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Alternative to GSD

5K views 41 replies 27 participants last post by  farmpony84 
#1 ·
Anyone know a breed of dog similar to the German Shepherd that is not known for aggression?

I'm looking for one about the same size and build and color but minus the aggression.

I would go for a German Shepherd that was just not aggressive, but a certain person in my life (who I'm planning on keeping in my life) has made it very clear that there will be no German Shepherds allowed ever.
 
#33 ·
It really is how you train them.
Back in the day, GSDs were the popular breed, and have a lot of health and behavior issues due to irresponsible and over breeding But, if you go through a responsible breeder who breeds for health and temperament then you shouldn't have problems.
European lines do, in both Mals and GSDs, seem to have less health issues and stick closer to the original breed standards than US lines.
 
#36 ·
My best friend's grandma just had to PTS her 13yo German-bred GSD. He was an...interesting...dog. I never felt quite comfortable around him and I've owned and worked around dogs my whole life. Just something about his intensity was unsettling. I've worked with other GSDs (all American-bred) and never encountered his level of intensity. He was never aggressive, even when I sat in "his" spot on the couch, but just something about his demeanor made me uncomfortable.

OP, are you stuck on getting a purebred or would a mutt/pound puppy/rescue be something you'd consider? I got my older dog from the pound in Tucson when he was 10-months-old and he's one of the best dogs I have EVER had. He's protective, but not to the point of being aggressive. Best we can figure, he's probably an aussie/st Bernard mix. My younger dog is sweet, but very timid, but she has a ridiculous prey drive and copious amounts of energy. She's a Catahoula/aussie/border collie mix.
 
#37 ·
It is not all how they were raised, it is also what they were bred for, and the luck of the draw. Dogs are born with personalities.

There are a lot of dogs that size. You will have to narrow it down. Herding breed? Hunting breed? Sight hound? What is it you like about GSDs? The shedding? (just kidding).

If you like the easily-trained aspect, look into English Shepherds, the retrievers (golden, labrador, flatcoat; avoid the chesapeake which is a guardian), Aussies (the show lines will be less apt to have guardian instincts, and are usually bigger & heavier than the working lines).

If you don't care whether your dog is loyal or smart, just find a breed or mix you like the look of.
 
#41 ·
It is not all how they were raised, it is also what they were bred for, and the luck of the draw. Dogs are born with personalities.
This is certainly true. Like humans, some dogs are just mean or just nuts or otherwise just bad dogs. However, you can make some generalizations and in a breed like the GSD which is well known, you can say with a fairly high degree of certainty that with proper socialization and training they will be sweet and loyal.
 
#38 ·
Here are two of the sweetest GSD's I have ever owned, both are over 95lbs. Everyone I have owned were big babies, I guess it is how they were raised.

Just look at that kind face of Diesel my current GSD

The other pic is of Luke, he was rescuing me when I was swimming out in the ocean, he could not handle seeing me out in deep water, so he swam out and grabbed my arm and led me back onto the shore, he knew exactly how much pressure he could use on my arm to pull me in without even leaving a scratch on me.
 

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#42 ·
Make sure you get the herding line and not the Schutzhund line. Then as long as you socialize them, they are great. I had one, my parents have one, my brother has two and they are all wonderful dogs, especially with children. They all get along with the cats, my brother has chickens and they are fine with them. They get along with the horses.. Just plain good dogs. My collie, however, is the most gentle dog I have ever met, so if you wanted to try a different breed. I love a collie.
 
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