Temperament - Page 1

For west german shepherd lines, would you recommend a male or female puppy for a family with children?  Is there a difference in temperament, in general?

What ever lines,  select a dog that will have the correct temperment for your family.  Thats first concern, second, I would choose a female if your children are very young.    I believe a female will bond with your family as a whole more so than a male who might be better bonding with one individual.   A female is a little more discreet physically around small children as well.  

Maverick-  I wouldn't say males are better with children than females because that is just not always the case.  It really depends on the dogs personality and genetics.  I have my 2 males that are much better with the kids than my bitch.  She is a one handler type of dog and prefers me over anyone else.  My 11 year old daughter does obedienc with her but as far as companion wise my males are more apt to follow the kids around, let them lay on him and just have more patience.

Unless you have a specific reason for wanting a certain gender like you don't want to have 2 males or 2 females for fear of the fighting then I'd say have someone evaluate the litter and select a pup that is just best for your family and whatever the sex is then that's what you end up with.

Females are generally more 'family' oriented whereas males are generally more about being 'estate' dogs-protecting the home, property, etc. Our females have always been more attentative of our children than the males, although you get a little more size with a male than a female. Personalities generally will vary irregardless of gender (there's more dominant males and more dominant females, timid males and timid females, etc).
Buy from someone who truly cares about what they're doing and producing; they should want to help you and your family select the best puppy for your situation. Picking the 'wrong' puppy will make both puppy and family miserable, so if a breeder doesn't care which pup you pick, move on.

Thanks for all the replies.  I had heard that males are generally easier to train and easier around children but it sounds like it's the opposite.  I would like to visit the kennel, talk to the breeder and help get some guidance on selecting a puppy.  However, I can't seem to find a reputable breeder in my area with litters currently available or on their way.  So I am contacting different breeders to try and find the right puppy.