German Shepherd dogs are often used as guard dogs or working dogs for the police, so they have a bit of a reputation amongst the uninitiated as aggressive or fierce. They are certainly large and strong and they can run fast. They are utterly fearless and confident, but they actually make very good pets – even in households with children. People looking for a guard dog may search for German Shepherd puppies for sale with a view to training them to protect their property or their family. That can quickly backfire as they find that their dog becomes over-protective and scares off anyone visiting the house, including friends and the postman.
Poorly socialized or trained German Shepherds can become fierce and aggressive and are often abandoned. The RSPCA will try to rehome any German Shepherd that it has assessed as being capable of being successfully rehomed, but the sad truth is that some are so badly damaged by their owners that this is impossible. Lovers of the breed searching for German Shepherd puppies for sale might want to contact the RSPCA first, to enquire about any German Shepherds that might be available for adoption. They can be sure that the German Shepherds in the shelters that are available for rehoming will be suitable and safe to adopt.
If you like the idea of owning a German Shepherd, think about adopting rather than buying, to reduce the demand for new puppies being bred and give a dog or puppy a second chance at a happy, safe life. Buying from a breeder not only encourages more breeding but also takes away a potential home from a dog living in a shelter. There are plenty of disreputable breeders around that will sell a dog for money and not care about what happens to it. Those same breeders are only concerned with breeding for appearance to ensure a sale – they are not worried about breeding for temperament or personality and you can end up with an aggressive, poorly socialized German Shepherd if you buy from one of these breeders.
German Shepherds can make great pets if they are bred and treated well. They are clever and energetic (they will need a lot of exercise and space), and if given strong leadership and command they will be calm, stable, and obedient. Some German Shepherds can be aggressive towards smaller creatures like cats and rabbits. If you adopt a German Shepherd from an animal shelter run by the RSPCA the staff can tell you which of their dogs will be suitable for your home circumstances.
If they have any German Shepherds in their shelters they can tell you which one(s) will make the best pet for you and your family. Be prepared to spend a lot of time and energy exercising your German Shepherd, and be prepared to groom and clean up the shedding from your dog, since this breed does shed all year round. Consider adopting an adult dog so that you can clearly witness its temperament and personality before you adopt.
