Picking a Male German Shepherd for your Family

Dogs

German Shepherds are one of the 10 most popular dog breeds in the U.S. for a reason - they are loyal, courageous and extremely intelligent.

More than just about any other breed, both male and female German Shepherds can take on tasks that improve people’s lives and make families happy.

So if you’re sure a German Shepherd is the right dog for you, you may be wondering which gender will be a fit for your family.

Both males and females can exhibit the best qualities of German Shepherds. They can be equally loving and devoted, and both can be tough, helpful and brave.

There are some traits specific to each gender that are fairly common. For example, males tend to be more territorial and dominant. They often mark their territory at every opportunity. They can be very independent and sometimes seem a bit standoffish. Females, on the other hand, are a bit more family oriented. They tend to protect their tribe and are often more affectionate. But females may be less patient than males when it comes to tolerating behavior like jumping or fur pulling from young children.

Male German Shepherds are usually a bit bigger than their female counterparts, and they reach maturity a bit slower. It’s generally easy to tell males and females apart, as females tend to look slightly more refined. When it comes to training, the male German Shepherd’s slower path to maturity and strong sense of independence will create some issues. While they can still be trained better than almost any other breed, it will take extra patience to train a male.