Some questions on German Shepherds

[e^(ix)]

Hello all,

I've been very fascinated with dogs once again in general, and GSDs in
particular. I've owned a GSD when I was a very young boy. I've seen
many clips of them on youtube, and they all seem to be very well-
loved, stern, uncorruptible, loyal, and eager-to-please types of
dogs. For these reasons, and for nostaligic reasons related to my
boyhood, I'm very interested in owning a GSD. However, I have a few
questions:
1. I don't want my male GSD humping things around the home. Would
castrating the GSD prevent him from engaging in this embarrassing
behavior? Also, do castrated GSDs grow to regular heights with
regular strengths after being neutered? I would think that without so
much testosterone, the GSD would be smaller and leaner in size.
2. What would you recommend: A sterile male or a sterile female?
3. Regarding these new sub-breeds of GSDs out there, i.e. Shiloh and
King, should these be avoided? I realize that a Shiloh is not
recognized by certain organization as being a "true GSD".
4. Has your GSD ever bit or snapped at you?
5. How do you establish dominance to your GSD?

[Dave Teetz]

Please forgive me if I've misinterpreted the questions in the email.
From the questions it appears that you are not looking for a pet,
rather something that you can dominate, control and strip of all
canine traits. In this case I suggest getting the German Shepherd Dog
Webkin:

1. It won't need to be de-sexed;
2. It's not gender specific;
3. It's a true German Shepherd Dog, if you want it to be;
4. It won't bite or snap at you;
5. It will never try to dominate you.

You won't even have to go online to register the dog, so it won't die
when it's not fed.

An absolutely sad email you wrote and didn't sign.

Dave

[Tracy Cushway]

1.  I don't want my male GSD humping things around the home.  Would
> castrating the GSD prevent him from engaging in this embarrassing
> behavior?  Also, do castrated GSDs grow to regular heights with
> regular strengths after being neutered?  I would think that without so
> much testosterone, the GSD would be smaller and leaner in size.

 

My spayed female does the humping around this house so you aren't going to get away with avoiding dominant behavior by spaying/neutering certain dogs.  In your case, I would say please do spay/neuter.  It will not affect their size or working ability.

 

2.  What would you recommend:  A sterile male or a sterile female?

 

That comes down to personal choice.  I prefer working with males but some people prefer females.  Non of my working dogs are altered.

 

3.  Regarding these new sub-breeds of GSDs out there, i.e. Shiloh and
>> King, should these be avoided?

 

Yep.

 

4.  Has your GSD ever bit or snapped at you?

 

Yes but I bite back and carry big 2x4.

 

 5.  How do you establish dominance to your GSD?

 

See above.

 

---

Tracy
Secret Spot Bengals
www.secretspotbengals.com
Vom Windlied German Shepherds
http://windlied.tripod.com/index.html