re: German Shepherds as Pets (with cats, small dogs, and kids)

I’ve got a 5.5 year old and hes by far the best dog Ive ever owned. I wanted one since visiting my Aunt and Uncles ranch every summer as a kid and being around there GSD’s. My mom never let me get one because she was cornered by one as a kid so I had to wait til I was on my own. After he kept her from being hit by a car a couple years ago, a woman who never has liked dogs has an incredible affection for him to the point she wants him to have puppies.

I never had problems with him having nuts so hes not fixed, hes loyal to the point he is more interested in me and everyone he is familiar with than whatever dogs think. I can leave him outside with no restrictions and he will just be there waiting on me.

I didn’t have any trouble training him, my main take away is to be just as stern with they make mistakes as paying them when they do the right thing. It is such a loyal breed they will not want to disappoint you more than anything

A couple things that you have to know are GSDs can be an anxious breed, they are selfish when it comes to toys and if another dog is around its food while he's eating. They also shed like a mf, they completely shed their coats twice a year.

Ive never had problems with him around other dogs, the worst is when a puppy will be jumping on him he will put a soft growls at them to stop. But overall hes pretty aloof around dogs, much more interested in people. I brought him to the dog park a ton in his first couple years of his life so this may have helped

TLDR: Best dog Ive ever owned (I had Labs and Border Collies growing up) and Ill never get any other dog breedj