Want your German Shepherd to have a new sibling but not sure what breeds are compatible with it? So, what dogs are good with German shepherds?
Every dog has unique traits, and some are better suited to a partnership with your German Shepherd pet than others. Here are some cute paw friends you can consider.
What Dog Breeds Go Well With German Shepherds?
German Shepherd Playing With Another Dog
Border Collie
The Border Collie is a breed that is even smarter than the German Shepherds. Aside from their amazing intelligence, they have many things in common with your big buddy. That’s why Border Collies and German Shepherd dogs are among the best companions.
Border Collies are also high-energy and active dogs that like to play roles throughout the pack and obey commands. They not only have commonalities in work, but they also were incredibly affectionate, loyal, and make excellent household dogs.
Perhaps the main difference between Border Collies and German Shepherds is their capability to undertake guard duties. However, these dogs still make excellent watchdogs and could accompany a German Shepherd for a long time.
Labrador
Labradors are all-around winners for the competition of what dogs are good with German Shepherds, and the German Shepherd will agree with that. Labradors get along with almost any dogs, and your German pet tends to seek them out in the parks to interact with.
If given the opportunity, they might be quite energetic dogs, and they would most likely be the German Shepherd’s perfect exercise companion.
When trained, Labradors are affectionate, loving, and extremely obedient. Those two breeds almost always get along with each other well when trained and play together.
The Labrador was also physically smaller, but only slightly. That is why they would hold their own whenever engaged in rough play that they adore with the German Shepherd dogs.
Australian Shepherd
Australian Shepherds are a good fit for German Shepherds as well. Because the Australian breed is a near cousin of the German breed, the two have commonalities both in look and physical needs.
Aussies have similar dispositions to the German Shepherd in that they enjoy working, roughhousing, exercising, and obeying directions. Moreover, they are nearly the same size so that they can play together without risk of injury.
Aussies are intelligent, highly protective, and will understand just as rapidly as its cousin if properly trained. These four-leg friends are well-known for sneaking through (due to their herding ancestry), so keep that in mind.
They are sweet, affectionate, and incredibly intelligent. Therefore, Australian Shepherds make excellent home pets and are easy to get along with your German Shepherd pooch.
However, Aussies aren’t fantastic guard dogs, although they’re very comparable to German Shepherds in other ways.
Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds compete for the second and third place in America’s most famous dog breed every year.
Retriever is a big dog that is trainable, affectionate, and loves playing. They also require a lot of activity, similar to the German Shepherd dogs. So, they are the ideal companions.
The Retrievers and German Shepherds combo is well established already, and now they have long been excellent couples with each other.
The Retrievers seem to have a stronger desire to please their owners than the German Shepherds, and they frequently attempt to grab the show. Aside from that, these two breeds make the perfect pairing.
Siberian Husky
In many aspects, Siberian Huskies are very distinct from the German Shepherds. Even though they require as much daily activity, they are usually stubborn, not easy to train, and not as intelligent as their German friends.
Huskies are notorious for being quite “cheeky,” clever, and may misbehave or cause the German Shepherd dog to misbehave with them if not properly disciplined.
Notwithstanding all of the things above, they could be best friends extremely well. Huskies frequently seek out German Shepherds to play with at dog parks as they share the same size, energy, and eagerness to play.
If you’ve already pondered having a husky, they would likely get along well as long as you are willing to invest your effort in training those young age dogs. With proper training and practice, they make wonderful family pets.
Dalmatian
If your German Shepherd especially does not love his alone time, a Dalmatian might have been a great match.
Dalmatians are among the few breeds that demand the same amount of exercise, if not more, like German Shepherds. Dalmatians are full of beans and will complement your Alsatian wolf dogs if they do have a strong urge to play.
The Dalmatian is perhaps more tenacious than the German Shepherds and may not be easy to train, but only a little. A Dalmatian will most likely pick up on the good habits of your huge Alsatian wolf dog very quickly.
Dalmatians make excellent family pets because they are affectionate and friendly. Furthermore, when coupled with the German Shepherd, they can keep your family safe.
Portuguese Water Dog
Portuguese water dogs are large and intelligent, and they enjoy exercise, fun, and downtime. Therefore, right away, these aquatic dogs are a fantastic match for the majority of German Shepherds.
Those dogs are very friendly and enjoy both canine and human company.
They are extremely intelligent and demand a great deal of mental stimulation. Thus, it is essential to be involved in frequent dog training and fun games. You’re doing this for your German Shepherd dog, so it’s fine to pick a Portuguese water dog to live with your current pooch.
Another valid reason to get a Portuguese water dog is that it will not shed enough hair like your German Shepherd dog. Despite its normal thick curls, this species sheds infrequently and requires little grooming.
Beagles
Beagles match well with many German Shepherds, according to numerous dog owners.
They are excellent medium-sized family dogs and, other than being a little tough to train, have become an all-around good pick.
These adorable rabbit hunters frequently require far more activity than people believe. Thus, this complements what you are presently providing for your German Shepherd dog and makes them get on well with each other easier.
The beagle can likely be an excellent option for your police dog as long as you’re willing to conduct a rigorous training regimen with these two breeds together at their young age.
Do German Shepherds Get Along With Small Dogs?
There is no explanation why your German Shepherd dog can not get along well with a smaller dog if it doesn’t have any tendency to chase puppies or smaller animals.
German Shepherd Playing With Smaller Dogs
The hunt drive in German Shepherds varies. And giving them a little friend, even when your German Shepherd dog has a penchant for small animals, is not a good choice. The risk is too large, and we do not recommend it.
Another thing to keep in mind is that some tiny breeds are too hyper for your German Shepherd. They enjoy playing, but they also enjoy relaxing and lounging around.
So, petite breeds can work; it’s simply a matter of fitting the temperament or not. It benefits to be physically comparable, but it is not required because there are numerous cases of GSDs coexisting peacefully with smaller dogs.
Which Small Dog Can Get Along With A German Shepherd Dog?
Corgi
As long as you raise your Corgi in a healthy setting with other dogs, he will get along well with practically any pets, regardless of size, later in life.
Surprisingly, a large number of people own both a German Shepherd dog and a Corgi. It’s possible that these two merely get along as they’re both gregarious creatures with lots of energy.
However, be alert if they begin to assert authority or fight. Corgis and German Shepherds both enjoy playing, so there is a good chance they will harm each other.
Belgian Sheepdog
The Belgian Sheepdog proves itself an amazing companion of your Alsatian wolf dog due to their common hobbies in running, herding, and being outside generally. They have strong herding and defense instincts additionally.
These two breeds would be most likely to get along because they both belonged to the Herding Group and were born for herding cows, sheep, and sometimes, people.
Poodles
This friendship may differ from one dog to another since some poodles may dislike the German Shepherd dog’s high energy level. However, if you are lucky or maybe adept at raising dogs, you might have a couple that enjoys each other’s companionship.
That’s because both breeds have a lot of energy and require a lot of exercises. They enjoy running and playing, going for walks, and exploring, but strangely, neither breed requires a lot of extra space.
One thing in common between Poodles and GSDs is that you’ve undoubtedly guessed that Shepherd dogs originated from Germany, but did you also know that poodles are German as well?
If you educate them from infancy, you will have a better chance of keeping the two under control. The two are both simple to teach, with German Shepherds being slightly more obedient and responsive.
Shih Tzu
Shih Tzus gets along wonderfully with people of all ages and other dogs or pets of various types, including German Shepherds.
These two types of dogs can not be more dissimilar. One dog is tall and “masculine,” while the other is petite and lovely. However, like any strong relationship, those two breeds share the same temperament.
They’re both energetic, alert, gregarious, lively creatures dogs that enjoy going on walks. It’s also amusing to see an adorable small dog waddling alongside a larger, rugged-looking Shepherd.
As previously stated, make sure to train and nurture these two breeds together and keep the hair out of the Shih Tzu’s eyes since your German Shepherd will dislike it.
Basic Training Method For German Shepherds To Get Along With Other Dogs
Use Rewards
It is advisable to employ positive reinforcement education and “counter-conditioning” for encouraging your German Shepherd to like being around other dogs more.
Give A German Shepherd Dog Their Favorite Toy
Counter conditioning educates your Alsatian wolf dogs when other dogs are present around, and they can receive pleasant things from their owner.
Essentially, that means you’re teaching your dog to prefer other dogs by rewarding him. You might assume that training your Shepherd in this manner would promote negative behaviors, yet counter-conditioning fosters a strong positive bond with the other dogs.
So, whenever your dog is among other paw friends, they may also exhibit aggression; give them their favorite toys, a bit of dog’s dry food or small bacon pieces, etc. This strong affinity overshadows their poor behaviors.
Apply Desensitization Training
Theoretically, desensitization is a procedure that involves exposing the animal to the stimulus, which would typically induce an unwanted reaction at such a low level or no response. Because the pet gets less reactive, it is desensitized by gradually increasing the intensity of the stimuli.
Desensitization education is a great method for preventing your GSD from hurting their companions. This method allows other dogs to be around your Shepherd while keeping them at a safe distance, so your Shepherd does not react in an undesirable or aggressive manner.
If you notice your GSD becoming very agitated in the presence of other dogs, it signifies you may push them a bit too far. As a result, move them away from another dog until they are calm.
When you start again, begin at a greater distance from the other dogs.
Whenever your dog looks at another dog and then back at you, please give them a treat. You can offer your German Shepherd rewards or set them in front of his nose and grab his attention more on you during your socialization training.
Ask For Competing Behaviors
To request competing actions, your dog should be familiar with a few fundamental German Shepherd instructions.
Training A German Shepherd In The Army
The concept behind utilizing competing behaviors is that you will give your German Shepherd dog a command, including “sit down” or “stand up,” rather than letting them become irritated by paying too much attention to other dogs.
By beginning your home training, you may learn a range of important cues to teach your GSD. Perform the sign you offer your Shepherd dog before they become more aggressive. Then, give them their reward.
This action temporarily deters them from other dogs and provides them with another more positive alternative to perform.
Conclusion
Having a second dog beside your GSD is a huge decision that must be carefully considered. The most crucial factor to consider in selecting a breed is that it closely suits the traits of your German Shepherd.
We hope that our article has assisted you in answering the question of what dogs are good with German Shepherds and making your best decision. Thank you for taking the time to read!
