Handsome, noble and very distinctive, virtually anyone could pick a German shepherd, and the breed is also reliably one of the most commonly owned pets within the UK.
The German shepherd is also one of the breeds that sometimes give people pause if they are not familiar with dogs.
GSD can appear rather formidable, with a loud bark and tenacious nature.
They are also widely used in working roles such as personal protection, property guarding, crowd control, and police and military work.
The well trained and properly cared for German shepherd is a highly rewarding pet.
Protective but not aggressive or untrustworthy, and these, along with their multiple other positive traits, ensure that the breed has a strong and loyal following.
Every German shepherd is of course different, and while some thrive within working roles, others will only be truly happy as pets.
They are one of the most versatile breeds out there. Their strong desire to please their handlers, tenacious natures and problem-solving abilities mean that they get on equally well in protective roles
The German shepherd is a fairly territorial dog, which will soon work out the boundaries of their home and garden and patrol it to look out for intruders.
The German shepherd is widely recognised as one of the smartest breeds around, coming third in the list of over 130 breeds in the Coren ranking of canine intelligence.
German shepherds are very bold, and will not back down when push comes to shove.
The German shepherd is one breed that is incredibly loyal to their immediate family and regular handlers.