[Elitiachirl]

Yes, yes I know I'm on a pit bull forum but I've been researching which dog breed to get for almost a year now and still can't come to a decision. I want to ask those who have had both breeds before what your experiences were. What were the good things and bad things of each? I basically want an active, very affectionate dog that'll be loyal to me but still be a family dog. Thanks!

[Hofonom]

I have had both. My experiences with the gsd is when i was very young. She was a purebred and came from working lines. She was a great dog. She was eager to learn and please. She let me and the neighborhood kids do whatever we wanted to her. She wasnt the best gaurd dog, but she was loyal. At the end of her life she had a lot of health problems. Multiple hip surgies, and it was heart breaking. Some gsd's to tend to want to be dominat over small children, and that would be something you would have to watch and correct. I know of a few that think it is cute to see their gsd stading over their child, peeing on them and humping them (male or female). Which are all signs of being dominant. All in all they are a great dog high energy, loyal, easy to train, and lovable (if you love vacummming dog hair everyday off of EVERYTHING)


Now I own a apbt right now and he is the best dog I have ever owned. He is extremely high energy when we play and walk and he loves going camping and can keep up with our life style. But he can also be snuggley and lovable and knows when to settle down. He is very loyal and and affectionate ( get ready for lots AND LOTS of kisses and a lap dog). There is something special about this breed just read the post here of "why do we love these dogs" and you'll see what I mean. He has been great with my 3 year old and even checks on her before coming to bed. He loves children and knows when to be gentle and who he can play a little rougher with. Apbt's are not I REPEAT NOT gaurd dogs, they should except stangers as if old friends. I have had both and I dont think I will ever go back to any other breed. I love my little guy.

I hope that I helped a little bit. The only thing that I want to say again is that the gsd is a gaurd dog breed. The apbt is NOT

[VeniHemealm]

My first dog was a GSD and I was 10 when we got her. She died when I was 20 from a bloat, other than that she was enacard for a hear murmur, cosequin for her hips, and there were two others that I can't remember now. She cost a lot of money for my parents on a monthly basis after I stopped working at the animal hospital and didn't get a discount. However, she never had to have surgery or any "major" issues. She was VERY well trained before we got her. She was the greatest dog I ever had. However, not with me ever, but when I got older we noticed she was not happy with little kids. She never snapped at them but was very wary of them and would growl. I don't think I would worry about your kids but about their friends coming over....depends on the dog too.

I own my first APBT now and he is only 3 months so I can't tell you much about his behavior yet. He LOVES strangers, he gets so excited when anyone comes to the door and acts no different with children. Other APBT that I have known have all been the same way, I just didn't deal with them on a daily basis.

Good luck! Let us know what you decide.

[MgpojuWy]

i have a gsd mix and have spent allot of money on training as i do with my apbt also, but my gsd mix has a vary high pray drive and thinks he is a herding dog a. i have found out both of witch are traits of gsd mined you he is a mix and with what? who knows ridgback is my guess. but i know allot of gsd with the same issues keep this in mind also he is vary loving with my family vary intelligent and i must keep his mental exercises going daily ie, agility, obedience as well as lots of fiscal exercises not so loving to strangers not aggressive but just has no interest in them gsd can have allot of issues with hip problems allso.

[Elitiachirl]

The main thing against GSD that I'm scared of is the shedding, haha. Also, I've heard they're more expensive over time and are prone to more problems like hip dysplasia, whereas the APBT is a sturdy breed. Skin problems, yeah, but that isn't expensive.

Also, I know dog parks are a no-no, but I think I could get away with it with a GSD as the ones that I've met seem to ignore the dogs and stay with their owners.

I'm not looking for a guard dog really. I mean, if the dog wants to get protective, great, but all I need is a watch dog. I think any intruders should be more scared of me than a 50 pound dog.

Anyway, hope to hear more from you guys!

[Elitiachirl]

Oh and I forgot to mention that there are other dogs in my house. Would that be a problem with a APBT? They'd be separate 95% of the time. The other dogs are my cousin's dogs who like being outside until they sleep inside at night.

[harriettvanders]

Oh and I forgot to mention that there are other dogs in my house. Would that be a problem with a APBT? They'd be separate 95% of the time. The other dogs are my cousin's dogs who like being outside until they sleep inside at night.

With an APBT (don't know much about GSDs) you would definitely need to keep the dogs separated when someone wasn't supervising. If you get an APBT puppy & socialize it around the other dogs while it's growing up, there's a good chance it will tolerate (or even like) the other dogs when it's grown. BUT there are no guarantees! Dog Aggression is normal in this breed.

[Japakefrope]

I agree with so many of the posts above me!

My parents had a small kennel of working and conformation GSDs when I was growing up, so that breed was my first love. They are incredible dogs.

However, when it came time to get my first and then second dog, I didn't get one. Largely, this is because I live in Southern California, and I felt that the shedding would be an insurmountable annoyance.

GSDs are fiercely intelligent dogs, and they need daily honest work. They tend to be one person dogs. Because I wasn't the alpha when I was a child in my parents' home, all of our GSDs tended to be somewhat aloof towards me. Their singular devotion to a person can develop into behavioral issues when that person cannot give them enough attention. None of our GSDs demonstrated overt dog aggression, but all dog breeds *can* be dog aggressive. Some were human aggressive, however, especially those from very hardcore working lines with high drive and dominance. There is a reason that GSDs are referred to as a 'manstopping' breed and why they are preferred as military and police dogs. They are very protective of their people and their property. As I remember, American lines of GSDs carry more hip problems because they were bred for that low, floating gait that is desirable in the show ring. Many GSD breed enthusiasts feel that european lines are superior in terms of confirmation and temperament.

Now, having owned my first APBT, I feel that they are, in some ways, a superior companion dog. They are just as intelligent, and have a touching desire to please that makes them very trainable. But I find that they are less aloof. My APBT will cover a new friend with kisses, while my GSDs would ignore new people for as long as possible, and after being introduced would still view strangers with skepticism. I would trust my APBT more with children. His temperament with humans is far less suspicious and reactionary than some of the working GSDs I've known. My APBT has a happy-go-lucky good nature with humans that I've not seen in many GSDs. However, my APBT boy is very dog aggressive with an intense prey drive. This carries with it an increased responsibility to keep him out of situations in which these tendencies would cause trouble. Along the same lines, many humans have preconceived notions about the 'pit bull' that require an greater degree of responsibility than with, perhaps, the GSD. Although my APBT is not human aggressive, I can still laughingly call our daily walks a 'sidewalk sweep' because people literally will cross the street when they see us coming. Perhaps the GSD shares some stigma because of its use as a police dog, but I have sometimes been on the receiving end of outright fear and hatred when walking my APBT.

Whew, so long, and I'm sure I reiterated numerous points already made! But just an additional $0.02 from someone with both GSD and APBT experience.

[Elitiachirl]

So how do you guys deal with the DA? Do you still take them to parks offlead when nobody's around to throw a ball around? Leaning towards APBT but wouldn't know where to start with dealing with a DA dog.