IF YOU'VE SEEN ONE SHEPHERD, you've seen them all, right? Not exactly. As one of the most popular purebreds in the world, German shepherds do share certain intrinsic qualities; however, there is a fairly broad degree of variance. Externally, German shepherds come in a range of conformation types, coat lengths, colors, and sizes. On the inside, shepherds exhibit a wide variety of drives, athletic abilities, and temperaments. Through understanding the positive and negative qualities inherent in German shepherds, you'll be better equipped to decide if this breed is right for you.