Owning A German Shepherd
As marvelous as German Shepherd Dogs are, they are not a breed that is appropriate for everyone. They have the energy levels of a natural working dog, and therefore require a dedicated dog owner to provide the correct amount of exercise and attention to keep them happy and healthy. They are not for the weak-willed, as their intelligence will soon have them ruling the household if proper human authority isn't provided.
Ideally they should have a "job" to do; as this is when they are most satisfied (dogs of our breeding have succeeded in obedience, schutzhund, dual purpose k9s, agility, search & rescue, tracking, therapy work, and a multitude of other endeavors). Even a family pet must have formal obedience training to be a proper canine citizen.