Bombproof GSDs? Discussions

Another thread on the ideal dog got me thinking about the GSD and its temperament.

In general, has the temperament of the GSD improved in the last few years or not?
What are people's experiences with GSDs (whether you own one or have come into contact with them)?

Is a bombproof temperament attainable in many cases, or is it a rare and beautiful thing?

I have had four shepherds so far and only one (my latest workline) is what I would consider to be totally bombproof. He is the sort of dog I can take anywhere and he is sociable to other dogs, animals and people (inc children). My others have all had some sort of issue, usually due to the fact they didn't have stable or strong nerve and could be nervous and fearful in certain situations.

My dog is bombproof and I have met plenty of bombproof GSD of both WL and SL.

I have also met plenty of non bomproof dogs of non WL

There are so many GSDs about that there is also a very, very wide range of temperaments, as there is a very, very wide range of appearances.

IME their temperament can range from scared and snappy, through relaxed and self assured to looking to fearlessly take on all comers and pretty much everything inbetween.

Some good handlers do an excellent job of managing difficult dogs, others get away with doing everything wrong with great dogs, who turn out wonderful despite this. Of course a great hander with a great dog will allow each to bring out the best of the other.

Of course one person's idea of bomb proof may be different to another's anyway. Some would consider a dog so bombproof that it didn't react to muggers and burglars to not be a good thing. Others would consider one that did to be a liability, in case it misread a situation sometime.

and it might be good to add to the thread...if you have had (or do have) a bombproof one, what did you do to make them bombproof?

Genetics genetics genetics

Is THE most important thing, temperament is down to genetics.

Now you can ensure that a) you avoid situations which can be adverse to your dog and b) socialise and habituate your dog to ensure that it realises its genetic potential, or not.

My dog comes from superb genetic stock and he was taken everywhere with me from 7 weeks old and has met everything and is totally reliable in many situations with dogs, children, people, sheep, cows, horses, trains, planes, helicopters, motorbikes, bikes, skateboards, skates etc.

It may well be that he would have been all of the above without my attention to detail but we will never know will we!

And he has been TESTED for bombproofness via the KCGCDS, Schutzhund and the Rottweiler Temperament Test (Excellent) as well as in real life.

interesting, my gsd is a rescue so the genetics aren't there for being bombproof, however that means i have to work hard at the training.

i grafted at the early socialisation but the training is starting to work, e.g. lab ran up to him this morning from behind out the blue...intially he gave chase but i was able to stop and recall him

To be honest the majority of the GSD's I have met lately have been far from bombproof
Unfort the majority of their owners dont think their dogs have any issues, they just think its normal for their dog to charge up to other dogs barking like mad and only settle down when the other dog shows its belly
They seem to think that is correct and the other dog has issues if they dont automatically submit

Shame cos its one of my fave breeds but tempraments - in the majority of them round here are pretty bad

So far I have met 2 with lovely tempraments

Our first GSD, now 9, has a great bombproof temperament. She is exactly what I like a GSD to be. From her 1st litter we kept 2 pups who were born in Spring so not only did the litter get loads of visitors, we had the whole summer to get them out to fairs, agricultural shows etc. where 2 fluffy cute GSDs got a lot of attention and experiences. I did as much research on stud dogs as I could and have not regretted my choice. It was a combination that worked.

From the next litter a different stud dog was used and a singleton pup was born so we kept him. He was born in the winter and due to my FIL dying this pup was not socialised anywhere near as much as the other two and is entirely different. I don't see any of his mothers characteristics at all. I know a half sibling and the owner said the same thing.

Out of the 4 Gsd's at my club i would say one is ok ,1 has to be forced in the hall everyweek and she will often try to bail out the door....

Why does anyone take a dog to somewhere it does not want to be?

Lacey my GSD was bombproof - you could take her anywhere ... And I did

agree completely ..good temperaments should be actively bred for along with great health/looks/working ability - and personally I'd like to see a temperament test up there with health testing before dogs can be bred from

Totally agree.

Over the years I would say I have met more GSD of the non bombproof kind.

I remember being impressed a few years ago (well probably ten or more now!) when I visited Blackpool Champ Show and watching the GSD being shown. I remember one being a bit fearful of the judge but all the others appeared really steady. Does the show ring give a fair assessment of character and temperament - or can it be that some dogs are good in a situation for which they have been conditioned and yet could still display nervous or aggressive (or other) behaviour outside in the "real" world? (I will never forgot witnessing how some competitive obedience dogs were far from obedient outside a ring!).

I was also impressed with the temperaments of the dogs last year at the Border Union show - but was less so with the apparent temperaments of their handlers at times! Scary stuff

Most of the police dogs I have met who have been either bred for the police or bought in from abroad or the UK working breeders have had bombproof temperaments. The same cannot be said for some of the "gift" dogs I met (which is limited tbh).

However, as far as the general public's GSDs go, as I said, I think I have met more with issues than with bombproof temperaments unfortunately.

I agree that one person's idea of bombproof may not be another, but I suppose I just meant dogs of good temperament and nerve - and that can also be open to interpretation.

What is bombproof? Well, for me, it means a dog who is sociable (with people and other dogs) of strong nerve and who you could take anywhere and everywhere with you without the dog kicking off, or acting nervously.

I've had four GSDs in my lifetime and all of them have been bomb proof with other dogs, kids, people etc.

Two were English show line (the ones that many say are flaky and aggressive) and two were white rescues (one at six months old and the other at a year old)

I had all of these dogs whilst I was quite young (late teens/ early 20s) and never gave any thought to socialisation and, as a lazy trainer , only really taught them very basic obedience, not to pull, come when called, leave and to wait is about it. One of the rescues had spent his entire life in a shed when I got him but he was a cracking dog who we only had a year due to him having fits caused by someone fracturing his skull when he was a puppy.

Maybe I was just lucky, maybe the carefree but firm training put them at ease I really haven't got a clue.

Interestingly, my Akita and Akita x GSD were/are also bombproof. The Akita being well bred and the cross being a cruelty case rescue from a byb.

I would agree. Max is brilliant one to one with me. However if other dogs charge him, eyeball him (actually he particularly dislikes this although he thinks its ok to do it himself) or make aggressive gestures he reacts, so is therefore not bombproof...but I am working on it. However, if I'm working him he seems to ignore other dogs.

I have had one totally bombproof GSD out of four.

Flame and Yogi are both good in lots of ways, but are also a little bit windy and nervous of certain new situations. My first GSD, Sharna, was a rehome from the police and was hard work in most ways (but I loved her ).

Zak is the one who I can take anywhere and not worry about how he will react at all. He is only 15 months and so I hope he will remain this way. I say that, as I was quite sure that Yogi was bombproof until he fully matured

I think genetics plays a massive part in the temperament of a dog but you can also help influence the dog's behaviour by socialisation, habituation, training etc etc.

It would be marvellous if all dogs had to be tested in this way before being bred from. Temperament is so important.

If you don't have the genetics there, then I think it is often the case that you do have to work much harder at training and socialising.