I owned a german shepard as a kid. They are medium sized dogs. 
I love dogs. What are german shepards bred for?
German shepherds are working dogs used for herding sheep. 
Are they good hunting companions? 
They are not really used for hunting, but work in other areas sush as guides or search and rescue. 
How long does it take to train them for guiding and searching?
to 1899. As part of the Herding Group, German Shepherds are working dogs developed originally for herding sheep. Since that time however, because of their strength, intelligence, trainability, and obedience, German Shepherds around the world are often the preferred breed for many types of work, including disability assistance, search-and-rescue, police and military roles, and acting. The German Shepherd is the second-most registered breed by the American Kennel Club and seventh-most registered breed by The Kennel Club in the United
to be that of a hunting retriever.
Temperament Use as working dogs.
Labradors are an intelligent breed with a good work ethic and generally good temperaments. Common working roles for Labradors include: hunting, tracking and detection (they have a great sense of smell which helps when working in these areas), disabled-assistance, carting, and therapy work. Approximately 60–70% of all guide dogs in Canada are Labradors; other common breeds are Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds.
Labrador Retrievers have proven to have a high