Hopefully you can find one with good hips. It's sad what the breeders have done.
https://dogbehaviorscience.wordpress.com/2012/09/29/100-years-of-breed-improvement/
If you can't get a shepherd, try a Doberman, they are at the top of all the positive categories, intelligence, protection etc.
I had a Weimeraner for awhile. Amazing dogs but you need someone around them 24/7. If left alone, they will bark for hours non stop. I mean literally hours without pause. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weimaraner