What is a good reason to get a GSD?

[Jo Ellen]

What are good reasons to want a GSD? If there's something already here, please link me up, I'd like to read it.

Thanks

(Oops, meant to put this in General, not the puppy forum)

[MichaelE]

They are the most intelligent, easily trained, loyal dog there ever was.

That, coming from someone who has never had another breed of dog, so take it for what it's worth.

I've seen some pretty, how shall I say this, stupid dogs. Unfortunately for the dog, the owner was even worse.

[GsdLoverr729]

I got my first two, and Kids simply because I adore the breed.
I'm getting my next because I feel prepared to own two GSDs, want to get into a sport, and would like to do conformation. I also believe Koda is ready for a sibling.

[Atticus5]

Over twenty years ago when I went to a breeder to pick out my very first ( since then I have had four) GSD , I was truly impressed with the intelligence and responsiveness of this dog even at the age of only eight weeks old. We had also looked at Golden Retriever puppies. They were adorable but very goofy I have had other breeds which I truly loved but none of these dogs seemed as eager to "get to work" as the Shepherds. They are also very affectionate but not with everyone. I like the fact that my Shepherd doesn't insist on attention from strangers. One sniff, then he is done. There is no jumping on or poking the person as a means of insisting on being petted. I appreciate this, particularly after having an incredibly sweet female Samoyed who would pee on and whine at everyone she met out of pure excitement. Although there are times of frustration, I love the training that happens with a Shepherd. Lots of eye contact and focus. I take Atticus to work with me daily. At less than one year old, he takes his job seriously and has excellent manners at the bank and other businesses that we might enter. He is truly a joy!

[Jo Ellen]

I love the name Atticus. From my all-time favorite movie, the name itself draws respect.

[Atticus5]

Thanks Atticus is one of my all time favorite fictional characters. It seems to fit him well!

[doggiedad]

looks, trainability, versatility.

[zyppi]

When you ask "why shouldn't I get a GSD," then you may be almost ready to own one

If you don't know why you should get one, then don't!

[NewbieShepherdGirl]

I think it depends on the person, really. Their strengths are only their strengths if you're the type of person that works for. For instance, I love Sasha with all my heart and would have a hard time ever getting a different breed now that I've had her; my cousin has a lab that he feels the same way about. Both are fabulous dogs, in their own right, with much to give, but both of us would never want the other's breed. When he sees her intelligence he sees a dog that challenges its owner at every turn, and to a degree he's not wrong; Sasha is crazy smart and part of that means she's not robotic. She's vocal which for me is amusing because she's vocal at the appropriate times kind of like giving a human response, but he finds this trait of hers to be annoying. She picks up on words almost as easily as she drinks water, a trait which makes her easy to train, but this can be a nuisance when she learns words that you don't mean her to learn and then you have an excited dog whenever you are trying to talk. For instance, if I say, "I'm gonna go to the store to get some cheese" Sasha is going to go nuts because she knows the words go and cheese. I never taught her those words on purpose, she just picked up on them, and those are just two small examples. You think, "I'll outsmart them; I'll spell words." but then the pick up on the spelled words. They're athletic, which is great because you have a dog that can do anything and everything with you. It also means that if you slack it's noticeable in their behavior because they need a physical outlet. For me that's great because it helps to keep me active. For some, that would be annoying because they like more down time.

The list goes on and on, but the common theme is: you should get a German Shepherd if everything that makes them what they are is compatible with who you are.