The long-coated German Shepherd is not considered show standard by the American Kennel Club and, therefore, is not allowed to compete in national competitions. The owners of the long-coated German Shepherds could really care less whether their dogs win trophies because they already have decided that they have the best dogs on the planet.
The amazing trainability and eagerness to please give German Shepherds both good and bad personalities, as they can be easily trained to do just about anything – including attacking people. German Shepherd dogs worship the people they live with. They need to be active and have a job to do in order to keep them from being destructive. German Shepherds will worship you and need your attention. Any German Shepherd dog trained to do bad things can be retrained with patience.
If you are looking for an intelligent dog that will act as a guard dog, then the Australian Cattle Dog may be perfect for you! Bred in the 19th century by early settlers, the Australian Cattle Dog is a mix of Collies imported from Scotland and Australian dingoes with a few other breeds thrown in for good measure.
The standard Poodle is a highly intelligent, proud and good natured dog. They are good watch dogs and are generally good with other pets and other dogs. They are usually good with older children. As a reminder, never leave a child unsupervised with a puppy or dog. They do need plenty of exercise and a properly fenced in enclosure is ideal. They need extensive grooming.
*Approximate Adult Size. The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the standard Poodle is 22 to 27 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and 45 to 70 pounds.