people who shouldn't have shepherds...

[LoveEcho]

So a guy I knew in high school and hung out with, although I wouldn't call him a friend, got a shepherd puppy. I immediately thought of you all and a few threads that have been on here about "discouraging people from getting GSD's" and thought, "see?? This is exactly what they're talking about, some people having a shepherd is a disaster waiting to happen..." Unless this guy has changed dramatically, and I'm going to go out on a limb and say he hasn't and that his lifestyle still revolves around drugs, drinking, and saying words like "rad", I'm guessing he's just assuming he's going to have a perfect dog to drag around to parties with him with zero work. Totally uneducated. Sigh. And then I thought to myself, "I guess this makes me one of them," haha Anyways, that's my rant. And, on some tiny level, it also irritates the heck out of me that someone who is a crappy person has such a gorgeous dog. Is that normal??

[qbchottu]

I train with a Schutzhund club on Saturdays and the trainer is also a breeder. Sometimes people come to watch us train and see the puppies/dogs available for purchase. I really have to hold my tongue sometimes...
I completely understand what you mean. It drives me nuts when I see people at parks or pet stores with beautiful dogs that have been ruined for a lack of a better word by uneducated or irresponsible owners.

[KZoppa]

Nope, drives me crazy when i see dogs i know are intelligent with owners who dont even bother training the basics.

[LoveEcho]

Dogs who are more intelligent than their owners... . I mean that part of what bothers me is the guy is just a total jerk...he's not worthy of a GSD

[Snarly]

A lot of people shouldn't have dogs let alone GSD's. Someone I knew got a puppy from the shelter, had it for 2 nights then brought it back because it whined at night. Sigh.

[ladyfreckles]

Originally Posted by LoveEcho

So a guy I knew in high school and hung out with, although I wouldn't call him a friend, got a shepherd puppy. I immediately thought of you all and a few threads that have been on here about "discouraging people from getting GSD's" and thought, "see?? This is exactly what they're talking about, some people having a shepherd is a disaster waiting to happen..." Unless this guy has changed dramatically, and I'm going to go out on a limb and say he hasn't and that his lifestyle still revolves around drugs, drinking, and saying words like "rad", I'm guessing he's just assuming he's going to have a perfect dog to drag around to parties with him with zero work. Totally uneducated. Sigh. And then I thought to myself, "I guess this makes me one of them," haha Anyways, that's my rant. And, on some tiny level, it also irritates the heck out of me that someone who is a crappy person has such a gorgeous dog. Is that normal??

It's normal human emotion, don't worry about it. I used to hate this girl at my barn who had a gorgeous Hanoverian mare. This girl was the worst. She was spoiled growing up, her parents bought everything for her even after she moved out in her 20s, she spent her life getting hand outs and had no respect for other people. She used everybody. She never paid for boarding, only would take on jobs that got her free handouts, and kept using other people's equipment without permission (she "borrowed" the barn manager's $7000 saddle). On top of that, she never came to the barn without being covered in make-up and "prep" clothing. She spent hours getting ready in the morning and was just the most vain person I ever met.

I learned over time to ignore people like that. People like that are usually CEOs who coast through life making everyone else do the work for them. I reminded myself that, as long as she wasn't abusing the horse, there wasn't really an issue. It's not like she was even talented enough to become a CEO. Was she awful? Yes. Was she nasty to us and fake nice to anyone who actually had something to give her? Yes.

But ultimately those people go no where in life, and I had to learn to ignore them unless they were hurting animals in the process.

[spidermilk]

Originally Posted by Snarly

A lot of people shouldn't have dogs let alone GSD's. Someone I knew got a puppy from the shelter, had it for 2 nights then brought it back because it whined at night. Sigh.

And it is always these same people who complain about the long adoption process (why do i have to fill out these forms and talk about my house and stuff?).

I think they are also the same people who say 'Your dog is so good and calm! I wish my dog could be trained but he is too dumb.' and I'm trying to tell them that my dog is A TERROR who barks non-stop and jumps on me constantly if he doesn't get exercise and training each day. I just feel sorry for their dogs! I'm positive that some dogs are more difficult to train than others- but nobody is too dumb for training- you can train chickens.

[LoveEcho]

Originally Posted by spidermilk

you can train chickens.

You can also train people...sometimes...and I'm pretty sure most are even dumber than chickens.

[Snarly]

Too true.
Nobody is too dumb for training like you said but they are either too lazy, think their dog is dumb, they think it is too hard, or they don't know how so they don't bother. Then whine and complain when their dog doesn't listen. Then the dog suffers in the end because of their ignorance.
I trained my chickens to jump up to grab food

Originally Posted by spidermilk

And it is always these same people who complain about the long adoption process (why do i have to fill out these forms and talk about my house and stuff?).

I think they are also the same people who say 'Your dog is so good and calm! I wish my dog could be trained but he is too dumb.' and I'm trying to tell them that my dog is A TERROR who barks non-stop and jumps on me constantly if he doesn't get exercise and training each day. I just feel sorry for their dogs! I'm positive that some dogs are more difficult to train than others- but nobody is too dumb for training- you can train chickens.

[DanielleOttoMom]

I understand too what your saying. There was a guy visiting my club the other day.... And said some thing I just bit my lip on. He said that he was looking at two puppies one from a local breeder (which I know) another you know out of state. He was all excited.... He continued to explain after I said "Did you say two WL puppies!?!?" yes one for each of my teenagers. (at the same time?) He said I travel alot so they will be helping with train and raise them. Trust me his son didn't look to thrilled..... Head down and no questions. OMG! I got upset and shook my head. I knew I should have suggested him to this fourm. Let's just say I'm tempted to call this local breeder. Oh BTW this would be their first GSD. Face Palm! I understand totally where your coming from.