German Shepherds.

[GlassOnion]

Ok for my first dog of my own (IE not the family dogs) I plan to rescue/adopt a German Shepherd. Now, I've never owned a Shepherd and so the only stuff I have to go off of is what I see in the vet clinic I work in.

They typically seem to be aloof from other people. This is, I'm sure, because I'm not their master. But how do they respond to the master? I want a dog I can play with and that will have a high play drive (want to train for SAR) but also I love to play fetch and frisbee with my dogs. A shepherd will respond to that correct? I know they can do SAR but, honestly, I've never seen a shepherd just out playing catch in a park or anything (like a lab) and I can't think of any that I've played catch with myself on the weekends when I'm working kennels or volunteering at a shelter.

So are shepherds more of a protection dog vs a play with dog? I wouldn't think so, but they do seem to have that personality about them. But again, this is from the outside looking in. They definetely don't respond the same way, say, a lab does to someone who's not their master.

 

[BostonBanker]

One of my best friends has a German Shepherd (probably BYB bred, but one of the nicest looking shepherds I've seen around here!). She's a fetching machine, and since Meg never lasts as long playing fetch as I'd like her to, often "substitutes". I will say, she is pretty destructive with the fetching toys, and usually has a tennis ball crushed within a 20 minute fetch session.

 

[corgipower]

In general GSDs are very high drive - they'll play ball all day. They also tend to take their work pretty seriously. They are aloof with strangers, but not necessarily unfriendly with friendly strangers, and often instinctively protective of their owner and thier territory.

They bond pretty closely with their owner, and are very intelligent and very trainable.

There are GSDs that don't have the drive, so if that's something important to you, you want to evaluate the dog before getting it.

 

[maple]

Hi there,
I have two Shepherds and they are in most ways, very different from each other.
Kona picks people she likes, and has a full body wag and kiss dance that she gets into, but if she doesn't decide she luuuuuuuurves you, then you then she just ignores you. She is very alert -always hears things and sees things. She is also very pretty (ok, i might be a little biased!) but people always want to come up and pet her, which she tolerates, and like i said, everyone once in a while she decides she luuurves someone, and they get lots and lots of kisses
She's a good jogging partner, and the only time she ever growled at a person was some shady looking guy standing in a dark alleyway watching us coming towards him. He creeped me out a little too, but she actually growled quietly, and kept looking back after we passed him. Thats the only time she's ever reacted negatively towards another human....she's not a dogs dog though -meaning she doesn't really like other dogs, she has a few puppy pals that she goes bonkers for, but the rest she would rather just stay away from.
My other dog, Bosco, is all about playing....he's a very puppyish two year old, and has a great "its all about the fun" attitude. He is always bringing me stuff and dropping it at or on my feet. He'll try anything and is very food and toy motivated. He's also a big klutz, who knocks things over, bumps into things, cuts himself . . . i hope he outgrows that. He's always going a 100 mph or he's fast asleep, there isn't much of an in between.
Both dogs are always with me. Wherever I go in the house, i must never go alone. LOL!!
Its been four years since i've been alone in the bathroom. :lol-sign: and if I shut them out and lock the door then they lay on the floor outside, but not without making deep grunting/sighing noises so that I know how much i've displeased them -Bosco is the worst for this, but Kona does it as well

 

[Debi]

oh they LOVE to play. they take playing very seriously. with Hammie it's very different than when I play with my husky mix, Addie. she just wants to play. he wants to control the game. LOL he wants to outsmart me, it's really funny. so in some ways it isn't just a game of the usual fetch. (Addie can catch a fly ball like any pro, but Hammie wouldn't even try. I assume he thinks it too silly) he's more of a 'let's go for a run' kind of guy. and they are FAST. but...one thing they do is respond to their owner so well. Hammie is extremely attached to me, very loyal. you would adore the intelligence.

 

[bnwalker2]

I have a German Shepherd and he's the best dog I've ever had. I adopted him at 12 weeks old and he will be 6 years old in August. He is extremely intelligent and trainable. He is very bonded to me and follows me everywhere I go... like maple said, I haven't been to the bathroom alone in a very long time, LOL.

He is a very high drive dog, he will chase the tennis ball or toy all day if I'd let him. But because he has mild hip dysplasia, he can't play as long as he'd like. That's another very important thing, if you get your GSD from a breeder make sure that the parents have had all of their health checks, x-rays, etc. Thunder was a rescue dog, the "breeders" threw the puppies in the dumpster. Thunder's sister was completely crippled at 10 months old and had to have a full hip replacement. All of the puppies have dysplasia to different degrees.

Thunder used to have a problem with strangers. We did tons of socialization when he was a puppy but he's just always been un-trusting, I've chalked it up to him having been thrown in a dumpster. When I met John, Thunder didn't trust him at all, it took about a month before they became friends. John was the first person Thunder ever warmed up to. Now Thunder adores John. We started taking him with us to auctions and swap meets and other places where he could be exposed to more people. It really helped him and now he's pretty good about meeting new people. Now, if there's someone he won't warm up to, we trust his judgment that there's something not so nice about that person.

GSDs are really wonderful dogs and I will always have one!

 

[Renee750il]

GO, it's been my observation - since I've never lived with a female Shepherd, only males - that the males are MUCH more playful and the females are more business.

Kind of like most humans, lol.

And everything everyone else has said is true in my experience as well Bimmer's different, but that can be accounted for by the wolf blood; all of his differences are very wolf-like.

 

[release the hounds]

I have 3 shepherds and all will play longer and harder than any other dog I have ever owned or seen. Frisbees, balls, dock diving, etc it doesn't matter. But as others have said, you have to be careful where you get them from.

 

[Debi]

and they are such happy dogs. ok...mine is only happy with me. with you....probably not so much. Hammie isn't socialized. it's a MUST for everyone, but in my case we just don't live close to anyone. and it works for me...I kind of like that he won't like peeps venturing near me. as I said, tho, if you are around people...they MUST be extremely well socialized. Ham smiles for me on cue. seriously...how cute is that?! I also will never be without a GSD.

 

[milos_mommy]

The shepherds i've known have been playful dogs. Really really great dogs.

 

[DanL]

I'll agree with everything said so far. GSDs are completely loyal to their master and family, are wary of strangers and aloof. My GSD loves to play and will go as long as I'm willing.

One thing about doing a rescue- try and find out why it's there if you can, because many GSDs don't come from good breedings and have physical or mental issues that cause people to give them up. On the other hand,you can find a great GSD in rescue- a high drive, motivated dog that was simply too much for someone to handle. Many people get GSDs and have no idea what they are in for regarding energy and training needs. A GSD is a smart dog, and a smart dog with no training or outlet for it's energy will often make it's own outlet, which usually involves destruction of property or other things people dislike.

 

[maple]

GO, it's been my observation - since I've never lived with a female Shepherd, only males - that the males are MUCH more playful and the females are more business.

LOL! So true! Bosco, my male, lacks a certain dignity that my female has. She seems much more serious....more serious about investigating noises, chasing squirrels, going on walks...everything she does she just seems more intent to do it 'properly'

Bosco also took a while to really warm up to my hubby...he wasn't really afraid of him, but he didn't seem interested in him at all. We got him as a rescue when he was about a year old, so we don't know his background. He's a total mama's boy and gets upset (huffing and barking) when he can't be near me. Kona is totally in charge of him, and if she's lying in a door way and he's on the other side and wants in where i am, he won't dare step over her, he huffs at me, and barks at her, but he won't step over her. She doesn't even have to make a noise, she just opens one eye and gives him a look.
He also barks at me when she takes his favourite toy away from him :lol-sign:

ooooh, but the hair. the shedding. wow. its unreal -well, its a particularly bad time of year, but man-oh-man....i sweep every day and every day it looks like i haven't swept in a month. :yikes:

I don't know how far in the future you'd be looking, but if you want the name of some rescues, let me know, I have some good friends who are very involved in GSD rescue.

 

[zoran]

Have had shepherds for over 30 yrs and all mine were more than happy to spend the day playing. They werre great with the kids and would chase frisbees and tennis balls all day if someone was willing to throw them. They loved swimming and fetching things thrown in the water also. I'd say as long as you can get some background info on the dog they make fantastic pets. Just make sure the dog wasn't dropped off because of aggressiveness or other bad or dangerous habits.

 

[Debi]

oh yes.........THE SHEDDING. when Addie gets brushed a millions times, that husky fur is finally at bay. Ham..........oh count on it forevahhhhh. it gets better in summer, but it is always there. it's better on quality food, but don't kid yourself....it isn't ever gone completely.

 

[GlassOnion]

Oh I'm used to the shedding. We have a Golden Retriever/German Shepherd mix and the hair she can put out is truly astounding. Sometimes I feel as if other dogs are sneaking into our house and just chilling out while we're gone.

I don't know how far in the future you'd be looking, but if you want the name of some rescues, let me know, I have some good friends who are very involved in GSD rescue.

Sure, shoot me some websites or something. It'll be a while (probably a year unfortunately) until I'm able to get my own. I was just checking for people's experiences.

 

[DanL]

germanshepherds.com is a great resource...

 

[Laurelin]

Oh I'm used to the shedding. We have a Golden Retriever/German Shepherd mix and the hair she can put out is truly astounding. Sometimes I feel as if other dogs are sneaking into our house and just chilling out while we're gone.



Sure, shoot me some websites or something. It'll be a while (probably a year unfortunately) until I'm able to get my own. I was just checking for people's experiences.

You have a GSD/Golden!? I want to see pictures. My first dog ever was a GSD/Golden. Great animal. He was really amazing. I'd love to have another shepherd or shepherd mix one day.

 

[Romy]

Everybody else pretty much covered it. I will add one thing about playing/play drive.

When we fostered, we found that some dogs simply didn't know how to play because they had never seen a toy before. With Tengu (foster GSD) we had to teach her how to use a kong, nylabone, balls, etc. She was kind of indifferent until one day it sort of clicked. After that she liked toys, but didn't go nuts for them. We spent another month or so building play drive with her (tug of war is perfect for this) and it had a HUGE effect on her play drives. She would do anything for her toys to the point where we could use them as a training reward. It's the same thing with a young puppy, you can really work on building play drive and get them to be just rabid for their ball, Bad Cuz, tug rope, or whatever they like. That is the kind of drive you want in a SAR dog, or a drug detection dog, etc. and sometimes it takes a little bit of work to build up.

 

[GlassOnion]

You have a GSD/Golden!? I want to see pictures. My first dog ever was a GSD/Golden. Great animal. He was really amazing. I'd love to have another shepherd or shepherd mix one day.

She has the coloration of a Golden but the ears, head, and stance of a shepherd (but no HD! Whoo). Also on her tail she has one large black spot on the top which takes up about 3/4 of her dorsal tail coloration. The bottom is solid golden. I remember her having more black coloration when she was a puppy but it changed over the years. Her personality is the best of both worlds. Very defensive about her territory but warms up quickly to strangers as long as her master(s) are being nice to them.

We adopted her from the pound and we were looking in the puppy tubs (they just kind of threw them all in together in this tile enclosure thing. They don't do that any more though for obvious reasons) and we couldn't decide which one we wanted as, well, there's a ton of puppies, you want them all. But we kept coming back to her and every time we went to look at another set of puppies you could look back and her nose was peeking over the edge and she'd whine until we picked her up again, so we figured she was the one.

She's a really awesome dog. Never really was a big fan of catch (or, rather, 'return'. She'd chase a ball down but had a lot more fun playing 'keep away' at that point) but loved swimming, running, going out in the boat, going for walks, etc. Unfortunately she's getting up in the years now (15) and can barely make it around the block any more. Can get around the house fine just doesn't have the endurance she used to.

But she's very protective. We have a 90 pound lab who's just mellow as can be. He rarely barks at anything (but when he does you know somethings wrong) but she barks at anything that even gets near her territory. People walking down the street? She stands on the sofa so she can look out the window and let us know "hey, there's weird people out there!" If a robber ever broke in he'd have to worry more about her 50ish pound self than the 90 pounder.

And this isn't the most flattering picture either but one of the few I have. I need to get more next time I'm home because, as I said, she's old...

I never really got to take any of her as a puppy either because I was a lot younger and didn't get the whole 'technology' thing at that point (plus no digital cameras lol).

Oh and yes the hair between her paws does get clipped, it just grows back so quickly if you don't watch for it it'll be back before you realize it.

 

[Laurelin]

Daww. what a cutie! I actually grew up with a GSD/Golden and a black lab (field bred). Our GSD x was the runt and headed off to the pound. we ended up getting him for free.

He was so protective as well and such a good boy. They had what looked to be a clone of his (though with a snownose) at the Brazos animal shelter the other day back when I hadn't gotten Summer. If the apartment would have allowed, I might've just snatched him up.

Unfortunately Shack, our GSD x ended up with lots of hip problems. He managed to make it to the ripe old age of 12, though. Could've made it longer but he'd had two hip surgeries and just couldn't walk anymore. He's the reason I love dogs so much.