Another "What Dog Should I Get?" Post

I have three White Shepherds. They are known not to be as aggressive. I'm not sure how they compare to other Shepherds in terms of independence.
 
You said "some sort of Shepherd dog." My dogs are "some sort of shepherd dog", and they're not as independent. They would be miserable as outside dogs. I have seen some more aggressive white sheps than mine. It depends upon their upbringing. I just wanted to clarify that you really have to look at the particular shepherd. They are not all the same.
 
jsmatos said:
You said "some sort of Shepherd dog." My dogs are "some sort of shepherd dog", and they're not as independent. They would be miserable as outside dogs. I have seen some more aggressive white sheps than mine. It depends upon their upbringing. I just wanted to clarify that you really have to look at the particular shepherd. They are not all the same.
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yes, because there are quite a few kinds of shepherd dogs...your dog is called a shepherd dog but yet again it seems that like with most other matters calling someone/somewhat something doesn't neccessarily mean they are...a german shepherd dog is also called "shepherd" yet I'm not sure if it was ever used as a shepherd dog since its introduction...it seems there exist true shepherd dogs and socalled shepherd dogs...btw what would be dog's temperament depends primarily on the genes, not upbringing...similar like with humans
 
Blueeyeddevil said:
yes, because there are quite a few kinds of shepherd dogs...your dog is called a shepherd dog but yet again it seems that like with most other matters calling someone/somewhat something doesn't neccessarily mean they are...a german shepherd dog is also called "shepherd" yet I'm not sure if it was ever used as a shepherd dog since its introduction...it seems there exist true shepherd dogs and socalled shepherd dogs...btw what would be dog's temperament depends primarily on the genes, not upbringing...similar like with humans
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My dogs are friggin shepherds. It's all bullsh*t. The White Shepherd is called White Shepherd Dog by some groups and simply White Shepherd by others. My dogs are not "socalled" shepherds. They are shepherds. Way back when, during Hitler's reign, they decided that White Shepherds were inferior dogs because they were dumb enough to think that they were albinos. Many white shepherds were drowned at birth because of their supposed inferiority. It wasn't until the last decade that the big dog groups began to start recognizing the breed at all. They don't want to let them into dog shows because they have been bred differently to protect the other sheps from the terrible albino blood. It was bullsh*t. These shepherds are more like the original shepherds than any other. The other shepherds have been bred to have the slope in their backs leading to lowered hips, that cause a great deal of problems, and other attractive characteristics that have proven to be problematic over time. Today, white shepherds have much fewer health problems because of their isolated breeding. I will not accept that my dogs are not shepherds. It's a debate that has been ongoing for decades. My dogs are not now, nor have they ever been, inferior to other shepherds.
 
jsmatos said:
My dogs are friggin shepherds. It's all bullsh*t. The White Shepherd is called White Shepherd Dog by some groups and simply White Shepherd by others. My dogs are not "socalled" shepherds. They are shepherds. Way back when, during Hitler's reign, they decided that White Shepherds were inferior dogs because they were dumb enough to think that they were albinos. Many white shepherds were drowned at birth because of their supposed inferiority. It wasn't until the last decade that the big dog groups began to start recognizing the breed at all. They don't want to let them into dog shows because they have been bred differently to protect the other sheps from the terrible albino blood. It was bullsh*t. These shepherds are more like the original shepherds than any other. The other shepherds have been bred to have the slope in their backs leading to lowered hips, that cause a great deal of problems, and other attractive characteristics that have proven to be problematic over time. Today, white shepherds have much fewer health problems because of their isolated breeding. I will not accept that my dogs are not shepherds. It's a debate that has been ongoing for decades. My dogs are not now, nor have they ever been, inferior to other shepherds.
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you need to lower your emotional stimulus :eek: ...btw what was that about Hitler? Another war story? Well if it's of any consolation to you I'm sorry to hear that many white shepherd were drowned at birth...it's a cruel method of killing dogs or cats (for thar matter) offspring.
Also you didn't understand what I said at all...I will say it again: to me both your white shepherd and a german shepherd dog are NOT TRUE shepherd dogs.
 
Tiktock- your aussie is a great dog. I would love to get one myself. A friend has one, and his likes to jump and jump and jump as well as chase and try to corner things in. Watching my dog and his has got to be one of the funniest things ever. They run and run and run trying to corner each other in, disregarding things like trees and parked cars! Pretty funny stuff.


Ok then.............so why not call them sheparding dogs, the ones who actually round things up. I know my dog does naturally, but I've never trained her to do that. It was a golden retriever that was the older dog when she was a pup, so it didn't come from the golden either.

Sheparding dogs...............heh
 
Blueeyeddevil said:
you need to lower your emotional stimulus :eek: ...btw what was that about Hitler? Another war story?
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No, it's not a "war story," it's simply the history of the breed. Where was my first war story anyway? :rolleyes: For more information, see: www.wgsdca.org/thebreed/gsdvswgsd.asp

Well if it's of any consolation to you I'm sorry to hear that many white shepherd were drowned at birth...it's a cruel method of killing dogs or cats (for thar matter) offspring.
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Oh, I thought you said it was a "war story." :rolleyes:

Also you didn't understand what I said at all...I will say it again: to me both your white shepherd and a german shepherd dog are NOT TRUE shepherd dogs.
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I understood perfectly what you said. I just disagree. Read the history of the German Shepherd in the article above. The white shepherd and the german shepherd dogs are certainly true shepherds. As for the distinction between titles, white shepherd dog and white shepherd, here is another link explaining the origin: a distinction where none existed all relating back to the discrimination of the white shepherd. www.awsaclub.com/faq.htm

Now, I hope that we can get back to Mark's thread. I was simply trying to add my viewpoint of Shepherds as outside dogs. Since I have three white shepherds, I'd say my viewpoint is relevant.
 
jsmatos said:
No, it's not a "war story," it's simply the history of the breed. Where was my first war story anyway? :rolleyes: For more information, see: www.wgsdca.org/thebreed/gsdvswgsd.asp



Oh, I thought you said it was a "war story." :rolleyes:



I understood perfectly what you said. I just disagree. Read the history of the German Shepherd in the article above. The white shepherd and the german shepherd dogs are certainly true shepherds. As for the distinction between titles, white shepherd dog and white shepherd, here is another link explaining the origin: a distinction where none existed all relating back to the discrimination of the white shepherd. www.awsaclub.com/faq.htm

Now, I hope that we can get back to Mark's thread. I was simply trying to add my viewpoint of Shepherds as outside dogs. Since I have three white shepherds, I'd say my viewpoint is relevant.
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From your answer I can see you think I regard expression "war stories" as a somekind unserious phrase. I should have be more precise. What I meant was if it was another story about the nazis which I hadn't heard of.

Oh yeah, they are "true shepherd" dogs, except for the simple fact that the breed hasn't done any shepherding at all LOL ,no, LMAO.
 
Thanks everyone for the input! I hate to interrupt the "Great Shepherd Debate of 2005," but let me see if I can summarize what I've heard so far. If we want a short haired dog, inside would be best. Plus, it appears that outside dogs may not bond as well, given their time away from the family. Fair enough. So let's say that we get a Doberman that would be inside, which is where we're leaning right now (BTW, the Doberman would come from a rescue organization, so all you dog lovers out there calm down). I know that we'd still need a fenced area outside, but a dog run alone seems too small. OTOH, fencing 1.5 acres will cost me a small fortune. Any suggestions?

- Mark
 
Dog run/tied-out when the dog needs exercise, but you're busy. Let him roam free when you can keep a eye on him.
 
Mark,

A friend of mine has a few dobies, always has, and always been rescue dogs. One day I went to his house and he had this new dog, it looked like a weimerana with dark face. I asked him when he got out of dobies, he replied, no I didn't. I was like, this new dog, a wei...he interrupted me and said no man, It's a Dobie!
I said no way, he said yep it is. It's a blue dobie. Then it made sense, such a beautiful dog
!! The thing that threw me off was that it's ears hadn't been cropped, and it's tail wasn't docked, it looked like a whole other breed..
Anyways, good luck at the rescues, my experience is that almost all rescue groups will work as best they can to get a dog transported, most do it for free for the love of dogs and to save another one. Some do charge minimal fees, but that's completly understandable when all that the rescuers do for them...

as for the dog run..
I guess it all depends on the Way you construct your dog run...probably as many way to make a dog run as to skin a cat!!LOL!!!
I used to keep my dog outside on a run. It was a heavy rope between 2 trees about 80' long or so, with a 12' light chain(rope would get chewed through quick) attached to the run with a little single pulley so it moved smoothly. Oh make sure to use rope that won't stretch or rot! some rappelling rope or sailing rope would be ideal I guess, but any poly should be fine. Make sure to put 2 things at both ends of the chain- a spinner so the chain doesn't get twisted up(not the little fishing ones- the big ones near the chain hardware at the bog box stores) and a spring, the type you would see on a gate or screen door- this gives some 'suspension' so the dog doesn't get jerked back as hard when running to the end of the run...
Interestingly enough, my dog at first got a few snaps by the chain, and it worried me soooo much. Then after a week or so , she seemed to know where the end of the run was. About a month after that, I looked out to see what all the barking was, she would run back to get some space, then charge to the end of the rope, getting snapped into the air by the chain. It was the scariest thing, and kind of funny all at the same time, it seemed like she liked it. She would do this again and again and again, and eventually made a not so little ditch from where she would land. after a while I no longer thought this was bad, but began to think it can only make the dog's neck stronger, so I let her do it regularly(really out of my control) !!!

anyways back On Topic-


The rope I had was about 6-7' off the ground, and gave the dog about a 16'-20' wide by 80' long run. There is a key trick to the run, you might already know, is to put stops on the rope at the point where the dog would encounter the tree. This will prevent your new friend from getting tangled up in the chain and tree. My dog ran and ran and ran on this thing, she was allowed to dig there and nowhere else. After a while the dog will get used to the ends of the run and won't have any snapping stops(unless the dog is crazy like mine). At one end of the run, I had a little covered shelter she could go in to cool off, or stay dry. It was elevated off the ground.
Funny thing is, my dog prefered her holes(dens) and almost never went in or near the little dog house.(a dogloo to be exact) After a while she pretty much never went on the run anymore, and I took it down about 3 or 4 years ago. I'm around a lot more now, so she can hang around me , instead of being tied up.
I personally don't think a dog run is cruel in the slightest as long as it's set up properly.

This might all be known already, but if not, then.... hope it helps
|M|
 
Mark J said:
Thanks everyone for the input! I hate to interrupt the "Great Shepherd Debate of 2005," but let me see if I can summarize what I've heard so far. If we want a short haired dog, inside would be best. Plus, it appears that outside dogs may not bond as well, given their time away from the family. Fair enough. So let's say that we get a Doberman that would be inside, which is where we're leaning right now (BTW, the Doberman would come from a rescue organization, so all you dog lovers out there calm down). I know that we'd still need a fenced area outside, but a dog run alone seems too small. OTOH, fencing 1.5 acres will cost me a small fortune. Any suggestions?

- Mark
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I went with an underground fence because fencing in my 2 acres would have been incredibly expensive and my wife didn't want the look. Its an electric underground fence, not cheap by any means but alot cheaper than a decent "dog proof" fence. It only takes a few days to train the dog to the fence. They work great 95% of the time, not 100%. If the dog is excited he can go through. Also, they don't protect the dog from other animals from the outside (i.e. roaming dogs can wander right in; on the other hand your dog isn't tied up and helpless).

Overall, I am very satisfied with my underground electric fencing but its not a perfect solution.
 
Its important to really get into the persona of the breed before buying. My breeder said to me flat out "If you want an Aussie, you need to exercise him an hour a day of full-out running or he will make your life hell". She was right. If Loki doesnt get out enough, you can see him start getting bored and looking around for "fun" things to do. As a puppy, he spent 12 hours shredding a boston sunday globe into pieces no larger than one inch. He is much better now, perfect. I dont think many other breeds would suit me. He is on the border of crazy and genius. Plus he keeps every deer, bird, squirrel, chipmunk and butterfly out of the airspace of our yard.

Check out his natural dock tail....he still wags it!

Another few pics:
DSC00531.jpg

Dsc00517.jpg
 
Of the breeds mentioned, Greyhounds are by far the most docile and even tempered. They need very little excercise (opposite from what most think) and are couch potatoes. They are big dogs, but are excellent with small children. You should be able to find a greyhound rescue group nearby, ex-racers make fine pets.
 
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