GSD stereotype - Page 2

Can all the GSD and pit bulls in the area sue for defamation of breed?

Seriously, can the GSD Club of America do anything? Or maybe their charitable trust, which advertises it's about education about the breed?

Or even the AKC?

Can all the GSD and pit bulls in the area sue for defamation of breed?

well, if you are asking a serious question, then in the U.S., the answer is no. and that is a good thing.

and seriously, when is the last time there was a story about a GSD (or multiple GSD) killing their owner, children in the owners family or the owners neighbor.

GSD are not pit bulls. don't class them as such and IMO, don't use GSD in the same sentence.

and kudos who all who hammer this paper for using a GSD in their story.

JMO,

Rik

Rik: and seriously, when is the last time there was a story about a GSD (or multiple GSD) killing their owner, children in the owners family or the owners neighbor.

 

Sadly, I recently heard about German shepherds attacking a singer (thankfully they didn't kill her): https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2018/09/05/local-singer-in-hospital-after-brutal-dog-attack/

That much about responsibility and education...

Maybe off topic, but

Everybody who owns a dog able to hurt a human or another animal must be aware that dogs are able and sometimes willing to hurt someone.

What is needed?
Education / training / responsibility = a lot of work day after day as long as the dog(s) live(s).

Shit happens - a door not closed, a second of inattentIon - I guess everybody who owns dogs is able to remember those moments,
BUT
1. Today people who never owned a dog before are able to buy "trained PP dogs" online like washing machines, the more expensive, the better...the juppies

2. Today people don't understand any more that the cute family pet when grown up may distinguish between family and strangers...the naives

3. Today modern people "forgot" that animals as a whole don't believe in our human moral thinking - they are animals(!)...the "I want to take care of my family, no matter what"
4. last but not least the "posers, the assholes" - no clue, but a dangerous dog...- those have been around all the times

Dogs, espacially working dog breeds, are a liability, they need education, training, and they need 24/7 supervising - they are no pets.

End of rant

Absolutely agree; its one thing to say we do not want the reputation of our breed further besmirched by having GSDs used to illustrate stories about dog attacks by other types of dog, and another entirely to suggest GSDs could never do any wrong. Of course there have been GSD attacks on people; just as there have been GSD attacks on other dogs, belonging to other people. EG There is a poodle bitch in the UK who will never be the same again, after she was set on by a number of out-of-control GSDs owned by a woman who allowed them to run riot. That cost the poodle's owner a great deal of money in vet bills to repair, and did not endear her to the GSD breed. Only modified by the way (other) GSD people had sympathy for her & her poodle, and rallied round to help with the costs. Made us ashamed to be lumped in with the irresponsible owner, through our choice of breed.

Does not matter whether you own a GSD that is manwork trained, or 'just a pet' - it is a large, active, intelligent breed and therefore needs people who will take appropriate care of it, and with it. Sadly, as Susie points out, there will always be people totally unsuitable to have a dachshund, let alone a GSD. Except they can usually do less harm with the little breed. Same goes for other similar breeds which have gained out-of-proportion reputations for being vicious over the years, Rottweilers spring immediately to mind. Of course we don't want to reinforce, or return to, the "alsatianphobia" of the post WW2 period and beyond; and photos like that presented here by the OP, used as a generic illustration for 'evil dog', do not help. But the image of our breed is also down to the people who keep it - and many, sadly, should really not own it, because they don't understand it and can't or won't manage it sensibly.