I forgot to mention that Suki's parents were also on site when we visited him "just to talk", so we got to see them.

I had a friend that had a beautiful male GSD named Alek. He was a gentle giant and something about him got me interested in the breed. (I've not ever owned a dog before as an adult.) At the time I was a cat person, but when my cat passed away at age 18, something was missing. My boyfriend has a huge allergy to cats, so getting another one was out of the question. So for about 5 years we had no animals. Then we bought a house (in an OK neighborhood, but not somewhere I would walk at night alone in) and had a yard. Each day on the way to work, I would see these elderly ladies out walking their GSD and they looked so 'protected', so that was kind of how it started. I read up on them and then thought maybe the breed was to powerful for a new dog owner, but talked to lots of people, trainers, etc. and began my search for Siena.

The rest, is history, as they say We love her to death!

My parents had a GSD before I was born named Shep. He was my dad's hiking/mountain climbing buddy. I was very interested in hearing stories my parents would tell me about Shep, and would often look at all the photos they had of him thinking 'wow, what a nice dog. I would love to have a dog like that someday.'

Years later when I was 9-10yrs old my dad (who was now remarried) got a White GSD named Tea-bone. He lived outside on our 2 acres of land. He would play with us kids during the day and guard our chickens and ducks at night. Great dog who led me to love White GSDs.

5yrs later when it came time for me to get my first dog, I had forgotten about the GSD breed and went with a Golden Retriever.Thinking about it now, and knowing what GSDs require, I'm glad I did.

Through out my Golden Retriever's life, I was able to meet and talk to a lot of GSD owners who would share their experiences in owning the breed. I would go to police dog demonstrations, and watch the dogs work there. While my cousin was competing in Obedience trails with her Sheltie, I would be on the side lines talking to people about Goldens and GSDs.

In 2005 when my Golden died, I really could not bring myself to get another Golden, so I went with the breed that had been slowly luring me in for so many years, a German Shepherd Dog.

When our 3 Yorkies passed (ages 14, 15 and 16) we had decided "no more dogs." Not that we stopped loving them but at our age we just decided enuf's 'nuff.

Well, hubby decided to go back on the road 18 wheelin' it and there I was alone and working mids. I really missed my Damien and his warning barks when something was not quite right outside. For 57 years I'd been alerted by barking when something spooked the dogs. Suddenly, that was gone and it was feeling pretty spooky to me and I was jumping at lots of little noises that I never worried about before cuz there was always a dog to "tell" me if I needed to be concerned. Also was not sleeping well because the bedroom is wayyyyy upstairs at the far end of the house which meant I couldn't hear to well if anything did happen downstairs.

My mind kept wandering to thoughts of my forever other favorite dog breed (read not second just other) but I talked myself out of it a few times because of our agreement. Finally one day six months later I just blurted out "I want another dog." And so the hunt began ...

My mom tells me that I first asked to have a dog when I was 3, seems I fell in love with the St Bernard that belonged to some family friends.

I asked again a lot as a teenager, but the answer was always "You have horses and cats, you don't need a dog".

But my best friend and riding buddy had a German Shepherd and and Irish Setter. I fell in love with both breeds (and of course the Big Red series of books put a spin on the Irish Setter love as well)

Fast forwarding through my live 40 years from that first asking for a dog and I was finally in a place where a dog would really 'work' and then the decision - Irish Setter or German Shepherd.

Dante won though I really wouldn't mind having a nice Irish Setter some day!

As a 20 something, I had been admiring Afghan Hounds. The fellow I was seeing at the time had gone through a series of dogs. When I went to visit for TG vacation, his latest was a 9 or so week old GSD/Elkhound cross that I fell in love with. Fast forward a couple of years - the pup had to go. Efforts to find this great dog a new home weren't working -- So I took him. It's been down hill ever since!

Husband came with a young GSD...I kept the GSD


I should add, I always loved GSDs from the distance, and we were around several at training. Never thought I would have a larger dog, much less a GSD. Oddly, it was the only breed that Indy was drawn to, she disliked most other dogs. I wasn't looking to add another dog, but luckily they hit it off (think similar to Risa's reactivity) with very few issues.

Eta: lol, answered twice, this is an old thread...oldie but goodie?

My husband had always wanted a German Shepherd. Growing up, he wanted to be a police K-9 officer. So he always wanted a German Shepherd for the breed's loyal tendencies and protection. When we were dating, he'd talk of having a german shepherd. I knew from stories of my parents and from others that German Shepherds have the ability to be aggressive, and some of the dogs were unpredicably aggressive. I never wanted one, did not see the sense in adopting one, and only agreed to one so my husband can get his dream dog. I'm more of a small breed type, not a large one, and was never fond of big dogs that liked to jump on people. So we got a puppy- 8 months old.

3 years later, our Abbey is a wonderful, loyal German Shepherd. I see the sense in having this breed, and I'm in love with it. I think I might be set for this breed for life!

Hmmm,I don't see this as a GSD trait at all. Of course, any dog has the 'ability'
to be aggressive. I know for some time that was laid on GSDs, then rotties and now those in the pitbull family.

Luckily for me, my family had German Shepherds from the time I was toddler to well in my teens. They were such family dogs and that is what draws me to them to this day.

For many years I had a GSDx, adopted as an adult from a shelter. My late Seiko reminded me once again how loyal and loving these dogs are to family. Seiko only once needed to exhibit what she could do if there was danger and her warning was more than enough to scare off the 'bad guys.'

Skye? I don't know if she would do the same, but I would bet she would. Hopefully she will not ever be put in that position and can just remain loving and carefree.

German Shepherds are loyal, fun, ready for almost anything and aloof with those who just plain don't matter to them. What is not to love about them?

[quote=PositiveDogGerman Shepherds are loyal, fun, ready for almost anything and aloof with those who just plain don't matter to them. What is not to love about them?

[/quote]
I agree!!!!! I discovered that aloofness once we established the "leave it" command for her to leave an animal or person alone. It's just amazing that these dogs can completely ignore the others when told to!