German Shepherds are top-notch guard dogs, and most GSD owners will rant endlessly over the joys of having a German Shepherd. But are German shepherds good with kids? while we’re sure you’re convinced with the positives, some safety concerns aren’t easy to shake off.
Safety always comes first, especially when it concerns your kids. We all know just how strong German Shepherds are, and there’s always the fear that they’d lose control with your kids around, or fail to recognize their true power when playing with your kids. These are real concerns, and prompt a lot of people to ask whether German Shepherds are good with kids before making the final decision to bring them home.
Are German Shepherds Good with Kids?
This is much more complicated than a yes-or-no question. You see, it all depends on the nature of the specific GSD you bring into your house, as well as the degree and quality of training this dog receives.
By nature, German Shepherds are protective, brave, and powerful, but they’re also quite intelligent and loving dogs. So theoretically, you can train your doggo to be lovingly protective of your family while maintaining control over their behavior with proper training. However, this requires discipline and putting in the right efforts.
So the question here shifts to, how can I create a safe environment for my German Shepherd and kids?
First of all, you need to thoroughly understand the personality of the GSD you’re bringing into your house. You should pay attention to dealing with reputable breeders that raise well-behaved dogs with no antisocial or overly aggressive tendencies. Next thing you need to do is learn about that specific puppy or adult dog from the breeder, as this will help you in devising a suitable training program that depends on their personal traits. Of course, it’s always best to bring in a puppy rather than an adult dog, but both work fine.
Puppy German Shepherd with Kids
Puppy German Shepherds can form a very strong bond with your kids, and this friendship can be wonderful to your child’s development. You see, German Shepherds are protective by nature, they’re protective of themselves, their environment, but they’re also highly protective of their human family. If you raise puppy German Shepherds with your kids, they will learn to protect them as their own, and there will be no risk with this gorgeous pairing.
However, to do this, there are two essential steps to do. The first one is Socialization. This means helping your doggo get acquainted with their surroundings, and the people in their environment. This is much more effective when started at a young age, and is a crucial step in training well-behaved GSDs. To make sure you have no problems with this step, make sure you get a dog from a reputable breeder to ensure they have no negative predispositions.
The next hurdle to cross is that of the German Shepherd’s immense strength. You see, even with proper socialization, German Shepherds sometimes lack accurate knowledge of their own strength. They may be just playing around when they unintentionally hurt your little ones. This concern is especially nuanced with GSDs since they have a longer than normal puppyhood which extends to about 3 years. In this time, they’re still adjusting to their size and strength, and you should pay special attention to their behavior around children.
So, to conclude, are German Shepherds dangerous? The answer is yes, and no. German Shepherds are dangerous due to their strength and protective nature, but with proper training and socialization, they will treat your kids as their own, and remain well-behaved with strangers as well.
German Shepherd Facts for Kids’ Safety
There are a number of facts and tips you should know about German Shepherds to help you train them to be friendly and well-behaved around your children.
Socialization
This is the crucial step in helping your pup understand their surroundings and gauge how they should behave around different people. It helps them distinguish between family members, neutral acquaintances, and threat concerns. The main tips for proper socialization are:
- Start this process with a puppy for maximum effect and least effort (within their eighth and sixteenth weeks of life)
- Take your pup to public places so they could get used to meeting strangers (humans and other animals)
- Allow them to fully interact with their surroundings, be patient as they ponder their decision with different stimuli
- Monitor their reactions to stop and reprimand dangerous behavior
- Prompt positive behavior with treats and other rewarding systems
- Enroll your pups in special canine training programs to ensure good behavior
Adult Dog Training
As we’ve said, it’s better, and certainly easier, to train and socialize your German Shepherds as puppies. But if you’re bringing in an adult GSD to your home, hope is not lost. However, you may need to pay special attention to training. These tips will help you start off the process.
- Pay special attention to learning as much as possible about the dog’s temperament from their previous owner or breeder.
- Start slowly with less dangerous stimuli, be patient with your dog, and don’t force them to meet anyone or do anything they’re not comfortable with.
- Reward good behavior and make sure you don’t encourage fear or cowardly actions
- Watch out for body language signs, they’re an early indicator of possible violent behavior. If your doggo exhibits signs of anxiety or fear, take them out of that situation immediately.
- Take safety precautions in case things go sideways. Muzzles, and leashes on walks are very important in the beginning of training.
The rule of thumb when training a German Shepherd is to be patient, mindful, and informed. Learn as much as you can about GSDs in general and about your specific doggo. You should also be very patient and observant of their reactions and behaviors.
Also read Are German Shepherd A Good Family Dogs to learn more.
