They Are Easy To Train
Thanks to the intelligence and obedience of German Shepherds, they make great family dogs.
Their intelligence and obedience make them easy to train compared to other dog breeds.
In fact, it takes only a few repetitions for them to learn a trick. So they can do almost every task you give them.
And since they are naturally obedient, its better to train them when they are still puppies. Look at this 9-week-old German Shepherd learning various commands:
You can even enlist the help of your kids to teach simple tricks. Its a great way to involve your children in training your German Shepherd.
Are German Shepherds Good With Unfamiliar Dogs
Are German Shepherds good with other dogs that they dont already know or live with? This can depend a lot on how well socialized they are.
Generally, as such a loyal breed, GSDs can be wary of new people and animals.
So, to get a German Shepherd that gets along well with other dogs, socialize them well to as many unfamiliar dogs as possible when they are under 16 weeks of age.
What About German Shepherds And Border Collies Being Together
Steve Charnock has highlighted the strong herding instincts that Border Collies possess, making them worthy companions for German Shepherds in your household.
Border Collies athleticism and intelligence are two traits that they have in common with German Shepherds. These dogs have retained a strong herding instinct.
One of the things that come naturally with their strong herding instinct is high energy.
Activities like going on long walks or hikes, and playing Frisbee, are examples of pursuits perfect for both types of dogs.
The boundless energy of a Border Collie will provide the ideal stimulation for a GSD, especially a younger dog.
The Border Collies instinct to herd even other dogs can provide plenty of amusement. However, you want to make sure that the herding attempts dont get out of control.
Otherwise, the dogs playtime might get a little tense!
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Can Small Dogs Live With German Shepherds
German Shepherds Owner urges owners to use caution when keeping a German Shepherd and a small dog together.
The presence of small dogs is a situation that can easily trigger a Shepherds prey drive.
For the best results, a German Shepherd needs to have been raised around small dogs from the time they are puppies. Otherwise, it is hard for them to adjust.
Many German Shepherd Dogs have dominant natures, which can easily manifest around small breeds like terriers or Dachshunds that also have strong alpha dog tendencies.
Dominance is a problem because it signals that the dog doesnt respect you.
Another problem is that some smaller breeds display fear of aggression and also have no awareness of their size.
A little dog acting out against a large dog in its space could face painful or even tragic consequences.
This video shows a German Shepherd and Chihuahua playing together. With these dogs being of such drastically different sizes, its easy to see why supervision is essential.
Your GSDs age will play a role in whether they have a good chance of living with a smaller breed. As much training as possible when the dog is younger will help make a difference.
Older dogs can become acclimated to a small dog, but consistent training is essential for the best results.
Taking some measures like separating the dogs, as needed, may still be necessary to help ensure peace.
With training and socialization, German Shepherds and small dogs with easygoing temperaments can live together.
Why German Shepherds Are The Best Family Dog
When you’re a dog lover, no matter how many things or people fill your home, it never quite feels complete without a fluffy pup or two running around. If your family has decided to add a dog into the mix, it can be a huge choice to make. There are a bunch of different considerations that need to be addressed when you’re going to get a pooch, especially if you have children.
Of course, every dog is different but there are still breeds that are considered to be a better fit for homes with kids. On the other hand, you also have breeds that are known to be a bit more unpredictable, which is why they can be found on what’s known as the insurance blacklist. This is a list of breeds that insurance companies consider red flags, and if you own a dog that falls on the list it could potentially affect your premium or even have your coverage denied in certain situations.
German Shepherds are one of a handful of breeds that appear on this list, but this doesn’t mean this pup can’t make a good family dog. It just means that if youre thinking about getting a German Shepherd, there are some extra factors to consider and some additional steps you will need to take before you purchase or adopt a dog to make sure you get a pup that is the perfect fit for you and your family.
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How Big Are German Shepherds
Males stand about 24-26 inches at the shoulder and weigh 75-110 pounds.
Females stand about 22-24 inches and weigh 65-90 pounds.
Some German Shepherds are considerably larger than that, but shouldn’t be. This breed is supposed to be athletic and agile, not giant-sized and ponderous. Larger dogs can have more joint problems and a shorter lifespan.
Top 10 Compatible Breeds For A German Shepherd
Lets cover the top 10 breeds that get along well with German Shepherds. The following breeds match most of the behavioral traits and characteristics that German Shepherds have. For each of the breeds on the list, Im going to include a short explanation of why they are a good fit for a German Shepherd.
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What Colors Do German Shepherds Come In
The most common colors are black and tan, black and red, black and cream, or black and silver. These colors cover the dog in one of these three patterns:
- Saddleback the black overlays the dog’s back and sides . The rest of the dog is tan, red, cream, or silver. Usually there’s some black on the face, as well.
- Blanketback the black extends further down the shoulders and hips.
- Bicolor like a Doberman or Rottweiler, which is mostly black with small tan/red/cream markings specifically confined to the head, chest, and legs. Honestly I don’t know why this pattern is called bicolor, which simply means two colors. As we’ve just seen, the other two patterns also have just two colors.
Another common color is sable, which is an overall shade of gray, golden, or red, with black-tipped hairs that create a “dusted with black” effect.
A less common, but perfectly acceptable, color is solid black.
“Faulty” colors
Then there are two controversial colors: blue and liver:
- Blue German Shepherds have inherited a color-modifying gene that changes their black pigment to smoky gray. Many blue dogs look as though they’ve been dusted with flour.
- Liver German Shepherds have inherited a color-modifying gene that changes their black pigment to brown .
Blue and liver are considered serious faults by the official German Shepherd clubs and breeders who show their dogs in the conformation ring. But you can still register these dogs and compete with them in activities such as obedience and agility.
They Can Entertain Kids For Hours
What do German Shepherds and children have in common?
Energy! Lots of it.
That makes your German Shepherd great with kids. They can entertain your kids for hours!
Thats because your German Shepherd is a tireless dog. They can play for hours and hours and not get tired easily. And young children have the energy to match!
What better way to spend time than to play games that your German Shepherd loves. Playing fetch, catching a frisbee, or learning new tricks. They wont have a shortage of activities to do.
They can even play treasure hunt. Your kids hide the treats and your German Shepherd will find those. And with their excellent nose, they can easily find those treats!
Caution: Watch out how many treats you give your dog. You dont want them to get overweight.
If they get tired of treasure hunting, they can run around all day. This is good for your dog since they need lots of exercise. And this is good for you, too. Tired children means you have more time to rest.
Caution: Keep an eye on your kids and dog while theyre playing together. Your child may get hurt during a roughhouse.
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Obedience Training With Gsds
Given the German Shepherds high intelligence, obedient nature and ability to learn quickly, you should have little problems with obedience training. Nonetheless, its still an essential part when it comes to raising these dogs with children.
There are benefits to obedience training mainly, it gives you the ability to better control your dog in different scenarios. If your untrained German Shepherd is roughing up a child, you have no way of explicitly telling them to stop. This can lead to mishaps.
In addition, obedience training develops trust between the owner and the dog. And when you let the children participate in training, it does the same for them too! Its a great way to build a lasting bond while establishing alpha status over the pack.
That being said, we suggest starting with at least the 5 basic commands: down, sit, come, drop it and heel. This way, if your GSD becomes aggressive with a child, a simple down or come command can correct their behavior.
For more information on how to teach these commands, we highly recommend checking out this guide by Figo Pet Insurance. And given the vocal nature of German Shepherds, you may want to consider teaching them to be quiet.
Socialization Should Start Early And Often
Socialization is just as important as training, but its often overlooked. Many people mistakenly misjudge the importance of socialization, but if you want your dogs to get along with each other or other dogs, then socialization is of the utmost importance.
Socialization is simply allowing your dog to interact with other dogs and people. Granted, most dogs will get plenty of interaction with humans regardless. They might not get a lot of interaction with other dogs though, especially if there are no other dogs in the household.
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Do German Shepherds Attack
Because this dog is commonly used in police work and the military, people assume they are ready and eager to attack. On television and in the movies, German Shepherds are the police dogs always taking down the bad guy. We see them be very aggressive and they seem happy to do it.
In reality, a well-trained and socialized German Shepherd wont attack any more than any other breed of dog. Theyre used in the police force and military because of their personalities, ability to be trained, and high intelligence levels not because theyre aggressive dogs by nature.
Why The Big Ears
Adult German Shepherds have iconic ears that naturally stand straight up. Like most dogs, German Shepherds are not born with perky ears. German Shepherd puppies are born with floppy ears that generally perk up somewhere between 4 7 months. Puppies will sometimes have their perky ears droop during the teething state because the calcium in their body is being directed to their developing bones and teeth. Normally, once the cartilage is fully formed, the ears will permanently stay pointed and upright. So what are those big satellite dish ears for? They enable German Shepherds to have maximized hearing capabilities because of their tall and curved shape. This is why youll often notice German Shepherds perking and flexing their ears when they detect a sudden noise. Besides being genetic tools for survival and efficiency, they add to the breeds regal appearance.
The tall curved shape of the ears enable German Shepherds to have more efficient hearing.
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Training A German Shepherd
Well-trained GSDs will never intentionally cause harm to anyone they love. Training a German Shepherd, like most dogs, consists of teaching voice commands at a young age to ensure theyre good with kids. Teaching them not to jump on people, for example, can be beneficial for future interactions with small children and babies.
If you get the GSD prior to the arrival of a new baby, you can even train your pup ahead of time. Wrap a doll in a baby blanket to teach your dog how to behave around the soon-to-come family member.
With smaller children, you can give them dog treats to reward the GSD for obeying simple commands. German Shepherds love to be trained, and your children will love seeing all of the tricks they learn to do! As theyre learning to sit, roll over, and shake paws theyre also learning to respect your kids requests.
Are German Shepherds Good With Other Dogs At Home And Outside
September 16, 2020 By Meg Austwick
Are German Shepherds good with other dogs?
Many studies into canine aggression have stated that German Shepherds score higher than average for aggression towards other dogs.
Socialization as a puppy is the best way to ensure an adult German Shepherd is good with other dogs.
However, if youre bringing a new puppy home, either a GSD puppy to another dog or another puppy to your current GSD, you should introduce them in small steps.
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How Accurate Are These Findings
When looking at studies and statistics on dog aggression, its important to remember that results can be misleading.
In fact, the third study mentioned above points this out. It states that there was a lot of variation in aggressive behaviors even within each breed.
So, people should be wary of making judgements about aggression based on breed alone. Other factors should be taken into account.
A review paper looking into breed-specific legislation argues that people who are interested in owning aggressive dogs will usually expose dogs to an environment that shapes them to be aggressive.
So, it is hard to know if aggression is a hereditary trait, or something shaped by upbringing and environment.
Many people also argue that bite statistics are warped, as small dogs generally do not cause as much damage as larger dogs.
Therefore, people may not report aggression and bites in smaller breeds, unlike large dogs such as the German Shepherd.
Dogs That Look Like German Shepherds
Whole Dog JournalHealthDogsterCatster, Animal ShelteringEditorial Process
A popular service breed, the German Shepherd is a large and athletic dog that’s known to be highly intelligent, loyal, and agile. They are hard-working and protective dogs that are often relied on as therapy and search and rescue dogs, in addition to guide dogs for the blind, because of their trainability and desire to work, keen sense of smell, and devotion to their owners. They are also the preferred dog for police and military units across the world.
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Children And Other Pets
If they’re well-trained and have had plenty of exposure to kids, especially as a puppy, a German Shepherd is a great companion for children. In fact, some say they’re a cross between a babysitter and a cop, both gentle with, and protective of, the children in their family.
This is a big dog, though, capable of mistakenly bumping a toddler or small child. True to their reserved nature, they’re not tail-wagging friendly with kids they don’t know, but they’re generally trustworthy.
The German Shepherd can also live peacefully with other dogs and pets, as long as they’re taught to do so from puppyhood. Introducing an adult German Shepherd to a household with other pets can be more difficult if the dog isn’t used to getting along with other dogs or cats. You may need to hire a professional trainer to help, or get advice from the rescue organization if that’s where you acquired the adult German Shepherd.
Coexistence Of A German Shepherd With Puppies
Adult dogs are much more permissive with puppies. For this reason, it would be very strange if your German Shepherd has a bad reaction.
The puppies have more energy and courage to play, but they dont usually control the limits of the game because they are in the learning stage.
Also, Playful adults may enjoy the energy of an unruly one, but quieter, calmer ones may find it extremely unpleasant.
Anyway, you must remain alert, because puppies are more delicate. Besides, if we see that the little one is overwhelming the GSD with its games, the best thing to do is to intervene.
We can distract the puppy by playing with it for a while so that it lets the German Shepherd rest.
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Why German Shepherds Make A Great Family Pet
German Shepherds, also known as GSDs, are highly intelligent and are known to have been loyal protectors to families for generations. Theyre extremely high-energy dogs that make great playmates for children.
Although GSDs live up to the phrase mans best friend, theyll typically be skeptical of strangers. For many families, this is a sought-after trait when looking for a dog to protect their homes and families.
The Personality Of A German Shepherd
When properly trained, German Shepherds will become very close with children. They tend to be a patient and gentle breed, which are excellent traits for a family pet.
When trained properly, GSDs will be able to handle the unpredictable actions of children. Some dogs may snap if a child runs up and hugs them or accidentally trips on them, but a German Shepherd quickly becomes used to their antics.
Traits Associated with GSDs
- Loyal Once that bond is formed, theres no going back. German Shepherds are gentle and loyal watchdogs that will make you and your family feel loved and protected.
- Active GSDs are an extremely active breed, and need high amounts of play and exercise to feel their best.
- Aloof Although German Shepherds are big, a well-trained GSD is nothing to fear. When meeting strangers, theyll remain cool, calm, and collected.
- Intelligent Its pretty incredible what you can train your GSD to do. They pick up commands quickly, which is a great quality to have when training a dog around young children.
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