“one-person dogs that shepherds are. They are loyal to whichever family member they are with.”
Being a 1-person dog doesn’t mean there is no affinity for anyone else. I’ve never seen that to be the case with our Shepherds. My dogs tend to be devoted 1st to me, but attached to all the family they know. Likewise my sister’s. Ask my parents, husband or toddler as well as her family.
My best friend’s GSD gravitates to my husband whenever we go over there. That is because my husband will quietly scratch her neck under the table. I am 2nd choice for the same treatment. That’s because her own family is not allowed to pet her at the kitchen table.
Many cats are naturally therapeutic. And they’re not likely to turn and rip you limb from limb.
Two quotes on the same thread. Which is it? Are they devoted and then rip you limb from limb or the reverse?
A friend of mine had a Shepherd. It was a guard dog when it came to guarding a vehicle or firearms. Outside of that, it was the friendliest dog you’d ever meet. I made the mistake of sitting down in a recliner, and the dog jumped in my lap, knocked off my hat, and licked me to death.
Odin adores hubby but if I leave the room, hubby ceases to exist.
If the dog can follow, he will.
If the dog can’t follow, he’ll sit at/watch the door until I return.
Odin is My Dog.
;]
Second that. My sister-in-law owned a Schutzhund-trained Shepherd for protection. She was definitely his human of choice, but he loved all of us. He was such a sweet, good, precious dog....unless you happened to be a stranger, LOL.