German Shepherds and Children – Are They A Good Match?
Children like all dogs so it is not that surprising that they will like German Shepherds too. All dogs however do not like children. Most hounds are at the most tolerant of them and would rather keep away from small children than not. Terriers are really not particular although they are very temperamental creatures and may not show much patience with small children. The toy breeds are very nasty most of the time and will only stay with older children or grown ups who will give it the constant petting that it needs. If you are not careful they will actually nip kids.
Most of the more intelligent breeds are safe with small children although they will move away as soon as kids do their thing. The moment they find children climbing over them or pulling their hair or ears, they are out of there. There are very few dogs that will actually show as much if not more patience with your children than even you will. The Labrador is the best at it and its nature is so affectionate that there have been instances where they will adopt young ones of other breeds and will even lactate for them although they may not have had puppies in the recent past. No wonder then that they are the most popular dogs in the world.
Children
German Shepherds on the other hand will not be as openly demonstrative with their affections. When they are younger they will jump around and play and behave just like a pup even though they are almost fully grown by one year. They however reach full maturity only when they reach 2 or more and you will find that they will start calming down much the way humans will after a certain age. After this age you will find them very rarely playing with kids, their attitude will be more watchful; that of a guardian than a playmate.
Kids love them because of the feeling of safety that the dog projects. I have seen my one year old son going up to my German Shepherd Wolfie, open its mouth and touch its tongue. I don’t let my kids do it to me but the dog tolerates it all. And if I reprimand my son too much because he did something wrong, I’ll find Wolfie watching me to see if I’m going to hurt him. It almost seems that he’s not my son any more. I don’t mind at all because the dog is almost as good a mother as I am and I have seen him catch my son by his shirt collar and actually pull him back if it feels that he is going too near the edge of the balcony. I’m actually planning on getting another one before my next child.
German Shepherds and Children – Are They A Good Match?
