Any German Shepherd Owners? Now With Pic...

[gaited horse]

I don't own a GSD but I really want to get my Mom another one one day.
CAn we see pics of the puppy? Please?

 

[cluckcluck42]

My dad has always had GSD and they have all been EXCELLENT dogs. You just have to start them off well, and make sure they know who is boss, and they end up being just the most wonderful dogs. I just inherited my dads GSD (he moved to a place with no yard) and he is a great guard dog as well as being gentle with the kitties. We just got our chickens yesterday, so not sure how he will react to them yet. The rooster crowing freaked him out, but he's sleeping like a baby now.

They are just the cutest puppies and turn into the most loyal dogs, with proper care. I really cannot say enough good things about this breed. I have only seen one bad GSD in my life and it was because of the dumb owner.

 

[DAFox]

My favorite breed! Currently have a 7 month old male and a GSD/lab 4 year old female. They are both incredibly intelligent and loyal. My mixed female will come when called no matter what the distraction, even chasing rabbits. My male needs alittle work though.
I've had 2 other fullbreed and one other GSD mix in my life. They are in my 2nd through 6th favorite dogs out of no less than 20 dogs that I've had since I was a kid. (A Dalmation is in the top spot. She helped me through puperty with lots of crying on her shoulder.)
Dale-Ann

 

[Shadowhills Farm]

I don't own one, but my fiance's mom does.....I absolutely dislike that dog! For one, she is black, so she's not all there...Two: she sheds A LOT! And then I'm the lucky one who gets to clean up the house. Three: Barks WAY TOO much, even at 2am in the morning, which causes the other dogs to bark! When I'm home alone, they are kicked out of the house for a while...


I just don't like her at all.... I'm not saying I don't like GSD, because I do, it's great to watch them on TV in the Police Force, but this GSD I just don't like at all!


My style of dog is a dog who loves to work on a farm (because this GSD does nothing except eat and sleep and crap/pee everywhere), so an Australian Shepard or Australian Cattle Dog...

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I don't understand this statement. IMO, it's an old wive's tail that color has anything to do with the intelligence of a GSD. Our Jax's sire is listed as a sable, but is mostly black. He is one of the most intelligent dogs I have ever known. If he wasn't, we wouldn't have requested another pup (due to be whelped tomorrow

) sired by him. Our request is for a dark sable or black pup.
Jax's sire and the breeders other male are used daily on their farm as herding dogs; which is after all the GSD's original purpose. Even the AKC lists them in the Herding class.

I've also known some highly intelligent solid white shepherds.

Sounds like your fiance's mom didn't put the time into training her GSD right. They wouldn't require an intense amount of training if it weren't for the fact that they are highly intelligent. They'll try to outsmart you at every turn. It's up to the owner to establish the relationship that works.

 

[Knight Hawk Ranch]

Color has nothing to do with the intelligence of a GSD. Breeding does and training.

If you buy from someone who only breeds for color, then yes, you can get a loopy, anitsocial, wacked out dog.

If you buy from a BREEDER who breeds for temperment and conformation, then you should get a great dog.

I prefer black GSD and sable is my next favorite color.
This is a sketch I did of my Sch 1, TT, black German Shepherd. A great dog, highly intellegent, and had a sense of humor.

I now own a grandson of his who is sable and acts a lot like him.

 

[3goodeggs]

SMART dogs. They can own you, our you can own them. You will quickly get out of them the effort you put into them. I had one that learned how to open doors buy pushing his nose between the door jam and the knob. He didn't much care for shutting the door behind him. Also there was never a gate latch that dog could not figure out how to work. Again, he never shut the gate behind him. My dad hated that dog. I thought he was a wonder.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Nice sketch! I agree it's all about breeding and training. I've got my fingers crossed

for a black pup from tomorrow's litter. If I get one, it'll be a happy accident as the breeder breeds for intelligence and obedience first and foremost.

 

[RhodeRunner]

I have a German Shepard, who was said to be part husky. He is a little smaller, but looks like a GSD. Anyway, he is a great dog, loving, and very obedient. He only went in to the bathroom in the house once (he was very young, and we had to give him electrolyte water), rarely has to be told something twice, and never needs tied, as he just stays in the yard. He is great with the chickens, and loves babysitting the chicks. At night when one of the hens doesn’t make it to the chicken house, he stays outside to keep watch. I don’t know what I would do without him. He also, has a great nose, and loves to find people. My mom took him to search and rescue practice, and he was great.

But, I did take him out a lot as a puppy. Wherever, we went he went. And I noticed that he was afraid of nearly anything. Shake a bag in his direction, and there was a puddle on the floor. And forget swimming, he thought he was going to die. It took a lot of work, and encouragement to get him where he is. It wasn’t because he was bad, or ignorant, he loves to please. It was because he was so afraid. And fear can cause an animal to do things we don’t want. I have heard that many GSD are fearful, not sure how true this is.

He did kill two chickens in his youth. One was an accident while he was rounding them up (following in our border collies habits) and the other wasn’t. After me yelling at him for killing my baby, and not being able to look, and pet him for a few days, he decided that he loved chickens.

I do believe there are bad dogs out there, but most of them just are victim to bad training. Spend time to raise your girl right, and you should have a great dog. I would say the most failing thing a person can do when raising a dog, is let them get away with not doing something, or punishing them for something incorrectly.

Example 1: Someone tells dog to sit. Dog doesn’t sit. Person just goes on with life. This is teaching the dog to ignore their request. Push that dogs but down, and say "this", pat on head.

Example 2: Someone tells dog to come. Dog doesn’t come at first. Tell dog to come again. Dog comes, and they smack it. I only smack my dog in this instance if I have to go get him, if he comes to me he is good, and gets pet. Also another example of this is if a puppy is chewing on your shoe, it is common to just yell at him. But, after yelling at him it is a good idea to find a toy that he can chew up, putting it in his mouth, and saying "this", so he learns that chewing isn't bad, as long as it is his toy. And make sure you let him know what toys are his. I did this by putting his toys on his blanket, and telling him that it was his.

Good luck,

 

[Amyable]

Quote:
Nope, color has nothing to do with anything. It's people's perceived notions about what color means (white=good, black=bad.)

This translates into black colored dogs in shelters being euthanized more than any other color. For this reason, I will be purposefully adopting black dogs the rest of my life. http://www.blackpearldogs.com/

If that dog does nothing but eat, sleep, and eliminate, that is one unfulfilled GSD (hence midnight barking.) She needs a job, lots of exercise, and some good training, and I bet she will blossom into a much better dog. Daily exercise cannot be overemphasized, especially for young dogs. Our guy is now 7, we've had him 5 years, and he is just slowing down now. We've owned some GSD's that didnt' know they were seniors until their final year (at 13).

The OP is getting some really good tips here. Still waiting for a pic!

Fishery, what a beautiful girl! I'm so sorry she's over the Bridge