[Ankeseiband]

I know this is a Pit Bull fourm, but I know theres alot of GSD owners on here.
What do you guys think about GSD's being used in almost every video game,movie or tv show where there are dogs, as gaurd dogs. I know GSD's are considered a gaurdian breed but they are often used as "vicious" dogs, and a lot of people think of them the same way people think of pitbulls.
So what do you guys think about it?

P.s even people without GSD's can answer LOL

[Heopretg2006]

I understand what you are saying. I just think of Wolfstein. lol.

I know my Mom is scared to death of GSDs, it might be from the image that is shown of them, though, most dogs scare her.

That's a tough question to answer, because in some ways, it's like "well, at least, they are being used for what they do". However, on the other hand, a GSD may be a guardian breed, but it shouldn't want to rip the crap out of everyone it sees, and that's the image many videogames and movie seem to portray, which isn't helpful, plus set-up trouble when irresponsible people get their hands on the breed.

[kictainiSot]

what is the "D" is "GSD"?

[Heopretg2006]

what is the "D" is "GSD"?

Dog.

[HcMkOKiz]

German Shepherd 'Dog'.

You know, it actually doesn't really bother me.

Which doesn't make much sense, since it does irritate me to see APBT's portrayed that way.

Then again, maybe it is because GSD's are meant to be 'gaurd' dogs, and APBT's aren't.

[kictainiSot]

that's what i thought. but why do you guys say it? to account for mixes?

[Ankeseiband]

Hmm I see both of your views.

I have been attacked 7 times by GSD's, and they were all different dogs. I definitely think the wrong people get a hold of these dogs. But even though I've been attacked so many times, I still like the breed actually. I think they're an amazing breed.

[Heopretg2006]

It's just the name of the breed.

[kictainiSot]

oh, egg on my face. i thought they were just called german shepherds.

[HcMkOKiz]

German Shepherd Dog is the entire breed name, stringer. It is abbreviated a lot to be 'shepherd' but then there are a ton of different breeds that have 'shepherd' in the name, lol.

I don't think that GSD's should be aggressive dogs, by any means. I don't think my girl Umah would bite anyone except for under the most extreme situations. She is a big baby.

Just because they have a naturally more 'gaurdy' instinct doesn't mean that they should immediately attack someone who trespasses, in my opinion.

They are like any other dog, genetics and training plays a large part into how they will turn out.

Growing up, we had neighbors down the road who had a GSD named Max. This dog was a very cool dog when you were introduced to him with his owners around. But, it didn't matter how many times he had met you before, if you came over when his owners weren't there, he would go berserk(snarling, barking, lunging). He never would attack or bite, but he would certainly let you know you weren't welcome.

[Avoireeideree]

But I always thought a "good" guard dog was one that didn't attack unless it was necessary. Guy at work had a fully trained Rot and that dog was like the Doberman in the old Eddie Murphy comedy routine. He'd let you break into the house and do whatever you wanted, the problem was when you tried to leave. You weren't going anywhere until the owner called the dog off.

Guess that's the way I've come to expect guard dogs, unless someone is physically attacking you the owner, or the dog has been trained to hold a stranger until the owner arrives they shouldn't attack.

That's how I see it anyway, they're supposed to be guard dogs, not attack dogs. Hollywood, the media, and idiot owners make them into other things.

[Xutrsavf]

I'd much rather see them using a GSD than a pit bull. I'm always relieved when it's another breed. lol

[Ankeseiband]

I'd much rather see them using a GSD than a pit bull. I'm always relieved when it's another breed. lol

haha my favorite was chopper in stand by me. Thats a nice change haha.

---------- Post added at 02:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:02 AM ----------

But I've actually never seen a pit bull used as a gaurd dog before in a movie or a video game.

[Tactattcahhaw]

haha my favorite was chopper in stand by me. Thats a nice change haha.

---------- Post added at 02:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:02 AM ----------

But I've actually never seen a pit bull used as a gaurd dog before in a movie or a video game.

the closest thing ive seen are bullies

[HcMkOKiz]

I have never seen an APBT gaurd dog in a movie either...they are usually on a chain or chasing someone through a yard.

[illignocearia]

It only bothers me when the dogs are out of control. If the dog is trying to attack people for no reason, I have a problem with it. That's not how any dog should behave and consistently using dogs of a certain breed to show that behavior will eventually make people think that the dogs are suppose to behave like that and cause problems with BSL and irresponsible people will be attracted to them because they want a big bad dog.

If someone is breaking into a yard/home and a GSD bites them, I'm fine with it. Ifa GSD is being used as a police dog, OK. If a GSD is being used in PP, I'm fine with that too.

For those that don't know, I have a GSD. He just turned 3 yesterday. We do not expect him to ever put a tooth on a family member for any reason (except when he's being a PIA during play); this includes individuals that he knows very well including my cousins, aunts and grandparents.

We wouldn't tolerate him being FA towards anyone.

We expect him to know the difference between us inviting someone in and an uninvited someone coming into our home (a good guard dog does IMO). If he bites an invited someone, we will keep a closer watch on him but he has only shown positive interactions with those invited into the home and while out on walks. If he bites an uninvited someone, even if they are friendly, that is considered acceptable as that is his job; it is our job to make sure friendly people aren't walking in his/our home without us being there. If he bites an unfriendly intruder, he's getting a steak dinner!

Our next dog is going to be a female pit mix. She will not be expected to display this behaviour and some of the behaviour considered acceptable for Otis will not be accetpable from her. Again, she's not suppose to be a guard dog.

[Nosmas]

I guess games like wolfenstein or classic army games are only being accurate if they show the german army using GSD as military dogs so I have never given it a second thought.

[Thomaswhitee]

I don't care. You can't complain about every steryotype that occurs in a fictional situation. If I see something happen in a movie I don't automatically believe it to be true and that it is going to happen.

[CowextetleSix]

I think people are gonna believe in whatever stereo type they want too, you're not gonna change some of their minds. Others you might if they meet a well bred, good representation of the breed.

German Shepherd Dogs have been bred to the point it's sad. There are distinct differences between the Am. line, German Show line and the Working line. Personally I think the working line dogs are more stable in their tempermants, I have met a few Am. lines and Germans show lines and some are pretty fearful. I've met one good german Show line(what you see in the movies mainly), I'd take home and that's it.

These dogs were bred to guard things and their people, they are a territorial guardian as well as a handler guardian just depends on the training of what they become in the end. There is a difference between out and out aggression and being a Guardian. Judge is a good example of it, I encourage his guarding behaviors to the fullest as we train in different sports including bitework. If someone were to go in his kennel or our house uninvited, he'd stop them at the door as I expect him too, if they moved after he stopped them, he would bite them, no issues. This is appropiate behavior for a GSD. NOW, If I'm home and invite people in, he knows that they are friends and greets them as such. Give him a good reason(attacking his owner, entering his home maliciously etc.) to nail you and he will as a good GSD should.

That said, my one grandma is in a nursing home and Judge goes to visit her there all the time. He loves the residents and the people. He helps her with her wheelchair, pulling it and stuff. He enjoys people. He is a very friendly, social dog as any PP dog should be. What use is a vicious PP dog that can't go in public?? He goes into numerous stores and places and loves kids, loves people petting him etc. He does his job and does it well.

I have many people tell me he is intimidating, if you met him, he is such a goof ball, I mean GOOFY if you really know him. A ton of people ask me if he is a K9 and tell me "His eyes creep me out.".

Honestly, I'd rather that people be intimated or scared of him etc. rather than Red. Makes my life easier if they move to the other side of the street or avoid the aisle we're on. They also, if they met TRUE PROPER representations of the breed, probably wouldn't be scared of them.

[delnisfernan]

I agree with VonKrome.

But it doesn't bother me... They will always pick one breed over another to look fierce in a movie... The Breed was funny.
IMDb Video: The Breed
They used all forms of GSDs, Belgian breeds, Dutch shepherds... And I think I saw one rottie.

I think it is also more appropriate, seeing as GSD are indeed good guard dogs many times, but then you have the ones who would love to have uninvited company over while you're gone. I do know that aggression towards humans is more in this breed than in the APBT... But it comes down to breeding and training. They aren't going to breed these dogs like APBTs are, because many people do expect them to guard.

---------- Post added at 11:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:50 AM ----------

I also don't think GSDs will ever be as feared and discriminated against as 'pit bulls'.

I would like to have this pic of J I edited made into a warning sign for our yard:


But I wouldn't for a 'pit bull'.