Why German Shepherds? - Page 2

Sunsilver you made me cry... aren't they just amazing dogs no matter what their background.

Sunsilver:  What a beautiful story.  Lili was lucky to have found you.

My family had a few shepherds while I was growing up, but they were always one of my brothers dogs.  As soon as I bought my first house I started looking for my first dog.  I couldn't decide between a collie and a gsd.  A local trainer gave me a referral to a local breeder and once I saw this face - I was hooked.  Thanks to Reno, I now have had 4 and counting!

Most herding breeds have the intelligence and willing nature that makes them well suited to work, play, and live well with humans. However, none are as versatile or universally talented as the GSD. Few if any breeds are as studied, developed, or as carefully selected. As I see it the GSD is the total package, anything else is JUST A DOG. Best Wishes, Jonah 

When I was a child I always wanted a GSD.  When I went to college I got my first GSD.  I have been in love ever since, but I couldn't tell you exactly why.  I just know they are the breed for me.

My dad bought me a male shepherd,  The dog never even saw his first Birthday before my dad was killed in a car accident...  The dog saved me,  I went into such a depression loosing your Dad when your a fifteen year old girl is nothing short of devistating and tragic,  To make it so much worse for me,  I always Idolized my Dad,  He was the smartest, kindest, Most Right person I had ever known and I always wanted to be just like him,  I wanted to do for others the way I had watched him do so many many times.  "Chapps" became my lifeline and my stronghold to my father and his memories,  Sadly I lost him at a young age,  though my Dad was an intelligent Angus Cattle Breeder with many State awards he did not do as much homework when looking for a pup and this pup was not from the "Best" of stock,  and we lost him to displasia.  But before I lost him he saved my life,  without that dog,  I think it likely I would have not survived the Death of my father,  My head at 15 was not the clearest and thoughts I shudder to even admit I had thought definately crossed my mind.  Wtih Chapps I made it through,  I still think of my Father and of that dog every single day.

Since then I have not met a shepherd I did not fall in love with.

Because of Rin Tin Tin mostly.  Always wanted them as a child and my first dog was a GSD.  I do think Rotts and Dobermanns are wonderful dogs but when I retired and decided to get several dogs in my new home with lots of acreage, I wanted Rotts and/or Dobes but decided on the Shepherds because of my aversion to having tails docked and ears trimmed.  The best dog I now own is a male Rott that I got from the Humane Shelter, but my three GSD's imported from Germany at 2 grand a piece are pretty good also, but I have to admit, the Rott is better all around.  I also have a female Rott that "came" with the male (they were dropped off at the shelter together and she may be his girlfriend or his mother ?), and she is not all that great.  Bull Mastiff's are real nice also.  Had a male Chihuahua once that was a tough little booger also and I loved him to death.

He He.  Sounds like I can't make up my mind.  Probably more to the point is that I like them all. but some individual dogs, regardless of the breed, can steal your heart  :-)

Echomeadows - my heart goes out to you.  I cannot imagine losing my Dad at 15.  That is truly tragic.  I am glad you had Chapps to bring you out of your depression.  What a wonderful gift you father gave you.  I lost my father not quite 2 years ago and I also think of him everyday.  I also had a shepherd that kept me from losing it after watching my best friend die of cancer at 32 and then my father a few years later to cancer as well.  There is just something about these shepherds.  She was always there whenever I needed a shoulder to cry on.  I like to think that Reno is with my Dad now, and Chapps is with yours and that someday we will see them again. 

I've always like shepherds but I think it was because of a dog met when I was about 10 yo.  Our neighbors didn't have any kids yet but they had Heidi a 3 yo female GSD.  Heidi was a little timid and a small B&T girl.  She generally avoid the other kids and dogs in the neighborhood but she'd play with me.   Our neighborhood, also, had two very large very agressive (human & dog) male GSD's that live around the corner from me.  The owners would chain them up in the front yard and they would periodically break loose and terrorize the neighborhood.  They bite several kids and killed 3 or 4 dogs in the area.

When my parents worked, I used to visit Heidi's owners a lot and I'd spend my time with Heidi.  She was the dog that made me love the breed.  One afternoon, I was at the neighbor's house and we heard screaming.  The two Male GSD's had broken out and were across the street attacking a mixed breed pup that one of the kids had in the front yard on a leash.  The little boy couldn't get loose and was screaming (he'd already been bitten).  Before my neighbor lady or I could move Heidi hit the front glass door, broke it and was tearing across the street at full speed.  She hit those two big males (thinking back they've always seemed twice her size) knocking them away from the pup and the little boy.  By the time any one else got there, she was in a fight for her life with the bigger dogs.  Blood was every where and she was fighting to stay on her feet.  I remember three men from the neighborhood using sticks and clubs to the beat the bigger dogs off.  Heidi spent several days at the vets recovering.  The boy had stitches in his hand and face.  I can't remember what happened to the puppy, though.  It was such a mess.  The owners of the male dogs never even checked on Heidi or the little boy (I remember my dad having an arguement with one of the owners over it).  I don't remember seeing the male dogs out again after that but I did spend a lot more time with Heidi while she was recovering.  Heidi's courage that day made me really fall in love with GSD's.  She was never quite the same afterwards and walked with a limp but she showed me what a real GSD was all about.  I could never forget her.   It's still one of my most vivid memories from going up.