Are German Shepards good dogs?

Question

i want to get one, its just that a couple years ago, my cousin was bit by one at the beach, he his twin brother, his sister and his brother, and me and my brothers where all around it, but i think the dog got alittle nervous with so many people around it.

and is it true that u have learn german commands for it to be obediant?

i dont think they are bad dogs

Answer 1

A well-bred, properly raised German Shepherd is a wonderful animal. The problem is that you REALLY have to do your research before you buy one. Because it's such a popular breed, there are lots of people breeding them that care nothing for health, structure or temperament. Even some "show breeders" and "performance breeders" should be avoided (and definitely stay away from BYBs and puppymills). Some show breeders do not have a good enough understanding of the purpose and history of their breed, they care only for the wins. And some performance breeders want a dog that is too intense and driven to make a good pet.

Look for a breeder that is a member of the German Shepherd Dog Club of America http://www.gsdca.org/ ,
who competes with their dogs in some venue (show, obedience, tracking, schutzhund) to prove their quality, who does the health certifications recommended by the parent club, and who has years of experience with the breed.

Meet their adult dogs. If the dogs are neurotic and high-strung, look elsewhere, these are the sort of puppies they will produce. If the dogs and calm, happy, confident and reasonably friendly, this breeder is more likely to produce the kind of dog you want. Look at the adults and say "Is this the kind of dog I want to live with?" Don't bother looking at puppies until you have chosen a breeder, ALL puppies are cute, it's what they will grow into that counts.

Answer 2

GSDs are great dogs! Wonderful Dogs!

Your cousin was probably acting like a little kid - and to a dog that may not be used to children running about and such, he would view them as possibly a threat. Unfortunately, unlike mummy who has hands to hold little kids in check or to smack little hands when they're into something they shouldn't be, a dog only has his mouth. Translate: biting.

Of course, your cousin wasn't acting badly - but as you said, the dog was probably really nervous.

The key with any dog is obedience training. I cannot stress this enough - obedience training - It's good for socializing as well (prevent a repeat of your cousin's mishap),

Do some research too - on good breed lines as sadly, larger dogs are prone to joint problems and sometimes other health issues because of over breeding by inexperienced and unconcerned breeders.

And consider rescue - forget that baloney about puppies and children growing up together. An adult dog from a rescue organization will have many of the things we dislike about puppies over with - including the spay/neuter, shots, chewing, and growing etc.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

ANY type dog has the ability to be good or mean.
ALL dogs need to be trained, but PEOPLE need to realize the dog mentality ISN'T equal to the human.(of course i've met some dogs that WERE smarter than some people....)
WHERE was the owner of the dog that you guys surrounded? picture yourself in the dog's position-beaches are usually a loud place with screaming kids darting all over the place. now, have people twice your size surrounding you. how SAFE do you feel?
dogs will attack when they feel frightened, threatened or the need to protect their family.
dogs are wonderful companions and there are times when people get dogs for the WRONG reasons. just realize having a dog means WORK. if you're not willing to take the time to train your dog, DON'T get a dog.

Answer 4

German Shepards have been a number one breed in America for a century. They are among the best at many things, behaviorly - very dependable.

I recommend them, if you have the room and the time.

My great grandmother was German. All of her dogs (even the Americans) only responded to commands in German. Rous! Halt! Essen!

Answer 5

i have a german shepard and they are really great dogs. mine barely sheds, he's really sweet and playful but at the same time mellow. they like to explore around and play with other dogs. they're also GREAT guard dogs, their barks scare away any intruders. they sometimes have a bad rep because some shepards are aggresive, (like the one you encountered on the beach) but most i know are really sweet and rarely have any health problems or big medicals bills to deal with. i've had german shepards for a while and they usually live up to 13 or more years. :)

oh and also they are very obidient, fairly easy to train and usually weigh around 115 lbs. don't get one if you live in a appartment or small house because they like their space to run around. :D

Answer 6

Yes, German Shepherds are good dogs. Like any dog you have to treat them with love, respect and consideration.

If you make any living creature, this applies to more than just dogs, feel trapped and nervous it will respond in its basic instinctual pattern of 'fight or flight'. Did any of you know the dog before this incident? If not, I expect, being surrounded by so many kids - strangers - scared it. For future reference, if you are meeting any animal for the first time approach it, with the owner's permission, one or two at a time.

Answer 7

oh come on...jst bcz 1 german shepard dog bit ur cousine..u think they r not good dogs..whats wrong with u..is there any breed of dog which dont bite..all kinds of dog bite people..n they r various reasons for that..in ur cousine's case also something must have gone wrong..so please dont think it dat way...

now let me u my experience of having german shepard dog..my grandma had this female german shepard dog..her name was suzzie..she was 2 years older to me..when i was born she was already 2 years old..so i was with her since i was a baby..n she was the most beautiful n loving dog i could have come across..she had all the qualities that a wonderful dog has..she was very close to me..i loved her alot..she passed away when she was 14..n we lost a very important member in our family..but she is still der in r hearts n wil always stay..

so please go n get urself one..n be the lucky person to get all the love..all the best..

Answer 8

They are great dogs but not for first time dog owners. They are very smart and require a lot of training and socialization. If you have never had a dog before, I would suggest looking for a different breed. Talk to a veterinarian or a dog trainer to help you find the right dog.

Answer 9

I have one however, he is a mix breed(Labrador) although he is only a puppy he is very obedient. He is very lovable and always greets his family members with such enthusiasm. I love him so much and I high recommend a German Sheppard he guards me and my family so much and expresses his love towards us.

Answer 10

no you dont have to speak german lol.they are very good but you have to be firm with them.i had one but it had to be put to sleep cos it had epileptic fit and wouldnt come out of it.but i still wish i had her she was very friendly and never bit anyone