German Shepards

Crann na Beatha · 02-02-2010 11:11pm #1

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TooManyDogs · 02-02-2010 11:34pm

Fab breed when they're brought up correctly. They needs tons of socialisation from the start so they're not nervous. They're one of the most loyal breeds going, can be very vocal so will happily sing and tell you exactly what they think.

Some shepherds now are being bred with bad hip dysplasia so be careful to check that if you're going to a breeders. To be honest there's so many beautiful GSDs in rescue you'll be spoilt for choice if you decide to adopt one.

YOURFACE! · 03-02-2010 1:46pm

They are incredible!!

They are so loyal, devoted, intelligent, hilarious and brave. As TooManyDogs said, they are so vocal you can practically have a full blown conversation with them. They only bark when they need to. They are so easy to train, they catch on so quickly.
They do need to be socialised from a young age, we took ours to DTI puppy socialisation classes and then from that to Obedience Training. Treated right, you won’t have a better friend.
I will never ever be without one.

Toulouse · 03-02-2010 2:26pm

Fantastic breed, I meet alot that come into rescue and they are always well behaved and clever dogs.

Magenta · 03-02-2010 2:27pm

The ones with the longer hair are the most beautiful I think.

CreedonsDogDayc · 03-02-2010 7:01pm

Absolutely love them! So inteligent!

lrushe · 03-02-2010 7:33pm

Thumbs up all the way for this breed. If you are going the breeder route try going for working rather than show bloodlines and don't forget to ask for those all inportant health checks.

IrishHomer · 03-02-2010 10:56pm

I have had dogs for over 30 yrs and last year only got my 1st GSD.

I totally agree with all the above posts amazing dog and wil never be without one for rest my life.

So loyal and intelligent. So easy to train too.

Morganna · 03-02-2010 11:29pm

Heres one of my boys

Morganna · 03-02-2010 11:30pm

one of my girls

Morganna · 03-02-2010 11:33pm

Morganna · 03-02-2010 11:37pm

They are a great breed Loyal ,intelligent .They need to be with you a lot..They are the best .Make sure both parents are hip scored though hip dysplasia isnt alaways hereditary .It can be caused by over exercise ,jumping in and out of motors .over feeding ,too much calcium all these are contributing factors at a young age .

Blogger50 · 03-02-2010 11:52pm

They are beauties Morganna!

I hadn't had much experience of German Shepherds except for my Dad having one when I was a kid. Almost three months ago I got my own

.

In those three months I have learned how intelligent, loyal and good natured this breed is. My girl is fantastic and picks things up so quickly. She is a joy to have around. Thank god I am home all the time because its true what you say, they want to be with you all the time! She follows me all over the house!

Heres a couple of pics of her. One on the day we brought her home at nine weeks and one on Christmas morning. She is five months old now.

If you dont mind Morganna I might PM you and pick your brains sometime! :pac:

tudlytops · 03-02-2010 11:56pm

My parents at one point had 15 of them.

Love them, best dog you can have, but be prepared they need training, attention and a lot of time if you to bring the best out of them.

quattroboy · 03-02-2010 11:58pm

Fabulous breed of dog.
Amazing personality, great with kids etc, and a serious guard dog to have on your side!
Totally agree with all of the above.
The can suffer from problems with the hind hips when they get older, good hip scoring can help reduce this.
Read up, there is lots of info out there.

TooManyDogs · 04-02-2010 12:21am

Here's my GSD x

Morganna · 04-02-2010 10:21am

my grandparents bred and trained them as did my parents and now its me.Used to show them in the 70s but stopped showing when thet brought in the roach backed type ,i ysed to judge them also.Worked them in obedience .Studied genetics and hereditary defects many moons ago.I just breed the old fashioned old english working line that are laid back and not hyper and that move soundly .They truely are a super breed and am privileged to be involved with them and to share my life with them.

Morganna · 04-02-2010 10:22am

Blogger50 wrote: »

They are beauties Morganna!

I hadn't had much experience of German Shepherds except for my Dad having one when I was a kid. Almost three months ago I got my own .

In those three months I have learned how intelligent, loyal and good natured this breed is. My girl is fantastic and picks things up so quickly. She is a joy to have around. Thank god I am home all the time because its true what you say, they want to be with you all the time! She follows me all over the house!

Heres a couple of pics of her. One on the day we brought her home at nine weeks and one on Christmas morning. She is five months old now.

If you dont mind Morganna I might PM you and pick your brains sometime! :pac:

lovely blogger and u may pm me anytime

Morganna · 04-02-2010 10:23am

TooManyDogs wrote: »

Here's my GSD x

Lovely what a mischievious face

Magenta · 04-02-2010 3:21pm

morganna le fey wrote: »

my grandparents bred and trained them as did my parents and now its me.Used to show them in the 70s but stopped showing when thet brought in the roach backed type ,i ysed to judge them also.Worked them in obedience .Studied genetics and hereditary defects many moons ago.I just breed the old fashioned old english working line that are laid back and not hyper and that move soundly .They truely are a super breed and am privileged to be involved with them and to share my life with them.

I really don't like the roach back types... it just looks wrong- as if the dog cannot straighten his hind legs.

TooManyDogs · 04-02-2010 3:41pm

Magenta wrote: »

I really don't like the roach back types... it just looks wrong- as if the dog cannot straighten his hind legs.

It's just so sad to see the sloped backs on the sheps now, and particularily knowing that most of them can't do the scaling, running and jumping they were bred for. I love a shep with a leg in each corner!!

Shammy · 04-02-2010 7:52pm

I love the shepherds heres my baby.

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Morganna · 04-02-2010 8:07pm

great pic Shammy

opti76 · 04-02-2010 9:17pm

shepherds are a fantastic dog.

dont think il ever be without one.

Savage Tyrant · 04-02-2010 11:51pm

morganna le fey wrote: »

Heres one of my boys

WOW... That is one fantastic looking dog you have there Morgana. The other 2 are gorgeous also, bit this one in particular is one of the nicest looking dogs i've seen. - Outside of Alaskan Malamutes of course as that's my breed. ;-)

TechnoPool · 05-02-2010 1:54am

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My fella, he's a bit bigger now doh!!

But they are great dogs, Zeus is great with all the kids that are around and they are fantastically clever and loyal.

now if he would just stop howling to wake me up in the morning for a walk it would be great!

Morganna · 05-02-2010 10:24pm

TooManyDogs · 05-02-2010 11:50pm

Morganna, I'm so jealous of your long-haired people, they're gorgeous!!!

I came across 'king shepherds' today, had never heard of them before, GSD's crossed with pyreniann mountain dogs, recognised breed in America I think. Told hubby I wanted one and he said 'no problem, just choose 5 out of our current 6 to do away with'. He's so mean!!

Morganna · 06-02-2010 3:44pm

Discodog · 07-02-2010 10:11pm

All we need now is to persuade our ignorant politicians to take them off the restricted breeds list. God knows who decided to put them on in the first place.

Nice to see that you have remained a sorceress Morgana !. Do you have a round table ?

Morganna · 07-02-2010 10:45pm

Well Peter once a sorcerrer always a sorcerrer when u coming for lunch .My round table is gone im afraid

I thought you had foresaken me altogether !

dontcallmecrazy · 10-02-2010 9:04pm

Love Love Love this breed and to be honest I was never that into them until I met my bf who is mad about them, so I bought him this little dude as a gift and now we're both besotted, would never be without one now, hes so loving and loyal and adores cuddles.

He's the love of my life, just dont tell my boyfriend!!

IrishHomer · 10-02-2010 10:53pm

dontcallmecrazy wrote: »

Love Love Love this breed and to be honest I was never that into them until I met my bf who is mad about them, so I bought him this little dude as a gift and now we're both besotted, would never be without one now, hes so loving and loyal and adores cuddles.

He's the love of my life, just dont tell my boyfriend!!

I feel same.

I never really fancied the GSDs and my partner wanted one so i went along and we got one last Christmas.

So now i am besotted by him and by the breed in general. Can't stop now admiring every one i see and i think they are by far the most intelligent dog and so easy to train and of course you get back what you put into them.

If you give them the time and attention they deserve you are guaranteed an incredible dog!

jakesgirl · 10-02-2010 11:11pm

They are wonderful! My husband and I have had our "little" girl for three years now (she's four) and we couldnt imagine life without her! She is so gentle and intelligent and is without a doubt the best dog I have ever owned (I have had many different breeds before--great danes, basset hounds, Old English sheepdogs, and mutts) She is my heart

terenc · 11-02-2010 11:59am

Great dogs ,very intelligent and loyal, brilliant with children but you have to spend plenty of time with them and train from an early age. (puppy play):)

Tony Sopranoe · 11-02-2010 4:42pm

Richard tea · 11-02-2010 5:50pm

He is My Rommel. He turned 3 last month.
I gave him a bone to chew on so that he would say cheese for the camera.

Blogger50 · 12-02-2010 12:27am

Richard tea wrote: »

He is My Rommel. He turned 3 last month.
I gave him a bone to chew on so that he would say cheese for the camera.

He is gorgeous!

Discodog · 12-02-2010 5:24pm

Can I suggest that all of you email the Greens & ask that GSD's are removed from the restricted breed list as part of the forthcoming changes to the Control of Dogs Act.

Joe Duffy was discussing dog attacks on cats & other dogs. A woman phoned in mentioning an "Alsation" . Duffy gave an intake of breath & implied that they were a dangerous breed. You GSD owners need to lobby & get back your breed's good name.

lrushe · 12-02-2010 9:47pm

Discodog wrote: »

Can I suggest that all of you email the Greens & ask that GSD's are removed from the restricted breed list as part of the forthcoming changes to the Control of Dogs Act.
QUOTE]

Personally I don't think there should be a Restricted Breed List at all, as we all know any dog is capable of biting.
A Restricted Owner List, now that's another story......!!!!!

Discodog · 12-02-2010 10:30pm

I believe that Switzerland are introducing a law where you have to attend a course before you can keep a pet.

I hate the way that the dog is always blamed & never the owner (I don't even like the term "owner"). Lets have a dog ownership test & license. Contract out the enforcement to a private company who can collect a €1000 on the spot fine with half of it going to animal rescues. If the collectors get the other half as an incentive, then there would be 100% enforcement.

Does anyone here know how or who drew up the "restricted" breeds list ?.

lrushe · 12-02-2010 10:36pm

Discodog wrote: »

Does anyone here know how or who drew up the "restricted" breeds list ?.

Probably some politician trying to get some 'fear' votes on the back of a recent dog bite story :rolleyes:

Discodog · 12-02-2010 10:41pm

I agree but even they were deluded enough to come up with a list why would you put GSD's on it. In some countries they are a popular choice as Guide Dogs !.

I have been reviewing all the Irish animal legislation & some of it is totally inexplicable. For example a Pound manager must be a "fit & proper person" !.

lrushe · 12-02-2010 11:01pm

Discodog wrote: »

I agree but even they were deluded enough to come up with a list why would you put GSD's on it. In some countries they are a popular choice as Guide Dogs !.

I have been reviewing all the Irish animal legislation & some of it is totally inexplicable. For example a Pound manager must be a "fit & proper person" !.

What I think usually happens is, with a dogs popularity comes the 'breeders' trying to make a quick buck on the back of the hype, this can lead to illness and in the wrong hands agression. The rise and fall of 'aggression' in particular dog breeds usually coincides with its popularity, so I would think that the GSD's popularity probably peaked around the time the list was being created and so they were black marked along with a few other random breeds. Like for example not many people would consider a St. Bernard to be a very agressive breed, yet in the early 80's when the film 'Cujo' was being made there were so many St. Bernards and St. Bernard related bite injuries that Stephen King thought it the obvious breed for the film!
I agree Irish Animal Legislation is so out dated it almost laughable in places, I watch alot of those Animal Planet programmes were animal inspectors have full police powers, what a great thing it would be to have that here!