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Original poster

Aggressive German Shepherds

71 replies

anon135 · 22/05/2018 20:09

Just need a rant really.

I own a golden retriever and he's the most placid dog, very friendly with all other dogs. He's normally off lead and heels very well. Obviously when there are other dogs on leads i am responsible and don't let him approach them in case the owner doesn't want him to.

I don't know why, but i find the majority of GSDs we come into contact with are quite aggressive and want to intimidate my dog when they go past. I have one woman in particular with a GSD that we have passed twice in 2 days. Each time her dog has been off lead and will chase my dog snarling, while mine backs off as much as possible feeling scared. Both times the woman feebly shouts at her dog, while not doing much about it and then apologises afterwards. She obviously knows her dog is aggressive, so why have him off the lead around other dogs! I find it so irresponsible. If she doesn't want to discipline him then she could at least muzzle him and eliminate the potential for damage.

Maybe i am generalising, but in my experience i find the majority of GSD owners to have very poor control over their dogs. They are a dominant breed and require an experienced handler, and i find most people fail at owning these dogs. They are not exactly chosen by the police for their submissive, passive nature!

I just wish people would do a bit more research on temperament before choosing a breed. The very reason i chose a golden retriever is that he was my first dog and i wanted a passive, friendly breed that i could control. I feel that most people get GSDs because they 'look cool' and are a status dog, as opposed to acknowledging the personality of one.

Sorry if i've offended any good GSD owners, i'm sure there must be some good ones somewhere! I just needed to get it off my chest.

OP posts:
Chippyway · 22/05/2018 20:17

I have a GSD. People cross the road, walk a wide circle round me and automatically put their dogs on a lead when they see me. If ever I’m out with my partners dog which is a lab, it’s the complete opposite. The most important thing though to say is the lab is aggressive and not very friendly yet my gsd will play with any dog and wouldn’t hurt a fly!

Despite popular belief German shepherds aren’t as dominant as everyone thinks they are. They’re chosen by the police because of their intelligence not “dominance” or “aggressiveness”.

If a gsd is aggressive or unfriendly it’s because of its background rather than because it’s a Gsd.

I think you’re just unlucky and have come across German shepherds with poor owners. Sorry this happened to your dog, but it really is the owners not the dog.

Original poster
anon135 · 22/05/2018 20:23

There's probably around 5 GSDs near me and they all show behavioural problems, all with different owners. I never have an issue with other breeds in the same way. It's such a shame as they are beautiful dogs but my trust in the breed has really gone downhill. I just wish the owners would do something about the behaviour so that they don't reinforce such bad habits in them.

I see both sides to the whole 'owner vs breed' debate. I think you're right and the majority of it is the down to the owner, but i think there's also an element of natural instinct in certain breeds too.

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MrsMozart · 22/05/2018 20:24

I have a GSD. She's neither dominant nor aggresive. She's been attacked twice by black labs. I've not labelled the owners of all black labs as incompetent idiots.

And my GSD is well trained and comes to first call.

Wolfiefan · 22/05/2018 20:26

It's not the breed. It's the owners.
Breeds do have traits. Mine is a sight hound. I've worked REALLY hard at recall.

Original poster
anon135 · 22/05/2018 20:27

MrsMozart i clearly wasn't saying that all GSD owners are incompetent idiots! It has purely been my experience that the ones i have interacted with have unfortunately all shown behavioural issues and the owners haven't seemed bothered/phased by this.

I am pleased that you have yours well trained, it is refreshing to hear!

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Wolfiefan · 22/05/2018 20:30

You said the majority.
And they're not a dominant breed if you're referring to pack theory (which is outdated nonsense.)
Many dog owners are feckless arseholes.
Many aren't.

tooearlytobeup · 22/05/2018 20:34

Got to be honest, I’ve never had a problem with gsds, the ones we see are always well trained and kind of aloof. It’s staffies here, normally ones which are left to wander the streets alone, but that’s definitely the owners fault not the dogs.

mustbemad17 · 22/05/2018 20:35

Just for a bit of perspective...four of my bull breed fosters were attacked by labs & retrievers and one chi but we don't talk about that

Doesn't matter what the breed temperament states, even the most placid of breeds can be vicious little shits in the wrong hands. If you continue to have issues with the same dogs contact the dog warden for your area

Original poster
anon135 · 22/05/2018 20:37

People can be very defensive on here. I said 'in my experience the majority', this means that i am not saying factually they are all aggressive but most of the ones i have come into contact with have been. I can't change my personal experience just to suit you i'm afraid. Maybe i have just had an unfortunate run of bad ones.

OP posts:
Runninglateeveryday · 22/05/2018 20:39

My tiny dog loves GSDs I've found the opposite all the ones we meet are very gentle and play nicely with her without squashing her!

However staffies now have me crossing the road, I have been unlucky and met several very dog aggressive ones and now avoid!

missbattenburg · 22/05/2018 20:39

I agree that not enough people spend time looking at the negative traits of their chosen breeds to help them decide what they can handle or cope with. That said, I think it is unfair to say that they choose GSDs for status or cool factor - though some inevitably do.

GSDs have a large number of wonderful breed traits - loyalty, intelligence and trainability being among them that could make people blind to the potential for bad.

Whenever choosing a breed people need to 'pick their poison'. I have a springer whose gun work ancestry involves retrieving and so - like goldies - give him a tendency to chew or be mouthy. He enthusiasm for fun in the air (where the birds are) gives him a tendency to be bouncy. His brilliant nose means he finds whatever you don't want him to have, no matter how small. GSDs were bred for guarding as well as herding, and that guarding ability can lead to dogs that are suspicious of strangers, other dogs etc.

As luck would have it, I've only ever encountered soppy, steady GSDs who were well behaved. I did, however, run into two goldies yesterday who were barking, frothing at the mouth and straining the lead to get to my dog. Not nice dogs at all. That's just the way the dice rolls, though.

Wolfiefan · 22/05/2018 20:39

It's not being defensive to point out that it's not about the breed of dog. All dogs are capable of behaving in inappropriate ways. It's about the owners who fail to train their dogs and deal with any such behaviour.

Original poster
anon135 · 22/05/2018 20:41

mustbemad17 i have also had an interaction with an aggressive golden retriever. Of course it can happen with any breed, i have just had so many bad GSD experiences that it's marred my view of them. I don't like judging a dog on breed but i feel like i have to when i see one getting close now.

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mustbemad17 · 22/05/2018 20:42

Nope not defensive...just showing you the other side, which is your 'passive, friendly, controllable' dog in the wrong hands. I got over people's fears of my breed choice years ago!

I will say tho, if you harbour a dislike for GSDs your dog will pick up on that & give off signals to the ones he meets. Which will potentially influence how their meeting goes

Original poster
anon135 · 22/05/2018 20:46

Wolfiefan i think that's the thing that gets to me most about it. It's not the dog itself, it's the owner that seems flippant when their dog is snarling at mine. There's no punishment for the behaviour and they just shows a complete lack of control over the dog/situation. They are big dogs and could cause quite a bit of damage if they wanted to

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Original poster
anon135 · 22/05/2018 20:48

mustbemad17 i am very careful to not show fear/wariness over certain breeds as i'm well aware that my dog will pick up on how i'm feeling. That is why i don't want to keep him far away from a GSD when we come into contact, but it's hard to trust my dog won't get attacked with the ones around here

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 22/05/2018 20:49

Mine was chased the other day by three barking and growling dogs that kept trying to launch up and grab her with their teeth. The owner told me it was ok I needed to let them sort themselves out. Shock I told her that was her job as a dog owner. Couldn't get near to mine to get her on a lead so just walked away really quickly.
Legally dog owners must have their dogs under control.

Original poster
anon135 · 22/05/2018 20:56

Skandinaviem thanks for the link, that is quite interesting.

Another possibility for the poor behaviour round here could maybe be down to dodgy breeding? Maybe these owners are going to the same places to buy the dogs and the breeders have chosen poor GSDs (in terms of temperament) to breed from.

Or maybe they all just take a natural dislike to my dog only!

OP posts:
middleeasternpromise · 22/05/2018 20:58

I had no idea there was so much prejudice towards GSDs until I got one (I grew up with them in rural setting and didn't experience this) I got a GSD because it was the breed I knew not that she would be cool or a status symbol. I do however hope that a burglar would think twice if they spotted her through the window. My GSD is still under 2 and very playful but I find lots of other dog owners automatically move away. She is socialised with a large group of dogs of all different breeds 3 x per week so she feels comfortable around other breeds but it is owners of other breeds I find that automatically position her as likely to be a problem. She never initiates barking at other dogs but very often smaller breeds go past yelping in a threatening way to her which she then responds to. I have learnt she will always get the blame if there is an issue but she loves walking (running) off lead chasing squirrels. However I keep her on a long lead and defensively pull her near when any other dog comes by. The only time I don't feel tense is if I have already met the other owners and know their views OR its another GSD and owner as we just know the drill.

mustbemad17 · 22/05/2018 21:00

Unfortunately some owners are just pricks. Can you recall yours & walk away if you see the GSD? Perhaps carry a hiking stick - obviously not to inflict damage, but they are good barriers. Ultimately you probably won't change the stupid owner's attitude to her dog sadly. Dog warden may be your best bet as legally her dog is out of control therefore legally classed as dangerous

Original poster
anon135 · 22/05/2018 21:06

middleeasternpromise i don't actually want to be one of those people that discriminates against a breed, but i feel like i am being forced into doing that and keeping my dog away when i see one now. It is such a shame though as all dogs need an opportunity to socialise with others.

mustbemad17 my dog is very good at recall but the one today actually full on chased my dog despite him walking nicely next to me. Mine was just desperate to get away from him. I'm actually glad mine wasn't on a lead at the time as i feel i would've been pulled over, and that's not ideal at 6 months pregnant. The other owner didn't even pick up the pace to get him back!

OP posts:
friendlyflicka · 22/05/2018 21:09

I love German Shepherds. I think the aggressive ones are quite often nervous.

Actually, where I live I have been shocked by the amount of very strong Golden Retrievers, literally dragging owners around. I don't know if they have been rescued as adults.

I was surprised because I always think of GRs and Labradors as tractable. I have no experience of any of these breeds as an owner. I have always had sighthounds.

mustbemad17 · 22/05/2018 21:10

Definitely dog warden in that case. If she isn't even trying she needs a slap.not that i'm advocating you assaulting her

I know what you mean re yours being on lead...all mine had to be leashed for various reasons, but it put them - and often me - in some really sticky situations when other owners were brainless twats

Original poster
anon135 · 22/05/2018 21:22

friendlyflicka i really don't think the one today was nervous haha. Full on aggressive.

Golden retrievers can be quite bad for tugging on a lead. Even with heeling off the lead mine likes to 'get ahead' of me slightly as a habit. It's something you have to keep on top of when training them, but it can be controlled. If you stop walking every time they do this and make them walk back to you it helps with this, as they learn it'll take them longer to get to the park if they have to keep walking back to me!

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