We have a GSD, her name is Dutchess and she is almost 11. She is the smartest, most protective yet most gentle dog I have ever owned. We got her when she was 18 months old and she hadn't had any training, but she learned so quickly it was amazing. They do need a lot of excersise, I used to run 4 miles a day with her. Now she is getting older, I can see her get a little stiff if she does too much, so we keep it to long walks. We have a 2 year old son, and ever since the day we brought him home from the hospital she has slept in front of his door guarding him. She is so patient with him, we have to watch closely or he will climb all over her, she will not try to stop him. We have been lucky, the only health problem she has had is a broken molar that she had to have pulled a couple weeks ago, from chewing nylabones. She is still in great shape, when we took her in for the appt, the vet techs were all amazed at her age, they couldn't believe she was really that old. We also got a mixed breed puppy this spring, and she loves to play "chase" with him. I can't imagine life without a GSD!