Owning a German Shepherd: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Once you have GSD you will never want another breed. They are awesome! I have male Rex, he is almost 12 and has a hip problem. It is so sad to see him getting older and loosing his mobility...If one day he needs to be carried around, I will do it. Just to pay him back for his endless love and kindness to me. I love you too, buddy ❤

the fact that they love having a job is the most german thing ever

I have four female, German shepherds, and I don’t see any downside to them at all. They are Harvard smart. They are absolutely beautiful and they have a temperament that is outstanding. There is no bad or ugly in these dogs.

I had to wipe my little guys bum when he had bad diarrhea, and I didn't mind at all, he takes care of me by getting me out and exercising, not judging my bass playing, keeping me company on long drives, being a social lubricant (I met 20+ new neighbors the first two weeks after he arrived!), and his unconditional love. I do everything I can for him, ALL of you know how far we go for our Sheps once we're really bonded. I've had lots of dogs from Goldens and Bassets to a Pitbull Terrier, and there is a whole deeper level with a GSD. I'm not saying only them, but it's definitely rare.

My boy Bauer is the best thing that ever happened to me. I got him right before the pandemic and went through a lot mentally living alone during lockdown. Without him and his kisses and affection, I don’t know if I would’ve made it. I paid to have him trained at this puppy “kindergarten” place 8 hours each day while I was at work, (he came home each night) and also made sure he hung out with kids and other dogs and he is the friendliest, cuddliest GSD you could ever meet! Not a hard breed to own if you go through a reputable breeder who breeds for family dogs and not protection or police dogs and you properly socialize from a young age. I found in my breeder visits that the temperament varies depending on what the breeder is intending to breed them to do (ie police work, guard dog, family dog, therapy dog). My dog came from a breeder who primarily breeds for therapy and family dogs so he’s very chill and affectionate. He currently volunteers at the children’s hospital to cheer up the patients and it’s been a great, uplifting experience for both of us.

I have had GSDs for more than 40 years now. I rescued a 4 year old female because the owner said she was big, and a breeder of AKC registered GSDs gave me an 8 week old male puppy. He is now 7 months old and huge. I love the breed.😊

There is nothing “ugly” about owning GSD. With right breeder, training, exercise and nutrition, you will have the most magnificent dog have ever been created. My Ladybug is my treasure and cherish every moment with her. And she brings more joy and love into my life I could ever imagined.

Years ago, my oldest brother had two German Shepherds, Rebel and Brandy. They were brother and sister and big. Rebel weighed well over 100 pounds and Brandy weighed almost as much. We babied them their whole life. They were very protective of my brother's two granddaughters. If the two little girls were in the yard with the dogs, if anyone drove up the dogs didn't know, they would get in front of the two girls and sit there, or stand there, and smile at you. They would not bark. They wouldn't growl or bare their teeth, or anything aggressive. They'd just smile at you. But if you have a functional brain and value your life, you would not come any closer. And they were the same way with me. I was their favorite uncle. If they were out in the yard with me and someone came up they did not know, they'd get in front of me and smile at that person. Some people are so stupid, they don't recognize that smile as a "warning shot". We never taught them to be that way. They were really, very, very gentle. Their vet used to tell us they were the gentlest German Shepherds they had ever seen. I'd always help my brother take them to the vet, and the dogs always behaved very well. They were smart. And after Rebel and Brandy died, we got wolves.

I have owned many dogs but my German Shepherds are my favorite. My first shepherd puppy was a male who was unbelievably smart, loyal, loving and funny. He could read my mind and multitask. One thing to remember is that an owner should not leave a German Shepherd for any major length of time because this throws them off, even if they know the dog sitter well. Having a backyard that is not big is OK if you take them to a park and walk them several times a day to burn off the energy and train them.

Thank you for this information. We adopted a beautiful white GSD from the local rescue in June. This boy was a 'pandemic puppy' and in an apartment. The owners had to give him up or else get evicted because he barked incessantly. We immediately took this 12 month old and hired an expert trainer. He has much energy and is now on a 30 foot leash. So glad we went through training which trained us! After 3 months of having him, we are delighted that he is friendly with other dogs and with friends. Highly socialized! He is a treasure!

I've been around German Shepherds my whole life and I can say that without a doubt the biggest problem is the shedding. Oh god, the shedding. You could make an entirely new dog out of the tufts of fur you'll find in the dark corners of your home. If you don't groom them regularly the inside of your house will soon look like some kind of nightmarish Lovecraftian hair-world. They can also be quite neurotic, especially if they aren't confident in your leadership. I highly recommend going to dog handling classes before you get a GSD. In fact, I'd recommend dog handling classes before you get any dog, but that goes double for a German Shepherd. The best part is they're very cuddly and they won't mind you using them as a foot warmer in winter. It's like having a big fluffy electric heater under the blanket that occasionally slobbers on you.

I have been born and raised and know NOTHING but the GSD!! I disagree with some parts of this video, but for the most part spot on! To me, (and everyone in my family), there IS NO OTHER breed I would buy! (I wouldn’t mind adopting a mutt, but will always have a GSD along with another one)! 🐾❤️

My dream dog since childhood! Finally owned one two years ago, a black female GSD, so adept at commands and extremely loyal, protective, yet so affectionate. She always loves to be with me wherever I go. Love you Maxxie!

I’m in my 50’s and have adopted rescue German Shepherds most of my life.everything you said was spot on about them.the only thing I would have added to the list is They are not for first time dog owners.the amount of work and training to get a well mannered German Shepherd is a commitment that most wont want to do.i can say this because people like me adopt them when they take them to the shelter or a rescue.its so sad so many end up in the shelter.

I have a GSD, they are definitely worth getting but make sure you're ready and able to give them the care they need. GSD is my favorite breed.

I recently dog-sat for my friend’s 100 lb. German Shepherd for a week. It was a PITA, but also a great experience. He’s a a handful, needs lots of attention, wrestled with me every time I put the leash on, but he also loves me and taught me the simple joy of going for a walk.

Well, you hit the nail on the head with this video, everything you say is true. I have 2 czech GSD's a male and female. They costed 2500 bucks each. But worth it in my opinion. They are great dogs and super smart, I would venture to say the smartest dogs in the world. Why? Because they remember commands long after you quit using them, where other breeds forget. I had a poodle which is a great dog as well but won't protect you if things go wrong. My cousin has a border collie who is very smart, but won't protect him, but my GSD is just as smart. Exercise boredom, all the things you said were right on. My dogs are very affectionate they will crawl in the bed with me after I get to sleep because they know I won't let them sleep with me, but I still wake up snuggled to them lol. I want my dogs to live a long life, so I feed them diamond natural dog food and i mix in raw meat like chicken or turkey. Mixed in twice a week I mix in a can of sardines for each dog and I feed them a raw egg several times a week. They really do need exercise, that is for sure. I have to play ball with mine twice a day for around 20 minutes, and I take them for walks in the woods a couple of times a week. If I don't do this, they get board and get into trouble. They are very loyal very affectionate and make great guard dogs, they let me know if they hear anything outside they are very alert. Bottom line for me these are perfect for me and my needs, I will probably always own a GSD from now until I die.

Layla my 4yo is an angel. She doesn't have a bad bone in her body, unless you're a fox or a rabbit; we're on 10 acers. I would not think about getting a GSD unless I was on land. The protectiveness is hard wired - they have a job and it's our job to support them - there are NO negotiations in this regard. I'm glad they live so long as it tears my heart out of not waking to see her at my bedroom door each morning, tail wagging ready to go. GSD's are a gift, they are not a toy

I have a GSD, was given to me by my daughter who had received her as a gift from a friend breeder. My daughter had a black lab also. She was moving into a crowded place, so mom is the choice to the rescue. I really was apprehensive, as my patience for animals bathroom going on the floor and knew I would not keep her if messes were the future. She was trained from the beginning. Kennel trained, she would prefer to lay in her kennel, always with the door open. I only had to say one word commands and she was perfect at following that command. I did a bit of research. I didn't like the hair puddles, so eventually after a few years, now I trim her with a set of clippers. That hair mess was the only problem I had to solve. Giving a haircut with a pair of clippers was easy. She stands still for the task. She is so loyal and loving. Figuring out how to remedy the nickname American shedder made her the most perfect dog to have for me. She has never pooped or peed on the floor. She even knows how to tell me when she is hungry. She will guide me to what she wants. She is much like a toddler who just wants to please. She has gotten an upset stomach before that is about as bad as it has been since I have learned to trim her hair. I don't think I could handle a breed that wasn't as intelligent as this. What a loving great dog.

I own a male GSD, he's a keeper. He never attacks any stranger, instead wants to hug them n play with them. He is 1.5 yrs old. he is very smart and loving . love u Ollie ❤