I am been in deep thoughts. Perhaps the German Shepherd is not for me after all. While I handled them in the past, handling experience is not the same as living experience. They are working dogs, generics run deep. Require specifics how they are raised, socialization, health, training, and what not. More than other breeds. You cannot baby them like other dogs. Work hard everyday in training. Prone to hip dysplasia, prone to aggression. Neuter/spay at 6 months could lead to hip dysplasia. One false accidental attack from a random dog could be reactive for life. Wait an entire over a year before you can fix them. Most dogs can fix at 6 months no issues. Breeders give out dogs to people who aren't prepared no matter experienced or research. Then give the dog up rescue, shelter, breeder when they are far out there. Can do everything possible safely, but mistakes happens. You got to be vigilant. More than other breed of dogs. Strange now the bridge has crossed, realization hits me like a wild card. Are your dogs affectionate and cuddly? Guess depends on socialization, not always generics. German shepherds rescues and shelters are mostly American lines, found a German lines once. Though you don't know their parents background, those dogs are a gamble. I wondered what if I never went to get my Labradoodle, how life would significantly different. I thought about going for a white husky last Sunday. I dropped because always wanted a German Shepherd Dog. Then realized either dog doesn't matter. I find huskies more cuddly, I also found cuddly German shepherds. I have met the non cuddly ones as well, working lines back in teen years. The owners could never catch a break. One gave him away, the other kept for life. Both seem more relieved able to chill after some years. However, you need a consistency amount of hard work like with any dog, German Shepherds more than others. I'm no stranger to hard work. Maybe I will await a white husky from an approved rescue group. I regret not going. I have to let go. Let go of my German Shepherd Dog dream or NYC dream, my passed away dog of 2 years. It's easy to project your passed dog on to future other dogs, but it's all a mind trick. Reincarnation, I felt the husky pups might have been Riley reincarnated. Storm blocked my path, I called again once found 1 pup was left. They're on high demand, others beat me before I could by an hour after the post. My mind is in battle back and forth a fit or not. Maybe that is how dreams work, once bridge is crossed nearly there, not what you imagined to be. Maybe that's why German Shepherd Dog people don't understand much about affection towards other dogs, or let random other people pet their German Shepherds. Their dog is aloof, bit of a waste of time for either end. When I get a German Shepherd Dog, everything may not be what I imagined, and I will accept the dog way he is or maybe just let it go. Await for a husky to show up. I don't know, I'm an indecisive person lost my New Yorker powers moving away.
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How affectionate and cuddly are your German Shepherds?
- Thread starter Riopool24
- Start date
- Nov 17, 2025
- 23
- 18
I took mine because I needed a dog that would push me get out more and bring me challenges that I needed to face instead of a sweet cuddly dog so in a way you are right but still there are moments she makes my eyes watery; there are many deep loving moments between us but they are more like war movies than romantic comedy movies
Now when it comes to work, I honestly find it easier than other dogs because of how fast her energy goes when we are out; since her bound with me is high, we are always playing something so it is never like I am sit and waiting for her to decide to do something on her own
Your message is good though; people shouldnt pick gsds because they are pretty and smart, there must be a study before and not only through formal sources; one thing I noticed when I was in another gsd group was that most gsds live their life without enough freedom, almost robotic, not leaving much to the dog to show their own personalities and I didn't accept that and some things I had to find out on my own
Now when it comes to work, I honestly find it easier than other dogs because of how fast her energy goes when we are out; since her bound with me is high, we are always playing something so it is never like I am sit and waiting for her to decide to do something on her own
Your message is good though; people shouldnt pick gsds because they are pretty and smart, there must be a study before and not only through formal sources; one thing I noticed when I was in another gsd group was that most gsds live their life without enough freedom, almost robotic, not leaving much to the dog to show their own personalities and I didn't accept that and some things I had to find out on my own
- Thread starter
- #3
Agreed, they are not for everyone. Sounds like German Shepherd Forum.
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- Oct 2, 2025
- 15
- 36
Depends, sometimes he’ll let me cuddle/lay in my lap other time he’ll go for my hair
- Thread starter
- #5
Guess varies dog to dog, and if they feel they want everything to do with you or not. I feel some German Shepherds want nothing to do with their owners, because the dog feels they're not a match.
- Sep 7, 2025
- 300
- 304
This actually reads like someone thinking clearly, not someone giving up. You’re right about a lot of this. Handling experience and living with a shepherd are two very different things, and genetics do matter more with this breed than most. They’re not fragile, but they are demanding, and they don’t leave you much room to be passive or wishful.
What I’d gently push back on is the idea that questioning means you’re failing the dream. Sometimes it means you’re respecting reality. A good match isn’t about toughness or work ethic, it’s about whether the day-to-day life you want lines up with what the dog will need for years.
Affection, cuddliness, aloofness. Those exist on a spectrum in shepherds, shaped by genetics and upbringing, but you’re right that there are no guarantees and rescues, especially with unknown backgrounds, really are a gamble no matter the breed.
If you choose to wait, or a different dog, that’s not weakness or betrayal of your past dog. It’s maturity. Letting go of an idea because it no longer fits is sometimes the hardest kind of honesty. You don’t owe the German Shepherd anything. You only owe the future dog a life you can actually stand behind... whatever breed that ends up being.
What I’d gently push back on is the idea that questioning means you’re failing the dream. Sometimes it means you’re respecting reality. A good match isn’t about toughness or work ethic, it’s about whether the day-to-day life you want lines up with what the dog will need for years.
Affection, cuddliness, aloofness. Those exist on a spectrum in shepherds, shaped by genetics and upbringing, but you’re right that there are no guarantees and rescues, especially with unknown backgrounds, really are a gamble no matter the breed.
If you choose to wait, or a different dog, that’s not weakness or betrayal of your past dog. It’s maturity. Letting go of an idea because it no longer fits is sometimes the hardest kind of honesty. You don’t owe the German Shepherd anything. You only owe the future dog a life you can actually stand behind... whatever breed that ends up being.
- Thread starter
- #7
I hear you, now the bridge is crossed I feel like I've been hit with a ton of bricks. A lot to consider. I don't need a dog to protect me. In the past teen early 20s a little more vulnerable. But a New Yorker, well moved away can defend myself. The German Shepherd or an other would be more for more a true companion. I will keep his protectiveness in check through rigorous training. No I'm the one who will be trained. I am not one to give up on my dreams. My biggest vulnerability is letting go, either give up on New York City or German Shepherd. Can I have one or the other? New Yorkers have creative ways to make anything possible, outside the box thinking. I decided to go forth to a German Shepherd pup, and New York City. There is no such thing as before or after. ;-)
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