I (we) have owned both breeds (mostly shepherds) so I don't have a bias one way or the other. In the end, regardless of which breed you choose, you will love your dog.
As you know, good family dogs (regardless of breed) just don't happen without a lot of time and energy invested in that dog. Formal, consistent, disciplined training will be required for both of these breeds if one expects to see the most out of these dogs in terms of their happiness and behavior. If one does not have lots of time to invest into these two breeds, I would look for something else. Many of these working group dogs can be a real liability and public hazard if they are not trained properly and diligently.
All puppies are cute. All puppies don't have the potential for healthy lives because of their breeding. When it comes to shepherds and ridgebacks, find a breeder recognized by the AKC, respected by the local veterinarian's and dog clubs. Get references, and by all means, inspect the breeders kennels for organization, cleanliness, etc. I would not purchase either the shepherd or ridgeback without seeing a *certified* hip evaluation of both parents of the pup. Too, a good breeder will provide you with a hip and health guarantee on the dog. Good breeders do their best to maintain an excellent reputation by selling only healthy dogs.
We currently own an AKC Certified German Shepherd, and a Staffordshire Terrier. Both instantly respond to first-time commands, and both are completely trustworthy around the public. Yet, being well-balanced dogs, they can (and do) sort out the bad guys from the good in the watchdog and guard dog capacity. Very loyal and protective of their families and require LOTS of exercise and stimulation from that family.
Good luck on your choice!
