Are Alsatians too aggressive for a woman living alone to handle?

Those breeds are calm, not aggressive and good with other dogs in general, two GSD is in most cases asking for troubles, when together they could get out of control and even become aggressive toward each other, strangers, other dogs or even family members.

Rottweilers are problematic dogs, especially for people who do not have experience with those type of dogs, they can be aggressive and could be deadly if it attacks you or your children. i would not recommend it.

If your german shepard is not well behaved or aggressive I would highly recommend getting him under control before bringing a new dog into the situation. If he is aggressive as in growling/biting at people he should see a veterinary behaviorist. If he is just wild/doesn't listen, he should go to a dog trainer (with you) to get under control. Ask your veterinarian for a recommendation for a trainer because not all trainers are equal. Once your dog is under control you can consider adding another dog into the household IF your dog is not aggressive to other dogs. You may consider working with a dog rescue who can find a dog for you that gets along well with other large dogs and will allow you to test the dogs out together. Breed doesn't matter as much as personality of the individual dogs.

Great question! This is a bit of a tough question in that a number of breeds of dogs who are good guard dogs are also difficult. For example, a German Shepherd. Good guard dogs, but require a lot of training and are not for a first time dog owner. If you don't know how to handle them, they can be aggressive to humans and small animals. They are also high energy dogs. Personally, I would recommend a Golden Retriever. They are absolutely lovely dogs, extremely loyal, very easy to train, excellent with humans and small animals, and if need be, could defend the owner. I had a Golden for 12 years, and she was honestly the best dog I have ever owned. So sweet and caring, but I knew that if I was ever in trouble, she would defend me. Goldens are a large breed dog, and large breed dogs can be intimidating to strangers. My Minnie would bark if someone came to the door and knocked, but otherwise didn't bark much. Sometimes a bark is enough to scare someone off. I would look into getting a Golden Retriever for the reasons I listed above. I hope this helps!

Hello there! It's great that you are reaching out for advice and help. Your mother may be right that a German Shepherd may be too much for you to take on at your age. They are highly active dogs that need at least 30-45 minutes of strenuous exercise twice a day as well as mental stimulation and lots of behavioral training. It is a lot of responsibility and a big time commitment. Maybe if you made out a schedule showing your mother when you will walk, play with, and train your dog, then she will allow you to get on. I hope this helps :-)

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I personally prefer Labrador Retrievers though German Shepherds can make great pets for the right owner. Since you already have a German Shepherd and know how to work well with them then getting another German Shepherd would make sense. German Shepherds in general can be quite strong willed just like you described lunging at people and yes a female could do it as well. Labradors are easier to train. Good luck!

Labradors are not considered to be a dangerous breed. It should always be remembered that any dog can bite if provoked, or if trained or encouraged to be aggressive. Always supervise children around unfamiliar dogs. For more facts and characteristics about Labradors, visit PetCoach's breed page: www.petcoach.co/breed/labrador-retriever