German Shepherds are known to be intelligent, loyal to their owners, and sometimes fierce when the situation calls for it. If this is true, is there something wrong with an over friendly German Shepherd dog?
Just like how some Labradors are not too friendly, not all German Shepherds are aloof.
While originally bred to be herding dogs and protectors of livestock, German Shepherds are now the 2nd most popular breed, even among families! This is a testament to the breed’s friendliness and sweet nature, even when it comes to children.
Keep in mind that a well-bred German Shepherd is amiable enough with strangers, but not too friendly. At the same time, he is trustworthy and stable, but never aggressive – either to dogs or to humans.
German Shepherds are loving, especially to their families and even close friends. But if they feel uncertain about someone, they will keep their guard up.
What if You Have a Very Friendly German Shepherd
But, what do you do if it becomes too much? What if your German Shepherd is too friendly even with strangers?
One possible reason is that he was not trained to be protective. But aren’t German Shepherds naturally protective of their ‘herd’?
While these dogs were bred to protect livestock from outside predators, it’s only natural to assume that German Shepherds would view their family as the herd that they are in charge of protecting.
However, protection can mean different things for different people. Naturally, when a new visitor enters the house, your German Shepherd’s protective instincts will kick in.
Another possible reason is that your German Shepherd might feel he doesn’t need to be protective in that certain situation.
If you always take your dog on walks in the park where there’s a lot of new interactions, he’ll probably be more comfortable with new people, too. This isn’t a bad thing, though – you don’t want your dog to be overprotective, especially if there’s no need to be.
Your German Shepherd could also be ill and feeling fatigued, which is why he isn’t being protective. This is more likely if your dog is behaving in other unusual ways and was a lot more protective in the past.
If you’re suspecting illness, make sure to take your dog to the veterinarian right away.
A recent change in your dog’s diet could also be the reason why he’s feeling more fatigued than usual. Avoid almonds, chocolate, cinnamon, macadamia nuts, ice cream, and garlic – at all costs!
If you’re still unsure of what to feed your dog, you can get food especially designed for German Shepherds.
The amount of dry dog food you should feed your German Shepherd depends on the dog’s size, activity level, age, and other variables.
Because they are prone to stomach torsion and bloating, you’ll want to avoid feeding them one large meal a day. Do not forget to provide your dog with constant access to fresh water.
Make sure your dog’s weight is kept in check, as obesity can shorten its life expectancy. You can also talk to your vet about your dog’s dietary requirements. Then get advice on the best times to feed him and what kinds of food he should eat throughout his life.
Lastly, your German Shepherd probably got to socialize a lot as a puppy. This isn’t a bad thing!
He probably learned early on that it’s okay to be around other dogs and people, and that doesn’t mean that they are threats. This way, you won’t have to worry about him misbehaving in front of other people.
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How do I know if my German Shepherd is protecting me?
Again, since the word ‘protection’ is subject to interpretation, you might want to adjust your expectations. If you’re expecting your German Shepherd to attack like trained police dogs or even movie dogs, you better change this mindset.
Remember, these are trained responses; you can’t know for sure if your dog will act on his protective instincts without proper training.
There are many ways your German Shepherd can show that he’s protective:
• Barking: This is the most common way your German Shepherd will show that he’s protective. Dogs use barking as a way to alert their owners of a noisy vehicle, a moving leaf, and even a burglar entering your home.
Basically, if your German Shepherd feels threatened, he will bark to warn you of impending danger.
• Body Language: After barking, body language is the next most common protective behavior of German Shepherds. If your dog feels that you or him are in danger, he will try to act as threatening as possible. He can either expose his teeth, growl, or stand alert.
• Staying close to you: If you’re in a threatening situation, your German Shepherd will stand as close to you as possible to protect you from danger, and to warn that ‘danger’ to back off.
• Anxious behavior: Your German Shepherd can also act uneasily in the presence of danger.
Again, each German Shepherd is different and can have varied reactions to threatening situations. Thus they can differ in their methods of protection.
As an owner, you must be in control of your dog’s natural protective instincts. While owning a dog with this kind of instinct is great, it can develop into a dangerous quality if not controlled.
If not properly trained, German Shepherds act on their protective instincts during improper times. Even if they have their owners’ best interest in mind.
This can result in an aggressive dog, with a potential to be dangerous if he is unaware of his boundaries. Some ways to control these protective instincts are –
• Socialization: As we said earlier on, exposing your German Shepherd to new surroundings and to other people is a crucial part of their development.
This way, they learn how to interact appropriately, to respond well to non-threatening situations. And also to accurately distinguish between non-threatening and actual threatening situations.
• Opening up your home to visitors is one way to show your German Shepherd that it’s okay to have new people inside the house.
This will prove to your dog that not all people who step inside your house are there to hurt you.
By showing your dog how you interact with visitors who are actually welcome in your home, he will know when a situation involves an intruder. And also how completely different that interaction will be.
• Basic obedience training is also an option, especially if you want a professional to do the job.
The important thing to remember is that socialization is always good. Do not underestimate your German Shepherd’s protective instincts because if the situation calls for it, he will be there to protect you.
A sociable dog is much better than an aggressive dog.
You might find this comprehensive video useful on how to start protection training with a German Shepherd puppy.
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How to Train a German Shepherd to be Protective
There is one crucial truth to keep in mind while looking for the right dog breed to keep an eye out for your family: guard dog training is not the top priority.
Obedience training is the first stage. You and your dog must first create a trusting and consistent relationship before any further level of training can begin.
Owners of German Shepherd dogs often make the mistake of assuming that training their dogs for protection and obedience must be done at the same time.
For protection training to begin, your German Shepherd dogs must have mastered the fundamental commands and be comfortable and confident in your company and as a part of your family before it can begin.
So don’t be disheartened if you receive unequal and unsatisfactory outcomes when you begin guard dog training. Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals, go on to more advanced concepts.
Owning an Over Friendly Dog: A few Things to Keep in Mind
When trying to figure out why your German Shepherd isn’t guarding, there are a few things to keep in mind:
• Why are German Shepherds Friendly to Strangers
Consider the times when your German Shepherd isn’t guarding you as much.
As long as someone is at the door or in your house, your dog should not be overly protective when you are talking to them.
If it isn’t protective like most German Shepherds would be, then it’s more likely to be because it has become desensitized to people because it’s been around them so frequently. Mistreatment, illness, or exhaustion could also be to blame.
• The Age of your German Shepherd
It’s also worth taking into account how old your German Shepherd is. Puppies haven’t yet figured out who they can trust and who they should avoid. Depending on the age of the puppy, it may become more protective in certain situations.
It’s still important, though, to let it interact with other people and dogs when it’s young so that it doesn’t develop aggression issues later in life.
For adults, it is helpful to think about the situations in which it is not protective and if it has not been protecting in all of these situations before.
• Having a German Shepherd Friendly to Others is also a Good Thing
The idea that your German Shepherd would protect you if you were threatened might be nice, and it may still be the case.
A friendly German Shepherd, on the other hand, can be an asset. In other words, your German Shepherd will be more obedient around other people, less aggressive, and easier to control.
• It’s a Good Thing to be Overly Friendly
If your German Shepherd appears to be too friendly, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Unless its job description calls for it to serve in a protective capacity, like that of a police dog.
The more friendly your German Shepherd is, the less likely it is to become aggressive around other people. Hence the easier it will be to control around them.
SEE ALSO: Tips for Training A German Shepherd Puppy
Frequently Asked Questions: German Shepherds
• Are German shepherds good guard dogs?
As long as they are properly trained and exposed to children from an early age, German shepherds can be wonderful family dogs.
• When do German Shepherds become protective to their owners?
While you can start to detect protective tendencies as early as 12 weeks, full-blown protective behaviors normally wait until around 6 months of age, when your dog reaches puberty.
• Is it good to have German Shepherds when living in an apartment?
No. It is best for German shepherds to live in a large area with plenty of room to run, play, and exercise.
They won’t be able to thrive in a cramped space and may even become agitated as a result. As a bonus, they’re large dogs, which means they’ll take up a lot of space in smaller houses.
• Are German Shepherds friendly or dangerous?
While the media and history have painted German shepherds with a bad light for being aggressive, this isn’t always the case.
If not properly socialized, they can show signs of aggression. But they aren’t inherently aggressive and can be trained to be welcoming to strangers.
• Why are German Shepherds so protective?
German Shepherd protecting their owner is a common thing for them.
German Shepherd dogs are great watchdogs or guardians. This is because of their forceful nature and ability to maintain their ground no matter what the circumstance calls for. This is the reason why German Shepherds protect their owners.
With strangers, they might seem distant, but they aren’t aggressive. The German Shepherd’s instinctive impulse to guard is comforting to its owner.
• Why should you train your German Shepherd dog?
The right training and socialization may turn a German shepherd into a loving family member and guard dog. It’s a great breed for families with children because of its intellect and protective nature, making it an excellent choice for active homes.
If a German shepherd is not properly educated and managed, he or she may become agitated and even violent. Training these canines to accomplish a certain task and making them proud of it is excellent.
Training should be quite simple because of the breed’s intelligence and eagerness to work.
To ensure that your German Shepherd does not feel frightened or worried while meeting new people or animals and entering unfamiliar situations, proper socialization is essential.
When meeting someone for the first time, they tend to be apprehensive and distant.
Because of their propensity to hunt cats and other small animals, German shepherds are not recommended for households with several pets unless they have been reared in the same family.
Dogs of the same sex may not get along, which might be an issue if you take your pooch to the dog park.
READ MORE: Things To Remember For German Shepherd Owners
Final Thoughts
These dogs are known for their devoted and friendly natures that make them great family pets. A high work ethic has led to their popularity as family dogs in the United States, where they are bred in huge numbers.
Even though they cherish the attention and affection of their family, they might be wary of strangers or newcomers.
Do you have a friendly German shepherd dog too? How do you take care of them? Share it with us by commenting down below!
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