Need some help please (about getting a GSD) Questions

Thank you everyone once again. Akitagirl your dogs sound lovely how did you find training your rescues? Ladly I spoke to a GSD breeder whom said that "English" GSD tend to be more lazy and are smaller than the "German" GSD where they tend to be bigger and a lot more active. Is this generally the case?

No English show lines are much heavier bigger dogs that the International type. The typical English showline GSD is bred to the breed standard of the 1940s to 1960s & they are quite short on the leg compared to their length & most English type breeders don't bother with health testing nor are they bothered about temperament as they breed them only for the showring & as they handle their dogs on tight chokers & leads they do not get critized for dogs backing off in the showring.

The International type are much more athletical & "dry"(ie don't carry excess weight). the working lines(that I prefer)have to have very steady temperaments as they have to pass rigourous tests both physical & mental before being bred from.

Pet bred GSD(ie breeders who breed simply to supply the "pet" market) don't breed to any breed standards at all & few if any health test-most do not bother to register their puppies & some even sell at a lower price in order to be able to sell their frequent litters-they often claim not to be "breeders"as such as their dogs are only"pets"but anyone who has a dog or bitch that is being bred from is a breeder.

Puppy farmed dogs may or may not be registered(many use the DLRC for registering their dogs as no checks are done & no health records kept of the dogs), they mass produce puppies & always have puppies available.

Puppy dealers buy in their dogs from all over the UK & Ireland, they never have the mothers available to view & their premises are often very smart & clean almost clinical.

Before you decide where to get your puppy from, go to somewhere like Discover Dogs & look at the dogs there. Contact the various breed clubs for GSDs & never ever buy a puppy that isn't registered & isn't from health tested parents & that you cannot see the mother for with the puppies or at least on the same premises.

Why do I need to write to him ?? I very much doubt that many people who are serious about GSDs would heed any advice he gives-after all this is the Veterinary Surgeon, who believes that by crossing two breeds with similar genetic conditions produces healthier dogs

As for LC being less "hyper"that correct coated dogs, you obviously do not understand anything about rearing & genetical influences on a dogs character. Anyone who actually believes that the phenotype of a dog influences it's behaviour really does not have a clue about dog behaviour.

Like I wrote before do you really believe that a LC sibling of a correct coated dog will have a better temperament ???? i give up

Thank you JoedeeUk the information is really valuable. So are "English" GSD not recommended to get? Because another member said that if I am not going to do sport agaility tests then get the English breed. Obvisouly I am going to take my time looking into everything whether that be buying a pup or adopting. And if everyone does not mind if I ask questions along the way as I want too make the right decision for me, Honey and the GSD.

The English type has never been my choice, my first GSD was from imported parents back in 1958 & even back then I much preferred the breed as it was/is in Germany.

Now the english type may be the type & if you like the type by all means get one, just make sure it is from a line of health tested dogs(& KC registered dogs health test results can be checked on the KC website if you know either their KC name or their KC registration number)

I've never been a fan of breeding for the showring alone, 99% of dogs are pets first & foremost, however I do think they should all be be"fit for purpose" !

Once again thank you very much JoedeeUk my GSD will be for just a pet and I would never ever use he/she as a show dog. Some people that may be their thing and have very happy dogs but I am with you my dogs are pets to me. I obvisouly would find a breeder that is registered and does all the health checks. The reason why I thought an English breed would be better because with them not being as energetic. As like I said before I have arthritis and from what I have heard the german GSD need a lot of excerise I could be mistaken... Does anyone have any pics of an English and German GSD?

errr, sandra just said she hasnt beleived anything, she is just reporting what bruce fogle believes?

hence her line if you have issues with Bruce fogle's ideas, tis BF you need to vent your posts toward, not her???

thats what i dunderstood she meant anyway

The rescue adult didn't need any training - honestly! I'm constantly bragging about him, wrongly, whoever trained him as a youngster before we got him did a grand job, and we're lucky he has just settled with us and is a very happy dog, so keen to please...everyday.

The other one, well because she was a pup, needed the usual training..she does agility now, I think we found her 'niche' lol.

It depends what you mean by "easier"? All dogs, whether from pups or rescue, need a lot of attention, socialising, training and affection. I am a volunteer for GSD Rescue here in Scotland and we always advise new adopters to treat their rescue as if he/she were a pup. Lay down the ground rules from day one, encourage his/her good behaviour, socialise from day one, take your time building up a strong bond with your dog through play and training etc.

Pups and rescue both bring their own challenges, and each dog or pup is an individual and must be treated as such.

Yes I understand that either a pup or a rescue are hard work. Some rescue dogs are already house trained and even have some form of training but need socializing. I really don't know what to do for the best... I don't know if I would be better with an elder dog or a pup...

Whereabouts in the UK are you? PM if you prefer

German shepherds are a working breed and will need a good deal of exercise. I am out with my dog about 3 hours a day.

My girl Tess who was from English obedience lines



My girl Tala. She is from German showlines

Thank you very much talassie, they are absolutley beautiful. May I ask if you found a difference between the "English" and "German" GSDs. Once again thank you for the pics.

Bailey is English show lines. he's a pet so I prefer to say he has 'Scouse lines' it wouldn't matter to me if he had blue blood, all I know is, he's the best dog ever

Tilly!!! well she's from Wales so who knows

They are absolutley goregeous! Bailey is a beautiful big boy! May I ask where did you get him? And Tilly she looks so sweet! Thanks for the pictures liverbird! Have you had them since they were pups and how old are they now?

Tess had more of the 'want' to be working, training etc. I don't remember her ever going through the Kevin stage. She was always eager to please. But Tala has just as much energy, more in fact, except I have found it harder to focus her energy. She has been a bit of a challenge but we have worked hard and as she is starting to mature she is becoming almost perfect ;-) She still has her mad moments though!

If you want a dog with less energy would you consider an older rescue?

In reply to your last comment: NO. But then I never said that in the first place.

Do you believe that different coloured GSDs can have different personalities?

Thank you talassie for the infor so it us true about the "English" GSD being easier...where did you get Tess from? (if you don't mind me asking?). Yes I am
looking into a rescue it's just finding one that has a good temperment and gets along well with Honey.

Tess was easier for me to train but I wouldn't want to generalise in any way. Every dog is an individual. I'm not sure if she would be considered to be from what you are thinking of as an English line, more from an obedience line. She was a Foxfold and they are bred with competion obedience, working trials in mind so a dog from these lines would need a job to do and be very willing to work.