Hi from South Africa

[Dextersmom]

Hi everyone

Boy am I excited to have found this forum!

I was actually just doing some research on my GSD's nibbling behaviour when I happened across your forum.

My husband and I are proudly owned by Dexter, our now 2-year old GSD boy. We live in Johannesburg, South Africa. Hubby has grown up with GSD's but I am a first time owner.

We jokingly refer to his first two years as the "terrible two's", as it did take about that long for him to settle down into the loveable, if somewhat protective, teddy bear that he is today.

Looking forward to interacting with you all.

[Bear GSD]

Welcome to you and Dexter!
He looks like a handsome boy in your avatar. We love seeing pictures, so send us some of your good looking boy

[Dextersmom]

Thanks so much for the warm welcome.

Im currently working from my ipad and most of my pics are on my laptop, but I will certainly do so as soon as I get a chance.

And yes, thank you, he is a very handsome boy.


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[JackandMattie]

Welcome to the forum

We lived in Berea back when I was in high school. Our GSD at the time, Skada, was about 4 and he was trained as a protection dog (I'm not sure what the real term is, just that Mom had him out at the club for hours several days/week doing "man-work" on the sleeve, etc.).

He had to go everywhere with me, as it was 1984-85, there were soldiers in the streets, and my mother wouldn't let a teenage girl out in the city unaccompanied. I will never forget the feeling of walking along with him at perfect heel, whispering the word "Watch," and seeing every muscle in his body, every inch of his posture, become instantly focused and alert...all for me.

It was a huge culture shock for me, moving from the US into the winding down of the apartheid, but that dog's loyalty and training remain the strongest memories I have of South Africa.

Well, that and my black and hot pink uniform for the Jo'burg School for Girls, and getting reprimanded for being seen about town with my socks rolled down to prevent school-girl tan, hehe!

GSDs really are the Best dogs Ever. We have owned them on four continents, and I can't imagine living anywhere in the world without one

[Dextersmom]

What an interesting story! Did your parents get Skada specifically for your protection? When did you move out of SA again, and what happened to the dog?
Sadly, nowadays we wont let our kids walk in town, end of story. Dog or no dog. However, when I do take Dex for walks, I must admit that people coming from the front tend to cross to the other side of the road and I will hear mumblings of "police dog". I think the breed will always hold an association here as "police dogs" due to their history with the SAPS K9 units and their use in crowd control during the apartheid years.
Or maybe its just his size, lol. I have had even other GSD owners comment that Dexter is quite a big boy. To us it's nothing strange to hear "wow is that a dog or a horse".
To me he will always be my baby boy who loves cuddles and hugs.
They are indeed the bestest. Seriously considering getting a second, if only I can convince hubby!


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[1sttimeforgsd]

Hello and Welcome to you and your handsome boy Dexter.

[JackandMattie]

I'm pretty sure they had protection in mind, and knew they would be working him. I was in my own little teenage world

I don't remember much...he was from German lines, with some champion in there. My stepdad's mother raised him until he was 6 months old with her two GSD females in England, and then flew him to live with us in Bahrain (Persian Gulf) when I was in eighth grade.

Then I went back to the states for ninth grade. Stepdad was transferred to South Africa, and I joined them the summer after ninth grade, and we stayed for tenth grade. (He couldn't have been 4yo, could he? Hmmm.. more like 2!) Then we headed to Switzerland for a few months and then on to England.

Skada remained in South Africa because mom couldn't bear to put him through the quarantine. Someone from the Schutzhund club took him.

My dogs today are rescues, and really just pets. Someday I'll have another like Skada. Just not anywhere I ever have to face leaving him behind. That was heartbreaking.

[JackandMattie]

Originally Posted by Dextersmom

They are indeed the bestest. Seriously considering getting a second, if only I can convince hubby!

Wear hubby down! They are awesome in pairs, hehe!!

[Dextersmom]

Originally Posted by 1sttimeforgsd

Hello and Welcome to you and your handsome boy Dexter.

Thank you!



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[Dextersmom]

Originally Posted by JackandMattie

Wear hubby down! They are awesome in pairs, hehe!!

It is definitely a work in progress! Two of our neighbours have them in pairs and it seems awesome. I definitely want to get a girl before Dex gets much older. At the moment all the other dogs in the family are small breeds (Yorkies, Chihuaua (spelling?), Poms), so my poor baby has no dogs his own size to play with at home or when visiting family. And I am not a fan of dog parks, having had some experiences with bully dogs and ignorant owners... Dex got most of his socialisation skills at puppy school and while on walks.
Im so sorry you had to leave Skada behind, but it's clear you have developed a love for the breed. Please share some pics.


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