Lovable and loving! (German Shepherd)

Member Name: Serufish

Product:	German Shepherd
Date:	07/08/08 (193 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Companions, loyal, loving, guarding.

Disadvantages: Big, require a lot of maintenance, long walks and lots of food needed.

Firstly, many people think German Shepherds are very aggressive and will bite. This will only be the case if they have been (or are being) mistreated or badly trained. In general they are loving, lovable, and extremely loyal dogs; perfect for the single type who lives on their own and sometimes needs a big ball of fluff to interact with! The only problem with this though, is that if you leave them for a while, they will become very anxious to see you when you next return, usually jumping up and being very boisterous.

Their abilities to be guard dogs are brilliant; they will bark at loud noises in the night (Yes, this is quite a down side as well) and will perk up almost instantly even if they've been asleep for hours beforehand. They will usually get on with everyone you want them to, as long as you appear to be friendly with the person in question.

However, because they are such big dogs, they require lots of walking (or very long walks), lots of food, and lots of care. They are also known for their arthritis in later years.

In this case though, I feel bigger is better. Just because of how much you get back from them, I mean, they're so loyal; it's hard to comprehend. They will never run away like a cat might. And even when they've done something wrong (this especially relates to my own German Shepherd), and you get a bit shouty, they'll still come back to you half an hour later to lick your knees (yes, this is very related to my dog!) and wag their tail at your feet.

Overall, if you want companionship and a good lot of exercise, this is the type of dog for you. If you want a fashion item that requires little attention, you might want to look elsewhere.

Summary: Not for those who want to put in a little and get a lot