German Shepherds are one of the most beloved dog breeds. Not only are they wonderful family pets, but they are also strong working dogs that are used by the military as well as law enforcement. Often, German Shepherds are viewed as aggressive and dangerous because of their appearance and the ferocity of their bark, but this is an inaccurate generalization of the breed.
Typically, you see a German Shepherd with one person, which is known as their handler. Because of this, many people are under the impression that German Shepherds are a one-person dog. While they can favor one person over others, German Shepherds can bond with all members of the family.
Since German Shepherds are commonly used as working and service dogs, there is a common misconception that they are strictly one-person dogs. Although they may prefer one person, German Shepherds can be attached to their family units.
Are German Shepherds One-Person Dogs?
German Shepherds are well known for their protective nature and ability to fend off anyone that attempts to bring harm to their family, and they are not strictly a one-person dog. However, it is important to understand how a German Shepherd bonds with their family members because it will appear differently for each member.
Forming The Bond
By nature, German Shepherds are known as a dominant dog breed. Because of this, they are more prone to bond with the person they view as their leader. It is quite common for German Shepherds to attach to the person that spends the most time caring for them. They are much like humans in this sense, with paternal and maternal bonds.
While a strong bond will be formed with the caretaker, German Shepherds are fully capable of bonding with all members of their family in different ways and will anything they can to ensure their family members are safe.
How Can My Family Bond With My German Shepherd?
Since German Shepherds are not one-person dogs and can bond with the entire family, you may be wondering how this can most easily be achieved. It is important to understand that bonding is a process that begins early in the life of the puppy and continues throughout the developmental period. While you cannot force strong bonds to occur, you can help foster their development.
Do these things to ensure your puppy is not bonded to only one person:
Socialize: The concept of socialization is critical in the bonding process. During this time, puppies determine who is safe and who is not. Some people feel socialization only relates to meeting other dogs, but your puppy must be exposed to many other people during this time as well.
Failure to properly socialize your German Shepherd can cause difficulty when it comes to the bonding process. They may view everyone as a threat, which can bring out aggressive and reactive behavior. During the socialization process, your German Shepherd will view you and your family as the leaders and protectors, so they will not feel the need to step into that role.
Set Routines: German Shepherds thrive on routine. The more quickly you can provide a routine for your dog, the easier it will bond with you. By providing the routine, you are taking control of the situation and showing your dog who the true leader is.
It is important to involve the whole family in setting routines because this will allow your German Shepherd to bond appropriately with each family member. To do this, you may assign different jobs to every person in the family. Different people can be responsible for daily activities such as feeding, walking, playing, taking potty trips, etc. This routine will help the dog properly bond with everyone in their own way.
Play: German Shepherds love to play. If you engage your dog in daily active play, they will automatically form a bond with you. While this bond may be different than the bond toward the person most responsible for their care, it will still be a great and satisfying way to bond.
Learn your dog: German Shepherds are highly intelligent creatures, and with time, you will know exactly what they are trying to tell you. When you are confidently able to decipher what your dog is saying to you, the bond will be strengthened.
Offer Food: Offering food to a German Shepherd is one way to form a bond, but it is important to understand this is not the way to form a strong, lasting bond. German Shepherds are not food driven, so this cannot be the only method you use to bond with the dog; however, it can help.
German Shepherds Will Favor Their Primary Caregiver
Perhaps you have done all the above things to help form lasting and equivalent bonds with your German Shepherd but are still noticing they favor one person. This favoritism is not uncommon and is not likely something you need to be concerned with, unless it’s resulting in aggression towards members of your family.
If you notice the bond with one person being significantly stronger, you need to remember that the German Shepherd is going to have a strong bond with their primary caretaker. After all, that is the person they depend on to have all their physical, social, and emotional needs met. To help share the bond with other family members, share responsibilities for the care of the dog.
The Characteristics Of A One-Person Dog
It is important to know how to distinguish a one-person dog from a dog that has bonded more strongly with one person, because there is a distinct difference.
When you see a German Shepherd with a handler that has been specifically assigned to them, like a police officer, you may tend to classify this as a one-person dog because their devotion is to that individual. However, it is likely that dog has formed bonds with other family members, but the strongest bond is going to be with the handler; naturally because they spend the most time with the dog.
A German Shepherd is a wonderful and respected animal that can thrive in a family setting. While they can take on the role of being a one-person dog, they do well bonding with an entire family. It is important to understand the depth of a German Shepherd’s bond, as well as how it bonds with each member of the family. To ensure your German Shepherd does not become dependent on one person, be sure to share the duties associated with caring for the dog.
