Loved my Boxers. They were silly, but loyal guard dogs.
Now, we have a French bulldog.
I volunteer at a local humane society. The German Shepards we’ve had come thru our facility have been pretty uniformly lovely, sweet dogs. Several I’d have been happy to take home, if my cats would’ve let me.
I had two German shepherds, and I miss them both. Sweet as anything.
They shed like crazy too.
I love Labs but I would never have one as a house pet. Too much energy and they will eat your furniture when bored.
If you decide a Labrador Retriever is the right fit for you, labs are crazy.
Don’t know much about GSDs but wife and I have an atypical Belgian Malinois; incredibly protective, apprehensive around strangers until she gets to know them - then she’s a slobbering fool.
GS’s are prone to hip problems. A friend trains dogs and she got rid of her GS pretty quickly.
2 German Shepards and no one will ever mess with your property!
Only dog that ever bit me was a roommate’s doberman. I don’t like them and don’t trust them.
When I was growing up we had a really great female German Shepherd in our neighborhood. He name was Queenie. Her human family let her run free and Queenie was known far and wide around the neighborhood. She never let any bully dogs have their way, even protecting little kids from strays that seemed aggressive. She was the gentlest large dog I ever knew. She sought friendship always with everyone.
At one time no one had seen Queenie for some days and everyone was inquiring about her. By evening of the second day of a neighborhood hunt for her Queenie was found. She had apparently gotten pregnant and had made herself a small cave in a flower bed next to the front of a house. The whole neighborhood had been looking together than evening and showed up at the house Queenie was found. Without Queenie’s object a small guy was chosen to get far enough into the little case to rescue Queenie’s pups. Some one brought a kiddie pool lined with blankets where Queenie lie down as one by one her pups were brought out to her.
Although Queenie lived across the street from me, I could go out late and nite, lay on the driveway and just look at the stars. Queenie would invariably lay down next to me.
I think ALL dogs are aggressive or not based on their upbringing, not their breed.
I wish the visible excerpt had mentioned the breed.
I have a Doberman, French bulldog and two chihuahuas.
The frenchie is the most friendly dog I’ve ever had. The chi’s you have to give space to. I wouldn’t say they are aggressive but if they will snap if their personal space is violated by a stranger. The dobie works as a therapy dog through the local hospital. I take her through and she hangs out with staff and patients. I spent a lot of time with her as a puppy so she was raised well. They tested her temperament before she got in the program.
But I would avoid, and I avoid today, the bully breeds, aka the “pit bull”. I’ve seen too many things happen at dog parks and read way to many news stories. I look at them like sharks. Once they bite and reach that point of frenzy, they don’t let go. There is a difference in a dog bit and a bite from one of these things.
Title should be, “Vets Recommend Big Dogs for Committed Owners Only”
Hmpf. I have a Cavalier. I sleep in a cage because I fear she will rip my neck off in my sleep. She’s a viscous dog.
Is it a true statement that German Shepherds are rarely found in shelters?
I know people who volunteer at shelters, and of course, there’s lots of pitbulls (from the ghetto) and then a lot of small dogs
But they say they never see German Shepherds.
Same here. I'm 67, and I've been bitten hard twice in my life, and it was German Shepherds both times. Still love em though - very smart and usually sweet - until they're not....
My all time favorite dog is the American Shepard - sometimes called a mini Australian Shepard
same personality, just a bit smaller
I’ve owned 3 GSDs. The first 2 were in N.Z.- both friendly teddy bears. The 3rd was from E. German blood lines, and despite being taken to the local university as a puppy to socialize several times a week, he was fiercely protective, and could “smell” bad intent. He could be fine watching kids walk past, then suddenly one would trigger him. I had to totally stop walking him after puppyhood. I even worked with a pro trainer who had no problems, but when the dog was with me, no one was getting near me. He was wonderful security though with my husband flying overseas and gone extensively, leaving me alone with a child. I knew I’d have time to get the safety off my gun.
RE: hip dysplasia- my 2nd developed a bad limp. Our N.Z. vet told us to give him Green Lipped Mussel (proven to rebuild cartilage in dogs). Within a week the limp was gone. It’s fantastic for age related arthritis. My husband said he’d start to notice it when he stopped taking it. I take it daily and think it led to avoiding ACL surgery and allowing me to be able to dance at 67 despite a bad knee injuring from skydiving. The study in dogs was done in N.Z., and few heard about it for years in the U.S. as a breakthrough, which I blame Big Pharma for- mussels are a food that can’t be patented so no money for them.
The dog I wouldn’t own- a Mastiff, or any brachycephalic dog. I just reunited a foster with it’s family after a year of no sleep at night due to the loud snoring. It took a massive toll on life. There was no where in the house it couldn’t be heard. A year of cat naps it no way to live.