where have all the good, tough dogs gone?

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by Don Corleone on 10 December 2010 - 18:12

Jenni, I didn't see your question. I found that interesting because in my experiences with that breed, as a whole, I do not see that.I just don't see them as the "Toughest" breed. I think first we should define tough before I answer more. I'm not trying to impune the breed, just not my opinion.

by Pharaoh on 10 December 2010 - 18:12

Don,

Being originally from New Jersey, Don is right about the rats. I spent my first 10 years in central/south Paterson.

I remember banging the crap out of the garbage sheds before opening the door and then clanging the lid and stepping back before putting anything in the garbage. They were very large aggressive rats.

I can see where someone with very bad eye sight could get them confused.

Michele

by Jenni78 on 10 December 2010 - 18:12

Don, if you are seeing them in a protection sport venue, you won't see it...I can almost promise that. I think it's great when people do that stuff with them, but IMO, it's really not their thing, and some of the best ones aren't going to do well at it. Now, the ones who aren't wired quite right can bite people all day long and feel fine about it, LOL, but that's a whole 'nother topic.

And yes, my point exactly...you can't really define "tough" in a way that will be universally accepted. If you mean grit and endurance, then maybe. If you mean other things..................well there we go again spiraling....

I was just curios as to where you were going w/that statement. You know, the wheels in your brain just fascinate me. LOLOLOL

by Don Corleone on 10 December 2010 - 18:12

Jenni, that's why I stopped. I really wasn't just basing my opinion in sport. Just all around experience with the breed. But like all breeds, there are good one and shi++ers. Dobes are similar. Not the best sport dog, but a nicely bred dobe can be a tenacious bastard.

by Don Corleone on 11 December 2010 - 01:12

No need to look further than the classifieds! Nice! http://www.pedigreedatabase.con/gsd/classifieds/94279.html

by blair built gsd on 11 December 2010 - 05:12

Ten so do you just want to know what lines you can get a tough gsd from? Tell us what it is that you want a dog that wont run in a threatning situation in real life? If so i dont think its possible to be sure of that even if there lines are full of dogs like that. Now if you just want to have a good chance at geting a gsd that has plenty of hart i dont think that will be hard. There are plenty on here including myself who could point you to that.

by Gustav on 11 December 2010 - 14:12

Sounds to me like Tenmon already has the answers so I'll sit on sideline and "learn"!!!!

by desert dog on 11 December 2010 - 14:12

If toughness was ever in the genetic gene pool, and I believe it was, then it will always be there. It just has to be brought back to the top by selective breeding. The gene pool in the german shepherds are pretty diverse, which has enabled them to excell at so many differant tasks. You can never bring out what was never there, but if it was ever there you can always bring it back.
hank

by Prager on 11 December 2010 - 16:12

I did not read all the posts here, thus forgive me if I repeat someones else's observation.
Here is my point.
Dogs do not see their territory as a the property boundary for which his owner pays taxes. Dog even behind the fence perceives his territory way past the fence. The dog who roams on regular basis through out the neighborhood perceives all the neighborhood as his territory. Thus what you have observed was normal food aggression on the dogs own territory. Not a spectacular courage of a hunting dog.
Thus I would conclude that any self respected GSD in similar situation on his territory should rip you new one. I have full kennel of such dogs here.
Prager Hans
http://www.alpinek9.com

by tenmon on 11 December 2010 - 22:12

Prager, it is all well and good to go to a kennel where there are a bunch of dogs jumping up and down against the kennel fence acting tough and all. But I will guarantee you that you take them somewhere unknown to them, strange area and come at them with a stick in an open athmosphere and I guarantee they tuck their tails between their legs and run.
I have seen what you have described over and over again at different kennels and when those vicious acting dogs were taken out on the field to be tested they perform soft with shallow bites. I'm not saying yours do, but the point being, being in an environment like yours vs an open outwardly area that the dogs have a chance to run or stand ground, most will run.
I believe that not all dogs are capable of doing/demonstrating or even possess the necessary genes to be tough. Some, because of high prey drive and be taught to appear tough. Some are inherently have it hard wired, and most have a proportion of it.
The original question is if you have them, are they from a particular line or are you saying ALL your dogs are tough! I will go out on a limb and say.....no they are not all tough but act tough!

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