Discussion
My wife and I are big dog people. We have had 1 or more dogs for the last 12 years. They have all been English Springer spaniel.
Ever since I was a boy I've wanted a German shepherd. I think they after the most handsome and amazing dogs.
What are they like to own though, are they hard to control and train? Springers are mental but are easy to train as they are so eager to please. GSD seem to me to have an air of I do what I want.
We have kids too, they are a bit older now. But in still a little unsure of having such a big powerful dog. If a Springer ever went Cujo I could take it in a fight.
ETA - we have always had rescue dogs. There is no way my wife would allow a puppy. We collect waifs and strays. 3 springers, 4 guinea pigs etc.
Ever since I was a boy I've wanted a German shepherd. I think they after the most handsome and amazing dogs.
What are they like to own though, are they hard to control and train? Springers are mental but are easy to train as they are so eager to please. GSD seem to me to have an air of I do what I want.
We have kids too, they are a bit older now. But in still a little unsure of having such a big powerful dog. If a Springer ever went Cujo I could take it in a fight.
ETA - we have always had rescue dogs. There is no way my wife would allow a puppy. We collect waifs and strays. 3 springers, 4 guinea pigs etc.
Edited by Scabutz on Thursday 22 November 22:11
GSD are generally lovely affectionate family dogs and if you go somewwhere like this to rescue you should have no problems
https://www.germanshepherdrescue.co.uk/
The Police use them as they are easily trainable and predictable, just be extra careful about adopting ex Police ones as they may well have been trained to attack in certain situations. In general all GSD will like to "patrol" at night and will be protective of both your home and you. This should not be an issue but beware. At Barking Mad we sort holidays for dogs and get lots of GSD holiday makers. I have a beautiful Amber GSD who is a regular traveller and is super sweet and nice with her holiday host families. Once though I made the mistake of opening the porch door on arrival to pick her up and she was between me and her "dad" and he did not have hold of her, she rushed forward and gave me a "warning" nip. I knew she was very protective of her dad when at home and should have waited until she was put in her place. Once she had been scolded for nipping me she was back to her affectionate welcoming self and was perfectly behaved with me and on her next two holidays. I add this cautionary tale as GSD will always Bark aggressively when visitors arrive and whilst most GSD will more likely lick you to death they are very protective and can bond too strongly with an individual.
https://www.germanshepherdrescue.co.uk/
The Police use them as they are easily trainable and predictable, just be extra careful about adopting ex Police ones as they may well have been trained to attack in certain situations. In general all GSD will like to "patrol" at night and will be protective of both your home and you. This should not be an issue but beware. At Barking Mad we sort holidays for dogs and get lots of GSD holiday makers. I have a beautiful Amber GSD who is a regular traveller and is super sweet and nice with her holiday host families. Once though I made the mistake of opening the porch door on arrival to pick her up and she was between me and her "dad" and he did not have hold of her, she rushed forward and gave me a "warning" nip. I knew she was very protective of her dad when at home and should have waited until she was put in her place. Once she had been scolded for nipping me she was back to her affectionate welcoming self and was perfectly behaved with me and on her next two holidays. I add this cautionary tale as GSD will always Bark aggressively when visitors arrive and whilst most GSD will more likely lick you to death they are very protective and can bond too strongly with an individual.
My parents have had GSD's since before I was born and they have had ones from pedigree breeders to rescue and not a single one of them have been anything other than loving and loyal.
I think the worst one did was rear onto his back legs and pin a bloke to the wall and lick his face in a loving greeting. Shocked the hell out the guy but there was no malice in what the dog did.
I've always found the perception of the breed to be totally wrong. Yes, you get the odd dog that has been mistreated and they can be a challenge but you get that in all breeds. They bark at the door and are great at alerting to people hanging around outside and we've found that one look at the dog and people leave, the dog only barks and that's enough of a deterant .
I think the worst one did was rear onto his back legs and pin a bloke to the wall and lick his face in a loving greeting. Shocked the hell out the guy but there was no malice in what the dog did.
I've always found the perception of the breed to be totally wrong. Yes, you get the odd dog that has been mistreated and they can be a challenge but you get that in all breeds. They bark at the door and are great at alerting to people hanging around outside and we've found that one look at the dog and people leave, the dog only barks and that's enough of a deterant .
solo2 said:
Yes, you get the odd dog that has been mistreated and they can be a challenge but you get that in all breeds. .
Yeah, our first springer had some serious issues. We were told she had been raised in a family with kids, but she had something wrong. Massive aggression problem, went for a Rottweiler at a dog show, went nuts when our first daughter was born. Proper challenging.With regard to GSD’s and kids our son is now 3.5 and we had our dog before he came along.
She had to adapt to a constantly developing little person but has never showed any sort of aggression towards him and they are very much best of friends now.
Ours can be strong willed but provided she is reminded of her place in the pack she never becomes difficult.
We are thinking about a second but my slight concern is that another dog won’t be as good as her, I don’t want to be without a GSD in the family for the foreseeable.
She had to adapt to a constantly developing little person but has never showed any sort of aggression towards him and they are very much best of friends now.
Ours can be strong willed but provided she is reminded of her place in the pack she never becomes difficult.
We are thinking about a second but my slight concern is that another dog won’t be as good as her, I don’t want to be without a GSD in the family for the foreseeable.
Both myself and my other half have had german shepards in our families, almost all of them have been great dogs.
We currently have a large male german/belgain shepard cross called scout, think size of a large german but with the longer double coat of one of the belgians! We got him as a rescue at 2 years old (must be approaching 8 now), and he has been the easiest, most loyal, well behaved dog i have met. Loves kids, great with other dogs, and other animals animals in the house. We have recently taken on a 6 month male yorkie, and as i write this scout is laid out on the floor with a hectic 6 month pup jumping all over him, all teeth and growls and the yorkie is covered in slobber, he loves it as much as the pup!
We currently have a large male german/belgain shepard cross called scout, think size of a large german but with the longer double coat of one of the belgians! We got him as a rescue at 2 years old (must be approaching 8 now), and he has been the easiest, most loyal, well behaved dog i have met. Loves kids, great with other dogs, and other animals animals in the house. We have recently taken on a 6 month male yorkie, and as i write this scout is laid out on the floor with a hectic 6 month pup jumping all over him, all teeth and growls and the yorkie is covered in slobber, he loves it as much as the pup!
Ours is an English lines GSD & because of the dedication of my wife, has been fully trained. That aside he is a great big 42 kg dog, and a great big softy!
He will though, look after the house & the family as it’s his natural instinct as a herder & guarding breed. He’s a great dog, & I would recommend. Just remember that you will need to put the time in training when they are young. You can’t let a breed like that have it’s own rules.
Question.
Which one do you think is the boss?
He will though, look after the house & the family as it’s his natural instinct as a herder & guarding breed. He’s a great dog, & I would recommend. Just remember that you will need to put the time in training when they are young. You can’t let a breed like that have it’s own rules.
Question.
Which one do you think is the boss?
I've had GSDs and Great Danes for the past 25 years. They are a wonderful combination because all you have to do is train the GSD and the Dane does whatever the GSD does because he sees there's a treat at the end of it. The main word that always comes to mind when describing GSDs is "willing" ... they always want to please. They do grow up fairly quickly tho 
I don't think i can add much to this thread other than i had a rescue GSD ,adopted him at 2 1/2 and he was just so attentive to both myself and my wife once he had settled in.
i think he felt he had to pay us back for changing his life for the better and was determined we should know just how much it meant to him.
God i miss you chester.
Op they are a super breed , you do need to set a structure for them though they feel much more secure if they are certain of their place in the pack firm, fair and consistent is the way to go.
i think he felt he had to pay us back for changing his life for the better and was determined we should know just how much it meant to him.
God i miss you chester.
Op they are a super breed , you do need to set a structure for them though they feel much more secure if they are certain of their place in the pack firm, fair and consistent is the way to go.
My wife and I have had four Labradors all from rescue homes over the last thirty years or so.
When we adopted our current Lab earlier this year we were very taken by one of GSD dogs that was also looking for a home. I still regret that we didn't have him as well. He was 9 years old and a lovely thing apart from one issue - he didn't like any other dog that he hadn't previously been carefully introduced to. He'd been in the kennels for some time and his age and his dislike of any new dog had meant that he had been waiting for his forever home for months. I was delighted to see him no longer appearing on their website, so I assume (hope) that someone has taken him home.
I'd suggest that you visit your local Dogs Trust - they were brilliant to deal with and they always seem to have plenty of GSDs that will melt your heart.
https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/rehoming/dogs/filters...
When we adopted our current Lab earlier this year we were very taken by one of GSD dogs that was also looking for a home. I still regret that we didn't have him as well. He was 9 years old and a lovely thing apart from one issue - he didn't like any other dog that he hadn't previously been carefully introduced to. He'd been in the kennels for some time and his age and his dislike of any new dog had meant that he had been waiting for his forever home for months. I was delighted to see him no longer appearing on their website, so I assume (hope) that someone has taken him home.
I'd suggest that you visit your local Dogs Trust - they were brilliant to deal with and they always seem to have plenty of GSDs that will melt your heart.
https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/rehoming/dogs/filters...
Edited by TR4man on Sunday 25th November 12:38
My folks have always had GSDs. They did once get a rescue, but he had serious behavioural issues which mum couldn’t cope with and he had to go back. Seemed to have problems with women - went berserk on a walk, being aggressive towards mum and only backed off when a passing bloke intervened. She wasn’t hurt, but it scared her. Who knows what rotten life he had been through and what some idiots had done to him. They have another rescue now, but their big dog days are behind them, he’s a sausage dog. He has a weird terror of aircraft going over.
I guess the point is that with a rescue you don’t know what weirdness you’re getting, so you have to be willing to deal with it. Phobic sausage dog easy to deal with. Aggressive full grown GSD somewhat more challenging. Definitely a great thing to do, but need to pay appropriate attention to safety of children, other pets, etc.
I guess the point is that with a rescue you don’t know what weirdness you’re getting, so you have to be willing to deal with it. Phobic sausage dog easy to deal with. Aggressive full grown GSD somewhat more challenging. Definitely a great thing to do, but need to pay appropriate attention to safety of children, other pets, etc.
citizensm1th said:
you do need to set a structure for them though they feel much more secure if they are certain of their place in the pack
A canine behaviourist once said to me, regarding GSDs, that they are like foot soldiers and all they need is for you to be their sergeant.red_slr said:
Personally I think taking a rescue GSD is a very big risk. Even more so if you have no idea what you are looking for. The chances of you ending up with something you cant control are much higher than if you got a puppy.
Many many years ago I might have thought the same, but I occasionally work with rescue GSDs and two of mine have been rescues and as a blanket statement the above could not be less true. Sure there are always bad eggs but that goes for any breed, and it's pretty easy to weed out the ones who either aren't suitable for rehoming or who need a particular, experienced home. Taking into account my reply to citizen smith above, the majority of rescue GSDs I've encountered simply couldn't be happier or more grateful for being placed into a decent home. Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff