Giant German Shepherds

[mjbgsd]

Hope you find your perfect puppy.

[Castlemaid]

Originally Posted by Eva von Selah

I didn't realize the working GSDs were expected to meet standards as they often don't, usually owing to coat or color.

I'm curious why you thought that working lines don't meet the standard due to coat or colour? The vast, vast majority of working lines have "normal" coats, and are blanket back, bi-colour, solid black or sable, all colours acceptable within the standard.

[blackviolet]

Originally Posted by Juta

In all reality , if someone is telling you that German lines are bigger, he/she is lying.

This is what MANY people who obviously don't have any knowledge of GSDs say. That is exactly what I was told over and over, so when I first started looking for a GSD, I was looking for a "big" one, but most important to me were (and are) health and intelligence. I think a lot of people will agree that you often can guage a lot of a dog's intelligence by their eyes and expression. When I looked at the XL GSD breeders, I didn't see that in their face, and when the personality description was, "Happy, friendly, easy-going, mellow," my face went.... "That's not right."

With only a TEENY bit of research, I discovered the truth about the dumb things I've been told all of these years, and started obsessively researching day and night about working lines, show lines, West German, East German, Czech, etc..

I'm obviously still learning though, haha. I've owned a couple of purebreds and a few shepherd mixes, and I had just never researched or looked into the breed more than my own experience, and the similar experiences of people I knew. Although we have considered other breeds of dogs (american bulldog, boerboel, rottweiler, hound), we always agree that GSDs are our favorite, and when it's finally time to get another dog (assuming we haven't already taken in a stray, haha), we usually always go for a GSD or mix. I would love to experiment with other breeds, but we just can't miss the opportunity to own another german shepherd. (Vincent is the exception.)

I've never owned a real working line GSD, and he's only a three month old pup, and already very different from any dog I've ever had. We've never done real training of any sort either, so this is all new to us. I'm really looking forward to this experience, and learning together. Really, it's about time. Ha.

[Mary Beth]

I am speaking up in defense of these big dogs because my GSD is "giant" 125 lbs., straight back, tall, not heavy boned, not fat. He looks alot like the one posted by Chicagocainine from the rescue site. I didn't set out to get such a big guy. The breeder kept asking me "do you have any reservations about a dog that will be over 100 lbs.?" I told her, "no, it is the dog's temperment that is my main concern." I live in town, my yard borders my neighbors's driveway with their active teenagers and cockapoo, kids and dogs go down the alley all the time, on the otherside, there is my neighbor with his 3 year-old son and visiting lab. Sure, I have a 6 ft. chain link fence, but I didn't want to worry about my dog jumping over that fence to take on the neighborhood. When I walk my dog, I don't want to have to be concerned that he will be agressive to another dog or person. When he is in the back seat of my vehicle, and the stockboy is placing the groceries in the back end, I want to be able to open the back end of the vehicle, and not have to worry about my dog jumping out at him. I didn't want a GSD from Schutzhund parents, because I want a companion dog. not a dog with a high drive. My dog is not fearful or aggressive. He is intelligent, confident, and friendly. I met a lady from Germany when I was walking him. She said that is exactly the type of GSD that her father had on their farm. It turned out that my Sting was the biggest in the litter but the friendliest! Would I get another big GSD from a breeder who breeds only these big guys? Yes. Do I think that 160 lbs is too big? Of course. Do I think the only "true GSDs" are over 100 lbs? No, they are just the kind I prefer.

[onyx'girl]

What you wanted in a GSD can be found in GSD's bred to the standard as far as not reacting to the stock boy or "taking on the neighborhood" Good genetics and temperament can be found within the standard.
A GSD should not be a couch potato or laid back...if you want a dog like that, go with a breed that is.
To support a breeder that doesn't breed to the standard or for lower drive is one reason this breed is deteriorating.

[Jessiewessie99]

I am 5'6 3/4. So of course a medium sized dog will look huge to me.lol. There was a beautiful male GSD at my shelter who won my heart(most shelter dogs do.) Well when standing on all 4 legs he s at my waist(once again I am 5'6 3/4) and when he stood on his hind legs he was taller than me. But he was at at a shelter, so I don't know his breeding or where he came from. He could have came from someone who got him from a breeder and had to give him up.

But I won't know. Most medium sized dogs such as GSDs and Dobermans will look tall to me.

[StarryNite]

Lulu weighed in at 65 pounds (female) last time I took her to the vet at 18 months old. I asked if she was underweight and he said that her back legs were very strong and she seemed in perfect health to him and that it's a great weight for her which won't affect her hips. I can't imagine a 160lb GSD!!!! Her diet consists of raw, home cooked as well as canned and kibble.