........some people make out.
I love this breed, so beautiful and loyal.
I really want one, but are they really as viscous and aggressive as people say they are?

Im dreaming of a pure black longhaired boy, but worry if people will cross the road to avoid me and act like i have a loaded gun!
that would really upset me, i know i shouldnt care what people think, but i end up worrying!

So are they aggressive!?
Can they be trained not to be!

Help....?

hi,
when i was little, my aunt had a big german shepard who was the most loyal, gentle, wonderful boy.  she had little little children who would fall over him and pull on his nose and do "little kid things" to him and that dog would just keep getting up and moving.  no aggression whatsoever.  she even had an in-home daycare and all those little kids never bothered that dog at all.  i love this particular breed and do not think they are aggressive at all.
of course, they can be a protection dog, so they need to be socialized and well-trained.  that is really the case with any dog.  any dog that is spoiled rotten and unsocialized can be aggressive or nasty. 
just make sure you go to a reputable breeder that can prove long lines of healthy and well-tempered dogs. 

If you do your research and only buy from a responsible breeder you should find a healthy dog with good temperament. That is how a GSD should be. But if you buy from a puppy farm or a back street breeder you will have to take the chance on what you get.

Make sure you visit the home of any breeder who has a litter planned, check the temperament of all the dogs they own and ask about the relationship one with another. Always make sure the parents are KC registered, that way is they best available to know the dog is from the lines you have been told it is. Ask to see the health test results. Join a breed club and get to know the people in the breed and the different lines.

You do your homework and you should get you perfect pet.

I can only speak from personal experience of those I have met,my son has a bitch now aged 1yr3months,my sister has a dog now aged 5yrs and our neighbour has a 'guard dog' he uses for his job in security but it lives with him and his family,I recently met a P.A.T. registered one whilst visiting Moorgreen hospital in Hants.They are all gorgeous,well socialised and well trained dogs that have given their owners no problems.
You need to look at your lifestyle i.e. size of home,garden etc to accomodate a larger breed,you need to be aware some people will always have a 'lack of understanding' toward some breeds of dog.You have to consider the budget of keeping any dog,a larger one will generally cost you a bit more.
You must do as Jackie H says and only buy from a responsible breeder!
Any dog has potential to harm or do damage if they are not treated with the respect and love they deserve,would you not defend yourself or your property if someone threatened you?
Enjoy your dog whichever one you decide to get,we certainly do and have never once regretted bringing dogs into our home.
Jacqueline :)

Once you have found your 'reputable' breeder, and got your pup who has been reared indoors, it is upto you to continue the socialisation that is soooo important for GSD's, you only get out what you put in. You must be kind but firm and set true boundaries, you need to find a good training class so that your pup will learn to socialise with other dogs and you will learn to train him, find one before you get a pup. He needs lots of new experiences and all good, always be aware of what may happen in a situation. Take him to meet children coming out of school, shopping precincts, along busy roads, the bus station......... A well trained, well socialised dog (GSD) is a pleasure to own, one that is not is a liability.
Some people will always cross the road but if you've got a big softy on your lead people will want to say hello.

When we decided on an akita for a second breed we heard every horror story going. It didn't put us off & hopefully our lad has helped educate the people he's met that they are not loaded guns either!! Take the advice above. You will meet some people (or rather you won't meet them, they'll be on the other side of the road :D ) who are totally ignorant, you'll never change their minds, so just ignore them.

I agree with what everyone has said above, it is so important to buy from a good breeder, when I was looking for mine I unknowingly went to a puppy farm, was not happy with what I saw and carried on looking  it took me a few months to find my GSD bitch, I went for a bitch mainly because they are smaller and I dont have a massive garden, I would not be without her.
Some people dont like GSD's because of their reputation, I love them, they do need to be trained and well socialized as with any dog. My girl has never shown any signs of agression, we have teenagers coming and going all the time and she is great with little kids aswell.
Take all the advice you have been given, and enjoy your puppy when you find the right one.
K

Take lots and lots of advice about how to find a good breeder - that is crucial and you may need to be prepared to go on a waiting list. I waited for a year to get my (Belgian) shepherd and i'm sure others have waited longer :)

Then socialise both with people, and dog friendly dogs; you will need to be VERY proactive about this in the first few months. If the breeding is good ie bred with temperament in mind, and if the socialisation is good, followed by lots of training and mental  and physical stimulation so the dog does not go "self employed" you should have an excellent Shepherd :)

Lindsay
X

I have owned 4 shepherds over the past 14yrs, mine have been the best I could ever ask for , loving , loyal  and totally dependable, to me they are the best dog ever, One of mine is a little nervous of noise but towards people and children they are superb, its the way they are brought up. Roll on next year when i hope to have another.

GSD's are my favourite breed, I've loved them from a very young age, but as has been saidf you only get back what you put in, good socialisation and training are a must, but they are very intelligent dogs and will learn quickly.
At the moment I have a 6 year old rescue GSD who came with a multitude of problems, but with the right treatment he is now a super dog, I have friends with a 4yo chhild who often comes to visit and he is as good as gold with him.
Yes some people will cross the street when they see you coming, but that's their problem not yours