Are German Shepherds Good With Kids? [ Ссылка ]
Welcome back to Anything German Shepherd!
Since German Shepherds are large and fiercely protective dogs, it can make you wonder whether they’re too boisterous or aggressive to have around young children.
But rest assured, German Shepherds can absolutely be fantastic companions for children, being an incredibly intelligent, compassionate, and loyal breed. Your kid and newly adopted pup are sure to form a beautiful bond… if, and only if, you make sure to do your due diligence as a responsible pet owner.
That means learning the important facets of the German Shepherd’s personality, as well as how to best train your new furry friend while teaching your children appropriate behavior with dogs.
The loyalty of a German Shepherd to their family unit knows no bounds - They’ll see you as a member of their pack and strive to protect you wherever possible.
Unfortunately, though, If you fail to discipline negative behavior and socialize them properly, then you might reinforce the idea that it is okay to bark at or lunge at any human they deem a threat if it’s in the name of protecting you.
Given the breed’s history, German Shepherds are also predisposed to herding. This natural instinct can actually be accidentally activated by your kids, and your dog might feel the urge to run around after your little ones and herd them.
They won’t mean any harm, so there’s no need for punishment - they’re simply attempting to keep the children “safe”.
German Shepherds can get pretty hefty once fully grown, and are also full of boundless energy that needs to be expended. When you throw kids into the mix, a big dog that hasn’t had a nice long walk is going to be far too over-excitable, so it’s very important to make sure they get their daily exercise.
This is also the perfect opportunity to safely get the kids involved in play with a German Shepherd.
To give your German Shepherd the best chance of being a well-behaved, obedient member of the family, you need to ensure they begin training as a puppy as soon as you bring them home.
It's important to remember the onus is not just on your dog to make sure that everything goes smoothly.
Both you and your family have a responsibility to interact with your dog properly and encourage the right sort of behavior. The most important point to stress is that you should never leave a puppy alone with a child, particularly an untrained one.
Teach your children what behavior is acceptable around the dog, and about consent since dogs may not want to be touched all the time. They need to be taught how to pet the dog in a gentle, appropriate way that your dog enjoys, as well as signs that the pup isn’t enjoying the affection they’re giving.
Your kids also need to understand that your dog will only take so much keep-away before they’ll get angry and begin fighting for their toy back, and that they shouldn’t yank or snatch to prevent accidentally injuring your pup’s mouth, head or neck.
Teaching proper playtime is the best way to ensure that your children and your German Shepherd will make a lifetime of beautiful memories together.
Avoid any interaction where you aren’t able to immediately remove your child from a potentially harmful situation, since a lot can happen in even five seconds.
There are also several ways you can safely involve your kids in the regular care of your dog! They’re more than capable of learning how to gently brush, how to appropriately feed the GSD, and how to clean up dog hair around the house!
Always be prepared to step in if either the dog or the child goes too far. The importance of supervision when kids and animals are concerned simply cannot be overstated!
This last tip goes for all dogs, but particularly German Shepherds, who are territorial around food. Don’t let your kids approach them for any reason while they’re eating, because they’ll potentially perceive it as your child trying to steal their meal, and they will do something about it!
Thanks a lot for joining us today, until next time! DISCLAIMER:
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