Thinking Of Getting A Black German Shepherd

[LisaLQ]

Like I said in my last post, perfect definition of the breed is more than just show quality. Show quality is based on looks - perfect example of the breed is based on looks, health and temperament - temperament being most important.

Forget about the ads for show quality dogs - get in touch with the breed club and find the most reputable breeders available - even if it means travelling and paying more. Finding a good breeder is the most important part of your search for a good quality dog - if you dont look, dont travel, and dont want to wait on a waiting list - you'll only end up with second best. And if it's your first dog, or first time with a GSD, second best isn't good enough.

If none of those things matter to you though - and you dont mind taking on an unknown and have no intention of breeding or showing, then why not go to a rescue? Thousands of GSDs, or black GSD looking crosses out there needing homes. Even pups. Not all rescue dogs have problems, most are abadoned or given up for reasons beyond their control - ie. not their fault. Many will be hand ins, much loved pets that the owners just cant keep for one reason or another. If breeding isn't important, and you just want a pet - I'd go for a rescue definitely. But go to a good rescue who evaluate their dogs properly, so you get the right match for your family

 

[nukeonekitty]

I would love to rescue! I will keep my eyes peeled on rescue teams. The dog will only be exposed to me and my girlfriend, but it will get A LOT of contact with different people, dogs and fish haha.

 

[catxx]

, this poor old dog had 4 toddlers hanging off her! complete big softey! would let us climb all over her, pull her ears, pester her. wasn't bothered at all!

And this is a prime example of why dogs end up biting children.
I get really annoyed when people boast about how much abuse from children, their dog is made to accept. This is totally unacceptable and one of the reasons many rescues are very wary of rehoming dogs to people with small children . To expect any dog to submit to being climbed on, having ears pulled and pester it is simply not right at all. The one day the poor dog feels unwell and is not allowed to get peace, or gets a finger poked in an eye or hurt, then turns and growls or snaps at it's tormenters, is the day the dog gets labelled savage and put to sleep, when the real fault lay with parents who didn't teach their children to respect the animal and allowed them to torment it.

When I bred, I would not allow my pups to go to people with kids under 6 years old, and then only after metting them all and seeing how the kids and parents acted with my dogs. Any sign of them not respecting the animal as a living creature and they went off with no pup.
Kids should not be allowed to sit on dogs, nor pull them about, any more than they should be allowed to bang on fish tanks to watch the fish jump away scared.

woah there tiger. one this was the early 80s. two, i doubt we were that bad (i don't remember, i was 2, all i got is photos). three, jade never showed an ounce of aggression and we all grew up to respect animals. i do not encourage kids to molest animals!

 

[Canis-Equus]

I would make 110% sure you want a shepherd because of its inherent shepherdyness, and NOT because of the way it looks.

Theres nothing wrong in falling for a breed for their looks but you MUST be sure you can deal with the personality as well. Go and meet some shepherd breeders and owners and spend TIME wiht their dogs, walk their dogs, ask to have a go at training with their dogs.

Sometimes the reality doesnt match up to the fantasy im afraid.

I once spent three weeks looking after a pair of shepherds and whilst i LOVE the look of the breed and i love them when they are well trained and responsibly owned, right now they are not the dog for me, although when im older, maybe they will be. Right now, i couldnt cope.

Em

 

[Breeze7050]

Well said Canis.
Nuke - if you are interested in rescues, do a google search there are quite a few in the Michigan/Indiana/Ohio area. You may not be matched with a puppy, but they are all UTD on vaccines, spayed/neutered, ect. Remember these rescues will do a house visit and many require a fenced in backyard.
And take Canis' advice. Find some people who have shepherds spend a day with there dog. Even go to the humane society (another great place to look for shepherds) spend the day with one.
Regardless of how you raise them, they can turn out nuts!
Also, I think it is absurd to spend 2000 on a dog unless it is imported straight from Germany! You should be able to find a very reputable breeder with prices less than that. Best of luck!
PS - have you looked into the sable colored gsd's EVen cooler than the blacks!

 

[fenwoman]

I saw an all black german sheperd and KNEW I had to have one... I found a breeder that is selling show quality males near by and it is soooooo tempting to go buy one... I think my parents would kick me out of the house for sure...

No no no you wicked person, you must only get a dog from a shelter otherwise you are quite irresponsible.

 

[LisaLQ]

She said quality dogs, fenwoman, that's the difference

 

[Canis-Equus]

*ignores Fenwomans attempts to turn this thread into another version of the previous one*


You may find your pup in a rescue, shelter, or reputable breeder, but make sure you know the breed first and know what you are paying for. In the UK there are breed rescues so i see no reason why this shouldnt be the same in the US.

Be aware of backyard breeders and puppyfarms/puppymills, badly bred dogs dont just have physical problems, they can also have mental problems too.

Also, if you are wanting purely a PET dog, dont buy a gsd from strong working lines, you will struggle to provide the work needed unless you intend to get involved in some suitable activity such as working trials, shutzhund, obedience etc.

However dont mistake wanting a pet dog for wanting a dog of lesser quality - show and pet quality should be the SAME!

 

[ICEEGRL]

I was raised with GH dogs from birth. We have have had good and bad blood lines. (all qualities) They are all good depending what you are looking for. It is a very big commitment. They are big and demanding dogs. You need to know how to treat them too.
I think the owners need more training than the dogs. You have to how to and how not to handle these dogs to get what you want out of them.
My current dogs are great! Sassy is full blooded. Her mother and father were police dogs. She is very protective, loyal, and loving.( to us) I raised her to be that way. We let her have one litter before getting her fixed. The vet said that would be better. We bred her to a full blooded siberian husky.(my sister's) We kept one and gave away the rest. This proves you can get good dogs free. Always check out the situation first though. Not all freebies are good. The one we kept is Demon.
Sassy is old now so her color isn't what it was. Here are some pics of them.
Sassy

Demon

Both of them

Demon has one brown eye like Sassy and one glass eye like his dad.
I have never had any of my dogs formally trained. I was raised with them and I was taught how to handle them when I was very small. I have passed this on to my children. I am currently teaching my 4 year old. She does very well. I started Shay with Sassy when Shay was only 2.
I firmly believe that the owner has to be trained or all the dog training in the world will mean nothing.
These dogs take alot of work, time, and money. Be sure before you jump in. If you don't give them what they need and treat them right you could end up with a very big very mean hard to handle problem!
If done right they are wonderful! I love them!

edit: Their pen is bigger than my house, and not all of it is muddy. They have trampled the grass in this area, and it is too cold to replant right now. They are also very messy dogs. They like to tear up stuff. (These two used a bike and a tire for toys!) Very strong dogs!!!

 

[finchfarm]

I would like to urge you to please do your research on German Shepherd Dogs before you buy one. Make sure its something you really want, not something you just like the appearance of. My Aunt used to have a GSD and they're good dogs, but they're not for everyone. That's true with any dog. I've taken a little excerpt from a website that lists common traits of certain breeds that you may find interesting and may help you to decide wether you really want a GSD. This is not meant to take the place of any further research on the breed. I've just seen too many dogs in pounds and seized by animal control, becuase the owners got them because they were "cool" or "pretty" then when it got older they realized that it was just "too much dog" for them. Also note that not all GSD's might do the behaviors that's listed below. Some dogs just don't conform to breed standard, others do and you have to remember that when you get a dog you're acquiring that potental for what they could, and in all likelihood probably will do, not necessarily what they will do. Anyway, here's that excerpt:


If you want a dog who...

* Is strong, athletic, and natural-looking
* Thrives on challenging activities and exercise
* Looks stern and imposing, so makes an effective deterrent
* Is exceptionally versatile -- when well-trained, can learn and do almost anything

A German Shepherd may be right for you.



If you don't want to deal with...

* An extremely careful search to avoid all the bad-tempered and unhealthy German Shepherds
* Vigorous exercise requirements
* Rowdiness and exuberant jumping, especially when young
* Destructiveness when bored or not exercised enough
* Aggression or shyness toward people in some lines, or when not socialized enough
* Aggression toward other animals
* Chasing and nipping at things that move: children, joggers, other animals, bikes, cars
* Constant heavy shedding
* Legal liabilities (public perception, future breed bans, insurance problems, increased chance of lawsuits)
* A multitude of serious health problems

A German Shepherd may not be right for you.

 

[smurfyy_2k3]

i have a german Shepard and shes one of the most loving loyal dogs we've ever had

 

[omen666]

I cannot believe my eyes ...this person asked for Our opinion on the breed and people's expertise based on whether or not this type would be acceptable as a pet for them. This is not a place to judge. Irresponsible because they did not go to a rescue? Please tell me I am reading this wrong? So this would also mean that you are putting reputable breeders in the same category?

I find you and your comments disturbing. I think rescues are a wonderful thing , however most dogs are in those types of environments through no fault of their own but with problems brought upon by the ignorance and ill treatment of them by irresponsible owners. If this is not the case then why were they rescued? This will be passed on to the new owner in some cases and unless you are a specialist home on this particular breed , a normal household may not be able to cope with a rescued G Shep.

Being a breeder myself I NEVER let one of my cats go without a drilling exercise that even the US Army wouldn't put a person through. I visit the home first before I even consider letting one of mine go. I have legal contracts that must be signed by the new owner for the welfare of the animal and I will NOT hesitate to remove an animal that I feel needs it. My animals go with a full guarantee , pet insurance, starter packs etc. Anything they need to make sure that the animal is off to a good start ..and they come with their own carrier. I also provide them with a lifetime of advice, support and on the off chance that something might happen that they are not able to take care of the animal any longer, I also give them the option to return the animal to me without any hassle or questions as to why. It is in my contract that the animal must come back to me if anything like this should ever happen. I also make them sign a spay/neuter contract. This is Non negotiable unless they are buying for the specific intent to breed and show. Then we have another drill to go through if that is the case!

When you go to purchase your animal if the breeder has not been this thorough with you then question their reputation and go to someone else. Do not buy from the first person who has a pup available. Go to several places , ask for references from other people and Vet references. Meet the parents of the pup , if the breeder refuses then go to someone else. Most of the time my cats will pick their new owners and dogs are no different. There will always be one that stands out or makes them notice a particular trait. I suggest you research and read as much as you possibly can about them.

People have commented on how loving and sedated my cats are. They are bomb proof and this simply comes from the environment they are raised in and I have chosen cats with specific traits that I want to pass on to my kittens. Persians have a bad reputation with some people of being nasty tempered...this is not true. As with some breeds of dogs I think it depends on the lines and the person in charge when they first come into the world. You can't judge an animal on breed anymore than you can a person. My kittens are held from the moment they come into the world and they are no longer held by me until they leave my house. This makes all of the difference in the world as to how the kitten will grow into an adult...choose a breeder with the same attitude and I am sure you will have a wonderful puppy to take home with you. We have owned a variety of different "problem breeds " of dogs. Funnily enough we used this method and never had any problems. I am not an expert and do not claim to be but I felt the need to express a few things because of those comments made. It really has wound me up!

 

[pica_nuttalli]

I find you and your comments disturbing.

who you talking to, omen?

 

[MadCatter]

My Male:

I have to agree they are fantastic dogs if you get a well bred pup from a good breeder.
I would suggest finding a breeder and having a chat with them,they may even let you meet their Dogs
You would definatly have to take one to training classes as an untrained shepherd can become a problem as can any dog.

You really do need to get your Parents on side to even consider buying one.
We insist on meeting the whole family in a household that is hopeing to get a pup from us

I'm just bumping this quote at you again, because I completely agree. German Shepherds are AMAZING dogs, but the same as border collies, or brittany spaniels, if you don't know how ot handle them, they can cause problems. Its not that they are inherently bad, its that they are working dogs, and always need to be stimulated. I've always grown up with GS, and I glare at my boyfriend when he says he would want a yorkie. The trick is to ALWAYS be the 'alpha dog' and never be timid. Obedience classes are a great opportunity - It not only gives you and your dog something interesting to do, but teaches you how to properly handle your dog so that there are not problems in the future. research research research!

Regardless of how you raise them, they can turn out nuts!

One of ours (who we had to put down just before the summer ) was an amazing girl. If she was walking alone, she'd heal properly, sit, shake, stay put, etc, without a problem. When walked together with our other male, she'd try to outdo him (when alone, the male was the alpha.. but when we were with them, she'd try to play alpha because she knew he'd get in trouble if he was too mean to her). Both of our dogs were amazingly calm around other dogs. We would walk by another neighbor who's dog was tugging at the end of its leash, barking furiously, and our dogs would just trot along as though the other dog never existed. On the other hand... our girl GS was always a bit high strung in the yard, or off the leash.

She barked at seemingly nothing, and eventually we had to put her down because she was going senile. She outlived 3 "health scares" but mentally, at the end, she just wasn't there anymore, and we decided it would be better for her to euthanize her - at age 13, the vet said that if he didn't know any better, and from the looks of her, he'd think she wasn't a year over 8.

When my sister was younger, our girl dog could be comepletely trusted around her - And while I don't condone "abuse by children", the truth is that sometimes accidents happen, and its nice to know that your dog is trained and socialized properly to know not to hurt anybody. Our male always knew to leave the room, or area if Emily (sister) came over to him, because he just didn't feel comfortable around her. Naturally, we always kept an eye out, and it is the owners responsibility to be able to read their dogs, and sense their mood, as well as properly socialize them so that there are not problems due to exclusion.

Our male dog now is nearing 14 years, and has had hip displacia (sp?) since around 5 years of age - if you lived in the southern california area in the mid to late 90s, and ever attended the 'pet expos' that happen every so often, you may have seen him perform obedience training demos. The hip displacia put that to an end though because his body just couldn't handle it anymore. He now lives with my parents in Illinois, and they can just let him outside without a fenced yard. He'll go out, do his business, come back, and nap on the porch, or come inside.

I guess sorry for the novel - just thought I'd share my experiences, good and bad! GS are amazing dogs, but can come with problems, the same as any other "purebred" dog out there.

 

[MegTheFish]

OMG....This is way freaky (and off topic...*cough*)

Look icegirl! They're twins! They even have the same markings on their faces (BTW this is my dog)