I know theres plenty of us GSD owners on here What are your experiences with your dogs about how 'serious' they are? For example I take Ruby (Goldie) out for a walk and she trots along beside me, not a care in the world, looking happy as larry. I only have to look in her direction and she wags her tail. She is a babe I take Diesel out and he constantly looks like he's on a mission, on the look out. Even in the house, I tell Ruby how pretty/smelly/clever/daft she is and she grabs a toy and wags her tail like hell and squeals. If I talk to Diesel, in exactly the same manner, he looks at me like I'm an idiot, he's not really a tail wagger :? He does love to play and bounces round like the giant puppy he is but his doesn't give much away.... Is this normal behaviour for the breed? How does everyone elses GSD behave?
Mine certainly can be serious especially if its dusky and there just might be cats about,..........like you say shes on a mission. equally she has her playful side, if we are out and she wants a game she will come bounding over all gazelle like. I used to be able to "dummy" her if we were playing chase, but the wee devil has learnt that and now she dummies me!!
My OHs GSD is 10, so a bit of an old lady. On her walks she LOVES her frisbee - its what she lives for, but isnt really bothered by other dogs. When you chat to her or try to get her excited inside sometimes she just looks at you like your stupid!! Sometimes I think she is just too intelligent for silly stuff Equally I have met some batty GSDs so I guess it depends...
I don't find GSDs a particularly waggy breed (unless you're mid play or getting ready for a walk lol). They are a very contented, regal breed
Yep, night time walks are worse, he's always on the look-out (dont know what for exactly!) and listening for things. Haha, sounds like shes outsmarting you xx Yes, Diesel isnt that bothered about other dogs or people, yet when he's on a lead he is VERY interested - weird! x Same here, Ive not owned one before so didnt know if this was normal. Lol, they ARE very regal, Diesels nickname is Prince Caspian x
Daisy wants to play Ballie or swim all the time on walks, or she`s off investigating suspicious clumps of grass. Prince follows her.
I've got one who is very serious all the time and one who is mostly a big doofus Sasha has always been very serious, always looks a bit worried and tries to look after everyone, if you see what I mean. She's not very waggy at all and generally only wags when she sees me after she's not seen me for a while. Whereas Warro is serious only if he feels any of our family is threatened (usually by the windowcleaner!), the rest of the time he is very waggy and is always asking for cuddles and to be played with, he is such a big softy In my experience, and I see a lot of shepherds (I'm a trainer at a GSD breed club) it does tend to be the girls who are more serious and the boys who are a bit sillier but they can turn serious if necessary.
I know what you mean, Zena is always on a mission too, usually to get me to chuck her ball, which gets a very serious look as it's plonked on the ground in front of me! If I ignore it, she's happy to trot on ahead, but then she's gotta stop, turn around and give me that serious look as if to ask, what's happening next kind of thing! She soon settles down, but still has her mission in sight, which is never other dogs, she's totally disinterested in them, unless it's one she knows and likes (thank God!). She only acts the fool when it's playtime in the garden, or in the evenings, if I'm going to act the fool too, otherwise, she sits and stares at me with that serious look waiting for me to get up and do something when I want to watch telly in the evening lol! When she does act the fool, then she really goes for it, she's 4 months old again, but then I like that in this breed, she's the same as my previous gsd, always up for it. Georgie on the other hand is a big doofus and always has been, he's never on a mission, he wouldn't know what it was, he's just happy to do his own thing, sniffing around, mooching around or sleeping, bless his heart, he's soooo indifferent to anything that's going on around him, unlike Zena's who's constantly on the ball. I remember when Zena was Diesel's age though, those serious looks, you never have to teach the "watch me" do ya!!!!
I agree with Warro, in that my bitches have all had a more serious side to them than my male - however, they have all been quite waggy (with people they know anyway ;-) ) and have had a fun/puppyish side.
Sasha does have a fun side, but she takes it very seriously . She's a very complicated girl! Oh and it's her birthday today, so happy 8th birthday old girl!
I think they are generally more serious than a lot of breeds. Shilah is probably the least serious GSD I have had, but then again I think there is a sandwich missing from his picnic. Kofi has been serious since he was a puppy! He loves to play and has good ball drive, but even that is taken very seriously! He even looked serious in all his puppy pictures..