tell me about German Shepherds

[thebamker]

give me your generalizations you've seen about the breed.

thanks!

[thebuddhagouda]

Yeah, didn't they use to be the most common dog used as police dogs? They're supposed to be really smart.

[dcannie]

they are beautiful!
also, very smart and strong and must be trained. they follow directions and are easily trainable. they do shed a lot. but their gait...::swoons:: i love them.

[Chirp]

I used to have one...

He did shed. A lot.
He was smart and easy to train.
Absolutely loved to play and chase balls and sticks.
Very strong.

[adhdfashion]

Very high energy and lot of fur to brush out.

[lissaholly]

High maintenance grooming ( double coat?)
Smart and prone to separation anxiety ( not sure about the anxiety just think it goes with intelligence)
Need a firm owner plenty and plenty of activity.

Beautiful. The all black ones are just so fierce and graceful looking. Remind of a wolf with their slinky crouched walk;)
Insanely loyal and protective of their people;)

[mamasaurus]

They shed like crazy and if you don't put in the time and effort to train them, they get kind of psycho. My aunt and uncle had one and they had to rehome it because they thought he'd be like a police dog without any actual effort. Then he decided, in the absence of training, to mark the house, walk them instead of letting them walk him, bark his head off at any perceived threat (including the kids next door), and try to jump into your arms and lick your face when you came through the door. Yeah, he knocked people over a lot. When he was 3 they tried an obedience class, but it was too little, too late. He really needed a lot of help to unlearn his bad habits at that point. If you bring one home, invest in early training! They can be great dogs, and usually are, but because of their size it can be dangerous if you let them be the boss.

[thebamker]

Aug 6, 2012 9:40:15 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

They shed a lot.

lol

I always forget that if you don't have to take them to the groomer, it's b/c they shed all over your house.

G wants a GS like it's nobody's business. I can barely contain my motherly instinct to make all his wildest dreams come true.

That said - I'm determined to do my research this time and not just pick a dog b/c he is the cutest baby ball of fluff I've ever seen.

I'm all kinds of sad that this sweetie is up for adoption:



What I wouldn't give for one minute with those floppy ears...

[dcannie]

Aug 6, 2012 9:50:12 GMT -5 mamasaurus said:

They shed like crazy and if you don't put in the time and effort to train them, they get kind of psycho. My aunt and uncle had one and they had to rehome it because they thought he'd be like a police dog without any actual effort. Then he decided, in the absence of training, to mark the house, walk them instead of letting them walk him, bark his head off at any perceived threat (including the kids next door), and try to jump into your arms and lick your face when you came through the door. Yeah, he knocked people over a lot. When he was 3 they tried an obedience class, but it was too little, too late. He really needed a lot of help to unlearn his bad habits at that point. If you bring one home, invest in early training! They can be great dogs, and usually are, but because of their size it can be dangerous if you let them be the boss.

yes, b/c of their high intelligence and energy they need a good bit of interaction and activity. they are not like my pit that is content to lounge all day. frequent walks, playing catch, letting them track scents, kong toys, etc. and i feel like crate training is a must w/ gsd. it will help prevent separation anxiety and the destruction of your home.

[thebamker]

Obviously I can ask the people, but it makes me nervous that they gave no explaination of why they wanted to rehome this 3 y/o female. Just basically "free to good home"

Is that side eye worthy? Or am I just being paranoid?



Also, is she wearing a bark collar?

[thebamker]

Aug 6, 2012 10:03:47 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

Shepherds just take a really firm owner.

If we're talking stereotypes, aggressive.

Maybe they want to rehome her less for the breed and more because they don't want the commitment of a dog in general?

maybe. but I wish they just said.

H is really good with animals. He has respect for them but he's the boss and they know it. The way he is with horses always blew me away. He's fully confident that the horse is doing to do what he wants. Where I'm all "omg horse, please don't go over there." haha

It always amazed me how our dog acted so different with each of us. I was the one who loved the shit out of him. Fed him, pet him, groomed him, played with him, trained him, gave him treats... etc.

He loved me - no doubt, but he REALLY loved H too and it was all based on respect. You could see so much pride in him when H would tell him he was good and pet him as reward.

Even though I saw it done, I don't know if I can be *that* owner. Perhaps this breed isn't for me. Good to know.

[alzi]

Max is a Belgian Shepard, they are very close relatives to the GS. They are the sweetest pups ever. Very playful and high energy. But so loving.

[thebamker]

Aug 6, 2012 10:17:22 GMT -5 Que? said:

Floyd, that can be the difference btwn a male and female dog. I think make dogs of certain (most?) breeds respond more to a male master. Maybe that's sexist but whatever.

That's it. I'm starting a petition against sexist dogs! lol

And your story made me tear up. that is so sad

[Deleted]

They're strong, very smart, very loving, and very playful. I have never had a bad experience with a German Shepherd.

Their barks are also VERY intense, lol.

I have never really had the stereotype that they're aggressive -- I mean, yeah, they can be, but it's not the first thing that pops into my head.

I agree that, like most dogs, training is key.

[nicanmatt]

I love my GSD. I cannot stand the furballs that accumulate within minutes of vacuuming, but we are terrible about brushing her regularly. She's all white, and the sweetest move loving dog I've ever had.

She's GREAT with my son. Has the personality of a lab, and has never been super overprotective of any of us. She was easy to train, but we got her as a puppy so she never had any other influence over her as far as training/treatment.

I remember my neighbors having outside GSD's that would bark and scare me as a kid. Now I see that how you train/treat them has A LOT to do with how they behave. Some people are afraid of her (she's 91 lbs) but she is all about getting some love and making friends.

[pantsparty]

We don't have a dog, and likely never will, but if I had to pick a breed, I'd probably pick a GS. One of my ex-BF's brother had 3 GS (2 female, 1 male) and they were the sweetest dogs. They were also quite spoiled and loved by their owners (although well trained), which probably contributes to how social they were. One of the dogs had been hit by a car previous to adoption and only had 3 legs, but ran as fast as the other 2. It was really cool to see.

[soleil]

I love german shepherds. I grew up with a german shepherd mix. He was loving, loyal, and great with us kids. He was wonderful--when I was two I was in the backyard playing near our fence, and a man tried to hop the fence and grab me, and our dog tried to attack him (the guy plus a woman waiting on the other side of the fence got away though) and warded him off as my mom came running. He also scared off some people that tried to break into our house another time.

He lived to be 16--it was so heartbreaking having to put him down. If DH and I ever get a dog it will definitely be a german shepherd or mix like our old dog.

[nique]

I grew up with GS dogs. That is all my father would ever have, he trained them when he was an MP in the air force. What everyone has said, loyal, smart, etc is all true. I would ask, is it AKC certified? Is it OFA certified?
We are in the process of applying to purchase one, once the application is approved, we will go meet the 3 dogs we are choosing from and hopefully one will work out.

[emsumm]

Aug 6, 2012 10:10:21 GMT -5 Que? said:

Here's an anecdotal defense of GS's.

My SIL came outside one day and found a giant German Shepherd. It turns out that he was left at a truck stop by a trucker as a puppy, and he stayed there for a bit before wandering onto my SIL's acreage. She's great with dogs and they had two big ones already. Anyway, he just adopted her basically. He patrolled her property while she was inside, and slept next to the front door for the next 6 years. All other dogs were inside but he refused to come in, and stayed out by the door. If there was a storm he could sometimes be coaxed into the garage. Then she had a baby and this dog took his job very seriously. He started coming in so that he could guard the baby. I'm tearing up at how amazing that dog was.

If she ever left with the baby he would wait at the edge of the property until they came back. Her daughter learned to crawl chasing him and to stand up on him, and walk next to him. They had a lake property and the dog would be between my niece and the water at all times. They could just sit in their chairs and let her go bc the dog was on it.

Unfortunately he died while defending his family from a wild animal on their property. I guess in the end it's important to consider that this dog wasn't really a pet. He truly considered himself their protector, and possibly that was mostly breed but maybe a bit of being grateful for her. He died doing his 'job' and I think its typical of the breed to be singularly focused on protection.

*sniffle*

[Deleted]

They can be prone to hip dysplasia, which can be expensive to fix and would require surgery. Maybe someone who knows more can say if that's related to the sloping of the hips or not? I prefer the look of the ones that don't have the slope, and I must like the belgian shepherds because even with the shedding I want a fluffier one.

Actually my dream is to get a 'failed' police dog. Partially trained but flunked out due to loving people too much

our mix is part shepherd, and yes, the undercoat shedding is terrible. Especially spring and fall when she blows out one coat to prepare for the next season's coat. So if you get one I recommend budgeting $60 for a furminator and $160 - 200 for twice a year at the groomer.

Rehoming is hard to say, a dog can be terrible - chewing, jumping all over people, pacing, digging, ripping up the house but it's because it doesn't get enough exercise. If you're active people - jogging, hiking, outside all the time - you could probably turn that dog into a great companion because it will focus it's energy on good things.

[evynsmama]

They need a lot of mental stimulation and exercise, when they get bored they can be destructive. Challenging them mentally is important, they are happier if they have a dog buddy/sibling

[poppyseed]

My parents have a shepherd mix, so my experience may be a little different. But she is awesome. She is SO smart and it was easy to train her because we started early. She responds well to commands, never wanders off on her own, and is extremely loving and loyal. She does shed a lot though, my mom spends so much time cleaning up dog hair it's ridiculous.

She's getting older now and doesn't have as much energy as before, but she still loves to play ball, go for nice walks and run on the beach whenever she can. One thing - she is very much the alpha female when other dogs are around. She won't hurt the other dogs, but disciplines them and lets them know she is boss when she feels they are out of line.

[LLL]

Aug 6, 2012 10:10:21 GMT -5 Que? said:

Here's an anecdotal defense of GS's.

My SIL came outside one day and found a giant German Shepherd. It turns out that he was left at a truck stop by a trucker as a puppy, and he stayed there for a bit before wandering onto my SIL's acreage. She's great with dogs and they had two big ones already. Anyway, he just adopted her basically. He patrolled her property while she was inside, and slept next to the front door for the next 6 years. All other dogs were inside but he refused to come in, and stayed out by the door. If there was a storm he could sometimes be coaxed into the garage. Then she had a baby and this dog took his job very seriously. He started coming in so that he could guard the baby. I'm tearing up at how amazing that dog was.

If she ever left with the baby he would wait at the edge of the property until they came back. Her daughter learned to crawl chasing him and to stand up on him, and walk next to him. They had a lake property and the dog would be between my niece and the water at all times. They could just sit in their chairs and let her go bc the dog was on it.

Unfortunately he died while defending his family from a wild animal on their property. I guess in the end it's important to consider that this dog wasn't really a pet. He truly considered himself their protector, and possibly that was mostly breed but maybe a bit of being grateful for her. He died doing his 'job' and I think its typical of the breed to be singularly focused on protection.

:-(

[Jalapeñomel]

I think they are gorgeous. I was bitten by a GSD once, and therefore, I am very a little hesitant to be around them.

[kellbell191]

Aug 6, 2012 10:27:22 GMT -5 thebamker said:

Aug 6, 2012 10:17:22 GMT -5 Que? said:

Floyd, that can be the difference btwn a male and female dog. I think make dogs of certain (most?) breeds respond more to a male master. Maybe that's sexist but whatever.

That's it. I'm starting a petition against sexist dogs! lol

And your story made me tear up. that is so sad

My male dog is all about me and listens to me better than DH. If we stand on opposite ends of the room and call him he's like MOMMMMMMM HEREE I COME!!!

Our girl is half GSD but you can't really tell personality wise.

They are very bright, need a lot of mental and physical stimulation. I like them a lot, but they tend to make a lot of eye contact so they don't always get along with other dogs well. They're also really strong!

Are you thinking about getting one? I have a friend who runs a GSD rescue and you can find them with all different personalities regardless of breed.

[HiC]

Wonderful dogs. Females are loyal and loving and protective over their people. I don't have much experience with the males.

[jojoandleo]

I have a GS-mix rescue. She is VERY high energy, but we also have a lab that she plays with all the time. She is VERY smart (can open doors/gates). She does have separation anxiety (but we were her 4th home in less than a year), but she is really good in the crate. She chewed when we first got her, but now that she is crate trained, she only chews toys (and she knows which toys are hers). She rarely ever barks, but she tends to whine if she feels she is not getting enough attention. She is the sweetest, softest, giant cuddle bug ever. She was very good in obedient classes. She LOVES food. She would eat herself to death if we just kept food out.

She is an absolutely beautiful dog with golden eyes that make your heart melt. She does require a lot of attention and activity. There is no aggression in her. Our lab is the protector of the house, she just wants you to be her BFF. She is a jumper. We are still working on that. She doesn't "jump" so much anymore as climb people. It takes consistency and patience, but she is so loveable, it's worth it.

[vccake]

My female gsd mix, Shelby, was so damn smart. Tons of eye contact. She was very much on the gsd side of her mix.

Regular, professional grooming is a must -- oooh, the undercoat. The whining and barking at any noise was tough to address via training though we tried. She had terrible arthritis but lived with no other health problems until she was around 15.

She loved to train and take obedience classes as a younger dog. Amazing with any kid. I used to take her to school with me when I worked in both private and public schools -- I was so lucky to get to do that (many years ago). Her picture made it into two yearbooks. My students experienced behavioral disabilities and were in a self contained setting. Shelby was a big incentive.

I wasn't always the best owner and the crappy owner in me = an anxious dog. I learned through the years how to be a dog owner and things improved.

She had the most kissable snout.

I still love gsds but due to the shedding and sometimes jittery/anxious nature...we prob wd not get another. I might need a dumber dog.

[katandkevin]

We have a GSD and he is the sweetest dog. He is incredibly smart, but is a great protector. The only person the is super protective of is me, which I don't mind. He only gets upset if DH or the kids are tickling me and even then he will just bark. I have never owned a dog before and I would get another GSD in a heartbeat. The only downside to the breed is that they are prone to hip displaysia, which our dog has. We have known about it since he was 2. At the time it didn't effect him nearly as much as it does now. He is 10 now and has a hard time getting up if he has been laying down for a long time and he doesn't like going on walks, although he does love to be outside with us.

When DH first got him, he did a lot of training with him and our dog was a therapy dog for a while, which meant that he got to go to hospitals and nursing homes. He is great with our kids too!

[hubes]

I don't have anything about GS, but I think its safe to assume that people rehome because they are assholes. (I'm talking people who rehome to strangers)

I was at the humane society yesterday and there was a beautiful cat who has given up because it scratched the owner's grandchild. Probably for good reason too, but of course that wasn't mentioned.