German Shepherds are loving and loyal to their families and are calm and gentle when raised and trained properly. These dogs are super affectionate and love their owners and tend to be gentle with children, especially when raised in a family setting. German Shepherds are extremely athletic and tend to be well built and muscular. These dogs love to play fetch, hike, and go on walks but they need mental stimulation to be happy as well. Dog sports, sniffing games and daily training are great for these dogs. They love a challenge and are happy when they have a job to do.