Once you get a GSD.. you can't go back? Questions

I personally think they are incredibly versatile, fantastic working dogs yet also amazing family dogs. I like the fact they are aloof to people they do not know but so loving with the people they do. I love the fact that I could think of a hundred things to train my GSD and know if i put in the effort, she'll learn it. In fact today I decided to try a new way of doing a left about turn, she got it in two attempts! I love how smart they are, and even though they are high energy dogs, they are happy doing whatever you are, so even if you want a day to relax because youre ill, they are happy to lounge around with you with perhaps just something to keep their mind busy. I love their on/off switch, their drive, their courage, and i think they are damn pretty too lol

In fact i love GSD's so much i'm hoping one day to be a breeder and no doubt i will continue to love the breed until the day I die. GSD's were my first love at 15.. it's never abated and i'm 28 now and on my second one after also working with them. I never tire of watching them work as their capabilities always astound me everytime. I always see them pushing harder to really please their handlers. Nothing could change them being my favourite dog and I'd be surprised if another breed even came close for me.

Thanks for all your lovely answers guys

I feel as if I do now understand a bit more why so many of you are so passionate about this breed. They sound incredibly versatile and also extremely responsive to their owners.

Lovely to read all the posts in this thread, thanks so much again

my other breed the CP they have the same qualities of both GSD and BC, but smaller package, harder work

I don't want to detract from the original purpose of this thread, but I just wondered how do you fulfil his "need" to work while you work full time SB? ie - does your dog require "work" to do before you head off for work and/or when you get in, in an evening? And, if so, what sort of work do you do with him.

My interest is that I am currently considering which way I will go for my next shepherd (workline or not) - but as it will most likely be in the next couple of years I am not sure I will have sufficient "training" time for a dog who is hardwired to work each day. I suppose it all depends on what is meant by "work"?

However, having said that, I have known a few working police dogs in the past who were happy to be family dogs and even though they enjoyed their work, I am not sure they "needed" to work - in the same way as the working collies on the farm "need" to work anyway.

Sorry for waffling - but I suppose I am trying to assess whether certain workline GSDs need to be in a home where work is the priority (and over and above the usual type of exercise and stimulation I give my current dogs).

I get up early, wherever I am at home, away I choose my hotels for their tracking and training facilities!

I have put down tracks at motorway service stations, hopped over fences to trespass on field (yes very naughty I know).

Do the same for search squares and sendaways; heelwork, speaks, retrieves, stays, and positions on the move can be done anywhere.

I can train searching the hides/blinds using trees and the ball dropper (I can also do rag and pillow work with the dog in public, although I leave the sleeves when out of public gaze)!

In between we go biking, swimming and of course just recreational walks.

Etc etc

If you want it badly enough you will find a way to do it, the rest of the time he is either sleeping at home or in the car!

Work is a broad church, if you teach your dogs impulse control and an on and off switch, you can have a working dog to be proud of and an excellent house pet IMHO.

Works for me anyway!

Thanks for the comprehensive reply SB He sounds a very lucky boy.

I walk a few gsds. & there is something rather lovely as u walk them. I can see the attraction. My oh has had 4 gsds & wohld never have another

Why would he never have another?

His last one was a very hard dog. A pepnick.sucked all the joy out of dog owning & training. Although did lve him. Thats when he switched to bsd

Was it from the H litter?

So he has Malinois now?

No gronnies. Think it was a D litter

In what way was he a hard dog Mish? I am looking into different working lines at the mo and Pepnick have been recommended to me on a couple of occasions. PM if you prefer. I tried to PM you but your inbox is full.

Also, I seem to remember you have a friend who does obedience with her workline sheps? What lines are they and do you have the pics to remind me of how they look? Thanks

A potential time bomb, Had to be fully controlled, never let up a inch. Even when we moved in he had to be muzzled around flynn &he was around 14 then! This was a old dog 4 years ago so would not be relevent to breeding now. I know his brother was very successful.


My friends breeder has had problems crop up in her lines & i shouldnt think will be breeding further.

Thanks for the info Mish.

Do you mean UK Obedience Long coats or UK owned VPG dogs ?

IMHO the LC Obedience are not really"working"line GSDs as they usually only do Obedience(with a few dabbling in WT)

My friends dogs arent long coats. Their Dads are gump di Dranel & Troll von haus Milianda

I was replying to Kirsty's post re workingline GSDs not your friends dogs.

I would be interested to learn of the "problems"behind these dogs as they were/are very popular stud dogs. I might contact my friend in Germany to find out what is known about "problems"in these lines

BTW I know one of the dogs behind the Pepnick D litter very well & he was a brilliant dog & had a 150 % temperament with people & dogs

I am looking at various different "types" of shepherd, as trying to decide which way to go for my next pup. That is including working line standard coats (German lines but have been warned off Belgian only lines); W German showline (the Conbhairean dogs) and also a possible future longcoat workline litter (Nyrvana).

I agree with you about the English obedience-bred longcoats. Flame is these lines and is not what I would consider a "working line dog" either, although there are WT dogs in her pedigree.

When asking Mish about her friend's obedience GSDs - I recall they were "proper" working line (and not longcoated either).

I know Dizzys brother & sister were both fabulous too. I would expect Dizzy needed to be doing more than weekend obedience

I previously owned 2 GSD's they had 7 wonderful years together having got the 2nd one when Sabre was 5 years old. They were the most loving and loyal dogs and I couldn't agree more with what has been said previously on the other posts.
Helena54, I share your sentiments entirely!
I got my first GSD when my oldest child was just 2 years old and he was there when the other 4 came along, he was like a nanny with all 5 kids, if they woke in the night he was by the cot, if they fell off their bike he was there to kiss it better! He was just such a wonderful animal, even now 15 years later it brings tears to my eyes just describing him.
Bonnie my big black girl was "my" dog, coming along later she adapted to our hectic lifestyle with ease. She was the most happy go lucky dog. We regularly travelled to our holiday caravan and she was first in the car! After she passed I could not bring myself to have another GSD as the bond between the 2 I had had was so special.
After a spell without a dog I decided on a totally different breed - St Bernard - and Tia is now 4 years old and she is a fantastic girl, no comparison between the breeds and that is what I wanted. So I don't find myself saying "Bonnie could have done that" or "sabre was more intelligent" I am a big dog, lover always.