german shepherd dogs

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German Shepard’s are brilliant dogs very intelligent ours is a highly trained working dog

My father used to breed German Shepherds and the local joke was that I was the safest child in the area! They were all wonderful with me and for many years, my Dad had a picture of me aged around 2, fast asleep on the floor with my head on Major, his massive paws over me.
My father loved the breed because they loved to train, they enjoyed having a job!
As an aside, all of my life's been spent with and around dog's. GSD's, Staffies, etc, I have Rottweilers now and the only time I have ever been nipped was by a Corgi!

I've just remembered going 5 doors down to stroke the dog who lived there.

I would call him, and he would stand on his back legs at the gate.

I had to really stand on the tips of my toes to reach him, so I must have been pretty young.

He was a German shepherd. (my Nan lived next door but one with her horrible, vicious dog)

I have been bitten twice by dogs as a child, both were German shepherds. My daughter was also bitten by a neighbor's shepherd when she was 4. However we are both dog owners but wouldn't dream of having a one ourselves. I do understand that a well trained one is possible but I think that I am too wary of the breed.

German Shepherds were originally herding and guarding sheep dogs then they were bred for particular characteristics so herding, guarding, and as a family dog. So poor breeding will get you a dog with excessive guarding tendencies etc

I have never had one but would love one of my own

German shepherds are sheep dogs and like all sheep dogs they are happiest if they have a job to do. Not necessarily looking after sheep, they make good guard dogs, police dogs, seekers for cadavers or drugs, or people lying alive under piles of rubble after an earthquake.

They got a bad name in our childhood, when too many were in-bred as getting new stock from Germany was impossible during both world wars. The wars contributed to their bad name, as armies on both sides used dogs which like humans reacted badly to the stresses of wartime.

Another reason many people are scared of them is their superficial resemblance to wolves.

A well-trained German shepherd of reliable stock will be just as delightful a dog as any other, but like all large breeds they need something to do with their time. Two short walks and lazing on a rug all day, is not their thing.

I've just remembered a nice story - while talking to a child pre-assessment I asked her about her family, and did they have any pets?
"Yes" she said."We've got a dog"
"What kind of dog?"
"He's an Old Station dog". Took me awhile to work that out.

Another vote for German Sheps. Like Trisher, my parents had a GS when I was a baby (who used to sleep under my cot) and when my kids were young I had a GS (who didn't sleep under their cots) In another era of my life I had the good fortune to work with GSD's. Brought up well, GSD's are so disciplined and obedient. They do make excellent pets as well as working dogs but they have to have the correct training.

Like any breed you can get some bad apples but more often than not any problems lie with the owners who do not take the time and trouble to research and understand their breed of dog.

The poor old Staffie gets such a bad press thanks to a few terrible owners who train them to be aggressive or fight. They make wonderful companion dogs and are excellent with children. As every dog does they need a caring sensible owner.

I had one for 12 short years before he died. He was the love of my life and so very intelligent and loving. What a dog. He slept outside my bedroom door and never left my side.
He was always on a lead when out walking and was brought up with my GC, so patient and so knowing.

I never once saw another side to him but saying that I probably wouldn't have had control of him if anyone had ever broken in or attempted to-----then again I wouldn't have stopped him either.

Like all dogs how they have been raised and are they are treated daily will affect their temperament. I keep my 2 Lhasa Apso dogs on leads whilst out walking them and really wish others would do the same. They run free in our large garden.

DD1 was knocked over by a friendly GS when she was 20 months and has been terrified of all dogs ever since. Her DD my DGD was out picking brambles with us in woods few weeks ago. 2 ½ and not very happy around dogs. Medium size dog came bounding up to her - friendly but trying to sniff/lick her and she became hysterical. Owner elderly lady arrived - oh dog won't bite, just wants to sniff/make friends and instead of securing dog kept trying to talk to hysterical child about how friendly dog was. Meanwhile I am trying to lift screaming child without hissing "just remove the ...... dog now!" So now history has repeated itself and DGD now terrified of dogs. Seriously owner should have approached dog and removed it away with a quick "Sorry dog just trying to make friends" and exited.
Today out for walk near house on grassy patch with DGS2 age 18 months (no fear of anything!) who loves dog dogs and young lad nearby with GS not on lead. GS staring at DGS2 so picked toddler up and moved elsewhere as I just don't trust the dogs. Maybe I am wrong but have had to treat many adults with dog bites - some life changing - so I don't think I am wrong to be cautious. Not all were GS though - smaller dogs can be quite vicious too.

Would only ever have a German Shepherd! We had one, pedigree, and from a well known breeder when we were first married. Her great grandfather had been Crufts Supreme champion. She was the sweetest natured, most even tempered dog you could wish to find and when the babies came along she was exactly the same with them. She was a brilliant house dog for me when DH was working abroad on long trips, and would sleep in the bedroom next to me. Trusted her implicitly.

DD has a GSD now and she is so similar to our beloved Missy, and we have had her to stay several times when DD and husband were on holiday.

They were bred as sheep dogs, as the name, and if we went out on walks with the DC ours was never happier than rounding us all up, as they do with sheep. We used to play hide and seek, and hide behind trees, but she always knew if one of us was mssing, and came back to look for us to make sure she knew where we all were. It was a sad day when we had to take her to the vets, after 12 years of devotion.

Absolutely MawB! An 'uncertain disposition', what tosh!

Standing up for staffies!
They are not “those awful Staffie dogs” - loyal, gentle (yes!), the are reliable dogs and actually very good with children.
The dogs who give others a bad reputation are dogs whose own background and living conditions are dysfunctional. You could a easily find a vicious, snappy poodle, springer, border terrier , Jack Russell whatever. Do not confuse American pit bull terriers with Staffies or indeed dogs from good homes with owners who have trained them well with dogs bred or owned by dysfunctional humans to look and act in an aggressive way. ?

Beautiful dogs! Well trained and well exercised, they cant be beaten.
I agree with sodapop, trisher and phoenix

My cousin had a German Shepherd Dog when I was a child, my cousin was much older than me and is profoundly deaf. A group of louts attacked him at the railway station one day because he didn’t answer when they asked him the time, obviously he hadn’t heard them. A friend of his was a policeman and knew of a young German Shepherd that had proved too soft to work as a police dog despite training, and which therefore required a home. The friend was able to arrange for the dog to go to my cousin, and of course, he was never attacked again. I loved that dog, he was so soft, I used to cuddle and hug it whenever they came to visit. I was only a little girl at this time, but the dog was absolutely patient and placid.
I think it normally depends on how the dog has been raised, but obviously some dogs simply have a pleasant gentle nature, whatever the breed. To be honest, I’m far more afraid of those awful Staffie dogs, they do have an uncertain disposition.

I love GSD's as well. They were bred in the 19th century by crossing various herding and guarding breeds, if my memory serves. As with all dogs, the key is in the breeding and training. These are intelligent, powerful dogs with a strong guarding instinct. Anyone thinking of owing one should research and find a reputable breeder, health tested puppies and with good temperament back through the lines.
They make great police dogs and work with the military.
We've had them in our family and they've all been gentle, kind, clever dogs but they do guard. I always felt totally safe walking my GSD - people respect them.

I love GSs. They make excellent police dogs - obviously well trained and their handlers are devoted to them. Here's a pic of one with his puppy walker. Just gorgeous.

GSDs are fantastic dogs but they they do need training and exercise to be good family pets .
I agree with Trisher and phoenix all dogs need to be well treated, socialised, and know their place in the family hierarchy.

We were talkng about these dogs the other day. We had one when I was a baby. There are photos of me sitting in my pram with the dog sitting next to me and my hand is out holding its ear. The dog came from my dad's army unit. It was well trained and apparently would guard me and my pram if I was left outside a shop. I think you need to know the dog's background and training but then almost all dogs can behave badly if they are mistreated.

I’ve been bitten by a German Shepherd, when I was sixteen and doing the Christmas post.
At this particular house I could always hear the dog barking as I approached, and sometimes it would actually grab the letters, presumably with its teeth, as I put it through the letterbox.

One day it didn’t bark.

Instead, it sneaked round the side of the house and leaped up at me. I was terrified. It bit a hole in my anorak and penetrated the skin on my elbow which I’d raised to defend myself.

I’ve never wanted to keep a dog.

Many years ago a friend had one that was a "reject" from police training , as he wouldn't do the "stolen handbag" chase thing! (The dog seemed to think " you haven't bothered me or my handler, so what's the problem? ")

He was the most wonderful boy, calm, gentle and kind. I have photos of DS1 aged about 1 year cuddled up with him.

I've known snappy dogs of all breeds, spaniels, terriers, you name it!

Overall, I'm inclined to think it's not so much the breed, but the breeding, plus the way the puppies are handled and socialised.

I have been bitten just once in my life, when I was a child (I was walking home from Brownies, minding my own business, when it came racing out of the driveway of a of a house as I was passing), and that was a German Shepherd!