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Are German Shepherds dangerous? What's their real temperament?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Are German Shepherds dangerous?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Christie Long, DVM

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on January 16th, 2017

Almost any dog can be dangerous, if it's not properly trained and socialized. German Shepherds are powerful dogs, and because they are often used for security and police work, they may be perceived as dangerous. However, in general they are not dangerous dogs, and typically they're just doing their job and getting the bad guys if they're being aggressive.

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