what kind of dog do people think your GSD is?

[windwalker718]

One ole man when I first got into GSD's explained it for me... German Shepherds are Black and Red/tan unless they're the color of Rin-tin-tin (Blk/silver). Alsations are much like them, but are more brown, and often long haired (Sables... coat). The All Black ones are Belgium Shepherds (Sheepdog I think he meant)... they USED to be German Shepherds but they were separated and bred exclusively in Belgium. They even have a long haired version (Tervuren). Of course the White ones are actually part Arctic Wolf. His input and wisdom has been suplimented by many a ringside genius inparting their wisdom to the person next to them.

[APBTLove]

I've been asked if he was a pit bull, wolf, and Malinois...

[Jgk2383]

A wolf or Wolfdog

[Navah]

I know this is an older thread but I just had to share. I took my dog to the Vet yesterday and there was a cute senior couple who fell in love with my baby. They asked what breed she was, I said a German Shepherd and they ohhh’ed and ahhhh’ed over her dark color and asked what she is mixed with. I said nothing and she is so dark because she is Bi colored. The old lady put her hand on my arm and said “don’t worry hunny, her brown spots will grow in one day, I just know it” I just laughed and said thank you. It was very cute.

[Miikkas mom]

OK, I must make a confession. Prior to getting Miikka – and joining this forum - I really did not know there were so many different lines of GSD’s. If I would have seen, say, a Czech working line I probably would have thought it was a mix. That would hold true for the solid black/white GSD’s too.

Our Bella was a GSD/chow chow mix. But she looked more chow; solid reddish-color fluffy fur with a GSD body. When I was a kid growing up in Minnesota there was a wonderful PB GSD up the street. He was a black/tan saddle - pretty much what I always thought of when I thought of a GSD. I’m still learning all the various lines! I think there are a lot of folks like me out there in the world...please be patient with them.

To answer the question at hand, people pretty much know Miikka is a GSD. She’s from West German show lines so she looks like a stereotypical GSD. Once in a while folks (usually kids) will ask me if she's a police dog...

[Nikkoli110]

When we got Titan, our all black GSD, people constantly asked what was wrong with my labs ears. Then we got the "GSD's don't come in all black". Then once someone actually told me my Schipperke was cute. I wanted to puke. Now that he's full grown I still get questions about what breed he is, and people still question me and think I'm stupid when I tell them a purebred GSD. No one usually questions Katie, its pretty obvious (for most people).

[Navah]

Originally Posted by Miikkas mom

I think there are a lot of folks like me out there in the world...please be patient with them.

To answer the question at hand, people pretty much know Miikka is a GSD. She’s from West German show lines so she looks like a stereotypical GSD. Once in a while folks (usually kids) will ask me if she's a police dog...

Lol I think most of us are patient but it’s the people that feel sorry for us because we "think" our dog is pure bred, or question us that we are sure they are pure bred, those are the ones I laugh at.

I too did not know what a bi-colored Shepherd was until I got my Navah. BUT being that I feel Shepherds have a certain look I would probably assume it was a GSD and not question the owner if they told me as much.

I think these stories are funny though. I thought I was alone in this and was irritated at the whole thing until I found this thread. Now I just laugh at it all.

[Whiteshepherds]

Originally Posted by windwalker718

One ole man when I first got into GSD's explained it for me... German Shepherds are Black and Red/tan unless they're the color of Rin-tin-tin (Blk/silver). Alsations are much like them, but are more brown, and often long haired (Sables... coat). The All Black ones are Belgium Shepherds (Sheepdog I think he meant)... they USED to be German Shepherds but they were separated and bred exclusively in Belgium. They even have a long haired version (Tervuren). Of course the White ones are actually part Arctic Wolf. His input and wisdom has been suplimented by many a ringside genius inparting their wisdom to the person next to them.

LOL, must be a Connecticut thing. I had a trainer tell me that the temperament of a GSD is determined by their color. She actually had a list, color by color. Wish I had written it down, the only two I remember are that all black ones are hardheads and whites are reactive. She must have been standing by the same ring.

[kiwilrdg]

I have found some old references to the English name of the breed being changed to Alsatian Wolf Dog due to anti-German feelings after WWI. So perhaps wolf dog is incomplete and archaic, but not really wrong.

[Akk578]

Originally Posted by Chicagocanine

Well what else would she be! I mean the only way she could look more like a classic GSD is if she didn't have the 'bitch stripe' down her back.

Question maybe it is a silly one. But what is a bitch stripe??