. You can give your opinion, but other than that it's not relevant.

I’m unsure why poor old wolfie is getting a hard time here, what about all the posters who HAVE had GSDs that are also telling you this is a bad idea?
I don’t think anyone on here has agreed it’s a good idea.
That should tell you something.

@Doggydoggydoggy Yes, I'll take there advice as their the only ones who can comment. However, some people have said that they are good dogs to have. It's just mixed reviews.

If you only want GSD owners - you’d be better posting on a GSD owners forum... as a warning though, in general dog forums are much more robust than mumsnet, so they’re usually a lot blunter with their opinions than on here.

They’re not bad dogs to own. It’s just you don’t sound like a good owner for one. Just as I couldn’t cope with the grooming of a shihtzu or the exercise needs of a Dalmatian. They’re not bad dogs. Just not suited to certain homes.

DH had one growing up as a child and says it was the best dog they ever had, we've had two adult 'adoptees' (not at the same time) when our children were small and they were both wonderful and never gave us a moments concern as far as being around the children. Very easy to train and obedient.

Here's a BIG caveat though; We live in the country and one of our GSDs got into a pasture and was found with a sheep carcass and bloody muzzle. Even though neither we nor our neighbours actually saw it and coyote predations aren't uncommon here, we had to have the dog put down (per county laws). We were later told that GSDs 'aren't the best' to have around livestock of any kind. Odd since they were originally bred to herd. So if you're still thinking of getting one, my advice would be not to have any other pets and always on a leash when out in the country.

I'm late to this one, but throwing my thoughts in.

I've loved GSD for many years. Finally got one from a lovely friend whose life changed and she couldn't keep her. I love the dog to pieces, but she is noise reactive and becoming vocal at times, though as a warning for us and doesn't do it when we're not home - I have a camera on the dogs that I can access from my phone. Whilst my Rotties mug the vet for treats and cuddles she backs off, and is the only dog I've ever had to muzzle at the vet's. She'll turn on a sixpence for me though has a sneaky aloof side if she doesn't want to do as she's told. Her coat is long and she sheds like it's going out of fashion. Interestingly she'll walk for hours but won't be fussed if we're miss a day, whereas the Rotties are like bouncing balls if they don't get walked.

Meant to add on - I won't have another one. They aren't the solid dogs from my youth. We've met a few out on walks and they're definitely flightier and nervier and less obedient; one got away to 'play' with my GSD and my poor lass was terrified. Thankfully we got them apart before she got out from under his flying leap. Definitely not a dog for the inexperienced.

I think op is set on getting one. If you do prepare to pay a lot of money and be on a very long waiting list.

I've got a Labrador, he's loyal, fantastic with the dc, they climb, jump over him etc and he never batters an eyelid. Yet if someonevwalks past the window he's up there barking, a strange noise... barking again. A new person enters our home...he's on guard and barks until we say it's ok.

Only I doubt that’s what’ll happen. It’ll be an internet search for cheap puppies I can buy today near me.

@Wolfiefan Wow can you be more judgemental? If your just going to bring negativity then leave the page. It's gone from having your opinion, to just being down right rude.

Actually reading the full thread I think wolfie has a point. A properly bred gsd will make a wonderful family dog, however there are so many bad breeders out there and from what other posters have said a badly bred gsd is not a suitable family dog.

If you have your heart set on one, contact gsd rescue and they will match a dog to your family . A puppy is cute but with every dog there is no telling what their adult temperament is like. At least with a fully vetted, matched dog you will know what you are getting.

Labradors are known for being happy go lucky docile dogs.... mine is with his family...But he's protective and certainly not a typical Labrador food orientated dog .

@Dementedswan I've looked into Labrador's as well, however not that much so this may not be true, but from what I've read they chew up a lot of your house. Also, apparently that breed of dog was recorded the most times for biting someone, but they're supposed to be the best for family's.🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Jeez. You really either haven’t done your research or you have failed to understand what you’ve read.
All puppies chew. Everything. Not sure where the “labradors chew up a lot of your house” fact comes from.
There are far more labs than say Nova Scotia duck rolling retrievers. So of course more labs than tollers are recorded as biting. Not helped by the reputation they have for being good family dogs and people letting their kids clamber all over the dog.

You know what else tend to like biting and chewing....?
GSDs!

But yes labs are known for being excessively chewy.
Sorry to be even more negative but extreme resource guarding is a known problem in retrievers, particularly the goldens and spaniels.

The high bite rate is probably in part, largely due to there being so many, they are so incredibly popular.

My experience of Labradors is super super boisterous, in your face, don’t take no for an answer.
I have come across some really quite nasty ones.
I am not a fan of them but that said, I do think a well bred one would be a better fit than a GSD.

@Doggydoggydoggy I'm not adamant about getting a GSD. It's just right now their what I'm looking at most. However, Labradors and Boxers were also a consideration.

@Wolfiefan Yes I know all puppies chew. I mean when they get older as well.

Honestly it seems you’re taking anecdotal evidence of a nice dog you met or a lab thT ate the house and assuming they are all the same.
You need to find better sources of evidence. I desperately wanted a wolfhound but seriously considered it may be a totally bonkers thing to do. (First dog etc.) I read books, went to shows and events where I could be surrounded by the breed, joined online groups and lurked to find out what issues there were with the breed. I had a couple visit my house (and cleaned up my first wolfhound sized puddle of pee! ) I asked questions about health and training and behaviour and exercise and grooming. And loads of other things too! All to avoid making a giant mistake.
Big dogs cost when health issues crop up. (£800 for an ear issue!) And you don’t want a big dog with behavioural issues in a family home.

I wouldn't recommend one primarily for a teenager to look after.

They are a intelligent agile breed who need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation.These qualities make them popular as working dogs.

The breed is also known for issues with hip dysplasia and arthritis so could be expensive in the long run.

I'd really suggest looking at something else.

@Wolfiefan No I'm not assuming their all the same. I've met really good Labradors and have met some who are just terrible. I've also read it of other forums, from other people who have had Labradors.

I’m really confused by what you want.
A lab isn’t a guard dog.
A boxer isn’t the best choice for agility.
What are you actually after?
Eg. I wanted a companion. A dog that was calm in the house and didn’t need hours and hours of walking each day. I wanted a dog that I could groom and not one that would need to go to a professional groomer. I did do obedience training but wouldn’t want to compete in that.
Maybe think what your days would look like with your ideal dog. How long would it be left etc. Shame Crufts is over or you could have got to Discover Dogs.

We had a gsd mix who was a rescue.

He chewed:
The letter box off of the door
The shoe cabinet off of the wall (the solid IKEA ones!)
The seatbelt, gear stick and steering wheel of one car.
Lots of underpants (just male ones )
Lots and lots of post
Amongst many other things

He was a lovely dog, but highly strung and anxious when left alone. OH worked from home so this wasn't a frequent occurrence.

Reading through this post, I do agree about them having a short time to train / mix well, which unfortunately he lost out on.

As soft as he was, I wouldn't have trusted him with kids.

What about a lurcher? One of the common crosses is a greyhound crossed with GSD - you get the intelligence and stamina of the GSD with the speed of the greyhound (and also the tendency to just want to curl up on the sofa in the house). I had a rescue lurcher who was amazing - he was a Belgium Shepherd crossed with Greyhound - I only found out through a doggy DNA test as the rescue had him down as a lab cross! They're great for agility or flyball and great family dogs to have around the house. They sound scary and can look scary as they're big for the whole burgler thing but they generally don't resource guard (my lurcher let the cat drink and eat out of his bowl).