I have always had gsd's, but along with them, have had mixed breeds growing up, as well as labs around.

On my own, gsd's have been number 1, I defected to aussies about 10 years ago, and have two.

Difference? loads,,first being the gsd's have been the easiest trainers and most loyal dogs I've ever lived with. It's definately their intelligence that attracts me, and willingness to do 'whatever' FOR their person. Love my aussies, but they are more about 'what's in it for me' vs 'what can I do for you?"

The cons, they never live long enough(

 

I've had a Sheltie and a yellow Lab. I loved both.

But the sheltie was alot of up keep with the long fur, and smaller than I want now.

The yellow Lab was wonderful but I got her accidentally with no planning or research (friends had puppies). She was really a great dog and got me into training then agility.

But when I really started being around other breeds at agility trials I was really taken by a GSD I saw (I have no idea who's or what dog) that looked up at me with such an intelligent expression, so focused. And it was the larger dog I was looking for.

NOW that I'm on GSD #3 I really like them cause I think they are a challenge and I do have to keep on my toes with learning and classes and knowing I can always do better so my dogs do better too!!!

 

I have always had German Shepherds, Dobermanns & Weimaraners as all three breeds are very similar in respect of Intelligence, easy to train, very quick learners, protective, loyal and SO loving. In the past I have had Stafford-shire Pit Bull,pikaneas and even Heinz 57's and have loved all of them for different reasons, but for me it will always be the first three breeds I mention that I adore so much

 

When you look into the eyes of other breeds (of a loved family pet), you see love.

When you look into the eyes of a GSD not only do you see love but you can see their soul and you know they can see yours as well.

 

When you look into the eyes of other breeds (of a loved family pet), you see love.

When you look into the eyes of a GSD not only do you see love but you can see their soul and you know they can see yours as well.

VERY TRUE! Along with a hint of mischief!

 

Well, I was going to get another GSD next year, but then I decided I wanted to get an Australian Shepherd instead. For a week I read about them and I joined an Aussie Forum and I even found a breeder. But last night as I played with my GSD I realized that he is everything I ever wanted, everything I was looking for, he has never disappointed me, I have never regretted getting him. The GSD breed is simply amazing. I would love to get an Aussie someday but there is nothing that I want more than another GSD. So next year I am getting a 2nd GSD.

 

I have had x breeds (rescues) before I brought Molly home and I have to say that she has such a willful character in comparison. I have never had the same training issues before that I find with her! Perhaps I was just 'lucky' in the past or she just is really keeping me on my toes....I'm not sure. But in saying that, I love her to pieces and one day would love to add another GSD to my fur family

 

I've owed an English Setter. She was a good obedience dog and learned quidkly. She was also a very loving dog. Training methods were different then - clicker didn't exist and choke chains were the common method of training. I didn't teach her tricks and I didn't use food rewards. I think I could have went a lot further with her with these methods and the skills I have now.

Dakota is my first GSD and she is very easy to train. When clicker training she really figures it out. Crate training was easier and housebreaking was easier. It was also easier to train the GSD to go in one spot.

She is smarter, but then I've learned a lot more since the English Setter too. A GSD does play harder than other dogs.

A big difference is that the English Setter attracted way more attention than the GSD. People would cross the street to pat her and would approach us to compliment her beauty. I do get that with Dakota, but not as frequently. Most people stay away, except other GSD owners.

 

I used to foster for an all-breed rescue before I got Abby and had a couple of different types and breeds of dogs. I had some Shepherd mixes, some Labs, Lab Mixes, different sorts of mutts and purebreds. I never really "clicked" with a dog until I went to look at Abby at the shelter. There is just something really special about Shepherds.

I've found Shepherds in general to be really smart and focused, and they get really attached to their people. I think it's that getting attached to their family part that is really cool because, while they're certainly friendly with other people, they're just big snuggly babies with family. (Ours have been, at any rate.)

That all said, I do prefer the Malinois to the German Shepherd and my next dog, when the time comes, will be another Malinois.

 

My first personal experience with a GSD was with my dog Cody who is now 10years old he's a mix, GSD and Malinois from what I can tell. I rescued him at 6months old and he became the most loyal dog I've ever had. He's easy to train, and loves to just hang out with me and the family. My 5month old pup (pure bred GSD) is very similar except he's not as sensitive. I have had a standard schnauzer, blue-tick **** hound, border collie mix and a cocker spaniel when I was a kid. Out of all of them the GSD's have been the most eager to please and at times the most hard headed, especially towards strange dogs, which is what I'm working on with my pup.

Looks like you have a young pup so please make sure you socialize him well.

 

The other breeds are dogs. You'll know you have a dog. GSD's transcend the canine realm. They are much more than a dog.

 

I've had a collie, doberman, fostered doberman's, and boxers. I would love to have another collie someday. Intelligence of a GSD without the high energy.

Doberman's are by far the velcro dogs. The Dobie Lean is a real thing! They aren't as easy to train as a GSD. It's like they have to weigh what you are telling them to do with what they think they should do.

Boxers...I don't ever want another boxer. I don't know if it's because we got them from backyard breeders, or if it's a female thing in the breed but the ones we have are snippy with other dogs and can't be trusted around people.

 

Grissom is my first GSD and I have to say I'm hooked. I've previously had Golden Retrievers and have raised Goldens for Leader Dog for the Blind. I love Goldens and they are the such lovable and smart dogs, but in my experience they live to eat!!!! They are loyal and affectionate as well, but if an intruder was in your house and had a pocketful of sausage you might as well kiss your possessions good bye! I also love the way a GSD does not need to constantly be touched. My goldens would continue to put a paw up on you or nudge you because they wanted that human touch. My GSD loves that touch too, but when I'm done, he's content to just lay at my feet and not keep begging to be touched. Those are the only two breeds I've had. I'm now totally a GSD lover and I am considering a second one in a few years when Grissom is a little older. I'm hooked!!

 

I would say there are differences and similarities between the GSDs and other breeds.

My family owned mutts, Shelties, and a Pomeranian. I own two GSDs and a Rottweiler.

I can't necessarily compare my family's dogs to my dogs... because they were raised and cared for very differently. The Shelties and mutt were outdoor dogs. They could come in when they wanted and usually slept inside at night, but otherwise roamed free on my family's 180 acre beef cattle farm. Our Pom was an indoor dog... but his upbringing was still different than my own dogs (no training aside from teaching him not to potty in the house).

Here are just a few things I've observed when comparing the two breeds I own (both of which I consider my "heart" breeds):

Rottweiler

• More "couch potato" moments
• More of a tendency to become obsessed/focused over something (fence guarding, fish in an aquarium, things with wheels, etc.).
• More possessive of toys/attention
• Requires more mental exercise than physical exercise
• Extremely loving and affectionate to everyone, but chooses a single person in the household to be devoted to
• More challenging as far as authority/leadership is concerned
• More stubborn
• Prefers people to other dogs
• More protective of his territory
• More goofy/comical

GSDs

• More expressive.. you can read their emotions much more freely in their body language and facial expressions
• More prone to nervousness/anxiety
• Require both mental and physical exercise (require more physical exercise than my Rott)
• More reserved with non-family members, affectionate with family but chooses a single person to dote on
• More affectionate with one another.. more dependent on the pack (other dogs).
• More likely to "play nice with others." When playing/wrestling, the GSDs generally take turn being in the dominant seat, but the Rott is almost always top dog.
• More sensitive to human character. If Luna tells me she feels uncomfortable with someone, I've learned to trust her judgement (every single person she's acted nervous around/barked at has turned out to be a drug user). My silly Rottie pretty much loves everyone.
• Very in tune to their human's moods

Despite all of this, the two breeds do have similarities and I don't find myself behaving too differently with each one.

(Oh, and BTW, to the poster who talked about the Dobe lean, I totally know what that is. Rotties love to lean!)

 

Before I owned GSDs, I had 2 Sheltie Mixes. They were my heart dogs, my heart breed is a Rough Collie. I have been around, Great Danes, Chihuahuas and Labs. I work at a shelter, all those dogs I "own", well they own me.lol. I have always loved GSDs.

My GSDs are easy to train, and know me all to well.lol

 

I've had many mixed breeds and three rhodesian ridgebacks over the last 28 years.

Pros:
Very intelligent and easy to train
They seem to truly love you like no other
Loyal and protective from a very early age

Cons:
Need tons and tons of physical and mental exercise
Shed like crazy
Mouthy when young (like a mouth attached to four legs!)

Great dogs if you have the time and energy to put in.

 

I've had mixed breeds. a GSDx and a border collie. I love the intelligence of the BC. My last dog before the GSD's was a border/goldenx and she was more golden in personality,a great dog for raising kids, but not a challenge whatsoever...I like a dog that loves to move, and is always looking for an activity.
I'll always have GSD's.
I love how different, individual they all are...Malinios seem to be so cookie cutterish~though I like the Mals, too!
So many breeds, the dogs all look the same(Irish setters, labs, etc).

 

I am also a first time GSD owner, but I've owned various breeds, mostly mixed. But I can't tell you the amazement in the absolute intelligence of this breed. I've never trained a dog to do anything in my life outside of simple potty training and housebreaking. Within a week, I'd taught my 15 wk old GSD 6 commands just from watching a few training videos on youtube. Within a week, she was potty trained and by 5 months she could be trusted in the house all day alone ~ no messes, no chewing, nothing. I currently have 3 dogs, and of the 3, she is the most loyal. When I move, she moves, and she just has to be near me. I could go on and on, but they are an absolute joy, and on top of that, simply beautiful dogs!

 

My parents raised Norwegian Elkhounds- most of my baby pictures have a litter of pups in there too. They're beautiful, fearless dogs. I had a beagle and she was great for a small dog because she had a big dog attitude, but as with the Elkhounds, the specific job they were bred for dominated their being and personality; something to work around. A friend gave us our first shepherd and we saw 'dog' on a whole other level. She was the most perfect blend of instinct, job, breed that I've ever seen. It's as though they look into you and take what they see, then reflect it back in themselves. Does that make sense? I agree with the other post that they look into your soul and share theirs. I've never had any other dog look into my eyes like our shepherds. I can't really describe it other than to say they're dogs to the 2nd power. Won't ever live without one

 

I grew up with GSD's and stories of past owned GDS's from my father, but after moving out on my own I adopted a couple mixed breeds. Eventually started working in Veterinary neurology and fell in love with Dachshunds I now own 3. For me it was their personality and compactability (easy to travel with). I love my silly weenies. I never really "wanted" another GSD, of course I was still drawn to them when one came into the clinic but that was as far as it went. After just 2 months with Sheba I am hooked again, I had planned on finally getting a dapple female weenie when the boys were gone, but I have a feeling I will be searching for another GSD.
Sheba was a gift to my dad, and in return she gives me the gift of his memory every day. Late at night when everyone else is in bed we both lay on the couch and I talk about him, she listens and every once in a while looks up at me as if to say "I remember that, and I miss him too".

 

My last dog was a Siberian Husky. He was primarily an outdoor dog. My GSD is an indoor dog. From day one she has been that much more social. My Husky was very independent, wasn't much for being touched anywhere but his head and shoulders, my GSD likes to be touched everywhere.

My Husky was a major terror as a pup and very stubborn..I think he was toooo smart. My GSD is uber smart but wants to please us!

 

ilike to think of shilo as a little to smart for me, and a bit selfish haha, my lab boxer is a happy go lucky wanna please no matter what boy, but shilo doesnt want to do it unless she can, make you mad first, or get something from it.

 

I've owned pit bull dogs, mini schnauzer, I have a pomeranian/Shih-tzu, and I'v fostered lab, beagle, pit bull, collie mixes.

The differences I've noticed between GSD and all of the other breeds is the ease of training. They are smart as a whip and 'doggedly' loyal. They are very dependent, want to be right next to you 24/7(I woke up this morning with J's head on my pillow lol).

The others were more difficult to train... They were not as focused on me. I'm not saying they did not want to please, they were just harder to train, less obedient, and some (hounds mostly) were more independent.

My current other breed, the pom mix, is very, very smart, she wants to please, but she's stubborn and more independent, she is FINE with being left alone, doesn't phase her a bit, whereas the GSD wants to be glued to me and doesn't like being left alone for any period of time (not anxiety, but not happy).




But saying "they're not like any other dog I've owned" can go for most breeds... APBTs are not like any other breed I've owned... My pomeranian/shih-tzu is not like any other breed I've owned, the Schnauzer was CERTAINLY not like any other breed I've owned... The Lab/beagle/maybe pit was not at all like any other mutt I'd owned... All breeds have their own traits, and that in itself makes them unique. German Shepherds are famous for their loyalty, bravery, and protectiveness(among other things), APBTs are for their tenacity, loving nature to humans, and goofy attitudes, Daschunds for their big attitudes in a little body... ect. ect. ect.

 

I love my GSDs, on my second set...I have had an aussie shep that was such a smart girl, and our toy poodle was also very smart-the differences: toy poodle poops are the size of mini tootsie rolls!!!

 

I've had boxers all my life. Jax is my first GSD. Boxers are great dogs very loving but also very independent thinkers. All of my boxers were so high strung sometimes that you had to scream at them to get their attention. Having a GSD puppy compared to boxer puppies has been a piece of cake! I've often thought of getting another puppy because I feel cheated out of my nights spent crying and thinking to myself "what have I done??" LOL
My last boxer will always be my favorite dog :rip: but so far Jax is the most obedient.

 

I have a lab, grew up with dobes, and now have my first GSD. My GSD reminds me of my dobes just with more hair and is less sensitive and nervous. My lab loves everyone, needs more exercise at 8 yrs. than my 8 month old GSD, and is smart, but dopey at times. My GSD loves me, tolerates others, is loyal, loving, and wise for a pup