Hi Everyone, Im currently looking after my parents 8 month old GSD called Lola. Now, Lola is most definatly a mans dog. She absoultly dotes on my Dad (takes no notice of my poor mom!) and now that myself and boyfriend are looking after her, shes all over him all of the time! I'm looking after her during the day (lazy student bum on hols now!) whilst hes at work, and she takes no notice of me, constantly jumping and nipping, anyone think shes trying to push me out the way,lol? If we're sitting on the sofa together having a cuddle, shes gets so jelouse and wants to join in! and if i get up to get a drink or anything, when i come back, shes all cuddled up to him in my seat, my boyfriend finds it hillarious! Any one else encounted this with female GSDs?
My bitches have all been anti-men as a rule. I think it has more to do with who they`ve bonded with. GSDs tend to bond closely to one person - in this case, your dad. Anyone else is of secondary importance.
I have to agree with Claire. I hate to stereotype any breed, but Shepherds typically tend to bond to one person. We raised a Shepherd that the dog guide school retained as breeding stock and placed in a home closer to the school. She is well bonded to the lady of the house. Still, even after a few years she is still very excited to see me. We sat a ladies Shepherd puppy for a week or so, and after that, anytime she saw me, she was very excited. So that is 2 Shepherds bonded to both a male and female. I think many of the dogs that prefer women, or even fear men, were bred by a woman that failed to expose them to men early. In the Art of Raising a Puppy, the Monks of new Skete discuss bringing women into the monastery to socialize the puppies. I think almost any breed will be bonded more closely to one family member than the rest. It is just that Shepherds often are to a greater degree.
Years ago my cousin and his wife had a failed police dog, GSD. Rio was definitely Pam's dog. He would pin Ian down and refuse to let him move until Pam gave the OK. He never hurt Ian or anyone else, but no one would have hurt Pam with Rio around. He was a real lady's dog.
Hi All, I've got an 8 month old GSD called Loki and he acts in VERY different ways wth me and my hubby. I'm with him the most and tend to walk, groom, train and generallty chat to him all day! With me he's very calm, obedient and so laid back he's horizontal! With my hubby (and some of his friends) it's a different matter. He jumps, nips and demands attention. My hubby has trouble trying to get him to stop and then I usually have to get involved. Anyone else found this? I would be interested to hear.
Firstly, i love the name Loki so much, the second loki i've come across today! sound like your GSD acts the opposite to mine, shes always jumping and nipping me!
Oh I'm sooooooo with you on this!!! My new gsd is 8 months and just like you, she has me all day long to do everything with her, walk her, feed her, play with her, but when she hears my husband's car arriving on the drive, all hell breaks loose!!!! Once he's managed to get inside the house, after she's leaped up at his face, clawed his back, knocked everything flying out of his hands, she follows him everywhere and sits at his feet looking up at him adoringly, and I'm sooooooo jealous!!! I'm the one who has been to all the training classes, she does everything I ask of her, but he uses some kind of telepathy/sign language and she obeys instantly too!!! Sooooo funny! It's kind of nice, coz out of 8 shepherds we've had, none of them have ever taken much notice of him, (all girls too!) and yet this one only has eyes for daddy!
All the sheps I have owned have been bonded to me more than anyone else in the family. With my current two, the bitch, Flame, is more of a family dog and is happy to be with any of us (although would choose me if pushed) but Yogi, my male, only has eyes for me and isn't interested in anyone else (apart from my 18 month old son who he loves )
I recall reading a breeding article on a study undertaken, can't remember where for now The pups (in this case gsds) showed a distinct preference in later life for the sex of the breeder which handled them frequently as very young. Could be something to think about.
Possibly something in that. Loki loves men's company, sort of 'all boys together'! What I find funny is that Ian, my hubby, is a 6ft 1, 18 stone, ex rugby player and he struggles to get Loki to behave. He'll be jumping around like a mad thing and I have to get myself in between them and get him to behave! I'm 8 stone lighter...................lol! With me (and the kids) he's so gentle, though he's is strong willed and at times can be very stubborn! Love him to bits!!
Interesting. My friend who is a breeder, finds in later life all her males adore her, but the same is not true of her females who are often closer to her male kennel manager or her husband..
