The German Shepherd Dog is perhaps one of the most recognizable breeds in existence today. The breed originated from northern Europe around one hundred years ago and was initially used to protect flocks of sheep.

In these modern times, German Shepherds are often seen doing Police K9 work, military work, therapy work, and as guard dogs.

Because of how they are shown in war movies and police action television shows — where German Shepherd aggression is often depicted, it is not unusual for people to have an inaccurate view of the real German Shepherd Dog temperament.

The German Shepherd breed has a distinctive personality. German Shepherds are known for their bravery, self-confidence, athleticism, and intelligence.

They generally can sense right from wrong and the ability to tell if something is wrong. They are also known to be loyal and dedicated.





Contrary to popular misconceptions, it is quite rare to see a German Shepherd engage in random acts of unprovoked aggression. German Shepherd aggression is usually kept in check unless the dog or its owner is placed into a situation that warrants it. When provoked, an adult German Shepherd Dog is extremely capable of inflicting severe injury to anyone who doesn’t heed the usual warning signals.

German Shepherd aggression is often due to boredom and inactivity. This breed requires a high level of activity. True to its origins, German Shepherds love running, fetching, jumping, and finding. On the other hand, because of its high Intelligence, German shepherds bore very quickly when given nothing to do or when activities become too repetitive.

A bored German Shepherd can rearrange any home in a matter of minutes with their powerful jaws and tall stance. German Shepherds that have no adequate outlet for their high energy drive often get themselves into trouble by chasing cars, bikes, barking, chewing, digging, and other destructive and unwanted behavior.

A German Shepherd owner should be an extremely responsible person committed to the care, training, and exercise of their dog.

Those planning to acquire German Shepherds should have adequate knowledge about this breed type before taking them on. These dogs require a lot of time and work and will definitely not work for couch potato owners.

A creative mind can be a great asset to a German Shepherd Dog owner — giving the dog new and exciting twists to games and activities will yield better results. German Shepherds, in general, need obedience training, proper socialization with people and other animals, daily exercise, and play, and they must feel that they are part of your family. These are working dogs that need a job, even if they are to be a family dog. Boredom and loneliness often lead to behavior problems.