Start with the breed's name - its real name translates as German Shepherd Dog - 3 words in the proper noun, so 3 capital initials needed, with GSD for short.
·· "they can snap at you randomly, unpredictable, human aggressive, not good with kids, scary, ate babies, etc."
Of course they can. So can Maltese, St.Bernards, etc etc. Invariably owned by lazy cretins, and the bitten are usually brats.
GSDs - indeed, all herding breeds - are THINKERS, and easily out-think drongos. So, to drongos and self-obsessed humans, herding breeds ARE unpredictable.
·· "I have a pitbull"
So why are you looking for another pooch? BTW, there's no such breed - there are several flavours of Bulldogs-crossed-with-Terriers around, one of which is the PBT, another the APBT. And the "Pit" part of the name is VERY significant.
··Q1: "i am just wondering if this is a safe dog to have around children"
When our son was born we had an 8 month and a 14 month GSD, both in training classes. The most danger Gordon was ever in was of being dropped when whoever was holding him received a damp nudge on the elbow, to point out "I'm here, and I'd like a fuss too, please."
When, as a toddler, Gordon sat on a litter of pups snoozing on the grass, it was me punished him, not the dam.
When he was old enough to have friends come over, the dogs were penned or brought inside so that they wouldn't mistake a noisy-boy game for "Gordon needs protecting."
Of course, my GSDs were very well bred with calm fearless character very important in the choice of parents & pup. And although my boyhood "Focker" got only the training I could think up (we lived WAY remote), and during his first year my first GSD got only what I could think up (we were an hour+ from the nearest training club, but we moved to the city after that and I became a class instructor), they were all definitely trained & loved.
··Q2: "just how much time for training is necessary to train a GSD?
The whole of its life.
My last pup came inside at 8½ weeks and had the run of the house 24/7. She was paper trained that afternoon (I know that pups "can't hold on" while I get my 8 hours of sleep). NO "accidents". Training her that my always-open bedroom is forbidden to dogs took a little longer - on 5 mornings I had to look in the passage for the aromatic sock she had been unable to resist stealing while I was boringly asleep.
··Q3: "What are some tips I should know"
Don't get ANY pooch until you:
• Have a door opening straight into a yard fenced to not only keep your pet home but to also keep stray dogs & stray brats OUT!
• Know the difference between real GSDs and the German Crouchers, NAmerican Ski-Slope Dogs, Prick-Eared Bassets, and Titanic Tail-Tuckers that your KC registers as GSDs: http://www.leabashiba.com/fashion.vs.GSD.htm
• Know enough to choose WELL. (That includes NOT getting another pooch of the same sex.)
• Have a plan for where Pup sleeps that does NOT involve a shut crate.
• Can bring it home at 7-to-9 weeks old and STAY HOME with it 24/7 for at least a week. (Partly to settle Pup in and convince it that the world is a fun safe place and you are the source of everything good in the universe. Mainly so you can OBSERVE 100% and LEARN its timing & signals for such as "Wanna go toilet" and "Wanna BITE something" so that you can PREDICT them and take instant appropriate action.
• Know that "socialisation" must be completed by 13 weeks old and has NOTHING to do with playing with strange dogs/people - it is about familiarisation & confidence-building.
• Can attend a proper training club's weekly classes for about a year, starting when Pup is 18 -22 weeks old.
◙ Add http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/The_GSD_Source to your browser's Bookmarks or Favorites so that you can easily look up such as rescue groups, feeding, vaccinations, worming, clubs, neutering, diseases, genetics.
◙ To ask about GSDs, join some of the 400+ YahooGroups dedicated to various aspects of living with them. Each group's Home page tells you which aspects they like to discuss, and how active they are. Unlike YA, they are set up so that you can have an ongoing discussion with follow-up questions for clarification. Most allow you to include photos in your messages.
Les P, owner of GSD_Friendly: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/GSD_Friendly
"In GSDs" as of 1967