Posted on 02/26/2015 9:10:21 AM PST by Clint N. Suhks
That’s a Belgian Malinois, not a Shepherd. Often confused.
They are 1-person dogs, usually, but that is only a matter of their supreme allegiance.
My sister and I both have had GS, I females, she males. With all our family members, from elders to babies, they were totally trustworthy and more than tolerant, for many downright excitably affectionate with outside members visiting. Both my last girl and her first boy were excited enough to start barking within 1 mile of “grandma’s” house.
They can spread their affection, knowing who their whole pack is, while still simply showing most affection for 1.
I am quite positive the GS is the most popular dog ever, world-wide.
Consider that consolation.
My husband says his hometown area thought Labs were exotic rare breeds back in the ‘70s, unknown at the time. But everyone has known what a Shepherd is since the real Rin Tin Tin. And the breed was only about 20 years old. Check out any random culture or geographic show on TV and likely you’ll see a dog clearly half GS roaming the streets.
I cannot imagine the last time GS was out of the top 10 AKC. Not too many can say that.
They think it is a German Shepherd, that is why. People always avoid those of us with GS. Which is OK with me. I don’t mind the reputation, if it keeps the scum at bay. Better than dopey loving.
Someday people will probably know what a BelMal actually is and likewise avoid, because they know they are police dogs too. And think they are mean.
Nobody bodders me!
That reminds me of a time when I was walking my girl on the bike path, and these two elderly ladies said they thought that they had just walked past Rin Tin Tin :D
That really made my day.
But what really makes me so mad is that every single Westminster Dog show, the GSD is skipped over!
As soon as the GSD is not selected to advance, I stop watching.
I am extremely biased!
Thanks, I suspected that.
GS usually makes it in the Group 4 placings.
However, while I want to see the GS, I often spend the whole time complaining how bad the dog is. American show dog with long dopey muzzle, light stop, floppy ears, floppy legs, hocks too long and hitting the ground unnaturally, etc.
My husband cringes when Westminster comes on. “Ready to whine about your favorite dog again.”
I wish we could go back to real GS, before everyone ruined it. And I do mean, everyone. I seriously think the best GS are in BYB casual/accidental breeding now. There isn’t one “quality” line I think I care for, they all look deformed and unnatural. Well, maybe not Euro working, but they tend to be too sharp (and I think also allergy-prone like the others).
>Everywhere I turn these days, somebody is walking a pit bull. The local shelter is wall to wall with them.<
This is a list of the most popular (the most number of individual registrations) AKC breeds. UKC registers the Pit Bull Terrier.
>give me a mixed breed mut any time. The breeders are destroying the animals by breeding them for traits that are show quality but make the animals unhealthy genetically<
Mixed breeds are great, if that’s what you want. But, all “show bred” dogs are not unhealthy, neither physically nor genetically. My show champions have mostly lived to be over 16 years old. Two lived past their 18th birthday. Can the majority of mutt owners make the same claim? The vast majority of breeds have very small percentages of their populations which are bred by responsible, ethical, show breeders. Most are the result of “my friend, cousin, neighbor has the same breed, so let’s have puppies!” breeding.
Sure, some breeds have genetic problems. Cavalier King Charles spaniels come to mind. Bulldogs are prone to heat stroke because of their short faces, but it’s throughout the breed, not just the rather small percentage that end up in the show ring.
I agree with you as far as the champions of the breeds being healthy basically the ones with good pedigrees. but there is a big difference in a 3,000 dollar German Shepard from a good breeder and the 500 dollar German Sheppard on Craig’s list. me personally I am poor so I would rather rescue a mutt off the street pay the vet bills to get it back to being healthy then pay 500 dollars for a dog that might or might have genetic problems.
No joke. Wear your dog!
Mix some lambs wool with the GS fur and make yarn out of it. Then knit a scarf.
>there is a big difference in a 3,000 dollar German Shepard from a good breeder and the 500 dollar German Sheppard on Craig’s list. me personally I am poor so I would rather rescue a mutt off the street pay the vet bills to get it back to being healthy then pay 500 dollars for a dog that might or might have genetic problems.<
I have to say I agree with you on the above. I have done rescue in the past and I’ll probably do it again, at some point. We rescued a little black puppy a couple of years ago. He now lives with a great couple I’ve known for decades. He’s loved to pieces and will never be homeless again.
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