German Shepard as a Companion/Guard Dog

Forums

I was thinking of getting a German Shepard as a companion Guard Dog. My elderly father is alone for a few hours everyday and lately I was thinking of getting the German Shepard. We always had dogs of the good old mutt variety and never had a G.S. I want the pros and cons of having the G.S. One other question is do they have to be trained as a guard dog? Thanking you in advance
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Sigma Force

Is your dad a bit frail if so a larger dog might be hard for him to manage, you would be suprised how loud a smaller dog can be. Something like a terrier cross will sometimes bark if there's someone at the door etc. ie if you are looking more into a dog to deter people.

You can probably get trained gsds but they would be expensive and would need a strong handler.

Also eircom I think do that pendant thing which if something happened he would just press the button for the emergency services etc.

Forums

I live with my dad but while I am away at work I worry. He does not like to lock the door and as anyone around old people would say they have their own little ways. My dad was always great with dogs and they were always so loyal to him.He can walk about with a cane and is of sound mind(for want of better words) This would be for me and him as having such a dog as a German Shepard would give me peace of mind. I think that the G.Sh has such a presence that that alone would deter any messing. The thing is what do I need to look out for if I purchase one. I am only at the thinking about it stage yet

Vas_Guy

good breeding is the main thing, the dog comes from a good temperment and the parents have been hip scored.

they need plenty of mental stimulation

you can buy older dogs which are obediance trained that would save you the puppy stage and the house training, etc and the dog should be settled and mature

IIMII

I had one for a while that I came across abandoned. Never really had much dealings with one before. He was huge and could look in through the Kitchen window over the sink when standing on his hind paws! When walking he didn't bother with the other dogs and wanted to walk alongside me rather than run ahead sniffing etc. I don't know if that was down to training but he was an absolutely brilliant dog and I was very sad to have to rehouse him. One thing I couldn't get over though was how much space he took up in the house - he was like a small horse! Very, very loyal though and unlike a lab I had recently for a while, was not prone to wandering

Ruby Soho

I think the thing that I would be most concerned about is whether or not your father would be able to physically restrain the dog if he needed to. A trained guard dog might not differentiate between friend and foe, and if it came down to it, he may have to be restrained or physically held back if he perceived the intruder, friendly or not, to be a threat to your father.
GSD's are a very powerful breed, usually weighing in at about 35-40kg, but can be a lot bigger. I think the very presence of an alert dog is enough of a deterant to most people, I think in this case, bigger is not necessarily better.

Dave147

Our nextdoor neighbours had a gorgeous GS crossed with a sheepdog called Moses, he was absolutely handsome and he never strayed. They now have two more pure bred GS' and they are happy to stay at home every day never go off wandering, I have a labrador and whenever I walk him, he refuses to come in home because he wants to go off with other dogs. I don't know much about them, but their temperament seems very good from what I've seen.

They're also an absolutely beautiful animal. Nearly as nice as my golden lab :P

TechnoPool

Ive a 6mth old GSD now.


Pro's and cons with him Ive found.

He's extremely Loyal when around other dogs and likes to be the 'alpha male' when he comes into contact with other dogs out walking and that. There very intelligent, my Grandad is in my house quite a bit and the dog loves him, but when he's in a playful mood its too much for him as he's very powerful even for a little fella.

He needs alot of exercise and the mental stimulation can come into it aswell luckily when im working ive no shartage of people to bring him out. But he can get a bit hyper if he dosent get enough excersise!

His temperament is great as i was able to see in the parents also, but he's gonna be huge. If he's just gonna be a Guarddog and not get a ton of regular exercise it wouldnt be fair on this type of dog in my view.

Forums

wow thanks already,this is what I am looking for.What kinda stuff I need for the the mental stimulation is it walking and exercise. I live in the country and its most important that a dog does not stray. The breeding, how is the best way of finding out about breeding. The most worrying aspect of this is if the dog did not differentiate between friend and foe would he bite or corner someone. I saw a lot of GShs in pubs and they seemed to be docile around strangers. One more thing is would they have to be trained professionally I used to be very easy(it was all fun and games) on the mutts we used to have but would I have to be more disciplined with the GShs. This is the beginning of my quest

Morganna

Vas_Guy wrote: »

good breeding is the main thing, the dog comes from a good temperment and the parents have been hip scored.

they need plenty of mental stimulation

you can buy older dogs which are obediance trained that would save you the puppy stage and the house training, etc and the dog should be settled and mature

Even though both parents may be hip scored it doesnt stop the offspring developing hip dysplasia.two examples are in the uk both with excellent hips yet there progency are scoring 30s and over which is very bad ,Hip dyspalsia may be caused by to much exercise bad feeding and even pedigrees with dogs with great hips the odd ones pop up with bad hips

Morganna

They need to be with you and also need basic training also if your father is frail what happens if an exuberant pup or youngster knocks him off his feet Having said that i have five and wouldnt be without them .Though i wont touch the german show lines as they have bad movement .

Call me Socket

Imo, you don't need to have the GSD trained to guard. They have the guarding instinct in them, so they will alert their owners if there's a visitor. It's very important that the dog/pup is really well socialised with men & women of various ages, with and without hair/beards, hats.... children, kids wearing facemasks, other dogs of different breeds and sizes, traffic, high populated areas like the outside of a busy shop...it all contributes to a well balanced dog who won't freak out when a ballon bursts, when fireworks go off, or you have a lot of people in the house. I brought my GSD pup (now 7 months) to a bus stop to get her used to the loud air brakes and suspension of trucks and lorries that would pass us when I have her out walking.

Mental stimulation- you can get dogtoys that are specifically designed to challenge a dog's mind... and even a kong filled with treats can keep them busy for a while. The GSD was originally bred to herd, so they are a working dog and are much happier having a job to do, even if it's fetching a ball, or bringing the post.

Neala is incredibly strong for a 7 month old- she was easy to obedience train, toilet train (mastered in one week) and lead train, but it all does take patience, consistency and committment. So, I would agree with what someone else suggested above about getting an adult. You're caught between a rock and a hard place though because an adult GSD may have had learned bad habits and not been socialised enough, but a pup will require a fair amount of dedication while it matures. And if you're out at work, will your dad be able to give the GSD what it needs in terms of stimulation, exercise and leadership?

A dog differentiates between friend and foe by following his owner's lead....so your dad will have to be the alpha- if he lets someone into the house then a well raised GSD will not corner them, but he might if he picks up your dad's feelings of fear around that person.

My advice would be to source a reputable breeder who gives the pups the very best start in their lives. If you get an adult, try to find a well taken care of one from a reputable breeder that has been retired from breeding.
In this instance, I wouldn't get a rescue. You need to know the history of the GSD's life and be able to rely on them to be predictable.

I hope some of that was of help....

spiderdog

great choice of dog:D
but i agree in being very careful who you buy from......a gsd should be confident and affable, they are a one person dog and like to be with you all the time but def need to have mental stimulation etc and lots of socialising.
agree as well in not seeing the need to train to protect, they do it by instinct.
my old girl is nearly 13 and is a very sound, non barker and loves everyone........however i know i can rely on her if needed and to be honest, just the look of a gsd makes people think twice (even though shes a sweetheart)
my danes on the other hand are fantastic watchdogs but not for the fainthearted lol:p
what part of the country are you in? id def go to someone whose recomended in this instance.

Vas_Guy

Morganna wrote: »

Even though both parents may be hip scored it doesnt stop the offspring developing hip dysplasia.two examples are in the uk both with excellent hips yet there progency are scoring 30s and over which is very bad ,Hip dyspalsia may be caused by to much exercise bad feeding and even pedigrees with dogs with great hips the odd ones pop up with bad hips

this is true 25% of hip dysplasia is genetic

Forums

again thanks all for the info, I live in the west how do I get about finding out who is a reputable or a honest breeder. Never bought a dog before and as in the postings here there is a great importance on reputable breeder. I am getting excited about the chance of having a German Shepard so hopefully everything will work out

TechnoPool

i got mine from a fantastic breeder along the kildare/west meath area.

Very nice man, excellent set up and has no problem letting you look around for a fair bit and happy to answer any questions you may have.

Pic's of my fella are in the Pic thread.


SUre pm me if you would like the number or have any q's.

helimachoptor

From my own point of view I've had my GSD for 8 years. Massive dog eats like a horse, but in ways still like a puppy he's very playful but is intelligent enough to know not to jump on people who can't take it. Brought him to visit my GFs grand who has MS and he just sat there and lay at her feet. Yes when he cousins come over he's running around with them.

He lives with me,my Gf and her sister. The Gfs sister is a student so he would be wandering about the house most of the day and she would usually walk him too. They need to be active both physicall and mentally, the clown can open the press to get his won food and is able to turn on the outside tap for water, but has yet to be able to turn the thing off!

He is my dog, if they are feeding him and I call him he will come to me. If he is jumping about the kitchen or sniffing for food If i tell him to stop he will, not so much for the others.

While out walking a few years ago, I came to a laneway late at night that was boomerang shaped a few lad son either side and they made it known that the next person to walk through would be mugged, so I called the dog, trust me seeing a massive GSD running at you will make you s**t your pants, he got in front of me and stopped at one of the chaps, not even aggressive just stayed there looking at him with they guy saying eh was only messing mister.

Similar thing happened on Killiney Hill one night, was jogging up the steps as I used to do quite a bit and 2 guys hoped out of the bushes in front of called the dog.. problem solved

He is friendly with other dogs but a few years ago we were attacked by a pitbull and he went hell for leather into it and thankfully I managed to get the pitbull away before it was seriously injured.

Honestly I could never see myself with any other type of dog, they are big, loyal, but they can be aggressive and proper socialising is needed.

Forums

one other question do they have to be neutered/spade? or would this change their personality

helimachoptor

Forums wrote: »

one other question do they have to be neutered/spade? or would this change their personality

Personally I have never done it to any of my dogs. When they are out walkign they are under control but I've always had male dogs and not ones that can come home preggers

blueheide

I have 2 German Shepherd's (regsitered thoroughbreds) - 1 male and 1 female. They are FANTASTIC. So loyal, yet affectionate. I wouldnt dream of getting any other type of dog. They really are amazing. I have found there are NO cons to these dogs. They are perfect all-rounders. Both of my parents are elderly and my GSD's are so gentle yet protective of them.

When I go on holidays i leave them with my parents and my parents (both in their 70's) absolutley love them and dont want to give them back to me. My mother is now getting one for herself. Just google registered/thoroughbred German Shepherds and loads of info comes up on where there are reputable breeders.

I guarantee you wont regret getting a GSD. They are superb.

boomerang

I think there's a misconception out there that German Shepherds make natural guard dogs. In my experience, they don't. Most of the German Shepherds I know are just lovable, goofy clowns who'd lick an intruder rather than grab them by the ankle!

Over the years more than a few people have brought GSDs to our rescue because they were bought with the intention of being guard dogs, but they were too soft, friendly, and most importantly - they didn't bark. GSDs are not great barkers.

In my opinion, your dad doesn't need a guard dog. All he needs is a watch dog - something that will bark if a stranger comes on the property. Any little terrier will do that.

Please don't go about buying a GSD unless you really read up on them first. They are so intelligent and so active, any GSD would be depressed just hanging around the house with nothing to do and no one to take them on interesting walks or make them use their brains. They are very slow to mature and even at twelve months or even two years old they're still very much puppy-like in nature - except by that time they are 35kg or more! They're a big, strong, physical dog. If they're untrained and pull on the lead they'll easily knock you off your feet!

Maybe you should visit a few dog shows or visit a few rescue shelters to actually handle some adult GSDs with your dad before you make your final decision on whether this is the right breed for you.

liah

boomerang wrote: »

GSDs are not great barkers.

I have a purebred GSD back home who would (very vocally) argue that point!

I've had GSDs my entire life. They are fantastic animals, great pets, and in my opinion do make good guard dogs.

Back home we live out in the country with miles of nothing but unfenced flat for them to run around in (we have 1 shep, 1 shep x and 1 burmese mountain at the moment) so they get plenty of exercise, all we really have to do is walk outside and they go off on their merry way. Never had to leash them unless we had them in town for whatever reason-- despite not ever giving them formal leash training, they would still stick close to us.

If you live in the country exercise shouldn't be an issue, though it'd probably be easier if there were two dogs, but still. They're fantastic off-leash dogs, every single one of ours picked it up innately not to leave the property or go anywhere without one of us. This, imo, is a great deterrent-- great big GSD wandering around without a fence is definitely going to make a possible criminal think twice!

Ours talk. A lot. I don't just mean barking, I mean the grumbles. They're fantastic company, can have full conversations with them if you really want to. But our one is a bit of an incessant barker-- she's going a bit senile, and my mother sort of encourages it, but she's always been barky when she hears knocks.

Ours are great big friendly dopes but I can guarantee you if any human threatened one of us they'd turn on a dime. They even get a little edgy (they don't do anything, but they "watch") if you have physical contact with someone they don't know. They definitely understand intent.

I can't recommend a shep enough but I'm highly biassed.

boomerang

I think we need to clarify the distinction between a guard dog, and a watch dog.

Generally speaking, when someone uses the term "guard dog" they mean a dog that they have paid a trainer to deter intruders. We often see "guard dogs" patrolling vacant commercial premises.

If you have a "guard dog" in your home or on your property - and it bites someone - you are going to be in big trouble. Never mind that the person came onto your property uninvited - you can still be sued for damages.

Unfortunately German Shepherds are on the Restricted Breeds list. This means that if they are off your private property, they must be kept on a short lead and they must be muzzled.

If you don't have an enclosed garden, then you definitely shouldn't have a German Shepherd. They are a herding breed and will take themselves off on rambles if given the opportunity! (I know there always exceptions Liah and your guys don't leave, but I know plenty who do!)

On the other hand, a "watch dog" is simply a family pet that brings with it the added bonus of barking very noisily when someone walks past your house, or comes to the door, or is sniffing around (no pun intended!). Terriers are exceptionally good at this of course. I would be far more wary of walking into a garden where there is a barking, snarling Jack Russell, than I would walking into a garden where there's a quiet ol' softie of a GSD sitting on the doorstep. I don't think GSDs are that much of a deterrent, but maybe that's because I know the breed so well.