My sister and her family are on their second German Shepherd. I’ve loved both of them and both were very different. They got the 1st one when he was young, she took him to agility and obedience classes and you couldn’t ask for a better, sweeter, more protective dog. They both also got their Delta certifications and she was going to take him into nursing homes, but shortly thereafter my nephew was born and she didn’t have the time. He was very large for a Shepherd - long and weighed in at about 115 lbs. never thought anyone would bother me when I was walking him! Unfortunately, he got cancer and eventually he had to be put down so he wouldn’t suffer.
The second one that they have now is about 9, but sometimes still thinks he’s a puppy (weighing in at about 85lbs). he’s a sweet dog, but not as well trained as the 1st one. They got him in a fluke soon after the 1st one died because of a friend’s divorce - the husband said if they didn’t find him a home, he was going back to the breeder. He’s a purebred (not sure about the 1st one, but he sure looked like it).
Both of them were/are very protective with family members. When we go to the ocean with various kids, they keep an eye on them and “herd” them periodically. The 1st one used to do that with all of us when we took him to the off leash dog park. My sister and her husband have spent thousands of dollars on both of the “free” dogs for various reasons.
I’ve been thinking about getting a dog, but I work all day and don’t have a yard right now, so I don’t think it would be fair to the dog. also, not sure what breed (or mutt) I want to get. My cousin raised and showed purebred standard poodles for a while - they’re very smart as well. I like them because they don’t shed. A friend of mine has a Labordoodle that is pretty darn cute and seems rather smart and loyal. But I do love Shepherds!
My German Shepherd lived 17 years and 10 months. He was a very large alpha male who thought he was human. He usually knew what you were going to command before the word came out of your mouth. Great with kids of all ages and was very protective of family or anyone with any of us. He was a great judge of character too, could sense a jerk in heartbeat.
He hunted and beheaded skunks and dropped their heads a few feet from back door of farm house. Never figured out why he dropped heads at door, or how he never got sprayed.