Belgian Malinois and Belgian Tervuren. I've heard the Mals can be quite a bit more reactive, not as good of an on/off switch, harder to settle in the house, etc. For the Tervs, I decided against such a coat. German Shepherds are everything I was looking for, plus with the variety in the breed and popularity it's not hard to find the right match!
Re: What other breed and why did you choose the GS
I was raised with german shepherds so there wasn't a question. Always had them, probably always will.
There was a moment in my life after Rex died that I researched quite a bit about another breed - shiba inu - becuase my apartment was small-ish and after Rex, I didn't think there could be another GSD who could fill his shadow. 3 GSDs later, I've got one just like him, only difference is she wears a girl suit.
After our 13 year old Chow passed away last year and our foster mix girl got a new home, it was lonely without a dog around. I've always wanted a GSD and DH knew this (and he too always wanted a GSD) so he caved said we could get one
My parentals were breeders so there was no question as to what breed would dominate the household. Dad and I battled with mum for a Malamute or a Lab for a while but the pros for a GSD outweighed the cons of the other breeds. Would NEVER get a small dog now...
I've always grown up with Dobermans and GSDs. I was originally looking for a Doberman, but the dog HAD to be a rescue and there were few Dobermans available for rescue around here at the time. There were a TON of GSD's though so that pretty much made up my mind.
so naturally when i was looking for some place to volunteer, i chose a gsd rescue. i figured i'd get my gsd fix there, then get a cocker spaniel (my childhood favorite) for my very tiny apartment.
while i was still set on a cocker, Gia popped up in the rescue. young, rowdy, free spirited, tons of energy... i figured she'd be a pretty challenging "project", and brought her home.
i tried a doberman, but having a dobie in the family, is different from me raising one on my own and our personalities just didnt mesh. so its been shepherds ever since.
Re: What other breed and why did you choose the GS
There is no other breed.
I grew up with cats, (and a couple of badly behaved, untrained shelter doggies over the years), but my hubby grew up with shepherds. So when we decided to get married and buy a house and could actually HAVE pets, we got a kitty and a GSD! I fell in love with the breed, naturally.
Re: What other breed and why did you choose the GS
I have always loved Golden Retrievers, still do.
After my female Golden passed, I decided to go with a breed that was more challenging as far as mental stimuli goes, I was also interested in a dog that wasn't so open to strangers.
I spoke to my parents about my decision, they loved the idea! They had a male German Shepherd during their early marriage days, plus my dad later got a WGSD when I was very young.
I think German Shepherds will always be a part of our family.
Re: What other breed and why did you choose the GS
There was never any debate or any questioning for me. I'd been around GSDs from the day I was born. Practically everyone in my family has had at least one, at any given time, so they've always been a very big part of my life.
I've since fallen in love with the Golden Retriever and now I imagine that they'll always be a part of my life as well. They're amazing dogs in their own right, but are also very good companions for a GSD.
Can't imagine life without either one, now.
Re: What other breed and why did you choose the GS
just thought i'd add, that where i plan to have 2-3 shepherds at any given time for the rest of my life. i also plan to stick a cocker in there at some point, as well as a great dane, and probably something 30lbs & scruffy that the kids find on their way home from school (everyone has one of those right?)
Re: What other breed and why did you choose the GS
Always had GSD's in the family and I fell in love woth them as a child. When I was told I could have my first dog I was upset to be told I could only have a small dog but I will never regret the 13 years I have with my JRT cross.
However as soon as I could I got my first GSD! After the terrier died I wanted another dog and my first thought was GSD but I was curious about other breeds and got thinking about a gundog. Along came Willow and I am so happy with both of them.
My ideal now would be 4 dogs, 2 Goldens and 2 GSDs!!
Re: What other breed and why did you choose the GS
I wanted and was looking for a Doberman, as that is the breed I had growing up. But, I couldn't find a Dobie and the ones I did find didnt have the ears cropped already, I wanted a puppy and only wanted to do the taping process of the ears as I do not know of any Vets that do ear cropping here in Birmingham.
So, when I came to the realization that I wasnt going to get a Doberman, I thought about getting another Golden Retriever but then I decided that I wanted to get a GSD as I have always heard wondeful things about them. So, a GSD it was. I looked for about 3 months before I got Ava and I couldn't be happier and Cooper loves her too!
Re: What other breed and why did you choose the GS
You mean there where other breeds to consider?
GSD's and golden retrievers have been my favorite breeds to own for as long as I can remember. I had a golden retriever as my first dog back in the 80's. Prior to and after that I worked with/dog sat many other breeds but was not really interested in owning another breed other than a GSD but was moving around too much to consider owning another dog outright.
Since I had been already down the GR route, when the time came to having my own dog, it was the GSD that I looked for. No other.
Re: What other breed and why did you choose the GS
My husband, who never grew up with a dog, always said we could never have one. Coming from the Carribbean, my husband looked at dogs as more luxury items than members of the family. He was also turned off by how much people baby their animals.
Fast forward 6 years of marriage, and I think once he realized I really was serious when I told him I wasn't interested in having children, he decided that the one and only dog he has ever wanted to own was a GSD. I was horrified!!! Way too much dog for me! I grew up with standard poodles (still would love to have one).
Anyway, it was either a GSD or no dog at all. I researched other "compromise" breeds but he only had eyes for a GSD.
We rescued a coatie, and a a little over a year later, I am completely and totally in love with Ozzy and the breed as a whole. Don't think I can go without one from now on. One of the best things I let my husband talk me into!
And my husband looks at Ozzy with the most blissful look sometimes, pure unconditional love, a look I have yet to be on the receiving end of after knowing him for 12 years!!!!
I've always wanted a GSD, but the reality is that what I really love (mainly in terms of looks) are wolves. So I was looking at wolfdogs, and, for a little bit, malamutes. I guess what I would love to have would be a GSD personality in a wolf's body. I did recently see a thread on this forum with a black sable GSD that made me absolutely *swoon*
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