Hiya,
Have some questions about GSD's. Very strangely i had a random dream last night about a GSD. I've always liked them but getting one is out of the question. Today (at work-very naughty) and cant stop thinking about them and i've been looking at some sights and reading up about them. There are lots that need rehoming....(oh i wish i could :-( ), but have noticed that alot say need experianced owners. Why is this??? I can understand a large dog thats not great on a lead would need someone relatively strong if they pull, but what sort of thing do they mean by experiance??? And do you become experianced in a breed-surely everyone has to start somewhere.
Would be great to hear what you GSD owners/breeders have to say. Im so jealous of you. One day i'd love one  :-)

They are my favourite breed and we used to have one before we had our Bichon (who incidentally is my daughters) I lost him to AF just before his sixth birthday. :-(  He was a lovely dog but they are quite dominant dogs outside - although not in the house - well ours wasn't anyway.  We did have a few a problems with him with other dogs but it was usually the other dog that ran up to him and had a go at him first - he was fine unless they threatened him in any way.  I used to use a Halti on him and found him much easier to hold then. They are very hairy though - well he was anyway cos he had a really thick coat.  I agree with you everybody has to start somewhere. :-)  He was a beautiful dog and I miss him so much. :-(

perhaps they would be happy with experience with dogs of a similar temprement? i have had a wee look at them as well, not really my cup of tea but my bf loves them so since he'll be indulging me with whatever breeds i fancy in the future i figure he should get one for him to (though i've told him he's excersising it, i like a semi lazy dog ;) ). there are other options for getting experience though...help out at the (many) rescues, or maybe foster?

Hi,
I do not have much experience with GSD.
I guess they mean, need to be experienced! that means, these are not first dogs.
I have a friend who shows them and I know she stays clear away from some lines because of health issues and aggression. But her dogs are lovely, well trained and obedient.
Love the day dream. :-)

> clear away from some lines because of health issues and aggression

always a concern with such an over bred dog. thats why i'm starting looking into them for the other half now (with a view to several years time lol)

Dont think i'll be getting one for a few years. A, because my current dog is too young and b, i live at home and circumstances aren't suitable. Wish i knew someone with a GSD so i could get to meet them. Have always admired them but never realised how much i like them. I really really want one!!!They are beautiful. Do they have different coats then - i've heard people say about rough coats/lonmg coats/short coats - are they all really different or is there not much between it?
Also agree that they'd not be great dogs for first time owners, guess thats what it means by experianced owner. Think you'd have to be strong and very strong with training methods. Read somewhere that they are true "one man dogs". Sound amazing!!!

the different coat types do look very different, you will be able to google pics of the different types. proper breed fanciers might go mad at me but i actually like the look of the long coat best (ducks the thrown things!). as i understand it long coats, whites etc are not to standard freds mum, though they do come up (genetic twists and not great breeding mainly to blame i believe), though if its for a pet only i don;t see that it matters (as long as its just been a genetic throw out and not a poor bred specimin i mean). however, if we got one its for my bf and he likes the short coated. i've told him if he gets one i think he should do agility or flyball for extra excersize, my lot are lazy lumps so would never be bothered (rolley eye smiley where are you?)

Thans for the info astarte have googled and i think i prefer the shorter coats, but possible becuase thats what i recognise more. Maybe an enrgetic GSD would make your less lazy??? Have looked at the police website aswell. Our local police have some amazing GSD's. Have met a couple - was in my element, but was a while ago and i need another fix!!!!

lol, dunno, my sisters whippet can't get them going... they just sit down till she stops moving

I have had Shepherds all my married life, They are the only breed for me, I too, would only let pups go to experienced people, They are a most intelligent breed, as a youngster, they are demanding of time and eager to learn, hence why most require a more experienced owner, it is only in later years that they slow down and quite happy to plod along, To keep their mind occupied, they need regular exercise, off lead, so need to be socialised to accept other dogs and people. They usually choose their own leader, so you may get one for yourself, and find it prefers your partner. It is a great shame, there are so many are bred by inexperienced people themselves, and these are the ones mostly in rescue. My ideal puppy owners would be aged 40-50 with their children grown up, so they could devote their time to the dog, and the dog comes first in all things.
Charm

From my limited experience of GSD's (I live beside one ;-) you need to be able to control their guarding instinct. They are a large breed that could become a problem if you don't know how to deal with their stong-minded wilfulness :-) Their energies have to be directed in a positive way with plenty of brain activity, as well as excercise. They get bored very quickly and can become distructive if not catered for.

I always liked them after I walkd one when I was young, but I know that they are not the breed for me.

I like the long haired ones, too. preferably an all black one.....

Hi
I had GSD'S for many years and will always have a love of the breed, I have BMD's now due to a change in circumstances, but will always love the GSD.
They are not "One man dogs" but are a truly committed family dog, enveloping the whole family into their "Pack". Like any breed care needs to be taken when finding one and obviously good health and excellent character are to be looked for in Mum and Dad. Make sure all the relevant health tests are up to date and in accordance with the breed requirements.
Brought up with respect and gentle training with plenty of socialisation as pups,and you will reap the reward of having a dog who is loyal sociable and quick to learn. I found they were quite high energy dogs who thrived on lots of exercise, they learn fast and need to have something to occupy their minds as well as their bodies. A life of two 20 min walks a day and nothing else to use their brains on will produce a dog capable of immense unruliness. They thrive on obedience, agility, working trials, or even just lots of active play-times. They never take their eyes off you when out walking, and all though can range far away will know exactly where you are at all times.
They will give their all to their family and will protect by nature (Not a thing anyone needs to train them to do...it comes natural! you look after them properly and they will look after you ,God forbid...if it ever became necessary ) They can be the most wonderful easy going well trained softies or a bundle of insecurity, and fear, they can become aggressive and unmanageable if not treated fairly in all ways. They are pretty tolerant of other dogs of either sex if socialized as pups, I have only one male who was a holy terror due to his being on Very very restricted exercise as a pup , with HD (Throw back, not the breeders fault but  unfortunately very bad) he suffered pain and lack of any viable socialization apart from my other dogs. However he lived to 14 ish and never hurt anyone though he needed careful handling and lots of training. After the first year he led a pain-free life with his hips, but the advice from the vet at the time to restrict him so much did him no favours with his social skills!
At their best they are "All things to all men" at their worst they can be very difficult to live with and being a big  breed are capable of a lot of damage.
If you are prepared to give them your all, then you will not be disappointed, but if you just want a couch potato....well try another breed!
Hope this helps, it is just my opinion based on the GSD's I have known and loved.
Aileen

> I too, would only let pups go to experienced people

out of interest whats your definition of experienced? we all say it but i'm sure it means different things for everyone... for me (my breed) it would mean experience with large guarding breeds, preferably of a mastiff or bull type. not essentially having had them but familial/personal experience with them, or having spent time with breeders of them getting used to temprements reactions, body language etc. everyones gotta start somewhere right? (though there are some breeds that are NOT first dogs)

> My ideal puppy owners would be aged 40-50 with their children grown up, so they could devote their time to the dog, and the dog comes first in all things

that does sound ideal (though maybe younger for strength/size issues for me to be spot on perfect, lol if only they all came that way), but i wouldn't want to restrict on that basis knowing that i don't meet that criteria myself and could do perfectly well.

As i said before i am not looking at buying one yet but all the advice is superb. I'm thinking if maybe i could do something on a part-time basis, finding a GSD rescue and offering to walk dogs etc. I own a poodle (which although is nothing in comparison to size) also needs lots of exercise because of being such a lively breed, and are one of the most intelligant, so i understand what its like to need to constantly train and stimulate. I was very fortunate that when i got him i wasnt working so could spend lots of tme building the bond and as i work in a school i get lots of holidays and evenings/weekends to attend training classes and go for lots of enjoyable walks/runs/plays! Fortunately i live at hme and parents work shifts so Fred is rarely alone, although he is an angel when we go out and amuses himself and takes himself to bed if he wants. I remember when i first got him the vet told me to be very careful with such an intelligant dog. He said that he will quickly pick up bad habits as well as good which is why i was so careful and consientious with training. It paid off and i imagine a GSD would also be a great dog to train up and maybe compete with. I just want another project!!! Once again, thanks for all your advice - keep it coming. Love hearing all the stories and hints & tips.xxx

I've had GSDs since 1958 up to losing our Abbie in July 2006. Things were not right for me to have another then, even though my friend in Germany offered me one from her litter that she had then. By choice I would always have at least one GSD & when I got my first one I was 8 years old & she was my first dog, however I had been involved with training other people's for two years & we had had dogs before, my father had a poorly bred GSD, when I got my puppy.

They are not a breed for the faint hearted(but then so many of the pastoral group are the same)they need good socialisation from an early age, lots of mental stimulus & a stable home life. They are not "One Man"dogs at all mine were all gregarious & would work for anyone. They can be very protective & need to learn from an early age the limits of their physical behaviour.

Anyone wanting to buy a GSD puppy needs to decide which type they like be it an "International"or an English" GSD. The same health tests need to be done whatever ever the breeding is & of course it goes without saying that temperament must be paramount.

My GSD of a life time I bred from my our bitch & he was like all my dogs 100% German lines & had a temperament most people could only dream of, he was a Ch Show breed winner & a successful Obedience dog & a good stud dog. He was a stooge dog for retraining dog with dog to dog problems, he was a pat dog, a school demonstration dog, a therapy dog to help people/children with dog phobias. He never growled at all, not even when he was attacked in the stays in obedience, I was so privileged to have bred & owned him. I sold him as a puppy, but showed & trained for his owner, imagine my horror when the lady who runs our rescue rang to say his owner had handed him over to them as he was of an age when he would kill the children !(he was nearly 7)He told her that he didn't know where the breeder was & anyway he'd been told not to bother contacting her as she wasn't interested. Luckily for me she knew who he was(this was pre tattoo days)& rang me to say she had my boy. 2 years later he went Res BIS at a local show & his ex owner turned up to claim "his"dog. I told him he was in my van & if he wanted to get him he could, my other GSD was also in the van & when he jumped up & barked The ex owner said"Oh he doesn't know me & has"turned"I don't want him" Actually it was my GSD that my dad had bred who was light Gold & Black, whereas the dog I had taken back was almost a bi-colour ! Yep he couldn't even remember what "his dog" looked like.

They are very special dogs if bred correctly & a wonderful friend & companion. I will be getting another but not yet & he will be from Germany & be a working bred dog, hopefully a Grey dog

> he was of an age when he would kill the children

WHAT?????

i'm sorry but what a total d*ck!!! you poor thing, that must have been very upsetting for you and the dog.

Hi,
I have a GSD bitch, who is 11 next month. I've had her from a puppy. She is very good temperment wise with people and other animals. She has always lived with my other dogs and cats, guinea pigs etc.  I do believe it does depend on their breeding, how they are brought up and their experiences in their formative months that shape the sort of dog they are going to be ( as with other breeds).  She is a very good guard dog as in she will bark at the doorbell or when out in the garden if she hears or see's anyone who shouldn't be there. Not sure what she'd do if anyone ever broke in as luckily this hasn't happened and she does love people.
I have trained her to bark on a certain command purely as a part of her training and not for any other reason. She is a real sweetheart.
The only drawback is her hair. She moults all year round. I was told by a fellow GSD owner this was because she was spayed which was done at 18 months of age, after her having 3 seasons 3 months apart.  I deal with this by brushing daily and having a blooming good vacuum cleaner!
I got her before I met my husband so she looks to me for guidance etc, but she does adore my OH and has done from day one (where as my collie x that I had at the time took a few days to warm to him).

Hi I just wanted to say I totally agree with Merlots description of the GSD.
Years ago when I bought my first girl her breeders exact words to me were ^they are not the dog for everyone but once you,ve lived with a shepherd you will be spoilt for any other breed* and how true that has turned out to be.
That first GSD was the easiest dog ever to live with but picking up on the experienced owner part of this thread the thing I would like to add is the girl I have now would very likely have been returned to her breeder if sold to a novice owner or even worse ended up in rescue to be passed on to someone else.
She is defenitely not the sort of dog who you could allow to go her own way she needs to be busy and needs strong leadership  never takes her eyes of me or whoever I am talking to especially if they are strangers to her , she,ll sit perfectly well behaved by my side but I know if the need ever arose she would defend me to the end.
The girl I lost at christmas was totally different you could have walked her on a bit of cotton and she would have let anyone in my house even the mad axeman if he had rung the doorbell would have been welcome both dogs have brilliant temperaments but very different characters so it shows that dogs just don,t come made to order for novice owners and some breeds really are better with experienced owners.
I,ve never not had a large dog so have always felt comfortable around them but wouldn,t have a clue with for instance a toy breed  thank goodness we are at least able to choose a breed that hopefully is suited to us

It is the breed that I would love to have!
That comes with ifs though.
If we had a large garden and more space, if I wasn't working albeit part time.
They are the breed I have always hankered after, and of the one s I know or have known it seems to me there is a huge mutual respect somehow more than with any other breed.
Ah maybe one day, if my circumstances change.

Karen

karen thats just like me!! :-)  Love hearing about them and am so envious but completely would not get one now because my circumstances aren't right. I had wanted a dog for a few years but didnt get my current dog for a long time because circumstances weren't right and i also spent alot of time doing my research. Changing topic slightly, an issue that was brought up is space, i.e. large garden. Do any breeders check out potential new owners homes etc? I know RSPCA/animal rescue always do a home asessment and i wondered if any breeders do, especially for larger breeds where a decent sized garden is an absolute necessity i would have thought. or do you just go on "vibe" and an impresion of someone interested in purchasing a pup from you?

I'm fortunate to have a friend who breeds GSDs. They work A obedience and working trials and many of hers have been well titled - all bred from German stock and are everything I think a shep should be.
I have my name down for one when my last boxers go. I suppose it means that I think I will be more able to cope with young shepherds than young boxers. The one thing I do feel is missing from their character (compared to my boxers) is a sense of humour. They are quite serious dogs IMO (and that includes the two I had in the 80's) , I suspect that's why older people like them so much, as adults they can be very 'steady' dogs.
I love my Cavs but I will always need a big dog in my life.

> The one thing I do feel is missing from their character (compared to my boxers) is a sense of humour. They are quite serious dogs IMO (and that includes the two I had in the 80's)

LOLOL Mine definitely had a sense of humour, our German import stud would do the silliest of things & then sit back with a gormless look on his face. They can definitely be "wicked"at times, but do have a switch that turns them on to work ;-)

Hi all, Now have 3rd GSD, all 3 have been different characters, I used to 'borrow' a neighbours when I was still in school - mid 60s- and determined I would have one myself but due to housing, small kids etc it took over 20 years to get Zigi. He had us well trained, taught us that when we were using the phone - in the hall- we could throw his ball up to the top of the stairs where he waited to catch it and then shoved it down with his nose to start again. he thought we might as well be gainfully employed while we were just standing there :-). He also looked after us ok, friend started playing push and shove with OH and found he suddenly had a shepherds mouth -wide open- pushing his arm away from OH. -as much force as needed but just a hint 'don't push your luck'. The 2nd, Zan, used to play silly s*ds instead of retrieving when the mood took him, Current one Zuma, is only 6 mths so its all to come........:-)

See previous post - just thought Zuma was too quiet........... He was happily eating carrots...........got from the net daughter had bought for pony!!! ....net now has large hole in bottom corner.........but mum  - I couldn't undo the knot in the top!!!
Chris

>The one thing I do feel is missing from their character (compared to my boxers) is a sense of humour...

Sense of humour?  Missing? Are you Kidding?

I have one that really would have made a fortune as a clown, he can be as daft as a brush, I've lost count of the number of people who say he's makes them laugh and you can tell when he's up to something by his mischievous twinkle in his eye.  Serious? Spender? Nahhhh.... He does loves to work though but can be known to treat it as a bit of a game.  I'll never forget the day he ran off with the next door neighbours bin lid in the middle of training and treated it as though it was frizzbie time.  My other one is more of a serious dog, very strong guarding instinct.  Spender leaves most of it up to her, I think. She barks, he watches and both whine 'I want'!

But a dog is a dog in ways that we make them to be, upbringing and lifestyle has a lot to do with it too IMO.

Oh's had them since a child, I started with them in my 20's, absolutely adore the breed and pretty much devote most of our time to our 2.

I would say quite a demanding dog in energy and time, highly intelligent, especially females, need lots of mental stimulation, loves being trained and loves to work.  Devoted family dog, can be a velcro dog, protective, very vocal, never miss a trick, those ears are like radar, females can be biddable, males subborn and wilful, but there are always exceptions. 

By Freds Mum Date 24.01.08 16:52 GMT

To be honest for me having a large garden is irrelevant as dogs should be taken out for daily exercised.

My next door neighbours have JRT's and they a re rarely walked, as they 'have plenty of space in the garden'.

I have a suburban 25 x 60 foot garden of which the dogs have 20 x 25 feet.  It is enough for them to go to,toilet, sit out for air and have a bit of a rough and tumble, but it keeps them away from the neighbours bar each side, prevents them racing up and down and getting OTT, and they can be reached with ease if they are misbehaving (barking).

I often suggest that owners fence part off the garden for their dogs, especially if they have children, avoids conflicts, with over excitement between them and also keeps the dog mess contained to a non kids play area.

>To be honest for me having a large garden is irrelevant as dogs should be taken out for daily exercised.

I agree...GSD's can live quite happily in a flat providing they get out and about for exercise and mental stimulation.  Having a big enough garden or not really isn't the issue. 

I sometimes think that when people have a big garden they think that's all the dog needs when the reality is that the dog needs to get out and about for exercise and this, that and the other. 

My GSD was bought for me by my ex and not a breed I would have chosen but eight years on ...........
She's very loyal and adores me and my son and daughter but is very wary of other people. (Even though she was well socialised as a pup)
She is very protective of me and will growl if anyone gets too close or tries to stroke her.

Very intelligent and easy to train and recall has always been excellent but she learned that if she opened the fridge she could eat the contents :-O three fridges later she has learned to open them all.

I would not have another one simply because they are not dogs for the houseproud. Mine is short haired but the hairs get everywhere. My son moans that even his boxers have dog hairs on them! No matter how many times you groom the dog and vac up there will still be dog hairs about but I still adore her. 

''Mine is short haired but the hairs get everywhere. My son moans that even his boxers have dog hairs on them! No matter how many times you groom the dog and vac up there will still be dog hairs about but I still adore her.  ''

Ditto Muffymoo. I don't have a son but my OH says he always finds shepherd hairs everywhere, including his smalls.

My two, especially daughter moans about having to de-hair.  Tell her not to buy black clothing from man made fibres that attracts hair like a magnet.  Would help if they don't leave their things around in the living room.  I now have a dog free reception room they could use.