re: Looking to get a dog

I have a female GSD and she is by far the smartest dog I have owned which can be a good thing and a bad thing. Just so you know they shed once a year for 365 days. They have a double coat which will need to groomed at least twice a week. Mine was hyper and anxious until she hit about two years old and now she can run all day or be a couch potato depending on what we have going on. She only barks when there is something to bark about. I would highly recommend a GSD if you feel comfortable training and leading a dog because if you are not, the GSD will take the leader role. She is great with my 3 month old and shadows him every where we take him. Socialize whatever breed you get from puppy hood and you should not have a problem. If buying from a breeder, get a family history of hip dysplasia and try to find out the temperament of the sire and dam. Also understand that a GSD bred for show will probably have back issues later in life due to the sloped back that is desired for dog shows.