GSD based on colors

rjThor · 04-07-2011, 11:36 AM

When I decided to get my son a BLACK GS puppy, I wanted my son to have something different, something nobody around would have. I had done some research on them, and was happy with what I had found out about them, my lil boy is 12, and enjoyes getting on his scooter or skateboard n being around the neighborhood, I knew if I got him a GSD he would be alot safer. My question is what are the differences in GSD based on color is my question? Would like to get some opinions from people on here, planning on getting a sable female in a year, our pup Thor is 4 months, and is everything I had hoped for, very loyal pup n has been easy to train.

Lin · 04-07-2011, 11:40 AM

None. There are no traits specific to colors. There ARE traits specific to lines, which can be heavy in one color or another.

selzer · 04-07-2011, 12:09 PM

So I have a question, what are you hoping in the area of the shep protecting your son? Are you hoping that anyone who might consider him a target will see the dog and find an easier target? Are you hoping that if your son gets into a jam, the dog with actually protect him?

Unless you really work with your son and the dog, the dog protecting him could be a real liability. Boys get into scrapes at times with other kids. If a kid runs toward your son, do you want your dog to jump between and attack? He is easy to train and manage now, but in another year or so, will your son be able to prevent him from attacking another kid or adult?

As a deterrent, GSDs are great. As a protector, GSDs are great too, but you have to spend a lot of time getting the dog to that point, so he knows and trusts your son enough to let him tell him when to attack.

In any case lots of socialization, and training with your son, preferably in classes should be in order for the puppy, so that a year from now when he weighs close to what your son weighs, he will be easy to manage and have a good bond with him.

Good luck.

**jocoyn** · 04-07-2011, 12:28 PM

Color should be the last consideration, at best not a consideration at all.

If I were concerned enough that my child needed a dog out with him to protect him, I am afraid I would be out there watching in such a way as to not embarass my child.

I would never live with myself if I had a dog bite someone due to a mistake in judgement. I do know we have visions of such "lassie-esque" behaviors and probably can be found, though rarely, and today's world is much more complex. We no longer live in a time when the fact that a dog may bite is accepted, and that children are required to accept consequences of their own behaviors....(the other kids)......one scratch and you may wind up in court..........

sagelfn · 04-07-2011, 01:49 PM

Quote:

When I decided to get my son a BLACK GS puppy, I wanted my son to have something different, something nobody around would have. I had done some research on them, and was happy with what I had found out about them,......
My question is what are the differences in GSD based on color is my question? Would like to get some opinions from people on here, planning on getting a sable female in a year....

Animals are not cars. What kind of research did you do on Black German Shepherds? How did you not learn during that research that color doesn't have anything to do with temperament? Why do you want a sable? PLEASE tell me you will not breed.

rjThor · 04-07-2011, 02:05 PM

wow, i'm really surprised that everyone that has responded has responded in a negative manner, I grew up with a GSD matter of fact had him for 12yrs, and he followed me everywhere and anywhere I went, he never bit anyone, maybe I didn't clarify what I was asking, In todays society, it's not the same as when I grew up, it was safer back when I was a kid for me to walk over to a friends house or a relatives house. Today the times are alot diff. and not as safe, so I dont want some grown up coming up and picking up or hurting my son, I decided on the black GS, because I found them to be not as common, all I found out about the BLACK GSD is that they are of bigger in size. I never said I wanted my dog to protect my son from other kids or to bite anybody, just wondering where anyone read that. I was asking about color because it seems so many people on here make such a big deal, so I was curious, on a thread that I was reading about the different opinions so many people put on the color of their GSD. I chose a BLACK one, because If I was gonna pay for one I wanted my son to have the color of puppy he wanted. Maybe this makes it a lil clearer for those who have taken the time to comment. Thanks.

**Castlemaid** · 04-07-2011, 02:08 PM

If you want a truly unique dog that no one has and will attract attention and have everyone talking, may I suggest a mixed breed rescued from the pound? I actually have more people asking me about my mixed breed than my German Shepherd.

Black GSDs are not that unique. They can occur in all lines, except the German Show lines where Black and Red Saddle pattern predominates to just about the exclusion of anything else. There are not temperament or behaviour traits associated with the different patterns or colours of the GSD, but as Lin pointed out, differences among different lines can be pronounced, regardless of the colour of the dog.

Glad you have found a good dog and are happy with him - but buying a dog on colour for bragging right - well, not the most responsible way to go about it.

LaRen616 · 04-07-2011, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjThor

I decided on the black GS, because I found them to be not as common, all I found out about the BLACK GSD is that they are of bigger in size.

There is nothing wrong about getting a puppy in the color that you want. I am picky on color too, but you also have to remember that temperment is the absolute most important thing.

Do not just buy a sable pup because you like her color, buy her because you like her temperment and her color.

It is not true that black GSD's are bigger. They are just darker.

**jocoyn** · 04-07-2011, 02:20 PM

Well normally if you expect the dog to make your child safer you would expect that it would protect him in danger and the way dogs do that is to bite.....what, exactly, are you expecting of the dog?

You were the one that said you wanted something different, something nobdoy else would have, so that is where that impression came from.

Glad you have a nice dog. FWIW, black dogs are just black dogs and not bigger or smaller or different in temperament. Black is just not "as common" because it is recessive and you tend to find it more in the working lines - UNLESS - it is just someone who breeds for blacks and to do that you have to inbreed for color which is not goodl.

I would still say today IS different in that parents are not responsible for their kids nor are their kids made to be responsible for their own actions. If I got bit by a dog when I was growing up I think the first question would be "what were you doing to get bit' instead of rushing over with the police and lawyers on my heels.

Is it really that much worse with stranger abduction today than in years past? Or is it more media coverage and sensitivity to it? I don't know.

No issues with a child having a nice companion but since one of our own neighbors had a bad experience with a child in charge of a dog (her dog got bit by his dog and the baby stroller got knocked over with the baby in it) I am a bit hesitant to put a 12 year old out unsupervised with a dog...

Lucy Dog · 04-07-2011, 02:21 PM

He's everything you hope for? No offense, but he's 4 months old, you just got him.

You got him for your 12 year old son because you wanted him to have something different and him to be safer? Ok... and now you want another? How do you plan on training this one to protect the way you want him to?

Train and bond with this puppy. Let him grow as a family member and when the time is right, get another if you want to do it all over again.

04-07-2011, 11:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
rjThor Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: San Antonio, TX. Posts: 387	GSD based on colors When I decided to get my son a BLACK GS puppy, I wanted my son to have something different, something nobody around would have. I had done some research on them, and was happy with what I had found out about them, my lil boy is 12, and enjoyes getting on his scooter or skateboard n being around the neighborhood, I knew if I got him a GSD he would be alot safer. My question is what are the differences in GSD based on color is my question? Would like to get some opinions from people on here, planning on getting a sable female in a year, our pup Thor is 4 months, and is everything I had hoped for, very loyal pup n has been easy to train.

04-07-2011, 11:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
Lin Knighted Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 3,243	None. There are no traits specific to colors. There ARE traits specific to lines, which can be heavy in one color or another. __________________ Sorry dude. I can't live up to your expectations all of the time. Sometimes I'm going drink six miniature bottles of rum and then draw horses. That's just the way the world works. - Allie Brosh

04-07-2011, 12:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
selzer Crowned Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Denmark, Ohio Posts: 17,499	So I have a question, what are you hoping in the area of the shep protecting your son? Are you hoping that anyone who might consider him a target will see the dog and find an easier target? Are you hoping that if your son gets into a jam, the dog with actually protect him? Unless you really work with your son and the dog, the dog protecting him could be a real liability. Boys get into scrapes at times with other kids. If a kid runs toward your son, do you want your dog to jump between and attack? He is easy to train and manage now, but in another year or so, will your son be able to prevent him from attacking another kid or adult? As a deterrent, GSDs are great. As a protector, GSDs are great too, but you have to spend a lot of time getting the dog to that point, so he knows and trusts your son enough to let him tell him when to attack. In any case lots of socialization, and training with your son, preferably in classes should be in order for the puppy, so that a year from now when he weighs close to what your son weighs, he will be easy to manage and have a good bond with him. Good luck. __________________ RIP Arwen, CD RN CGC RIP Whitney, RN CGC Jenna, RN CGC Babs, CD RA CGC Herding Instinct Certificate Heidi, RA CGC Tori, RN CGC SG3 Odessa, SchH1, Kkl1, AD Ninja, RN CGC Milla, RN CGC Joy, Star Puppy, RN CGC Dolly & Bear

04-07-2011, 12:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
jocoyn Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 8,036	Color should be the last consideration, at best not a consideration at all. If I were concerned enough that my child needed a dog out with him to protect him, I am afraid I would be out there watching in such a way as to not embarass my child. I would never live with myself if I had a dog bite someone due to a mistake in judgement. I do know we have visions of such "lassie-esque" behaviors and probably can be found, though rarely, and today's world is much more complex. We no longer live in a time when the fact that a dog may bite is accepted, and that children are required to accept consequences of their own behaviors....(the other kids)......one scratch and you may wind up in court.......... __________________ Nancy www.scsarda.org Grim (Grimmy Bear) & Beau (Bo-dee man) Waiting at the Bridge: Cyra, Toby, Rainbow, Linus, Oscar, Arlo & Waggles

04-07-2011, 02:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
Castlemaid Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Northern British Columbia Posts: 9,088	If you want a truly unique dog that no one has and will attract attention and have everyone talking, may I suggest a mixed breed rescued from the pound? I actually have more people asking me about my mixed breed than my German Shepherd. Black GSDs are not that unique. They can occur in all lines, except the German Show lines where Black and Red Saddle pattern predominates to just about the exclusion of anything else. There are not temperament or behaviour traits associated with the different patterns or colours of the GSD, but as Lin pointed out, differences among different lines can be pronounced, regardless of the colour of the dog. Glad you have found a good dog and are happy with him - but buying a dog on colour for bragging right - well, not the most responsible way to go about it. __________________ Lucia Keeta BH, OB1, TR1, AD (HOT) Rottweiler/Hairy Dog mix?? Shelter rescue Gryffon Vom Wildhaus BH, OFA Good (HOT) "Bites Through the Sleeve" Cuddlebug, b: Mar 2009

04-07-2011, 02:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
rjThor Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: San Antonio, TX. Posts: 387	wow, i'm really surprised that everyone that has responded has responded in a negative manner, I grew up with a GSD matter of fact had him for 12yrs, and he followed me everywhere and anywhere I went, he never bit anyone, maybe I didn't clarify what I was asking, In todays society, it's not the same as when I grew up, it was safer back when I was a kid for me to walk over to a friends house or a relatives house. Today the times are alot diff. and not as safe, so I dont want some grown up coming up and picking up or hurting my son, I decided on the black GS, because I found them to be not as common, all I found out about the BLACK GSD is that they are of bigger in size. I never said I wanted my dog to protect my son from other kids or to bite anybody, just wondering where anyone read that. I was asking about color because it seems so many people on here make such a big deal, so I was curious, on a thread that I was reading about the different opinions so many people put on the color of their GSD. I chose a BLACK one, because If I was gonna pay for one I wanted my son to have the color of puppy he wanted. Maybe this makes it a lil clearer for those who have taken the time to comment. Thanks.

04-07-2011, 02:20 PM	#9 (permalink)
jocoyn Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 8,036	Well normally if you expect the dog to make your child safer you would expect that it would protect him in danger and the way dogs do that is to bite.....what, exactly, are you expecting of the dog? You were the one that said you wanted something different, something nobdoy else would have, so that is where that impression came from. Glad you have a nice dog. FWIW, black dogs are just black dogs and not bigger or smaller or different in temperament. Black is just not "as common" because it is recessive and you tend to find it more in the working lines - UNLESS - it is just someone who breeds for blacks and to do that you have to inbreed for color which is not goodl. I would still say today IS different in that parents are not responsible for their kids nor are their kids made to be responsible for their own actions. If I got bit by a dog when I was growing up I think the first question would be "what were you doing to get bit' instead of rushing over with the police and lawyers on my heels. Is it really that much worse with stranger abduction today than in years past? Or is it more media coverage and sensitivity to it? I don't know. No issues with a child having a nice companion but since one of our own neighbors had a bad experience with a child in charge of a dog (her dog got bit by his dog and the baby stroller got knocked over with the baby in it) I am a bit hesitant to put a 12 year old out unsupervised with a dog... __________________ Nancy www.scsarda.org Grim (Grimmy Bear) & Beau (Bo-dee man) Waiting at the Bridge: Cyra, Toby, Rainbow, Linus, Oscar, Arlo & Waggles

04-07-2011, 02:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
Lucy Dog Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,178	He's everything you hope for? No offense, but he's 4 months old, you just got him. You got him for your 12 year old son because you wanted him to have something different and him to be safer? Ok... and now you want another? How do you plan on training this one to protect the way you want him to? Train and bond with this puppy. Let him grow as a family member and when the time is right, get another if you want to do it all over again. __________________ Paul Last edited by Lucy Dog; 04-07-2011 at 02:23 PM.

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
German Shepherd Advertisement