Best Buddies or Bitter Rivals? Discover if German Shepherds and Pitbulls Get Along!

If you already have a pitbull and are considering adopting a German Shepherd, you might be questioning do German Shepherds and pitbulls get along. Both of these breeds are known for aggression issues but will they be aggressive towards each other?

Know that each and every habit a German Shepherd has is affected by their training and upbringing. All of this depends on how you are introducing both breeds and how you are raising them under the same roof.

Table of Contents

Do German Shepherds and Pitbulls get along? 

There is a possibility that if they have been living together since they were puppies they will probably get along. While on the other hand, there can be the situation that you have an adult German Shepherd at home and adopt a pitbull puppy, there is a large chance they will not get along.

Do German Shepherds like Pitbulls?

German Shepherds have frequent mood swings and tendencies that make them hard to judge.

Again, it’s totally up to the parents; if they are adopting both breeds as a puppy, there is a chance that a German Shepherd may like the Pitbull.

But if a parent is adding a pitbull to the mix when the German Shepherd is an adult, they are never going to be friends and will not get along.

Proper socialization, as well as training, play a vital role in the shepherd’s life when you want it to get along with other dogs.

Reasons that German Shepherds and Pitbulls can get along well?

Both of the breeds contain some traits which make it easy for them to get along. Let’s know about the features when you want the breeds to get along well.

1. Playstyles

Both German Shepherds and Pitbulls show the same behaviors when they are playing. There is always a chance that different breeds may have different styles of playing.

2. Loyalty

German Shepherds and Pitbulls are both breeds that are very loyal. When it comes to protecting livestock and family, German Shepherds and Pitbulls are at the top of the list. 

Both dogs tend to be devoted to their families, especially when they see each other as a member of the same family.

3. Trainable

Luckily, both of the breeds are quite easy to train, and you will find them willing to do anything for the sake of their owner’s happiness. GSD is easier to train while both have the same level of drive to please parents.

Even if German Shepherds and Pitbulls are having issues getting along, they will put in the effort to please their families.

4. Self-control

Due to their large bodies, these two breeds may come off as aggressive and hard to control. You will be happy to know that both of the dog breeds have incredible self-control over their temperament.

Why German Shepherds and Pitbulls do not get along well

There are many reasons why these two breeds might not get along. These are just a few of the reasons.

1. Both are born fighters

Unfortunately, both German Shepherds, as well as Pitbulls, are more prone to get aggression because of their fighter nature. There are chances that aggression becomes extreme when both breeds are of the same gender. Also, read: Can German Shepherd beat Pitbull?

2. High Prey Drive

Moving ahead, both Pitbulls and German Shepherds are more prone to have strong prey drives, which makes it difficult for them to get along. Their high prey drive forces them to attack other dogs, which makes things complicated.

Also, dogs with some level of prey drive do not show aggression around dogs of the same size, but when there is even a slight difference, you will see a war.

3. Brave and bold

German Shepherds and Pitbulls carry an attitude of not backing down from anything. Rather than showing submissive behavior, they will give priority to fighting whenever they face other creatures.

Again their brave and bold nature makes it difficult for them to get along with each other.

How to set your German Shepherd and Pitbull up for success

Proper training of your dog will help set it up for success. 

1. Self-control training

Self-control training is not just beneficial when you want your dog to get along with others, but it is good for each dog to learn. You can teach them not to chase other animals and even strangers.

2. Introduce them professionally

Keeping a German Shepherd with other dog breeds under the same roof needs courage and a big heart. If you don’t want things to get complicated, then you must be careful how you introduce both breeds to each other.

Make sure to keep them separate after the adoption and let them get used to each other’s scent.