Chatham

With a star-studded history and loving yet protective personality, it’s easy to understand why German Shepherd Dogs are one of the most popular breeds around. These pups possess the perfect blend of gentle love and fierce watchfulness. As long as you’re safe and content, they will be too. Full-grown, they typically weigh 50-90 pounds and stand 22-26 inches tall.

German Shepherd Dogs are generally excellent with children of all ages. German Shepherd Dogs are ultra territorial, making them among the least likely of breeds to run away from a fight. German Shepherds get along fine with children and other animals, as long as they’ve been socialized, and they prefer to live in a home with family around. They're moderate barkers — they'll alert you when something's up but aren't excessive.

German Shepherd Dogs are happiest when they’re doing some type of work, such as agility, obedience, or any activity that taps into their herding instincts. This breed enjoys helping and having a job to do, so they're often used as guide dogs and police dogs. No matter what the activity is, be sure to keep your German Shepherd busy with mental and physical activities to prevent boredom. Overall, their exercise needs are very high.

There are three varieties of German Shepherds: coarse and short-haired, coarse and long-haired, and wavy and long-haired. The most common dogs are tan with a black back and mask, but German Shepherds come in a variety of colors, including solid black, grey, brown, and yellow, tricolor, or sable. They also have several kinds of markings, such as “pencilling” (black lines on the toes) and “tar heels” (black on the back of the leg). Grooming-wise, this breed is low-maintenance.

German Shepherd Dogs are best suited for a home with a yard, though they can adapt to apartment life with enough exercise. German Shepherds get along fine with children and other animals, as long as they’ve been socialized, and they prefer to live in a home with family around. However, they don’t enjoy being with other dogs and would prefer to have the house to themselves. They are highly trainable and eager to learn.

The Belgian Shepherd is a very intelligent and alert dog that loves having a job to do, especially if they're protecting you. They need a firm owner to guide them in the right direction, but with a little TLC, this breed could be the guard dog you’ve been looking for. Full-grown, they typically weigh 55-75 pounds and stand 22-26 inches tall.

Belgian Shepherd Dogs are generally okay with older children who know how to handle dogs. Belgian Shepherds are fiercely protective of their family, including children, dogs, and other animals. Once they bond with the family and other animals, Belgian Shepherds prefer to live with them and shouldn’t be left outside or locked in a kennel. They're fairly vocal dogs that bark regularly.

The Belgian Shepherd has high energy and intelligence, so they love exercising and learning new things. These are working dogs that are used to being active, so they need a lot of exercise. Taking walks each day, playing in off-leash areas, and watching over their home and family will keep their minds and bodies stimulated. Overall, their exercise needs are high.

Belgian Shepherds have a long, heavy outer coat of black or brown hair, as well as a dense undercoat. They shed quite a bit and blow their coats twice each year, so they need an owner who has the time and patience for grooming. Belgian Shepherds need to be brushed at least a few times a week and even more often when they’re shedding heavily. Grooming-wise, this breed is fairly high-maintenance.

Belgian Shepherd Dogs are best suited for a house with a good-sized yard. They can be content living in an apartment or house, but they do best in larger spaces where they can run around freely. They are fairly easy to train.