03/22/2026
I don’t agree with perspective at all. I’ve owned show-line German Shepherds, American lines, and working-line German Shepherds. In my experience, working lines are the best. They tend to be the healthiest overall and are highly trainable.
My show-line dog had health and hip issues, while my American-line dogs were more nervous and not always trustworthy around unfamiliar people. Working-line German Shepherds do have a lot of energy, but honestly, all German Shepherds do. In my opinion, if you have any dog, you should be committed to exercising them regularly.
With working lines, they do need a good amount of exercise, but it’s not difficult to provide, especially because they’re so athletic and fun to work with. Something as simple as playing fetch with a ball or frisbee goes a long way. Personally, I enjoy the challenge they bring, both for the dog and for me.
Out of all the German Shepherds I’ve owned, Nitro has been the best family dog. He has a very stable temperament, which I attribute to getting him from a quality breeder and raising him from a puppy alongside my kids.
That said, I personally wouldn’t recommend rescuing one of these dogs for a family with young children, simply because you may not know their background or what they’ve been through.
