When you think of German Shepherds, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Is it loyalty? Courage? Intelligence? Strength? All four of these together? German Shepherds are amongst the royalty of dogdom. They are one of the top three most intelligent dog breeds in the world. Their loyalty, courage, and protective nature are renowned the world over. 

It is common knowledge that German Shepherds are excellent guard dogs. They are also exceptional working dogs, both in the police and the military. They are dogs that are fiercely passionate about the work they do and do it with every last molecule of their being. Nothing can go amiss from their perfect sense of smell.

Yet when it comes to being family dogs, German Shepherds fall a tad bit behind in ranks. We find it unfair. GSDs are capable of many things, and being great family dogs is one of them. If you don’t agree with us, continue reading, and we guarantee that we will change your mind. 

• They will protect you and your family with their life. 

German Shepherds are intrinsically protective of their pack. This is what makes them good guard dogs. When you make them a member of your family, you become their pack, and their inclinations to protect you get amplified. No intruder will think about entering your home with a GSD guarding it. 

Some consider GSDs to be overly protective to the point of being aggressive towards everyone. That isn’t entirely true. Being German Shepherd breeders and trainers, we can say that if your dog is trained properly, the chances of him acting aggressively are very low. However, if he or she thinks you are in danger, aggression will come naturally to them. You can also consider getting a female German Shepherd; they tend to be less aggressive than their male counterparts. 

• They will listen to you always. 

Obedience is another virtue of German Shepherds that makes them perfect for families. They will listen to you always. Of course, training comes in handy to fine-tune their obedience. Even that doesn’t have to be rigorous. Being super intelligent, GSDs are able to understand and learn a new command with fewer than 5 repetitions. And 95% of the time, they will obey your first command. Now, you know why they are excellent working dogs. When you have a busy life with many things to do, an obedient dog will be your savior.

• They will keep you in shape.

German Shepherds are outdoor dogs who need their fair share of exercise daily. They have a lot of energy that needs to be exerted through an exercise routine, or else they will become restless. On average, anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours of exercise every day will keep them fit and agile. 

How does that keep you in shape? When you take your dog on a run, you are bound to run with them. Accommodating exercise into our routines often seems like a chore, but when you have an active dog looking up to you for his fitness quotient of the day, you will happily oblige. That’s how you keep in shape. 

• They will love your children and other pets. 

Contrary to popular belief, German Shepherds love children. They love playing with them, they love goofing around, and they befriend them quite fast. The stereotype of GSDs being aggressive doesn’t equate them to being unsociable. They are very amiable dogs who can be easily socialized with other dogs and cats as well. Again the dog’s conditioning and training do have an impact on their behavioral patterns. 

• They will be a loyal companion to you.

German Shepherds are fiercely loyal to their people. They attach themselves to their families to the point of being imprinted by them. While male GSDs will develop a stronger bond with one family member, females create deep connections with your entire family. You might lose touch with a friend or family member, but a German Shepherd would never forget, disregard, or be disloyal to you. 

Did we persuade you?

A German Shepherd can be an excellent family dog; all he needs is a chance from you. Let’s end this topic with some wise words from one of our clients, Nataly Whitaker.

“Not every human knows how to love a German Shepherd, but every German Shepherd knows how to love a human.”