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sam
02-05-2001, 12:13 PM
would love to hear from shepard owners about their experiences with owning shepards , temperments, pros and cons or just experiences

Sudilar
02-05-2001, 01:43 PM
In the past, I've been owned by one GSD and presently I am owned by two GSD rescues. I can't say enough wonderful things about this breed of dog. They are so loveable, loving, obedient, willing to please and naturally protective. I think I will always want to have one with me.
My first came to us before I had any children. When my son was born, my GSD was his best friend. They loved each other. Wolf would sleep on my son's bed. He even jumped a fence to be near my son when my son was in the next yard playing! He was the best! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif
Now, I've rescued two from our shelter. They are also loving, willing to please and appreciative. They want to be part of the family. They comfort you when you are sad and are mine are happy all the time! They are naturally protective. They don't need to be trained to attack, they will protect you if the occasion should arise.
The cons are:
They shed, but, ok, you have to vacuum anyway! I like the look of solid black with brown and tan on it! I also buy home decor items to match my dogs. The popular leopard-look matches great.
They need exercise. So do I! I walk both of them together daily.
They are big. Mine are 95 and 110lbs. At least you won't hurt them when you step on them! OOPS!
Everyone admires them. If you're short on time, you'll be late because people are always stopping you and asking all about your dogs!!
Gee, these cons don't sound too bad, do they?
I just love GSDs. To know them is to love them, I say!! I could go on and on about how wonderful they are...
Another great thing is that my present two are rescues. There is always something special about a rescue. They really appreciate the saving!! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif

Sue, Killian and Shiloh


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***Save a life, ADOPT***

sam
02-05-2001, 03:36 PM
thanks for your info on the GSD your words make them seem like a very appealing breed of dog. Do you have a big yard with these big dogs? Were they easy to train?

Sudilar
02-05-2001, 04:53 PM
I have a big fenced yard and they also have the run of my quad-level home. They were so simple to train. They will do anything to please you (and a little food treat)! Both have passed obedience with flying colors and now my 3 yr. old is in agility! They are really fun dogs!! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif
Sue, Killian and Shiloh

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***Save a life, ADOPT***

wolflady
02-05-2001, 07:32 PM
Hi! Since this topic was brought up, I thought I would chime in a question about GSDs. I have been wanting to get a dog for a very long time(I miss my childhood dog so much since she's gone to the rainbow bridge), but I have been waiting since both my husband and I work so much and our commutes are so long. I've been doing my research on a couple of different types of dog that I want to get and have been sending emails to breeders and stuff like that for opinions. How would a GSD do in living situation like mine? We have a small fenced in yard. We have 2 cats (no kids...but maybe in 5 years) and we both work. Since we live in Silicon Valley, we have annoyingly long commutes. I'm hoping to get a fast internet connection (DSL or Satellite) so I can work from home 1 or 2 days a week. If I were to bring in a dog, I would walk him(or her) in the morning, than again in the evening. Since I go to aerobics now, I'd definitely want to keep up the exercise...so I'd stop going to aerobics, but I would do things with my dog instead. Also, we're pretty active on the weekend-we like to go places, so I would want my dog to be comfortable travelling in a car. I was also planning on doing obediance and then on to agility after completion of obediance.

I'm also interested in rescue. There is a GSD rescue in the area as well as GSDs in our local shelters! I couldn't believe how many there were! What is getting a rescue like? How do they adjust into new living situations? What about the probability of them having hip displasia, since we probably won't know the background of these dogs? What is your experience with rescues?

I would definitely like to do some sort of rescue http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif

Sudilar
02-05-2001, 08:52 PM
Hi, Wolflady,

I'm no expert on GSDs, but I can relate my experiences with them. I think that an older rescue GSD would be good for you. I rescued my Killian when he was 2 1/2. He was all settled in. There were no housetraining problems and if he had severe hip dysplasia, it should have shown up by then. (However, it can show up at any time.) My first (not a rescue) GSD's dysplasia showed up before he was 2. (It was taken care of by surgery.) A good rescue or shelter will temperament test the dog to see if there are any problems, too. Some rescues even foster out the dogs where they are observed and evaluated under family conditions. If you exercise the dog twice a day and have them with you when you are home, it should be ok. I'm home all day with my two and after the morning routine and walk, they sleep a lot during the day even though I am home with them. Mine are 7 and 3 years old now. If you stimulate him with obedience classes and agility, he will be happy. You also have to find out if he likes cats or not. If he does, they can keep him company during the day while you are gone. Both of my rescues settled in very well. You will find that rescued dogs are very appreciative of being saved!! I hope my experience has helped you. Good luck!

Sue

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***Save a life, ADOPT***

RachelJ
02-06-2001, 08:17 AM
Everytime someone talks about a GSD, I think of this beauty at Hearts United For Animals www.hua.org. (http://www.hua.org.) Her name is Patience and she is so pretty. I know I can't have her, but I go to the website just to see if she has found a home yet. She is on the second row of Part I of the Looking for Love section.

Wolflady, would there be someone who you could have come in once during the day to let the dog out to *go potty*? I think an older dog like a GSD could adapt to a routine like you have in mind very well, but I worry about very long hours without being able to relieve itself. Having a fenced yard is a big asset because the person wouldn't have to walk the dog.

Sudilar
02-06-2001, 09:06 AM
Rachel has a good idea there. "Holding it" for more than 7-8 hours can be uncomfortable (although my male can hold it forever..but when he finally goes, it take a few minutes to relieve himself!).
Maybe a neighborly stay-at-home Mom or retired person could stop in once a day and just let him out for a few minutes.

Rachel, Patience is beautiful. I hope she finds a forever home soon! If she were closer to Illinois, I'd be tempted to test her with my two GSD rescues!
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***Save a life, ADOPT***

[This message has been edited by Sudilar (edited February 06, 2001).]

Stenograsaurus
02-06-2001, 11:29 AM
Hello, everyone. I had the pleasure of running into a stray at the end of July of 2000. She is a shepherd mix, looks like with a Collie. I decided to keep her and I can tell you that not a day goes by that I don't thank God for sending her to me. She is a great dog. She needed a lot of work in the beginning, but it has definitely paid off. This is my first experience with Shepherds and it's been a very pleasant one. I do have a question though. She has a choker collar that she wears. (she is never alone, so there's no fear of strangulation). The problem is that it breaks off her hair where it lies. Can anyone suggest a different collar that will not do that but one that will still keep her from pulling?

wolflady
02-06-2001, 11:38 AM
Sue,

Thanks for the info! It's great to hear about successful rescues, and I think it's such a great cause. I was looking at the website of my local animal shelter and they had 2 2 year old GSDs. They were so gorgeous!
Yes, the whole potty issue was one of the concerns for me. I was thinking either a doggie door so the dog could go out to the backyard whenever he pleased, or having someone stop in would be a better idea. Unfortunately since we just moved in, we haven't really met any of the neighbors yet. It's a little frustrating sometimes to be in such a new area! Especially since I'm from Indiana and it's completely different than San Jose!! Hopefully if I can work from home a couple days a week, that would be helpful.
Rachel, all the dogs at the HUA website were adorable. I would have taken patience home in an instant! I hope she finds a home soon!

Karen

ownerof3dogs
02-06-2001, 02:13 PM
Even if you couldn't find someone to let the dog out during the day mybe you could install a doggy door that leads into the fenced in area.

shais_mom
02-06-2001, 09:05 PM
Patience is one of the prettiest GSDs I have ever seen!!!

Stenograsaurus
02-07-2001, 07:50 AM
You guys are right. Patience is beautiful. Ironically enough, that's the name of my dog too. She, too, can hold it in for hours. She goes out three times a day, and the third time I literally have to half carry, half drag her out. I agree that a doggy door would be great, if you could do it. Just be ready for a muddy mess in your house if it rains and the dog goes out, digs, then enters the house and gets mud everywhere. One of those portable Bissells works great for this. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

AdoreMyDogs
02-07-2001, 09:20 AM
Even though I work only about 35 hours a week, and we are looking for a house close enough to work so that my hubby and I can go home to visit when on lunch break. I wanted to get a doggie door put on the back door when I finally get a house this summer but Michgan has such extreme temperatures I don't think I can get a doggy door. Anyone with experience with doggy doors and extreme temps? Kind of out of subject, sorry. I have always wondered about that though.

Stenograsaurus
02-07-2001, 10:03 AM
Sam and Wolflady, when the time comes for you to get a dog, check out this website. You can type in what breed you want and your zip code and they will find local dogs available for you. It's amazing how many are out there.
http://www.petfinder.org/

RachelJ
02-07-2001, 11:22 AM
This is another good one:
www.petshelter.org (http://www.petshelter.org)

wolflady
02-07-2001, 11:51 AM
Thanks for the tips! Jeesh, I didn't even think about the mud tracking from the doggie door idea. Yikes...white carpet! I may have to wait a little longer before I bring a canine furkid into our home. I'd like to be able to spend a lot of time with him or her http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif Thanks for the links! These are great. I'll definitely be referring to these when the time comes for me to give in a bring a dog home http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif It really is amazing how many animals are out there that need homes. I would take them all if I could!!! I'm sure a lot of people feel that way too http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif

sammi
02-07-2001, 12:35 PM
Re: doggy door. We have real extreme temp changes here from summer (70-80's) to winter (20's- below zero). We have had a doggy door for years but we don't use it when the weather turns real cold. Our doggy door came with a panel made of metal that slips in snug in the frame of dog door from the inside. This keeps most of the cold air out.

ownerof3dogs
02-07-2001, 02:30 PM
Stenograsaurus,
there is a collar called the fur saver here is a link http://www.ferretstuff.com/collrchn.htm#chain

thelmalu99
02-07-2001, 04:29 PM
I'm a little late jumping in here, but I would just like to say that I had a German Shepherd years ago when I still lived at home, and they are the most wonderful, sweetest dogs ever! I would recommend Shepherds to anyone who is thinking of getting a dog. They are extremely smart, very loving and loyal, and just beautiful creatures! I am presently owned by a cat, but if I ever move out of my apartment and into a house and decide to get a dog, it will be another Shepherd...along with about forty cats!! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/wink.gif

AdoreMyDogs
02-08-2001, 07:10 AM
GSD's are also my dream breed! We are buying a house this summer and both my hubby and me have always wanted a German import GSD so I think we are going to make it a reality, depending on how big the house is that we are going to buy.

Stenograsaurus
02-08-2001, 09:48 AM
Thank you for the tip. I'll try it out. She has a mane type neck with a huge bald spot on it now and it looks so funny. Hopefully this will work.

Originally posted by ownerof3dogs:
Stenograsaurus,
there is a collar called the fur saver here is a link http://www.ferretstuff.com/collrchn.htm#chain