What Should People Know About German Shepherd Dogs?

[@StonnieDennis]

Are you a fan of my training style, but can’t travel to Kentucky to see me in person? No worries! I offer an awesome online dog training course, which includes access to an array of exclusive videos and content, personalized coaching, journaling, and in-depth mentoring and evaluation by yours truly! If you just need some an advice or have a couple questions you need answered, I also offer professional consulting by the hour. Both of these great services can be found here: www.kentuckycanine.com Thank you all for your remarkable support over the years! I cannot express enough how grateful I am for your appreciation and patronage of this channel, my training style, and my kennel. Always remember, it’s a great day for a puppy-sized adventure!

[@christinad.7947]

I love that dog's structure: no ski slope back or over-angulated hindlegs. His conformation is of a type I would consider buying.

[@playsaboutmycat]

Yes!

[@christopherblack4520]

With the health problems caused by low back legs it should be outlawed. I watched the Westminster dog show where they were so happy to see the slop where I saw a dog that will be a cripple.

[@angelinacamacho8575]

the back slope is the only thing that has turned me off about them. here in lima peru ive seen a few where the back legs just made the dog look like it was in a constant sit position.

[@angelinacamacho8575]

@@christopherblack4520 the show lines of most dog breeds look like freak shows.

[@christopherblack4520]

@@angelinacamacho8575 USA show line in Europe the slope is not allowed. One step more, some countries by law you need Xrays to prove good hips before you breed.

[@newlifecalling2233]

I'm simply a dog owner. My most recent love was a wonderful female German Shepherd-from 10 weeks old to 15 yr. She passed July, last year. Very early on, we could see that we needed to let her know she was not to be in charge of us. We accomplished that quickly & stayed Consistent. Our GS puppy came to us Hard-Headed. She was so Smart though. It was like she could understand English. I hiked our wooded acreage with her always on leach. She knew to "fix it" after just 2 or 3 times of us walking on opposite sides of a tree. She needed to be brushed almost daily & shed a lot, was a very neat eater, was a perfect traveler, she quickly learned many tricks. We taught her the basic commands & "quiet", "watch", search, a code word (crows) for "alert", and many more. All of these had silent signs too. To love people & tolerate other dogs Did Not come as easy as the rest. But when she got it, she got it 🙂 This may get deleted because of its long length. My apologies.

[@squaretriangle9208]

Beautiful

[@DebbieRosch]

They are, literally bred to be "reactive." To react to stock movement, to take action in the face of threats." So we must prepare them to have the experience and training to know how to behave in situations. When to react, when to not react, and how to react. They like to engage with their handlers, want to pleade, and learn quickly. Untrained, or poorly managed, they will make their own decisions and take whatever action THEY believe is needed. I've had European-type working line GSDs and trained them in SAR for 25 years. Great dogs.

[@prabhdeepparmar]

i agree with this 100%. i own a working line german shepherd and he is true to the nature of the breed. his sire (dad) had handler aggression and thankfully my boy didn’t inherit that but he did inherit social aggression. he’s half czech and half german (west) working line but i believe there’s at least 2 east line dogs in there too from before the line died down. point is, youre completely correct, this is how the breed is supposed to be. genetics matter, breed genetics and pedigree!

[@samwdavis]

I'm a dog trainer with two GSD's, one a male champion show line GSD, the other a working line GSD. This video is crap. First, in general, good dog training is good dog training, and the differences in breeds is WAY overly emphasized. SECOND, a dog submitted for board and train needs to be put through strong leadership training, not running an obstacle course. In general, this video is just BS. I may have missed it, but the video doesn't even seem to explain what problem that they are trying to solve. It's a joke. But, in general, the most valuable training provided in board and train, is leadership. It's crate training, threshold training, claiming food, claiming space, enforcing obedience of sit, down, place, etc. It's not running up and down ramps. You know what's most breed specific about GSDs??? You need to be ready to brush them constantly and buy more trash bags for all the hair. Other than that, the training methodology is not really that different between breeds. I understand the difference between my show line GSD and my working line GSD, but the general training methodology is the same for both of them and for all the different breeds of all of my clients. They are DOGS, and it's about training, not about the breed.

[@prabhdeepparmar]

@@samwdavis i disagree with this. training CAN be breed specific or line specific. example being training a dog impulse control. it’s easier with dogs with lesser drive (prey drive if the thing to ignore is “live”) or lines that are typically known to be pet lines, more laid back. now if you try to teach this to a dog with higher drive like a terrier or a german shepherd specifically a working line (also depends on individual dog, pedigree & genetics, etc) it would be harder. it’s not that simple, training methodology is affected by multiple factors like breed specifics, lines, individual dog, genetics, etc. my working line gsd’s sire is Henrik vom Wolfsheim who is known for his handler aggression and still made it to worlds in IGP dog sport. my boy inherited the social aggression trait rather than handler aggression but it makes it harder for him to control himself. training method is completely different than if i were training a show line gsd or even another working line. a lot of factors go into it. but i will agree with you that this video is not the best.

[@mimsdv6329]

@@samwdavisrespectfully disagree, many breed types DO require different training methods, there are many breeds (and individual dogs within a breed) that do not need to taught to accept leadership. They are bred to be cooperative - get a good gun dog - I have seen guys out hunting with great springers with zero formal training and they get out and hunt like a beautiful team, cooperation, good temperament, bred for working ability

[@suzie55ful]

He is working line, not show line. I got my all black working line dog during covid, so she was not socialized like my other shepherds. When we finally started socializing her, I realized we had a problem. She would growl at anyone who approached us. She also didn’t like any dogs to approach her. She turned out to be more dog than I ever had before. It took lots of obedience lessons (education) for her to understand not all people or dogs were out to get her. We took her everywhere - many crowded places. The plus side is the GSD is very intelligent and you can use the mentality of the working dog to want to please you. She now tolerates strangers and other dogs. She loves everyone in our family - especially children. She responds well to positive methods. She now assesses situations accurately. She is very different from my other shepherds who were very friendly and outgoing from the start, but she has become a good citizen. The GSD in the video is absolutely beautiful! What a good job you have done with him! I’m sure the owner will be so pleased and thrilled with his progress!

[@jenreckard6431]

My money was on working line, too! Thanks for sharing your experience with a working line GSD. I love how you worked with her and got to see such great progress! They are very smart and intuitive; all it takes is a calm and confident leader. Well done!

[@suzie55ful]

@@jenreckard6431 Thank you!

[@Satori_OM]

Hey where would you recommend to take your dog for reactivity training? I have a German Shepard and he can be reactive with other people and dogs.

[@jenniferchilton-kauffmann6280]

Maddie was a great love of my life, a GSD adopted out from a search and rescue breeding program (they select the pups that will be trained very young and adopt out the rest). I’m still amazed at all the things she learned to do. Diving off cliffs to swim with me, diving down to grab a ball off the pool bottom, off leash on hand commands that made others think she was wonderful. She rode the motor trike on the floorboards wearing dog goggles. Children would run up to her hugging her and screaming “canine cop”! She handled THAT like a pro. ( yep, that ages me I guess). Police officers would stop me to admire and pet her. If you want a really talented thinker that makes you proud, and have the time for them, a working line GSD is a gift you’ll never regret.

[@StarkK9Academy]

I agree with you nothing like an awesome shepherd.

[@sarahgrace7819]

My female German Shepherd turned me into a dog trainer and now I have my own business! She is an amazing representation of the breed bred extremely well, social, intelligent, work she loves it, beautiful structure healthy as can be which is very rare nowadays in the GSD realm. She was not an easy dog for a first dog and I can imagine many people would struggle she is not "reactive" like most shepherds are because we have worked immensely on her proper socialization, exercise and structure. We also do more sport like training and she can just chill in the house go with us whereever now at 3 years old it was WORK. Worth it depends on your lifestyle. I made sure to fulfill her prey drive, exercise daily like you mentioned before demanding calm from her especially as a young shepherd. She is intact and maturing more beautifully than I could have ever imagined. I am proud but again it's WORK

[@nogames8982]

I have a female German shepherd guide dog. I can watch these videos blown up big on my iPad. So I can see enough to tell that he’s built pretty much like my dog is. No sloped back. No messed up behind end. Even pretty much the same coloring. my dog has a little bit more sable on her shoulders and back. The school I bought her from puts big emphasis on temperament, but also on physical condition. Her eyes and joints were all checked, and if she had not passed that not only would they have not bred that line of dogs again, but she would not have become a guide dog. The bare minimum they can have is a good they prefer excellent but they’ll OK with good also. You need a dog that can do its job and stay sound. None of the show dogs could. I absolutely love German shepherds. She is an absolutely wonderful guide dog. I think they need a job. And people that understand them. as long as I can physically handle it, I will always have a German Shepherd guide dog.

[@justdawndb]

"people that understand them" 👍👍

[@gallopingg1]

IF THERE WAS EVER A TRUE PROFESSIONAL DOG TRANER, THIS MAN IS IT/HE, QUALITY EVERY TIME, uk

[@drobv]

one thing that caught my attention was him saying that you need to be aware that the dog is going through developmental stages! i see many trainers that expect their puppies to be as perfect as show dogs or police dogs....

[@HeartlandShepherds]

Working line type German Shepherd. I didn’t know what that meant until after I bought one. When mine was about 6 mo old I realized I was going to run into trouble if I didn’t get help. Found a police k9 trainer (familiar with these dogs), asked for an evaluation, took lessons and took what he said and my homework seriously. Best decision I ever made. ❤ Working dogs are not like pet dogs. If it’s your first one it’s going to require more work from you, and probably, some perspective shifts.

[@PaulMorton-v5t]

I volunteer at a shelter. There are a lot of GSs there. One of which looks much like this dog only bigger. Very reactive to other dogs which is probably due to lack of good management and socialization. Seeing this boy being so calm and reasonable at this point in his training gives me inspiration to work with that big boy at the shelter further. There are also a lot of GS wrecks that are skittish or scared- hyper and difficult. Yes, they need socialization foremost, but reckless breeding is also a major culprit.

[@nogames8982]

My local shelter always has a German shepherd or two also. 95% of them are not well socialized, poorly bread. It is sad. Because they can be the most wonderful dogs on the planet. And yes, I am biased.

[@glennm7086]

A GSD is way too much dog for some/many & they need room to roam to thrive

[@MacawAviculture]

I had a GSD as a 9 year old and she was a wonderful companion; very intelligent, naturally protective, and because of my childhood experience, I have had 3 others as an adult. The GSD requires a very competent trainer to manage their energy as a puppy, and to continue with these skills after the dog reaches adulthood. Teaching them appropriate boundaries in your home and with strangers that visit are a very important skill their human caretaker should master before buying or adopting a GSD. I have car camped all over remote Colorado and Utah with my well trained and off-leash GSD's, and loved their alertness, protective nature, and love of exercise and play. My breed preference completely changed 20 years ago to Standard Poodles after adopting parrots. They are equally as intelligent and protective as my GSD's, but do not shed, love to run 3-6 miles everyday, and have no aggressive interest in my large Macaw family. Great video Stonnie, thank you for involving all of us by asking questions like these with a variety of dog breeds, to help other re-think their purchase of a breed they do not have the skills required, or the desire to master them, before buying a powerful and potentially difficult breed to manage like a GSD.

[@JudyChartrand-uv6oi]

I agree with you about the standard poodles. However, I’ve learned that they do actually shed, but are low shedding. I found myself vacuuming a lot. . I got mine as a rehome, I was very fortunate since they’re so popular, and the owner chose me, because my situation was good for the dog. Standard poodles are tough dogs and very strong. Since getting my Standard I’ve learned in some countries they’re used as police dogs. However, my standard is so sweet and loving. All he wants to do is play. An awesome companion and guard dog as well. German shepherds are special dogs and only need owners who understand that. Otherwise, they get cheated out of a happy life. I’ve never had a German Shepherd but my brother has one that I helped him get from a family who rescues many dogs and rehomes them. He’s beautiful, but timid. I don’t think my brother knows how to train him properly. Other than that, he is well taken care of and spoiled.

[@maclization]

Such a great video and thank you for planting the seed of collaboration and a feedback loop with the audience! I have a 13 year old GSD whom I was "late to the party" in socializing. Much like you described, he can be initially snappy but then settle with the other company of dogs. Unfortunately, he has a name for himself for being a 'turd' towards other dogs and 100% I am guilty for letting some negative vibes run down the leash when we are walking. Your point on management and training is spot on. When owning a GSD, be prepared to go hard on management, training and socializing in the first years but be ready to regress at some point too. I didnt expect that and found it hard initially. Great video!

[@One-Track_Dynamic]

As usual, clear and concise passdown of knowledge from Stonnie. Lots of good comments in here too. I'm thankful for the peak into so many experiences and lessons. My experience with german sheperds is minimal, my childhood dog had a tiny bit of german sheperd in her and we had a bond that, fast forward 20 years, still has a huge influence on what i expect from a dog and what i value in their companionship. We now have a 3.5 month old female lab/German sheperd mix named Riv, who so far seems to demonstrate more german sheperd like behavior than lab. We started training her at 7 weeks old utilizing theories and methods we learned from Stonnie's videos. We have found, without surprise and thanks to Stonnie, she is very easy to train, great recall, sometimes she learns new commands after about 5 attempts. Shes also very tolerant of our young children when they're testing her boundaries. She meets or exceeds my expectations damn near effortlessly. The last couple weeks though we've been noticing a bit more fear on display when new people come to the house especially delivery drivers. Which i can see how, from her perspective, could lead to a fear driven response. They run right up to the door like they own the place. She also seems to be a little slower on recall, more likely to stop and sniff something where as before she would run straight to me like there was nothing else in this world worth investigating, lol. It sounds like she has regressed even more with my wife while I'm at work. For various reasons the last three weeks we have slacked on her socialization and outdoor time playing, walking, dog park, etc. Still working everyday on the vocabulary though (13ish commands currently). I think the lull in her training outside the house has had a negative impact on our progress. This video and the comment section validated my thoughts on the matter, that we likely havent been giving her adequate socialization and exercise to realistically meet our expectations. Any thoughts?

[@Enjoythepour]

I have had German Shepherds, for over 50 years. Lots of them. This is a good looking Shepherd, when he was just with you, his tail was down, he was panting and didn’t truly seem engaged with you. A little anxious, such as not sitting when you stopped, just going along with the show. But he was behaving. When you brought other dogs out, tail went up, seemed a little more peppy, but really not 💯 interested in what was going on, yet he still behaved. I didn’t get the “Wow, what a German Shepherd feeling that I often do”. He appears to need a job, or something that he likes to do and excel in that sport/activity. I sense that he could be a little squirrelly and really could be a good dog with consistent training and again a job. I think he’s very smart, but doesn’t know how to effectively use his intelligence. Hoping that he can find his go to job and be a highly effective member of society. Just my observation. He has potential. ❤🐾🐾

[@gcanada3005]

It's not his dog. The dog will never be truly engaged with someone else. They are German Shepherds for a reason

[@don3667]

He looks like he’s from the good boy line of German Shepherds. 😊

[@playsaboutmycat]

Indeed he does!

[@mrsmac5196]

Great discussion. I'm not a trainer but I've lived with a few shepherds - several from pups, some young adults. I'm a woman and I wanted a dog with some presence who accepted me as the leader. And for the most part, that's what I got, but with a lot of work and attention. My absolute favorite was a West German working import who I got as an 18 month old who turned out to be a go anywhere do anything dog. Trustworthy, not aggressive, but taking care of me was his job. Smart shepherds take engagement and a watchful eye. My only other comments about the breed is needing lots of socialization, getting into different situations, lots of exercise, play and mental stimulation. They're a full time companion. I think, maybe, that some folks who get this type of dog like the aggressive look, maybe the intense reactivity when someone comes to the door. Others just want a bright dog who is rewarding to train up. They're workers who need a job for sure!

[@voltrondefenderoftheuniver8658]

I’m in Florida, any shepherd breeders you can recommend?

[@glennm7086]

I’ve always heard, find a job for your shepherd because they will find a job and you might not like the one they find!

[@zufluchtk9s]

I love watching this guy. He's on point. All of these mistakes are very common with GSD owners. Bravo to Ruger's owner for their willingness to work with a trainer when they saw they were unable to meet the training requirements themselves.

[@glen_meyburgh]

We have two rescue GSD’s which were around 3 months old when they arrived. Apparently brother and sister. While they are very attached to each other it’s only my inexperience that has held back their learning. They come out and about with us and are normally off-lead when the environment is right. No heavy traffic or tightly packed crowds, restaurants etc. They are exceptionally chilled with other dogs, having been attacked by Yorkies and other small dogs, they move away. Larger dogs have received some discipline when they have been over exuberant but they have yet to bite. This is number 3 and 4 GSD for us and we love them. Good all round dogs that love to go on “adventures”, love their family, including 3 cats, and are great watch dogs.

[@waynos1785]

Greetings from England Stonnie, Really enjoying working through your library of videos, I particularly like the long format. Thanks for sharing

[@paulcraven4562]

Greetings from Scotland, i watched many a KZbin dog training video after getting a malinois 3 years ago and Stonnies vids were the go to for me and you can't go wrong in watching his back catalogue of videos. I took cooper for educational tuition as well as myself to an academy called ghost force that is run by ex special forces dog handlers who ran the dog cell for sas and sbs . They were pleased to see that cooper was well adjusted and a pat on the back for doing a good job on him , it was all down to watching Stonnies vids which are a great base of knowledge,good luck in your quest and search for knowledge starting here will lead to good things.😊

[@bettymcconnell1011]

Trained my GSD by watching your videos she is now 6 and the most well behaved gentle dog we walk 2 miles everyday stopping to train and play I even thank her with a treat just letting her know her manners are good

[@giovannalepore5946]

I like what you said about management and training . We have a 13 week old GSD puppy. We have done one4 week session of puppy kindergarten -she was shy with the other puppies but much more confident by the third session during free play. I walk her on both a short and long lead, and she has free play in a fenced area. the trainer was very helpful in dealing with when guests come to our house . Puppy was shy and barked and hackles up but using the trainers advice and now introduce guests slowly (away from the entrance )and reinforcement with management (treats on the ground near the guest and puppy on a leash ). We will continue with puppy k and then on up the levels. She gets loads of exercise and attention (we are retired and home). She will learn how to be around my two horses but introducing this slowly and carefully (one horse is not trustworthy around dogs ). She is a lot of work but delightful -very bonded with us -fun and funny very smart. She makes me laugh everyday even though I’m exhausted from playing with her. I am very happy with the trainer -she is wonderful and follows up,answers questions and is intuitive and experienced . Do your homework -and find a good trainer ! Socialize your pup with other dogs and strange humans and direct them how to approach your puppy. A lot of folks are clueless out there -make sure they follow your directives and you are consistent and reinforce positive behavior .

[@deetles98]

I grew up listening to my uncle telling tales of his German Shepherds and how obedient and smart they were…I dreamed of having one when I got older. I’ve had three of them in my life and you can’t beat the bond with a GSD. My second one looked out for me and I looked out for him. He was from a German show line and very outgoing loved people and kids…hated other dogs but he only needed a good game of fetch on a daily basis and he was good not like my first one who could run all day and still had plenty of gas in his tank for more. My third was a female also extremely trustworthy …liked puppies but not adult dogs. She was a medium drive dog. I miss her right now as I had to put her down in August, a day away from her 14th bday. I LOVED all my GSDS…a more loyal breed cannot be found. I’m older now and a GSD is just a lot of dog for me right now. If we had a fenced yard it would be easier. If you want a good GSD then a great breeder is an absolute must. I go with GSD’s bred to the German standard NOT American. Get a medium drive dog with a clear head and a dog or pup that is confident and outgoing. Train them and socialize them for AT LEAST the first full year you have them…introduce them to everyone you meet, take them EVERYWHERE, that first full year, and beyond. You will have one of the most amazing companions and your life will never be the same. I miss my three like crazy❤. If I get another, it will be a young started dog from an excellent breeder.

[@lynnericcio228]

Thanks once again for vital information (training versus management/habituation/situational awareness). I frequent dog parks (I know you’re not a fan) to cover large areas with my Labrador off leash. If there’s a German Shepherd (or Husky) on high alert and pushy, I leave the park. I’m aware and focused when in the company of dogs and take no chances. I noticed right off your GSD was exhibiting pushy behavior when introduced to other dogs but calmed down several degrees when trotting around the puppy challenges course. Impressive and encouraging. I volunteer at the County Animal Shelter and am saddened to see the number of GSDs up for adoption. The dogs are reactive and stressed but I see in your demonstration that there’s a way-our shelter needs a puppy challenges course.

[@EMusicMaestroUK]

I had a male GSD that behaved just like this dog. Once stepped back into a pool because he didn't know how big he'd grown! Poor chap often got bitten by other dogs, always reacted to dogs by barking but never had a fight and never bit anyone or any animal. He was, at heart, a gentle soul, brilliant with my elderly mum and little granddaughter. I loved him so much and miss him every day. RIP gentle giant ❤

[@kathypayne1805]

I adopted my girl a year ago from our local shelter she was captured running loose in the national forest I live on the front range in Colorado. She was maybe 9 mos old at the time literally skin and bone at 34lbs. She was in the shelter for two months gaining weight and waiting to see if she was claimed, she was 57lbs when i adopted her the shelter said they were having trouble placing her because she was reactive to other dogs and attacked a couple there and wouldn't let her go to a home with kids or other pets. I had lost my last gsd to old age and just happened to see her pic on the shelter fb page went the next day and fell in love. She is so loving and sweet and smart pretty much the typical gsd but is highly reactive around other dogs and does the hair raising and loud barking and pulling like she could kill and it is scary and she is now 87lbs. It is all show and from fear I believe. We have made friends with two different dogs now but it has to be a slow introduction so she feels safe and the same bad girl show anytime we meet another dog on our walks or hikes so i use a herm springer prong collar that helps tremendously controling her. Thanks for the video i will check out your others.

[@lorrainescandia6267]

He is such a beautiful German shepherd. His structure looks perfect to me and also looks like it came from a good bloodline. 🥰

[@Izamota-q5v]

His hocks are wobbly - he moves like its causing issues with his back left leg already. Takes more than a good back alone to have a good rear end, unfortunatly.

[@virggg]

@@Izamota-q5v Unfortunately, yes I totally agree. This dog is nearly identical to mine, only male. I did all the research and found the "right" breeder. My dog looked almost exactly like this dog at this age. Down to exact coloring and same face. People out in public and the vet were all very praising of her "straight back" and lack of slope. She is now 10 and her back legs have gone. Hips and legs both. It's really sad and it's what I thought I paid so much for her as a puppy to avoid happening. She has a "great" straight back but I agree with you and the many other comments pointing out that despite the better look here, where the legs actually connect to the back does look wobbly and like it won't pan out well. There is no real strength there. It already looks weak. He doesn't stand fully on all 4 legs and I realize now that mine never did either. She moved just like this guy Ruger when she was his age, and now to watch her walk, you'd think I got her from a backyard breeder! I wonder if anyone in this thread has seen "The German Shepherd Man" dogs in Georgia. They appear actually solid on the back end! I would love to meet his dogs in person and see if they're as solid as they appear. Edited to add: I would have said she had great structure if asked at any time up until she was about 6 years old. I mean, I would have bragged about her structure and bloodlines. Her exercise in life has always been swimming. Around age 6-7 she started struggling when getting out of the pool. Still looked good at that point. Rapid decline after age 8 where those legs just can't hold weight and I see looking back at pictures that even though she looked great, they really never did hold her weight. It just didn't affect her until she got older. Now, she looks all jacked up, like her back legs are just props to carefully and painfully balance on.

[@virggg]

All that said about structure- I would get her a thousand times over as there has never been a better personality, more loyal, trainable, trustworthy, amazing creature in the entire world. Truly. I walked her off leash through a local park at sunrise every day as a puppy, when she still had the instinct to stick with me. She is the most wonderful amazing loving gentle intelligent dog that has ever lived. True devotion and spectacular with children and in public and around dogs etc. She's perfect. We've had and loved other dogs but nothing has compared to her depth of personality and intelligence.

[@ms.lorrahsthinkshots3558]

We loved our GSD... He was SO loving, protective, and smart! As a single woman, i actually had an instance of him coming between me and the guy i was dating...politely but absolutely getting his point acrossed: outside kissing in the dark, my bf suddenly - while still looking at me- began to slowly back away saying "its ok. Its ok. Its ok." I looked down and my dog had 'gently' arranged his jaws around my bf's jewels and walked him backwards away from me. I know if i had screamed or tried to fight him off, those jaws would have taken care of everything. Yet my grandchildren climbed and loved on him getting gentleness and patience in return. He was non-agressive, non-reactive, and still hyper focused. Love the GSD!! I'd have one now but I'm almost 70 and it would not be fair to the dog.

[@farvasstache6532]

Here's what you should know. It's 4am in the morning, my female is fast asleep in the arm chair 10ft from me. Even then, those ears are standing. So just to test the theory of "always on", I breathed out.. not loudly, but to a deep breath in and let it out softly. Just THAT was enough to make her ears shake and get her to lift her head up to take a quick glance at her daddy. Even for just about 2 seconds. These... are... amazing creatures. Perfectly designed.

[@aaronpotter2000]

“ you get a dog that is supposed to bite and chase things, then don’t like it when they chase and bite things” Best “utility dog” there is in my opinion

[@Ivyleaf_0_o]

Well said!

[@markbeavers5747]

I was lucky, adopted a rescue GSD puppy less than a year old and he is awesome, loves everyone and loves other dogs. He is very smart and has stuff in his DNA that just comes natural. He is my best friend and my wife says that he waits at the front door for me everyday when I come home from work, I feel very lucky!!!!

[@victorialatavish4266]

Wonderful info! Thank you! I have an all-black GSD - my first - and have made every training mistake there is. Oh, I also got him during COVID, so I missed the critical socialization period. We are getting better, but you are so right. My dog barks and gets his hackles up when he sees other dogs. I am a 121 lb woman trying to control a four year old male GSD. Learning handling skills and how to use my own legs as leverage to flip my dog around was critical to me being able to move past other dogs. Also - use a climbing clip to connect the leash to the flat collar as a backup. I have had my prong collar and my leash come undone when my dog has gotten out of control. The clip backup has given me confidence.

[@AdamBrinkworth-bq6fe]

In all honesty, these beautiful creatures keep you busy, but the most loyal,loving and protective if you love them fully and meet their needs! Best friends for life🥰

[@janewolfinbarger1216]

My shepherd mix did this. (He is apparently mostly shepherd - his ears don't stand up and he's all black, but otherwise he shows little of any other breed.) At a little over a year old, he started being reactive to other dogs he didn't know well. (He is fine with the other dogs in our home, a Lab and a little herding mix.) This started after puppy class, intermediate dog training and several rounds of agility class. He started with some of the other dogs in agility, and then any dog he didn't know. I got him at the height of COVID, and soon after there was a doggy virus going around that had the trainers at his classes keeping dogs pretty much apart, so his socialization was a bit stunted. I removed him from classes, sadly (he loved agility) and am still struggling with this behavior on walks. He seems to be getting a bit better after two years, but I have really worked on myself to keep myself from over reacting when he notices another dog, since I could see the cycle. Still, he is 120 pounds, and I don't like to struggle with him on walks. I may do the local training for reactive dogs; I can't quite decide. Thankfully, he does like people. I am happy to find out that this is fairly normal for a shepherd, though. Thank you for this video!

[@Blue_N_Moon]

I wonder what can be done to help. It would be great if there could be detailed step by step ways to help these reactive problems.

[@Chondros101]

Really awesome to see a really relaxed trainer! I have always own German Shepards. My first I was a kid at 18 and we both learned so much from each other. I now have dogs that are trained to track my daughter, incredibly social with people and dogs, but trained to protect. On a command that dog will turn but it's not aggression but training. I think he's a beautiful dog and looks like a working dog to me... Doesn't show the poor breeding of show dogs. Breeding for stability and behavior are very important. If you want to own a dog that's powerful and can do the work it means you have to also invest in your training to learn the breed and give it what it requires to be fulfilled and then you'll have an amazing dog to love and trust. Everything takes work and effort. Dogs don't just become trained and socialized on their on. Responsible owners are key to owning powerful breeds, but they sure are amazing family dogs!

[@johnm5131]

I had 2 GSDs, both out of the seiger line from 2009. Gorgeous, hardcore working line. Flat back, geat back legs, great penn hip and elbows. One made it 15 yrs, the other died at 10. The male was easy to train, a touch neurotic like most GSDs. He was smart, could open doors, and out think us most days. He was not aggressive, but also knew when to step in. The female was nuts and had some fear biting issues. She also defended us against a bear once, which amazed everyone. She'd give her life for her people. She took 10X the efforts to deal with tho. Wore us out. The issue was poor socialization, which is key for GSDs. The pup in the video brings back memories.

[@thedetective8150]

He was socialized early and often. I had a working line of GSD ( West German & Czech) bloodlines, and the breeder said he must be socialized early and often for his first year. I did exactly what he said and went almost everywhere, including the outdoor gun range. He loved Dog Beach and would easily fetch his float ring in the ocean. He was one of the few dogs on the beach who had no fear of the water and jumping in the water. He ignored all the other dogs on the beach as I trained him. I would love to get another GSD, but finding a quality GSD breeder is difficult.

[@sa-iw4dr]

Highly- Intelligent determined working dog, close to one person or family, protective. That's what I know about the breed. Nice looking shepherd! He is calm polite and attentive to you and has good patience and good manners around the other dogs that's what I see!

[@thepupmommy]

I've owned dogs for close to 35 yrs, multiple breeds, large and small, puppies to seniors. I'm a long time Shepherd owner and have two now, male and female. GSDs are the 3rd most surrendered dog in the country, and the reason, I think, is because people get in over their heads with this breed. 1) they don't realize how smart the dog is; 2) they don't realize how BIG the Shepherd can be -- all my dogs have been in the 85-95 lb range, and at 5'7, I don't need to bend down to pet them; 3) that training this breed, like other working dogs, e.g., Doberman, Cane Corso, Malinois, can't be done at the local Petco. GSDs (and dogs in general) look to their owner as its leader and protector. And if the GSD senses that its owner is neither, it will take over and start running the show. All my dogs know from my facial expression to the tone of my voice what I will and will not tolerate. They get praise and rewards; my hands are always petting them when they are good; I talk to them and praise them regularly. But at the same time, when they need a correction, it is given, followed by praise when they behave. Final comment, because this breed has been in the Top 5 of AKC's annual list of most popular breeds for eons, this breed is subject to unscrupulous and back yard breeders looking to cash in on the popularity. If you are looking for a German Shepherd, do your homework and find a decent breeder. If you go the shelter/rescue route, spend some time with the dog. Come back several times if you can so you can make an assessment as to temperament. There are a lot of genetically wonky dogs out there. Behaviors can be trained away. Genetics can't.

[@jordanlevitt6639]

First, he is a beautiful dog! Likely working line. These dogs can be drivey, and if not very well trained, they can be highly suspiscious of other dogs and people. I love how calm he has become under your guidance. The breed can sometimes be very anxious and it's not a good thing when they are nervy or lack confidence. They are very trainable when in th hands of a good owner.

[@VeteranUSA40]

I will tell you one thing. You are spot-on with your training. I am quite sure you stayed busy. Keep up that great work!!!!

[@GM-yb7hp]

I love this dog - not that low slung in the hindquarters.My in-laws have always had shepherds, and while my go to dog is a labrador, I have really enjoyed all their GSD. My in-laws put the time in training the dogs. Good socialization, lots of exercise has consistently resulted in the most amazing, well behaved, joy to be around dogs.

[@nancyk3615]

I rescued a male and female GS running together and living rough off a hiway 2 yrs ago. They were friendly, but had no training. I still have them , they were both tough to teain at first, but now they are really doing good. Luckily, they have decent conformation. The male is about 100 lbs. And the female is about 65 lbs. They responded to our daily routine.

[@C.Pachovsky]

This an amazing looking German Shepherd! Great video again uncle Stonnie.

[@joefish6546]

Great edit Stonnie to be able to see the shift in body language of this animal before and after you let out all the other dogs. I saw lip licking and some ears being pinned back. The dog was also constantly scanning the other dogs while you were talking to camera and was obviously very alert. And of course there was the dominance behavior of humping the delightful but slightly clueless brown puppy (looked like a cocker labrador cross of some sort). But for the most part, as always, I was very impressed by how well behaved this dog was under your leadership when clearly the other dogs made him uncomfortable. What a revelation it must be for the dog to be able to realise that it's OK, maybe even quite enjoyable, to be calm and confident around other dogs instead of on guard and ready to 'go' whenever one comes near.

[@kennethsilvestri5874]

Agree 100% on exercise first for GSDs as they are way more obedient after and when tired. I am struggling with getting my GSD to be less reactive to other dogs when on a leash when other dogs are around and while people or other dogs walk by the fence. It's more laziness on my part because he will ignore them if I have treats available. The electronic training collar does work wonders but hate to use that all the time and would rather him listen to my commands. Jumping up on people is another thing I need to work on with him, he does it to lick them but not everyone enjoys that. One thing I would recommend is making them wait for a treat on the ground or to eat their food until you say okay, that helps establish you as the pack leader. The key is getting them to look to you for guidance before reacting but takes time and practice.

[@Freyja-f7m]

Nice advice on the wait to eat. For my reactive dog, I used a prong collar, and taught a great focus command where I could just do stop, sit, focus, building on the time for eye contact. I would turn away from a distraction that makes her reactive, coupled with focus command, if we were too close and she was losing her brain. I did make the mistake of 1. Letting her bark ballistically out front at people, dogs, crows and 2. Trying to stop 100% of her alert behavior when it got annoying. I had to teach her, ok, I acknowledge, now stop OR, praise good girl, when something suspicious was happening. In an urban environment this is something desirable, not to be punished, but she needs to know the difference. Don't be lazy, your dog could save your life some day.

[@zorannedeljkovic377]

Finally a real german shepard, a watchful eye and a great family companion. I'm on contrary husky fan myself, do not like possesive dogs, mine siberian was happy all the time, and didn't howl because there was no need for it. From that prospective and my martial arts background, I can tell that that these dogs and theirs owners are privileged for the time they spend with Uncle Stonnie. Best regards and keep up the good work

[@nogames8982]

I haven’t seen olives videos, but I think I’ve seen all the ones with German shepherds in them. And I think this is the best German shepherd he’s had. Usually, I cringe and want to cry when I see the shepherds on here.

[@PaulaDTozer]

This is a working dog. Lovely boy! He simply needed a job. It’s about handler awareness - as a person who teaches green handlers basic obedience, I first introduce them to situational awareness by asking them to always be aware of where their dog is on the leash, and to be aware of their state of mind. An erratic pattern of behaviour in a dog is generated from the handler’s energy and lack of consistency. GSD’s are smart and sensitive, with a tendency for picking up their handler’s lack of confidence very quickly. They don’t have much tolerance for instability - this is generated by the handler (many times without the handler knowing it) and conveyed through the leash. They go from 0 to 100 in a split second, generally freaking their handler out and causing a reactive loop. It’s like a green motorcyclist, who’s used to a motor scooter being handed the keys to a racing motorbike. One shot of gas and the bike is gone. When we observe Stonnie we see a relaxed, very confident handler who’s comfortable handling powerful, guarding breed dogs and helping them socialize. In this video, he’s not using anything but the collar, leash, and his understanding of dog behaviour. Ruger is a great dog, I think, from what I can see in a short video. Calmness, confidence, and consistency with training drills is the key to success with any breed, but I’d recommend that you get guidance and begin a regular training program immediately upon getting a GSD puppy, not only to engage their sensitive brains, but to train your own as well, and grow together.

[@glennm7086]

I rescued my first female shepherd when she was 2 1/2 but I got my 4 yo male GSD when he was 7 weeks old. They are so smart even at 7 weeks old and you need to get on the training because they learn & grow fast. I’m a big off leash guy and my dog has excellent recall and he knows leave it and he knows be nice ! For these dogs virtually everything is training, just observing what you’re doing, the more time you spend with them the more valuable they become. Truly.

[@car2nerr]

GSDs are often all about the rules. That's why they can be good farm dogs. When other dogs come around the Shepherd can arm to be concerned with "are you following the rules" and if not the dog may take action to correct the rule breaking. That's why it important to teach our dogs that we are in charge of setting the rules and how they are enforced. Then they can be more relaxed. I'm this video I see Stonnie showing the Shepherd that he is in charge of correcting the puppy. The shepherd's only job at the moment is the follow the course.

[@benabraham9076]

I have a most likely Shepherd and Greek Harehound mix Charlie. And it is like I have two dogs, one moment he shows shepherd dog behavior the next moment a pure Greek Harehound. After studying both breeds quite a bit, I am starting to understand him. I have three dogs and we really live together as a pack, he is mainly guided by one dog a Pastor Carafiano (shepherd from La Palma spain for herding sheep and goats in the mountains) Baxter. The other two dogs were quite fearful dogs, but they are improving so much. Here I use a professor Riemer from Austria. And saw how Jackals greet each other especially in the morning. I now greet the dogs when we are awake, about every morning 15 minutes before each other. I started this, because Charlie wanted to greet me every morning. If I did not respond to that he was more difficult the whole day. The most special thing about my dogs is that I suffer from severe PTSD, and they help me tremendously. Each dog in its own way, Baxter wakes me up when I have a nightmare, whereupon Charlie comes to lie against me and presses one paw very forcefully against my chest. The third dog comes to lie with me. I get help from the mental health care, they are completely amazed by the dogs, they only know trained dogs. My dogs do it naturally, they are the best PTSD support dogs. After the Moroccan Turkish Jew hunt approved by the left in the Netherlands in Amsterdam, I got a very severe attack of PTSD, if I hadn't had those dogs I don't know what would have happened. By the way, I have worked with mainly Shepherds and Akitas that had a biting history towards people, I have never had a single problem with those dogs. After the third walk we always became friends. We need to look more at the natural in the dog, and look more at the function and behavior of the dogs and much less at the appearance.

[@Chickenlittle99]

I have had German Shepard all my life. They are amazing smart pups. They have NEVER torn up anything. I got them all from breeders. Now i adopted (my first time ever) Dutchie Shepard. We have acreage and she loves to run away but she always comes back to dinner. Her previous own was sickly so I believe she did not much socialize.She a a really hunter she loves to chase lizards.

[@pamanderson1417]

Has the look of a working line vs show line with his structure and lower maintenance coat. Thanks for another great video, Stonnie!

You're doing great with him. He became distracted by the other dogs but stayed pretty relaxed. I'd definitely have the vet keep an eye on his backend. It's not tail dragging bad but it isn't great either.

[@LegendHold1]

Yes spot on Stoney. The most important part of a GSD is not the look (looks is always in the eye of the beholder), It's the brain, energy level and temperament that is most important. Unfortunately far too many people get a GSD for the look and as an "accessory" with the false sense of what it takes to make a higher drive WORKING dog into a well behaved and stable pet. GSD's are one of the breeds that needs a LOT of management, socialization and that takes effort and time to create that perfect dog at home. Young GSDs have far too much energy and far too much drive for most pet people and a lot of them end up in shelters because of that. ANYONE considering getting a true working breed (GSD, Malinois, Border Collie, field bred lab or golden, any type of terrier, etc) , absolutely has to understand that they are going to have to take a lot of time and energy to match and manage that dog's energy and behavior and to socialize and trail that dog to the point it does become a "habit" for the dog. And that can and often does mean YEARS (at minimum the first 2-3 years) of a dog's life to have the next 10-12 of a "good" family dog. I've had a GSD and she was a very good girl, but I spend years training and showing her and managing her behavior to the point she was excellent around other dogs and in all situations. But you have to put the time and effort into it to get the results you want and you have to have the knowledge and skills to work through the trouble spots. Your videos I am sure will help many people in their own training journeys. Great job.

[@T-no_86]

Thank you for your service Sir! I followed your work for years and still loving it. Beeing german my self, I can't resist to mention there are extremely well bred and structured german races such as my Hovawart wich isn't talked about so often and bring huge benefits for people interesting in shepherd kind of dogs. Just the look of his hip tells a lot... His extremely fine nuanced social behaviour and also robust character makes him so easy to handle and a great alternative to german shepherd s. Less separation anxiety and sensitivity makes living with a Hovawart quite effortless. In my opinion most people buying german shepherd dogs really want a Hovawart. 😊 Please consider one for your channels content even if there are only a few bred in the US and your customers might need you a little less. ^^ For sure I would buy you a couple of coffees!

[@eliseholton9284]

It looks basic but to have that behaviour around all those dogs .......is a Goal . First need my own head to return and then i can sort it all out. Brilliant stuff Stonie!

[@BevEdelman]

i have had 6 german shepherds in my life. my favorite breed, as they are remarkably intelligent and it can be seen in their eyes. All of my dogs have been rescues with various issues. they all moved through the issues and became good citizens. The one I have now had been dumped, she's a mix, I think she was pretty feral before I got her never having lived in a house. I have her almost a year now, and she is wonderful in the house. I still have a hard time walking her around the subdivision as she pulls on the leash, is dog reactive, and I have a trainer coming tomorrow. I can feel my anxiety traveling down the leash, and I know I am not doing her any good with these feelings. I require some input on how to handle this. I wouldn't trade her for anything. We have both come so far together. The German Shepherd is a great companion.the person has to be up to the task!

[@Freyja-f7m]

I used a prong collar for my perpetual puller. When she has it on, she maintains heel even off leash, take it off, she pulls on the flat collar again, even after years. Obsessed with leash pressure. The weight of the prong must be comforting. Training, we walked up and down the driveway upwards of 20 times, turning around on the pull. She had to learn to relax to go forward. I got her to where all I had to do was stop and she knew she had to return to heel position. Then for reactivity, it was the stop, sit, focus command, where she had to look at me and maintain focus, not at the dog. Practice this a lot before the distraction is added. It took quite some time, but patience pays off.

[@christineklutich]

Very good video as always from you. Thank you for encouraging us to comment, because I'm not the type for commenting usually. I have a 7 year old intact "working line" brown Labrador and he loves humans and dogs ever since. He is always happy and confident. But if he sees a dog looking like a German Shepherd in the distance, no matter what color or size, he alert barks and is skeptical until he meets the dog personally. It is the same alert bark if he smells a fox. Maybe it's something very old instinct by fox or German Shepherds? He hadn't any bad experiences at all and he loves big powerful dogs. He gets along with everyone. But it have to be something in the posture of German Sheperd like dogs thats alerts him.

[@puckluck2357]

As a breeder of working line GSDs that are often all black, the reactions from other dogs with my Shepards is often a nervous fearful one both from people and other dogs. We also have a golden retriever who is a mentor for the GSDs and puppies. But other dogs and people do not react to her in the same way. But I don’t blame people, my DDR bloodline in males stand 26” or more at the withers. All black dogs are intimidating, this is why the SPCA are full of black dogs. And with a big GSD running toward you it is intimidating to see the power they put to the ground and the galloping thumping of their paws. If I did not know my stud I would be afraid of him. But he is a kind loyal dog that cuddles with me each morning lying on his back as I rub his belly. But has super high motivation and is cuddly for only those 5 fleeting moments. After that he is all performance

[@drewjbx228]

Female GSD owner here... sable color working line. They are very intelligent, protective, and loyal as most people know, on the other hand she is very loving with the family and young ones, a goofball in all honesty that just wants to play/work and be with the family. Also very adaptive to any environment... as long as you put in the time to love these dogs they will love you back unconditionally, I am a little biased here... I would not want any other breed. (well maybe a golden retriever)

[@amandahall4992]

I had a GSD semi long coated from 8 weeks to 15 years, she was from show/police dog lines. I was young she was my first dog and I was completely inexperienced so I got a dog trainer for a few months to help me handle her as she was rambunctious and very intelligent, the things she got up to over her 15 years …. Well I have some stories. She was definitely my heart dog, very social with people and other dogs, cats etc. I absolutely love the breed in hindsight I was probably very lucky with mine as she was protective but not barky or aggressive but she got a fair amount of socialising when a pup. I would love to have another but do wonder if it would be more than I can handle after 22 years of Rat terriers. Thank you for the informative calm explanations.

[@ginala49]

I grew up with 2 GSDs and then after my bro and I had an Akita and a Rottweiler- we had another GSD - who had some socialization issues….He was taken to training by me and my boyfriend…he really got much more manageable - the training was mostly all GSDs, I learned from a few trainers…keep my German close /heel is important for walking, so he could be easily corrected if he barked at someone..immediate corrections - to reduce his pulling when we were to go out to walk, open the door, wait til he calms down, then walk out - teach your dog to stay sit in short intervals…GSDs have a LOT of energy…loved to go to big dog parks and run like crazy…due to his socialization gaps we did not go off leash, except at a dog parks and run..In the house, they are lap dogs…Velcro dogs…will follow you all over the house..then fall asleep near you and put their paw on your foot..Best dogs ever, but need a seriously strong mental owner…cause they are super intelligent..and will just take over if you let them..

[@caobita]

He's very beautiful. Reminds me of our family dog back in the 80ies in Germany. He had nearly exactly the same colouring, but was long haired, being a mix between Old German shepherd and rough collie. Best dog ever

[@ezridax19]

Definitely a working line. I have a 1 year old male working line. Luckily for me he has loved dogs and children since the day I brought him home. He was overly cautious with people but through daily socialization he loves the people he knows, still shy with people he doesn't know. On a walk he's a dream and extremely social. In his yard he's a menace and barks at anything and everything. We are still working on that.

[@mariolopez5562]

I have the same situation with my 8 month old female Malinois, great outside but very protective of the house.

[@walterrobbie5243]

Well we have a almost 3 year old Female German Shepherd. From what I see there you have done a great job in redirecting alot of bad habits and his mannerisms He is on the smaller size for a male but that is genetics mostly. Love the way he basically is not responding to the release of the other Dogs which is fantastic in such a short time of Training especially with not much socialization from his owner. His posture is mostly of the working line and I noticed he is still in tack so this leads me to believe the owner wants to probably breed him. Hope he is papered and had hips xrayed for grading. But I do not believe my self he has full German Shepherd Bloodline but I could be wrong. Love you're training and give you a 5 star for what you have accomplished in such a short time with a 3to 3 year old German Shepherd already in st ways !! Just a Fantastic job !! I could go on and on But that is enough for now!! Keep up your quality work with these Dogs , Robbie

[@Arivmario]

I got 4 GSDs. 2 working lines and 2 show lines. All 4 do bite work and obedience. One of them is Czech/DDR/WG and that guy is a handful!! His energy level is amazing, but as soon as he gets his collar on he knows it’s “work time”. His desire to work is just mind blowing 🤯

[@Itotallyadoredogs]

I once met a young maybe 1 year old german shepherd who was owned by an army veteran. It was my first time seeing a german shepherd up close. I could tell that it was very loyal, goofy, and devoted. I noticed it was anxious around all kinds of new people at the event, but the owner was training the dog to be his service dog while the dog was growing, so it was part of the process. But I also noticed that the dog was very perceptive and how it would watch people's facial expressions, and try to calculate, in his own way, what kind of social environment it was in, and assess danger possibilities for itself and its owner. It looked like it would take a lot of work and plenty of attention to keep one of these breeds, but it was awesome to see its level of loyalty to its owner and eagerness to please him, that I have not seen before in other dogs.

[@car2nerr]

Sounds like you met my hubby and his Youngster

[@sixty94lyf]

Looks like the only dog I ever owned. Structure colour everything 😮. He has great temparament and relaxed. Usually when unrrlaxed the hercules stand up instantly. Miss you Poppy.

[@aolinger3167]

My female GSD responds just like this one does to other dogs in the video when she is working. I have noticed the focus & high drive to achieve their goal, regardless, if it's to obtain a ball or walk thru an obstacles course. If the dog's mind is working...(to not be distracted) is easy to train into a GSD & worthwhile.

[@aaronmclean8671]

I have a working line german shepherd. My son recommended a breeder he had talk to. She is a year and a half. My german shepherd has become my best friend. Friendly to everyone well behave picked up on training so quick. I am retired now i have the time for 2 hours of throwing the ball for her. In return she always wants to work for me. From carrying in bags out of the truck. To finding something or even my youngest kid. If i have a migraine it like she can read it before i can. No play needed until i am better she just stays by my side. If i have a migraine and family talking too much where i cant recover she will in sweet way get them to go to the living room. Then she blocks the bedroom door she will use her nose and point like get out of here. If i am in a bad mood she knows what to do to get me laughing. how ever i feel she can read it sick,joy ,tired ,full of life any mood and knows how to act. I been told this was common in german shepherd traits. Has a child like personality and curiosity. One thing i will say they need training from day 1 and exercise and boundaries. If you had a good breeder then you will have the most loving and loyal friend one can ask for.

[@anmolsingh9025]

love that straightish back and alert eyes and up ears. I live in ANZ and there are many professional breeders now producing straight back GSDs in show line too so its kind of hard to tell if this is a working line or show line. this guy's coloration is also found in working line so this is a toughie. dependent on its energy level then we could guestimate - hard to tell energy level in this video. this would be an excellent dog in right environment.

[@kobenoah1]

Beautiful boy! I miss my 2 gsd’s. Now I have a Mal and 2 gp’s My first gsd was a rescue. Very good with people. With other dogs, as long as they stayed out of his face he was ok. Thinking back, I was just lucky nothing horrible happened. (To our other dogs) He did love our gray hound (weird) If I had a do over with him I would have sought help in training. Now I have a 5 month old Mal. I work with Stonnie fashion2’s a day. Plan on taking him to Petco puppy classes next month for a bit of socialization

[@lindasorensen4090]

Best advice ever tired dog is a good dog Thankyou for that love your channel

[@Basecampgirl]

As a child, family friends secured a GS puppy. We met her early on and visited their country home a couple times a year. During one visit when the dog was about 5 years old we brought a new person with us, a new male member of our household. The dog never accepted him and needed to be separated from him when we visited (aggressive barking). In recent years I adopted a rescue GS 6 six years old. She was like Velcro and never left my side, but soon as I took her out in public for walks, camping, and having family to the house she turned on them and demonstrated a real bite risk……Not knowing anything about her background except that her family moved and could not take her, I was not prepared or had the time to re-train this dog and with tremendous guilt brought her back to the rescue as my house was not right for her….my experience with GS has not been good….sadly…

[@ValleyGirls-g2c]

I have had for GSD in my life, as well as a pointer lab cross( probably), poodles, border colies. Pyrnees, Burnese and australian shepherds. I love the herding breeds. For many reasons. This male actually presents himself as a very well balanced dog, without visible signs of being overly bred to be "working". Since all dogs used to be "farm dogs", and crazy wasnt tolerated, I feel he'd fit right in. I presently have 7y.o. GS from " working" lines..she makes a border collie mallinois look calm. I adore her, yes I Do. Very smart, loves to learn, still. Great travelling dog, great with people and other dogs. But shes always on the go. Always has to carry a stick or ball or you name it. She doesnt bark excessivlly. But she talks all the time..which i inadvertently rewarded by throwing the stickor ball or whatever to get her quiete. Instead of waiting till she was quiete before she got that reward. GS's always want to be with you( herding breeds do), and they can go all sorts of sideways if they areleft to their own devices. Im rather sad that dogs are getting specialized so much. After having her, I understand how they "tolerate" high level military and police jobs. She has very little sense of self preservation. She's hurt herself several times doing??? She goes way beyond the point of exhaustion( took me a bit to figure out I had to make her chill out). She enjoys people. But isnt snuggly. I feel sorry for her on a lot of levels. Because she always looks to me to interact,though she is finally mellowing out. I just got an australian shepherd pup, paticularly becuse he was mellow. Hes a peice of cake! And now she has the job of being his aunty. Stay tuned right?

[@squaretriangle9208]

I really like your presentations so down to earth👏🏻 I had a Croatian shepherd mix, she had all the positive and negative traits described here, much too reactive, only 13kg and not that big but fierce, only calmed down when she was older and we moved to the countryside, she had a heart of gold, though, she would have defended me and my family with her life, I so miss her GS are in my opinion too big and overbred (in Europe)

[@Ivyleaf_0_o]

As always, great video, Stonnie! I couldn't help but squeal to myself when I saw you still have a Norwegian Elkhound in the background (proud owner) PLEASE DO A BREED SPECIFIC VIDEO. I'M BEGGING YOU!!

[@zaqn357]

Man, i’ve always liked german shepherds and this is convincing me that i couldn’t ever have one… not unless i have some kinda training arc on having high evergy and highly intelligent dog

[@lightningthunder1536]

Yep, mine has went nuts! When meeting up with other dogs. But then when they got to him he still was uneasy but manageable. I like running into other dogs gives us training time.

[@TrishaVincent8057]

I recently experienced an encounter with my neighbor's German Shepherd and two huskies. They came running out of my neighbor's townhouse and ran straight toward me and my 25lb Chihuahua Dachshund mix. It all happened so fast, and I let out an involuntary scream. I know that's not smart. Anyway, the townhouse HOA does not allow breeds over 25 pounds, so this came as a surprise. Nothing bad happened. My neighbor came out, said something, and the dogs kind of lost interest in my dog and I. They stayed near us, though, for a minute. That is important, because it made me realize they were not a threat. The German Shepherd's bark, as he/she approached, was scary. While he/she stood near me, however, it was almost peaceful. I assured my neighbor I would not report the incident to the HOA. I love dogs, and I appreciate knowing he rescued those dogs from a shelter. There is a big nature trail accross the street, where I have seen him regularly exercise his dogs. So, they get plenty of exercise. He told me, after apologizing, that he is working on socializing them among the many dog walkers on the trail. I probably would still be weary, if I was approached by another German Shepherd. I stay off of the trail due to attacks on women over the last few years. I had thought about getting a German Shepherd, so I could walk on the trail again. Thanks to Stonnie, I realize it wouldn't be fair to the dog. I am middle-aged now, and can no longer run.

[@terrilee6745]

Beautiful boy, looks just like my gsd. My girl is 5 yrs old now. She was a pandemic puppy so we missed all the social opportunities. She is a real handful. She is very reactive to dogs and people. When anyone comes over to our house we have to kennel her or keep a leash on her and muzzle her. She resource guards me. She has been in multiple obedience training classes. She would be on task until another dog would stare her down and then it was game on. I had her in scent work for 3, 6 week courses which she did really well in until one day the trainer walked towards me and she went after the trainer. I take her out all the time to hardware stores with a harness on that has patches that say Do Not Pet and K9 in training. This does help to have people keep their distance from her which allows her not to feel like she has to protect me. I’m am very strict in my training with her. She listens to me very well when we are out. At home it is more of a challenge. Everyone in the household must be on the same page with training. Unfortunately in my house we are not and it is very hard on her. I am very consistent and my husband is not. These dogs are extremely smart and you must have jobs for them to do or they can get destructive. Socializing is so so important. I love my girl and really enjoy working with her and just being with her. I still have hope that one day she will not react so aggressively when we have company over.

[@htenerf137]

Probably not a popular comment but some “bad experience” perspective for worst case scenarios to give the opposite perspective. My retired aunt regularly fosters and adopts senior dogs. She’s had 4-5 dogs to date and, so far, adopted two GS. Both took over her life for the rest of theirs. It is NOT EASY to own these dogs. She had to re-fence her yard for one. She had to stop fostering for 4 years for the other. She stopped going to the dog park which changed her social circle as both dogs were high risk to attack other dogs. That said both were able to live happy lives outside the shelter with her. They both got MUCH better at interacting with people. They could go out and do errands around town with a muzzle on. They got to go on hikes. And both were 100% devoted to my aunt. One even stopped a break in. This is in no way a bad mouthing of the breed but just a fair warning of the risks if you don’t do the work early. If anything both dogs made me want a GSD puppy if my life allows for it at some point. But it’s a lesson I’m glad I got to learn second hand.

[@joefisch1732]

Great video. I have a DDR GSD that is 3 years old. Regretfully under-socialized (except for our other dog, a female 5y lab). Our buddy does not actively go after other dogs, but can get snippy if another dog runs up to him quickly. I'm working on socializing him more now, but it's a challenge. We also are dealing with bad elbow dysplasia and a bad back knee. Xrays also show potential hip dysplasia later in life. Love him to death, but worried about his longevity.

[@moz7173]

Love your honest talk. This GS looks amazing tbh - lovely straight back, and Very calm around the other pups, well done X GSheps in my experience have been mostly of Gorgeous temperament, the less friendly of the species reflected the attitude of the owner, say no more.

[@photographingwildlife8779]

I love the breed. My current 6 year old 120 male is number 9 in my lifetime. I noticed this dogs tail go up when the other dogs where close. I can always tell when mine sees another critter by the tail action. He sees them before I do when we walk, and when I see the tail rise, I know to look for another animal. They are the most entertaining, comical, and loyal breed. Mine loves to make me laugh! I also love the Standard Poodle but always say, "The Standard Poodle uses their intelligence to please themselves and the German Shepherd uses their intelligence to please you". They definitely need to be taught at a young age that you are the alpha but if raised correctly they are the absolute best! I agree also about them being mostly bark and show. My male does his best to show that he is "bad" to a stranger that is coming toward me in a manner he isn't comfortably with, but in reality he is a big ole baby. If I walk up to someone and talk he is okay with it, but if someone is coming at me he gets defensive (I really like it that way). He makes me feel safe. Start training them very young and they are the ultimate companion. The only negative I can think of is the amount they eat and I feed my boy raw beef, chicken, and pork. He is healthy! They need a lot of socialization and metal stimulus and should not be left alone for long periods of time. They need to be a part of the family. Oh, and they shed a lot! I just embrace the hair and know that I will miss it one day. Mine is built a lot like this dog but is a little stockier but not fat. I like this build better than the show dog build. They also have a great sense of fairness. Once you set the rules, they don't like them broken. Stay consistent. I had a female about 30 years ago that understood every word I said. She was that once in a lifetime dog. I still cry when I think of her.

[@victornowlin9092]

Ruger had his hack just a little bit at one time. He good though but the other dogs were being fairly good also. ? Do you think that gsds are more gun shy than a Malinois or Dutch shepherd and what can be done for that. Very good video!

[@AlphaMaleMidwesterner]

To Anyone who wants to own a German Shepherd Dog from raising a Puppy to an Adult Dog you as a Human Adult seriously need to take an “OATH” with that GSD Puppy Dog right beside you because they are going to be a lot of work and you seriously need to be committed to raising them and you can’t slack off but it’s really worth it and rewarding later and one of the best investments you’ll ever make.

[@mauranoonan8951]

GSD: socialize early and often. He’s a beautiful representation of a GSD! We had a wonderful GSD for almost 12 years. She was a red and tan, terrific disposition- people with a fear of dogs would actually say that she was the only dog they didn’t fear❤ She was one in a million. We have a seven year old American GSD male now. He’s disabled due to a neurological disorder, but when he was young he had the energy of the Energizer Bunny on speed. He didn’t stop moving. He also had (has) an incredible prey drive for cats. If he still had his former energy/ ability he would hunt cats (we own a couple of cats). Two GSDs who were completely different. Edited to add: You can see the trait of dominant behavior with this GSD when he attempted to “hump” the Irish Setter/ Golden mix puppy.

[@briananderson6535]

Have a 9 year old GSD that is the best dog I've ever and probably will ever have. Gentle with kids, other dogs (except a neighbors Old English Sheepdog, she does not like that dog for some reason). Her best friend is our next-door neighbors 8-pound terrier. They love chasing each other around the yard. She is a great watchdog and will alert to anything out of the ordinary and is a natural deterrent to anyone who may be up to no good. She does not chase wild animals. Deer, turkey, groundhogs, etc she just lets walk by with just a curious look. Coyotes and bobcats definitely raise her hackles and she is sure that don't come any closer to our home when she sees them, but still smart enough not to chase them. She has the classic colorations of a showline GSD but no sloping back like so many have so not sure if she may have some working line in her too. A pretty big female at 90 lbs but still very active. 2 mile walk every morning, longer hikes most weekends, and will retrieve for hours for fun. Maybe she has learned a little watching all Stonnie's labs!

[@JanetBurke-g4c]

Rutger looks like a working line bred shepherd with his straighter back end and longer legs. I have one, Jessie, a female. She is our second GSD. Our first was more a show shepherd and she was smaller and very different personality wise. The reactive behaviours you are describing for this GSD are very similar to mine. She has been a lot of work and I wasn’t prepared for her reactive behaviour especially with other dogs. And it’s not like we haven’t had large breed dogs before. We started obedience training early, consistently and with a trainer. Jessie was super quick to learn and fast to respond. She always seemed nervous of other dogs (whining) but it wasn’t until she was over a year old that she started the aggressive lunging and barking at other dogs. We tried different collars, different trainers and methods (one focused on treat distraction, one on correction (and I’m not talking about cruelty here) all working to keep her focus on me instead of other dogs. Like you say Stonnie, the focus was on management. Neither was completely successful, but they were $$$. Unfortunately, living where we are, there is no Stonnie to take our dog to and I think the u-tube trainers that show a behaviour fix dramatically done in a day are misleading to say it nicely. So that’s the tough side of Jessie. I have shed plenty of tears, and blamed myself for obviously not socializing her enough or correctly. The awesome side of Jessie - I’ve never trained a dog that likes to work as much as her. She will respond quickly to verbal or sign cues. She loves to retrieve/find toys and will do it proudly. This is a dog that excels at doing a job, any job, even helping haul wood for the wood box. She is fantastic with my grandchildren, including one with a disability that affects coordination - Jessie seems to know. Jessie through all her issues has never focused her aggressive behaviour on me or other family members no biting etc. she is loving and an incredibly loyal dog.

[@traceykoenig704]

I think he has dine remarkable with his demeanor with the other dogs and following your every lead... good boy

[@Trumpstrain23]

I keep both my Shepard's sociable. Both my boys are very polite with everyone. Even when a dog on the sidewalk is going ape chit over crossing paths with mine. They are calm

[@jesimetz5065]

I have a GSD (just turned 2) and this video was very helpful! Just subscribed to your channel to watch more videos! I think ours needs some work on confidence training in an obstacle course set up like you have.

[@miafrost9885]

I grew up with german shepherds and they were amazing, smart, mentally stable, hardworking, loving dogs. GSD are really the ultimate dog in my heart. But I don't have german shepherds now, though, because my life is not set up to give one a good life. They are a lot of work.

[@phillipm6481]

Yep….i have one. He does that all the time. It’s been tough to get him over it. He is getting better over time, but it’s hard to find owners of good dogs for him to socialize with.

[@cimarronrivercompany3696]

Love the dogs conformation. Looks sound and will probably stay sound in his hips. Very pretty dog! CM-Arizona

[@Rich-eg6qb]

I had a 95lb German Shepherd in rural Colorado. He protected the family from 2 and 4 legged problems. He was the easiest going dog in the house, but when a coyote or wild dogs came to our house, he took care of business. I'm a big fan of the breed.

[@JasonVajiralongkorn]

Wow your country eels very dangerous

[@zoeen5650]

My grandparents always had gsd. They lived on a large rural property and the dogs natural temperament worked in their favour. My mum told us stories about the earlier dogs and how she and her sister would go to the playpark and the dog wouldn't let any adult in with the kids. Kinda nice but also dangerous when they make decisions for themselves. Although they're suspicious of strangers they were rarely aggressive. Unfortunately as my grandparents aged they became less social and so their later dogs gained a reputation locally for being aggressive. With the family though they couldn't have been more sweet. For me the conformation of the gsd (even this relatively good looking dog) is its downfall. They always look weak on the back end with underdeveloped haunches regardless of breeding to my eye. This boy looks cow hocked and hunched when walking. But I'm a Malinois/dutch girl now so a gsd simply can't move in comparison. Which is sad because I much prefer the gsd temperament.

[@jeffdeutsch]

6 year GSD owner and this dog looks quite calm on leash with the other dogs. My boy was not socialized properly. He is great with all people in my home but he behaves aggressively at dog parks (don't even go there anymore as it's really not setup for this type of dog and the owners can be very irresponsible). He is also aggressive with most other dogs on a walk and I end up walking him less frequently. I am considering a program where he had exposure to many other dogs, similar to what I'm seeing here. My first dog was a Golden Retriever... very friendly and easy going. My GSD is every bit as loyal and loveable. Great dude. But aside from inside the house or out back, he's a bit loud and aggressive.

[@denisele352]

I have had 3 Dobermans. Loved them, but the breed has been ruined- they don’t live long. I will be getting a German Shepherd for that reason. I am learning from these comments that the breeds are similar. I am older but know the work a Dob needs - no problem, I can do that - I figured a Shepherd would be similar. But I got some insights to take me further. By the way I love your videos. I think you have a dream job :)

[@marksexton5107]

My wife and I have Two shepherds. Boss is almost 2 years old,working class GSD, The other,KC, is just over a year old and looks very similar to this one but is a Western Shepherd...KC weighs 110lbs and looks like a man eater but is such a gentle dog, my wife takes him everywhere.