If you’ve ever come face to face with a German Shepherd, you know this dog breed can appear quite intimidating. Yet to know a German Shepherd is to know this dog’s bark is worse than its bite. Loyal, emotional, and intelligent, German Shepherds are affectionate canines who can get along with other dogs and with children—making them a terrific choice for a family dog.
A sweet TikTok video crossed our feed proving German Shepherds really do have hearts of gold. In the video posted by @sheldewsburyx, a despondent young girl can be seen being comforted through her tears by her empathetic German Shepherd. As the girl cries, her dog cries along with her, like a tearful mother-daughter duo hoping to make one another feel better. It’s a touching display of love on the dog’s part, one that Mom says happens “every time” the little girl cries.
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Why German Shepherds Make Great Family Dogs
Known as steadfast working dogs, German Shepherds are defined by their strong, agile build and their high intelligence, which allows them to learn new tasks quickly. This breed, however, is also fiercely loyal and will literally put their lives on the line for their humans.
Putting all that bravery aside, German Shepherds can be gentle companions as well as devoted guardians. Clearly from the video shared above, we can add good criers to the list of this breed’s accolades.
Dog breeds like Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers are known as loving, loyal, and playful companions. Shih-Tzus can be hard-pressed to let their favorite humans out of their sight, making these breeds the typical go-to for families.
German Shepherds, however, with their intelligence, bravery, and loyalty, are about as loving and devoted as a dog can be.
Now, as it turns out, they’re good crying buddies too. With an empathetic furry friend like this one waiting to console her favorite human through every heartache, heartbreak, and bad day, this German Shepherd makes a case for the breed being the ultimate family dog—especially if your kiddo loves a good cry and a buddy to cry along with her.
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This story was originally published by Parade Pets on Feb 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.