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The doghouse

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Original poster

White German Shepherd, male or female?

55 replies

ImBetterThanYou · 20/05/2012 21:22

DP and I are wanting a white german shepherd, what are the views of these dogs, does anyone here own one?

I will be home with the dog from 8am to 6pm and DP will get home after that, but it will be predominantly down to me to look after it. Would a male or female dog be better suited to our family?

Do these particular types of dogs bark a lot?

We also have a 5yr old son and cats.

OP posts:
MyNameIsntFUCKINGWarren · 20/05/2012 21:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
ImBetterThanYou · 20/05/2012 21:26

We have done a lot of research and know a few people with them but there is conflicting research about the bonds males and females have with bitches and dogs...

And we couldn't find a lot of research on barking, our friends dogs don't bark much, but we wanted to know if other mners had different experiences.

OP posts:
Original poster
ImBetterThanYou · 20/05/2012 21:27

so...do you know anything about these dogs then Warren...?

OP posts:
MyNameIsntFUCKINGWarren · 20/05/2012 21:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

topknob · 20/05/2012 22:15

I have a female gsd she is 4. Why do you want one? Have you had any dog before ?

AllergicToNutters · 20/05/2012 22:29

why is everyone questioning why OP wants one. it's her business! She is allowed to want a three toed sloth if she so desires. Leave her alone! I hope someone sensible comes along soon OP to guide you. no one here has been any use to you at all. I'd google all the information I could possible find and find some breeders online (Champdogs are good as are KC ) I don;t think temperament is necessarily gender based, more individual dog based. I have cats and children and each one is different from the other but has little to do with gender. Good luck in your search. Ignore these mn-ers who are querying your decision!

toboldlygo · 20/05/2012 22:32

White is an extremely undesirable colour in the GSD - against the breed standard - and therefore anyone purposefully breeding them is doing so from poor stock. Soundness and temperament would be a serious concern for me, personally.

GSDs can be highly driven and inclined to be barky if not redirected into something useful.

MmeBucket · 20/05/2012 22:46

Is this your first dog you've ever owned, or are you a relatively inexperienced dog owner? They aren't recommended for someone without a lot of dog experience, which is what I have read about the breed over and over. They are quite headstrong and destructive if not handled properly, from what I read, and I decided long ago that these weren't the dogs for me, personally.

From RL experience, I have a friend whose DH brought home a GS puppy one day, and she's been miserable in the 2 years since. It actually doesn't bark much, but it has been sent away to different 6 week long training courses multiple times, and still if she doesn't take it out for a long run every day, (or even if she does on some days) it will dig up their yard, has destroyed their deck, they are replacing a good part of their fence that it tore up as we speak, chews up their rugs and has destroyed a ton of other things around their house. I also know of another friend that had the same experience, but got rid of the dog much earlier along. If you don't have a lot of experience, please, please, please think really hard if this is the dog for you.

MagratGarlik · 20/05/2012 22:52

Do you mean Swiss shephard dogs? These look a lot like gsd, but are white.

My dsis has two of these, but I personally don't have any experience (helpful)

Original poster
ImBetterThanYou · 20/05/2012 22:58

Thanks everyone for the good advice, no this isn't our first dog but it is our first german shepherd. Toboldly, we hadn't realised the White gsd were undesirable and that's why they were harder to get, that has definitely made me think twice about looking into getting a White one, one of our friends has a White gsd and we fell in love with it which made us prefer the White colour.

OP posts:
HoneyDragonWearingLederhosen · 20/05/2012 23:01

Take on board what boldly said and have a chat with your vet. And as far as I am aware they are quite vocal, in that they talk a lot in a grumbly way. If you have never had any dog before and trained please please understand what a huge commitment this breed is.

BorisTheBold · 20/05/2012 23:14

I wouldn't recommend them. My mum is an obedience trainer (has been for over 25 years) and has yet to find anything overly positive about the temperament of white shepherds. In her experience, the majority are overly aggressive, snappy and not good with children or other small animals. Her belief is that due to the relatively small gene pool of these dogs in the UK, there is an excessive amount of inbreeding (in order to maintain the white coat), this in turn can lead to various genetic problems and issues with temperament.

To put her opinion into perspective, we had 3 GSDs living in our house when I was growing up (and she still has a GSD now) so it's not that she's a GSD/large dog hater.

If I were you, i'd go back to the drawing board and find something more family friendly like a whippet!

HoneyDragonWearingLederhosen · 20/05/2012 23:17

If you want a challenge though I can recommend the humble Labrador Grin

TwoIfBySea · 20/05/2012 23:32

My aunt had a white gsd, male, who was lovely however as experienced owners (a few members of my family have had gsds including me when I was little) they knew how to train him so he was a lovely dog.

As previously mentioned, breeding white gsds is not advised. They happen in litters occasionally but to try and breed them would not be beneficial for the dog and I wouldn't trust any breeder who did. (Buzz, my aunt's dog, was the anomaly in his litter.)

Gsds need a lot of exercise, a lot of mental stimulus and training. If this sounds like a hassle then they're not the dog you need. They're smart and loyal. Mine (female) was my best friend when I was younger no matter how pathetic as an only child that makes me! The day I had to take her to be put to sleep (when I was 16, as an old dog her hips started going) was the worst ever.

I enjoy the training part of having a dog, am currently owned by the lab retriever we were puppy walking for Guide Dogs but who decided a lazy life was for him!

It isn't so much the male and female aspect you need to start with. Look at what your wanting from this relationship between you and the dog, what can you offer it? No point buying a huge dog unless you're prepared to walk in the rain for miles regardless. And believe me, gsds quite like the rain (the ones I've know anyway) so won't be fussed if your trudging along soaked to the skin!

topknob · 21/05/2012 07:15

I ask if you have had dogs before as a GSD is not for you if you haven't :) Mine is not white but she is incredibly intelligent and quite laid back. However she is also a fab guard dog, which is fine for us but not for everyone else :) I don't know anything about whites but what has been said about inbreeding would make a lot of sense.

Catsmamma · 21/05/2012 07:28

I have two GSDs, neither are white so cannot comment on that

I'd say they are bright, but needy. They like to know where you are and what you are doing At.All.Times.

This focus can be more widely spread through the family, or can be on a single person. ...we have had to work quite hard with the younger one to get him to cope when I am out, he is a real mamma's boy

They can be very vocal, our older boy "sings" when people arrive and tends to barkyness, the younger one is less barky, but when he barks you know it.

They are very funny though, the older one pretends to be quite grumpy and then gets all giddy and puppyish in the garden and plays if he thinks no one else is looking.

Both are good with the cats, and because they started life as potential guide dogs (we puppy walk for GDBA) they have both been socialised within an inch of their lives, and I think this is key for gsd's...it's easy for them to get over protective and edgy with a restricted upbringing.

imo you won't get a better dog! did my bias come through??

toomuchtoyoung · 21/05/2012 07:52

To be honest, in my experience working with dogs, gsds are fantastic dogs in the right hands, but are not your easy family pet.
Gsds are bright, active and loyal dogs which are high drive and need mental and physical stimulation and lots of early and continuing training. They do well when worked, they are of course the favoured police dog and many thrive with this lifestyle. Of course many gsds make fantastic pets and i really like the breed, but as a family pet with small children and small pets they would not be my first choice. Sadly I see too many owners struggling with their gsds behaviour - they are powerful dogs can be dominant and aggressive (like any breed but more so with dogs bred for working and protection) in the wrong hands.

Good luck with whatever dog you choose.

Frontpaw · 21/05/2012 08:06

Great dogs - good choice.

I echo what toomuch says -

They do need a lot of exercise
They are very smart and need stimulation
They like company
You'll need to take it to dog training classes - you and the dog need training!
One bitch is ok - but get two and they will be more likely to fight (and really badly) than two dogs
They are fiercly loyal and do make excellent companions and if trained are fab with kids.

CalamityKate · 21/05/2012 08:25

As some other posters have said, when you start to breed for a colour that's unusual/undesirable for showing, you start sacrificing other things like health and temperament.

I've only known one white GSD and it had temperament issues.

Frontpaw · 21/05/2012 08:28

Why not go for an alaska husky? Also nice natured, smart and beautiful. Need lots of grooming!

bronze · 21/05/2012 08:31

We have a gsdx 3 parts gsd Very prone to be barky

glenthebattleostrich · 21/05/2012 08:43

Not had a white GSD but did have a rescue GSD for 15 years as a family pet. He was the most amazing dog we have ever had in our family. He was loyal, friendly and had an amazing personality.

He was also needy, always needed company (used to drive our Yorkie mad following her around cos he thought she was mummy), needed at least 2 x 1 hour runs a day (usually had 3, plus a 20 minute wander before bed). Got very upset if we didn't keep to his routine and was very terratorial, he hated anyone outsite his 'pack' going in 'his' garden or shed (he had a shed not a kennel for when he was outside)

My parents did treat him like their 5th baby so that probably contributed to him behaving like a stubborn toddler at times but he was wonderful and fabulous with kids and other animals (apart from cats, but probably because my parents cat used to taunt him).

Sorry the waffle is supposed to say that GSDs are fabulous dogs in the right hands. They do need to be well trained and need hours of exercise but they are worth it.

topknob · 21/05/2012 09:41

Yes as as been said, very loyal, she never leaves us if she is off lead. She isn't barky unless someone knocks at the door but this is good imo :) She does like routine when it comes to walkies. She is also very vocal when we go on holiday and pick her up from the kennels, she whinges at us for the rest of the day :o fine with cats but we had cats when we got her as a puppy and great with our kids.

toboldlygo · 21/05/2012 10:18

Ignore Alaskan husky comment (not that you'd be able to get one here without paying top whack anyway). 100x more unsuitable than any GSD.

Frontpaw · 21/05/2012 10:31

Really? There are loads round here and I think they are soooo beautiful!