Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire German Shepherds: any opinions?

George hit the nail on the head...Mals are faster and IME hit harder, but GSDs engage their brains a bit more fully, and a lighter GSD like his dog hits harder and faster than the big scary dogs I am frankly hoping for the "best of both worlds" that he mentions in my next dog...
As for the black faces...I never had any trouble reading them either, but I know of a surety the black dogs are always the last to be adopted at any shelter for that reason...
And as for breeders screening applicants for their pups and placing them in the appropriate homes...for working dogs ( not pets mind you..) I would consider it part and parcel of being a "Responsible" breeder. Even my favorite Lab breeder places the pups....

Anyway...this has been a pretty good thread, with some gorgeous dogs pictured...

( I still wanna go steal Sammo's dog...can't believe that one was a stray...)

It took about 2 days to teach Bowser not to screw around or enter the corrals/pens if there is a new calf. He actually looks to see before following us in, haven't had to get on him hardly at all lately.
I have noticed though that he really takes an ass chewin' seriously, almost takes it too personally. The little 'hound' doesn't give a damn but Bowser really seems to care.

We've toned down any disipline bigtime, Bowser just doesn't require a heavy hand when it comes to teaching and we certainly don't want to dampen his 'spirit'.

Maybe I'll take a pic today.

I have found the (good) GSD's will learn just about anything that you care to take the time to teach them..........their learning capacity seems endless.

MM

Did not know that. Thanks for the info. It explains why one of my brothers shepherds has the low slung hind quarters and the border patrol dog is for lack of a better word "LEVEL"

I love dogs !!!! My current dog is a Lab named Casey. Before him I had
a German Shepherd named Ranger. Ranger was a great dog and I still miss him.
Both big dogs but night and day different. Ranger was much smarter
and needed a lot more play time. I never could leave Ranger all alone
for more than 5 or 6 hours. He would get bored and get into something.
Thinking back on it... it was kinda funny... but it was not so funny at the time.

Here's one of my childhood Shepherds (We got her as a pup in '67, and she died in '80). No low slung hindquarters on her. She was a great dog and friend. Lots of happy memories. I think she's munching a bone there.

I've got 2, and won't ever not have one. I got a male 5 or 6 years ago, not papered, but his sire was owned by a buddy's dad in NM and he was a dog killing sob (dogs that came onto his property). My buddy had a pup from him, and he was an awesome dog. Good natured, big, built really well, so when another litter from the same parents came up for grabs I took one. He's been awesome. Had some issues for a bit, but had him castrated and that fixed it. I got him purposefully for protection, to watch the wife and kids while I was gone, both physically and simply the intimidation factor. But if somebody comes to visit, I don't have to worry he's going to eat somebody's kid. [bleep] that, I've no time for that kind of BS. He's a companion and a first line of defence/alert. He's about 95 lbs, and you would not want to make a quick move around my wife if I'm not there. Hell, he'd defend her against me. That being said, if I didn't trust him around my kids he'd already be dead. The only thing with that bugger is he's a cat killing fool. He's got a hell of a prey drive, and very very focused when he's in alert mode.

I got a smaller female from a "breeder" in Great Falls. Whiskey Tango outfit out of a trailer, but she's one hell of a dog. She's my son's dog. Sleeps under his bed, constant companion outside. Gunshots don't bother her, she'll hang out with us all day shooting, or anything. Certainly no Old World $10,000 dogs, and I wouldn't present them as such. If I'd the money I'd love one of those dark Czech dogs, but for me I've done ok with these mutts.

where would one go about finding one of those czech dogs like in the picture? I think i want your dog.

Here

Good notes about the sloping backlines...that seems to be an AKC confirmation thing....you will notice, as many of you have, that the working dogs have level back lines....likewise the usual cream color with black saddle seen on confirmation dogs is pretty rare in working dogs. Since they are selected and bred for work, color etc. is not a consideration.....which is why you see alot of working dogs in black or sable...

I'd still like to abscond with some of the dogs Ive seen on this thread!

My male is very square, and has had no issues getting around. The female is just a smaller version. Every vet I've had him to has commented on how well he's built, as well as some pretty knoweledgable GSD people. Too bad he needed cut.

I'm with you Ingwe, there are some awesome dogs on here.

Well, google up Sapphire Shepherds in Montana and then give them a call. But do your homework.

ingwe will probably know other places that I do not. My wife did the homework on this one.

She is a wonderful dog.


About the trend of sloped backs in American Shepherds, it is interesting to look at the multiple Rin Tin Tins. There is a hint of that trend there. Though perhaps I imagine it

http://www.rintintin.co/com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=53

I like the long haired sable but lacquer blacks are my favorite.

I can't agree enough. My Dad grew up with the breed. I've had one, and I'll probably get another. Mine was smart enough to:

1) Use the TV remote
2) Figure out when his favorite shows were on and turn them on himself.
3) Watch B&W Film Noir movies and enjoy the heck out of them. His other favorites were Lassy (the old ones with June Lockhart, Emergency Room Vet, and Miracle Pets
4) Understand compound sentences, and complex syntax. "If you take your bone outside, I'll give you another one. " He would go get the old bone from another room, and come back in and ask ask for the new one.
5) He learned out to work a deadbolt lock, ring a doorbell and a fence latch on his own.
6) "I'm thinking of a bagel this morning." to KYHillChick elicited a response of having him run to the door and wait for me to finish dressing and let him out. He knew we were out of bagels and anticipated me driving out to get some.





He died in 2006. There's a ride I have to take every spring, listening to Keith Jarrett's Koln Concert-- it was the road he and I used to take to town on a regular basis. It was on that road one day during turkey season that I found I could call out "Cows on the left!" or "Horses on the right," and he'd understand and respond accordingly. He barked at cows-- they were food. He whined at horses-- they were potential playmates.

I am not in your area so not sure there are any organizations out there, but I would like to suggest you check into a GSD rescue.
I adopted a 2 yr old from a shelter out here in MT, and scored a good one. GSD's can be a hand full if not properly handled, but they are, in my opinion, one of the best, most loyal, breeds you can acquire. Get a good one and you will have a treasured lifelong companion. It is all I will ever own.

Still just a big puppy.
He's good around everything now, cats, calves, horses, just gotta keep an eye on him because he likes to hide under the pickup if a cow gets after him.

That dog's a beauty, Sam.

Where can one get good training information? Any DVD courses out there worth a darn?

My wife's 12 week old gsd is at puppy obiedence class as I type.

What to do after the basics are done is the type of info that I am looking for. Thanks

No hard and fast rules here Dan...it all depends on what you want the dog to become...but as someone mentioned, socialization is the BIG key..get the dog out an exposed to EVERYTHING...kids, cats, crowds,vets offices you name it...

Sammo, I know you don't know it or realize it, but that is a damn valuable dog!