Had to give up my German Shep Today ='{

Seems as if the dog was having identity confusion about his position in the "pack." He would have had to be corrected FIRMLY each time he expressed any dominance (nipping, growling, etc) towards another family member. As his Pack leader, it was your job to enforce his training.

Unfortunately, I understand your parents reasoning...it's sad about the dog, but the risk is too great. I adopted a german shepard once that broke her owners arm because she was "weak" and could not get the dog to heel (she was older) When I took the dog in, it killed my poodle. I did realize how pack-oriented the dog was and worked with him around my kids. I didn't even have the dogs together. The Shepard was penned with a dog house and 6-foot fence...the poodle (puppy) wiggled though the gaps of said fence and was found dead the next day.

Certain dogs need stronger owners that understand how to control their dogs (and some dogs can't seem to be controlled when the owner is not around).

I only had him for a month, he kept nipping at my sister and played too rough with her. He had severe issues with seperation he was overprotective of the family. But to the family he was the biggest lover. I slept on him a few times