German Shepherd?

[EmrldShdwQueen]

What is your experience with them? I am torn about whether to go with a GSD or a GP as my "big dog" baby. I have read some about GSDs not being good with other dogs or cats. Do you think if I got a puppy and it was raised around the yorkies that there would still be a risk of it hurting them?

I want to hear as much as I can about your experience with owning them, and especially owning them around yorkies.

Thanks!

[KathyinCali]

I always owned Shepherds before Lucy and I can tell you both Ranger and Scout were the most gentle I've ever seen around small dogs and cats. (We had two cats). I trusted them with my life and I've never had a more loyal devoted companion. They now live with my daughter on her farm and she has them around her babies all the time along with Lucy! She loves them. Best of luck with your decision.

[peanut]

Originally Posted by KathyinCali

I always owned Shepherds before Lucy and I can tell you both Ranger and Scout were the most gentle I've ever seen around small dogs and cats. (We had two cats). I trusted them with my life and I've never had a more loyal devoted companion. They now live with my daughter on her farm and she has them around her babies all the time along with Lucy! She loves them. Best of luck with your decision.

They are gorgeous...I have one also that is around my babies, I love my Max, I am in the process of fencing in 15 acres in the near future and when I do I will have a few more, they are the best. Great Post Kathryn
Just make sure you get one from a great breeder, they are like yorkies you have to research and get a breeder that knows what they are doing. I also put mine in training for over a month, and thats the best thing you can do

[KathyinCali]

Originally Posted by peanut

They are gorgeous...I have one also that is around my babies, I love my Max, I am in the process of fencing in 15 acres in the near future and when I do I will have a few more, they are the best. Great Post Kathryn
Just make sure you get one from a great breeder, they are like yorkies you have to research and get a breeder that knows what they are doing. I also put mine in training for over a month, and thats the best thing you can do

Max is beautiful! I totally agree that the breeder is everything when choosing a Shepherd and training is an absolute must. Ranger and Scout also went to a one month training and it made all the difference in the world.

[peanut]

Originally Posted by KathyinCali

Max is beautiful! I totally agree that the breeder is everything when choosing a Shepherd and training is an absolute must. Ranger and Scout also went to a one month training and it made all the difference in the world.

its like night and day after the training...

[JCarlson2004]

I grew up with a German Shepherd and he was the most gentle and loving dog. We also had a rabbit and a guinea pig and he loved them both. I have so many pictures of him laying with Snowball (our rabbit) on top of his back fast asleep and other ones of him licking Dusty (our guinea pig). He was a great dog.

[Miley's mom]

Originally Posted by EmrldShdwQueen

What is your experience with them? I am torn about whether to go with a GSD or a GP as my "big dog" baby. I have read some about GSDs not being good with other dogs or cats. Do you think if I got a puppy and it was raised around the yorkies that there would still be a risk of it hurting them?

I want to hear as much as I can about your experience with owning them, and especially owning them around yorkies.

Thanks!

We got a GSD (puppy) about 4 weeks ago , I had been thinking about it all year but my husband and daughter were very set that they want it this breed as we had one in the past (before my yorkies ) and I was very concerned because of the size difference between the two.
well we got a male puppy and it's very difficult , the puppy wants to play with my girls and him being at around 17-20 pounds is not working out , my girls get so mad at him and he is not being gentle at all.
He is only 12 weeks old right now and my husband -kids keep telling me that he is just a puppy and he will change as he grows up but last night (I free feed my girls & he is on schedule because he will eat all the time if we let him) he went to my girl's food and started to eat and one of the girls went to it as well , and he attacked her , my yorkie went right back at him , and there it was a little fight with crying from my yorkie ( so now I know he has a food aggression behavior) I got so scared, nothing bad happen as he is just a puppy but imagined if he was a big dog. Anyway I got very upset and put him outside right after that, and honestly I don't want him here anymore......I don't trust him around my yorkies and it scares me to death thinking something bad can happen later on.
I don't want to take any chances and wait and see if it will work or not , because of the size difference I know my yorkies are the ones in risk........I don't think is fair for the gsd puppy to stay in the byard and live outside , and I'm seriously thinking of re-homing him ......my husband agrees and I haven't talked to my daughter yet ( I know she will be heart broken).

[Proud Mommy]

I have a GSD named Cassie

I posted my thread about her Dont let it scare you or deter you away from a GSD.

I have always owned a GSD... They are a phenomenal breed!!! I could not say enough good things about them.

I am just stuck with a very VERY stubborn one

She has an amazing temperament and she is wonderful with ALL other animals!!

You could NOT go wrong welcoming a GSD into your life

Good luck with whatever you decide

I Have Had It!!!!!!!!!!!

[nikkinack]

I was raised with shepherds and golden’s and I think there temperament really depends on the breeding and razing of them but sometimes you just get an aggressive one. When I was 16 we got our 5th shepherd from a great breeder and he was a great pup but as he grew he became so aggressive we finally had to put him down because he could no longer be handled. I currently own a shepherd/chow mix and he is the sweetest dog in the world but he has his limits with lily keeping in mind he is getting old, I do not blame him for wanting to be left alone. Also my brother has 2 shepherds, I am at his house 5 days a week for at least 5 hours a day and lily is always with me. His one shepherd is going on 8 at has been a great dog she has grown up with his children and she is there best friend. But now there is a problem she is becoming aggressive. She has gone after me and my brother and is very intolerant of anything, this has just happen in the past year. She (Raja) just ignores Lily and sometimes grumbles at her, they are never left alone even for five seconds. His second shepherd is now 2 and she has a big bark but is a wimp. She shows very little aggression, both came from great breeders. Bristol the 2 year old likes lily but I cannot let them be around each other because she wants to play and she is 80Lb and lily is 5. At 2 she still acts like a pup, they are both horrible with cats. We have owned probably 7 GSD that I remember and 4 out of 7 were perfect dogs the others were a little aggressive and protective but I think that is somewhat expected of the breed. I would say all in all they are great dogs, I think the best for children also very intelligent, but shed a lot.

[KathyinCali]

Originally Posted by Proud Mommy

I have a GSD named Cassie

I posted my thread about her Dont let it scare you or deter you away from a GSD.

I have always owned a GSD... They are a phenomenal breed!!! I could not say enough good things about them.

I am just stuck with a very VERY stubborn one

She has an amazing temperament and she is wonderful with ALL other animals!!

You could NOT go wrong welcoming a GSD into your life

Good luck with whatever you decide

I Have Had It!!!!!!!!!!!

She is beautiful!

[browniesmom622]

I think there great dog's !

[deb22]

This breed has been one of my favorites forever. Had them while growing up and they were great. We have two white sheppards now. And they are good with Penny. (they were here first) Penny thinks she is the boss though.

[EmrldShdwQueen]

Well I'm wondering too...since I already have a lot of little yorkies running around (and 1 cat), would it make a difference if I got a shepherd puppy that I could TEACH to be gentle around them? I had planned on doing training. I want an excellent guard dog that's good with the family, but will go after someone in an instant that tried to hurt me or the yorkies. I had almost completely decided on getting a Great Pyrenees, and then I saw the movie I Am Legend, and I started thinking about them again...I want a GSD named Samantha...

Also, what's your opinion on male vs female shepherds? Would one do better with small dogs and a cat than the other?

[kdlmon]

I had a German Shepherd during my teen years and she was absolutely the BEST dog. So sweet and she was very gentle with my old (and blind!) yorkie. She was the only female dog that I have ever own and she was a doll! Never had a male Shepherd so I can't really compare the two. The only downside was the shedding!

[romeos mommy]

no offense , but i think they are on the insurance list for dangerous dogs.