GSDs
- Thread starter Ilovedogs56
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High energy. Lots of shedding. Lots of noise. Drive levels could be all over.
I have a high drive, high energy working / show line GSD who is not easily handled by anyone. I can't have a dog sitter watch him, friends and family *won't* watch him because they know they can't handle him. I have to board him if I need to go somewhere without him.
He screams in my face daily and draws blood from me weekly. I have a bite on my hand still recovering from January while we were at a competition.
That said, he's the most stable dog I've owned and I don't have to worry about him with kids, small animals, adults, at competitions, in public, with noise, off leash, wildlife, etc. He's the most loyal dog I've ever owned. Lots of toy and food drive.
What you get in a GSD is going to completely depend on the lines you get, and the breeder's program. My first GSD was a little nervy, had some bad reactivity problems and a little human aggression when he was younger. Lots of allergies, ok drive... Turned out to be a great family pet, but that was about it.
Do research wherever you're looking to get a GSD from, and make sure you meet some dogs and they are what you like.
I have a high drive, high energy working / show line GSD who is not easily handled by anyone. I can't have a dog sitter watch him, friends and family *won't* watch him because they know they can't handle him. I have to board him if I need to go somewhere without him.
He screams in my face daily and draws blood from me weekly. I have a bite on my hand still recovering from January while we were at a competition.
That said, he's the most stable dog I've owned and I don't have to worry about him with kids, small animals, adults, at competitions, in public, with noise, off leash, wildlife, etc. He's the most loyal dog I've ever owned. Lots of toy and food drive.
What you get in a GSD is going to completely depend on the lines you get, and the breeder's program. My first GSD was a little nervy, had some bad reactivity problems and a little human aggression when he was younger. Lots of allergies, ok drive... Turned out to be a great family pet, but that was about it.
Do research wherever you're looking to get a GSD from, and make sure you meet some dogs and they are what you like.
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I've known a few well bred GSDs that I've loved and a lot of not so well bred ones, some very sweet and mellow and some with nasty behavioral issues.
Lines vary a ton from pet to show bred to working and from euro and American lines. You could easily meet a dozen breeders who's dogs you can't stand and then hit one you love.
All in all - fairly drivey but not in the same way as a BC or even a Malinois IMO. Prone to anxiety, sometimes SSA, general DA seems more rare. Not many are going to be "dog park" dogs but most will have minimal reactivity if properly trained and socialized and can live with other animals. Some can't live easily with small animals and some can, that seems pretty hit or miss. Usually good with kids if you discount the unfortunately large unstable or mishandled population. A well bred or well raised GSD should be great with kids and even enjoy them.
Can be protective, territorial and are really in tune with their owners so without heavy socializing, if something makes you anxious, they might react. I kind of tend to not recommend them as much for owners with mental health issues, panic attacks and the like, or as psychiatric service dogs, because those situations can be stressful for them.
They are active dogs and need as much exercise as other working and herding breeds, but I think the requirements are something a typical active person can provide, whereas breeds like malinois and BCs and such I kind of think should be reserved for those extremely active families. The exercise needs seem pretty on par with an active lab or boxer or Aussie. This obviously depends on the line as well.
Lots of members here have them, so hopefully you'll get more in depth responses! My favorite GSDs have been police department wash outs and one German import. One of the wash outs was a working farm dog that ran coyotes off an Arizona property. They're a breed I'd love to own one day.
ETA: as with any popular breed, health isnt great. Prone to hip and I believe sometimes elbow dysplasia, eye problems, epilepsy, degenerative myolepathy. (I have no idea if I spelt that right). Good health testing is a must. I'm not sure on standard sizes but there's a huge range. Some females are as small as 45-50 lbs . Sometimes I see huge males and people bragging about their 100 lb shepherds, but even 85-90 lbs is a pretty big dog IMO. They're certainly around, though.
Lines vary a ton from pet to show bred to working and from euro and American lines. You could easily meet a dozen breeders who's dogs you can't stand and then hit one you love.
All in all - fairly drivey but not in the same way as a BC or even a Malinois IMO. Prone to anxiety, sometimes SSA, general DA seems more rare. Not many are going to be "dog park" dogs but most will have minimal reactivity if properly trained and socialized and can live with other animals. Some can't live easily with small animals and some can, that seems pretty hit or miss. Usually good with kids if you discount the unfortunately large unstable or mishandled population. A well bred or well raised GSD should be great with kids and even enjoy them.
Can be protective, territorial and are really in tune with their owners so without heavy socializing, if something makes you anxious, they might react. I kind of tend to not recommend them as much for owners with mental health issues, panic attacks and the like, or as psychiatric service dogs, because those situations can be stressful for them.
They are active dogs and need as much exercise as other working and herding breeds, but I think the requirements are something a typical active person can provide, whereas breeds like malinois and BCs and such I kind of think should be reserved for those extremely active families. The exercise needs seem pretty on par with an active lab or boxer or Aussie. This obviously depends on the line as well.
Lots of members here have them, so hopefully you'll get more in depth responses! My favorite GSDs have been police department wash outs and one German import. One of the wash outs was a working farm dog that ran coyotes off an Arizona property. They're a breed I'd love to own one day.
ETA: as with any popular breed, health isnt great. Prone to hip and I believe sometimes elbow dysplasia, eye problems, epilepsy, degenerative myolepathy. (I have no idea if I spelt that right). Good health testing is a must. I'm not sure on standard sizes but there's a huge range. Some females are as small as 45-50 lbs . Sometimes I see huge males and people bragging about their 100 lb shepherds, but even 85-90 lbs is a pretty big dog IMO. They're certainly around, though.
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My (working line!) GSD is the best dog ever, but I might be a little biased 
Health-wise, the obvious concern is hip dysplasia (and generally orthopedic issues). Make sure any breeder you get in touch with is aware of these issues and performs a battery of tests on their stock to minimize the occurrence of problems early in life.
Exercise needs...well we do an hour of hiking/running/play in the morning and two hours in the evening. That said, GSDs vary WIDELY in this arena. I built up Pippa's exercise tolerance because I wanted a dog that could do everything all the time. But a lot of these dogs are completely content with a 20-minute training session and two short walks every day. It depends on the lines (and even down to the individual dog).
Weight/height...again this really varies depending on where you get the dog from and what the parents are like. At 10 months, Pippa is right around 60 pounds soaking wet, and there is a male in her class (also 10 months) that is closer to 80.
Reactivity/HA/DA/SSA are absolutely not uncommon in the breed (in addition to high prey drive). It pays to do your homework and lots (LOTS) of socialization as early as you can. But as with any breed prone to these issues, it's also worth being prepared to crate and rotate, or manage issues as they come up.
Health-wise, the obvious concern is hip dysplasia (and generally orthopedic issues). Make sure any breeder you get in touch with is aware of these issues and performs a battery of tests on their stock to minimize the occurrence of problems early in life.
Exercise needs...well we do an hour of hiking/running/play in the morning and two hours in the evening. That said, GSDs vary WIDELY in this arena. I built up Pippa's exercise tolerance because I wanted a dog that could do everything all the time. But a lot of these dogs are completely content with a 20-minute training session and two short walks every day. It depends on the lines (and even down to the individual dog).
Weight/height...again this really varies depending on where you get the dog from and what the parents are like. At 10 months, Pippa is right around 60 pounds soaking wet, and there is a male in her class (also 10 months) that is closer to 80.
Reactivity/HA/DA/SSA are absolutely not uncommon in the breed (in addition to high prey drive). It pays to do your homework and lots (LOTS) of socialization as early as you can. But as with any breed prone to these issues, it's also worth being prepared to crate and rotate, or manage issues as they come up.