Thank you. We have had two German Shepards at different times, one male, one female. They spent most of their time outside only coming in the house on special occasions. Excellent temperaments. Good with children and other pets. We now have a Doberman puppy. We will have her as an inside pet along with our miniature poodle and a cat. I guess it’s been awhile since we’ve had a puppy because she is a real handful. Mind you the G.S. were outside dogs and accidents didn’t happen in the house with them. We are now seniors but are doing our best to give her the outside exercise she needs. The miniature poodle helps a lot with that. She’s a lovely 21pound “little “ thing. Sticks to me like glue when she isn’t fooling around and causing havoc. Please wish us well. We need it!
@@nielsknud3879 we had to find a new home for our beautiful Lucy. I miss her terribly. She wasn’t the problem, my husband and I were. We are seniors with developing disabilities and could not give her the exercise she needed. She went to a family with two children and I understand is much loved. They enrolled her in obedience classes which is always a good idea.
More than two years later...but still thrilled with the content of this video - thank you Will! We decided to get a European male Doberman as a working dog a year and a half ago! He is incredibly intense, strong, very loyal, a velcro-dog and very sensitive - as you described - definitely not for everyone. At work 100% focused, enormously energetic and with a high prey drive! At home: goofy, calm and great with our four cats and small children too! I love him to bits. Greetings from Switzerland
My experience with 6 GSDs & children over many years does not correspond with what you said. We don't have children in the house, but we have had children visit - everywhere between toddlers to pre-teens. While I have always been nervous when the 1st child visits & we have a new dog, my concern has always been unwarranted. They have always been very gentle with small children (they seem to be aware of their vulnerability) and also very tolerant of rough handling. My previous GSD was a large male (42 kg) and quite a bully when playing with me and my adult sons. One day friends arrived with their toddler. The dog sat watching the child walk in, looking excited. The child walked up to him and immediately slapped him across the face. I ran to intervene but nothing happened - the dog just looked surprised but did not react. During the afternoon the two bonded - the child crawled over him, pulling his ears & tail as small children like to do. The dog loved it and when the child wandered off he would go to invite more play. Oh and they also seem to like cats!
This is not all gsd’s by any means. My male is a very dominant and can be aggressive in certain situations if his boundaries are crossed. He is fine with kids just as he is with adults, but he doesn’t want to be petted or even touched. He tolerates it unless you grab or hit him and he will defend himself regardless of size. We don’t allow children to be around him because they are too unpredictable in their behavior. My female is just a cuddle bug and wouldn’t dare even show any kinda sign of threat to anyone.
Mine eats children. I don't have any. It's the goofy uncoordinated unpredictable way they move. I don't let him near them unless I'm in compete control of the situation. 😊
Agree. Mischaracterization of the GSD with children for sure. Have a 6yr old working line and he was“watchful” at all ages. Even when he was a year old They observe like no other breed and have an innate desire to protect. Also the absolute dragon-like bark of a male GSD, is something everyone should experience up close sometime ! The working line are always on and watchful. There is no shut off with them. Absolute amazing alertness and situational awareness.
3yrs later, but this was just such a great dive into these two breeds. educating yourself on the traits of a potential dog BEFORE getting it i think is just so helpful for sanity and for things working out well on both ends. it's like going on a date and seeing what someone is actually like vs just a picture. from pictures you might be undecided but as soon as you see what they are LIKE, instantly you have a yes/no. could be too high/low energy, talk too much or not enough, weird habits, etc. same with dogs.
I feel this is a mischaracterization of the GSD with children. I have a 6yr old male working line and he wa “watchful” at all ages. Even when he was a year old They observe like no other breed and have an innate desire to protect. Also the absolute dragon-like bark of a male GSD, is something everyone should experience up close sometime ! The working line are always on and watchful. There is no shut off with them. Absolute amazing alertness and situational awareness.
I have a Doberman. Personally it's Doberman for me. They really are incredible canines. No shade to gsd they're good but Doberman has the clear edge.....trust
I can not access the quiz. I am an older farmer. Still active but 68. I have an awful coyote and racoon problem. The coyotes are packing something new. The only dog I have had which was sucessful was a working line GSD crossed with timber wolf. She could take out a pack of yotes alone one bite one coyote. But really a time consuming potentially dangerous animal. I was required by my breeder to spend a year studying wolfdogs. He visited my home and when I was allowed to put a deposit on a pup I had to go to his home and meet the mother and father. Finally he took me into the kennel. If you were too timid to face the adults no pup for you.
I absolutely enjoy your videos! You are very clear and helpful. Thank you for helping dogs to leave better! I would like to know your opinion about Vizslas. I found this bread very fascinating.
i had experience with two. one was..... an old antisocial female that i didn't like being around on the property. the other was a young girl who i really liked. she didn't glomp on people, but was very independent, and had an open and free demenor. she'd run by you, or trot, or walk around (never aggressive unless a threat popped up) always great with a hand snaking out to pet her head, back or flank. she's the dog that gives me any interest in the dobes. the other one.... would make me steer clear. i figure it's probably training and owners. (this was at a horse stable.) i can't remember which dog, possibly the younger one, but it saved the owner from a would-be robber, in the office trailer. she went into 'fkk around and find out' mode, put herself between the person and the owner, and they ran the hell out of there.
We have had five Dobermans. Four of them were very friendly. One not quite so. The one we have now is a 95 pound male that loves everyone that comes into the house.He is a Velcro that dog follow me wherever I go and when he hears me waking up in the morning crawls in bed with me to cuddle.
My gsd’s are both very affectionate with me, my female is with my wife also and my male is when I’m gone but when I’m around she is almost nonexistent in his world. She likes attention and love from other ppl also, he don’t like anybody else touching him or getting in his 3’ circle of personal space but I can do anything to him and he don’t even growl unless we’re wrestling.
I find dobermans stunning and gorgeous dogs, but their intensity and personality are not suited for my experience and desired traits. After Goldens, a Bassett and several rescue mutts, and meeting a friend's GSD got me interested in them. My first is on his way (1 yo he was surrendered back to breeder from a student who misunderstood the commitment but was well treated otherwise)
GSD's had 3,jobs very loyal to family easy to train, yes they will try and heard young children that is there protective part of there nature. You are wrong about saying there only two coats, there is short semi and long coat. Dobies are very loyal especially with babies and young children, they only had one job, The Great dane was trained to bring bore down the doby was the one to kill. There is also another job the doby is good at! That's Bank robbery and that's a true fact.
Or you can do what we did, go to the dog shelter and get a half Dobe, half German Shepherd mutt puppy. That way you get the best of both worlds AND you have a reduced chance of breed specific health issues.
