I think people are gonna believe in whatever stereo type they want too, you're not gonna change some of their minds. Others you might if they meet a well bred, good representation of the breed. German Shepherd Dogs have been bred to the point it's sad. There are distinct differences between the Am. line, German Show line and the Working line. Personally I think the working line dogs are more stable in their tempermants, I have met a few Am. lines and Germans show lines and some are pretty fearful. I've met one good german Show line(what you see in the movies mainly), I'd take home and that's it. These dogs were bred to guard things and their people, they are a territorial guardian as well as a handler guardian just depends on the training of what they become in the end. There is a difference between out and out aggression and being a Guardian. Judge is a good example of it, I encourage his guarding behaviors to the fullest as we train in different sports including bitework. If someone were to go in his kennel or our house uninvited, he'd stop them at the door as I expect him too, if they moved after he stopped them, he would bite them, no issues. This is appropiate behavior for a GSD. NOW, If I'm home and invite people in, he knows that they are friends and greets them as such. Give him a good reason(attacking his owner, entering his home maliciously etc.) to nail you and he will as a good GSD should. That said, my one grandma is in a nursing home and Judge goes to visit her there all the time. He loves the residents and the people. He helps her with her wheelchair, pulling it and stuff. He enjoys people. He is a very friendly, social dog as any PP dog should be. What use is a vicious PP dog that can't go in public?? He goes into numerous stores and places and loves kids, loves people petting him etc. He does his job and does it well. I have many people tell me he is intimidating, if you met him, he is such a goof ball, I mean GOOFY if you really know him. A ton of people ask me if he is a K9 and tell me "His eyes creep me out.". Honestly, I'd rather that people be intimated or scared of him etc. rather than Red. Makes my life easier if they move to the other side of the street or avoid the aisle we're on. They also, if they met TRUE PROPER representations of the breed, probably wouldn't be scared of them.