German Shepherds

corkimp

I dare them to try it! For one, I live in Waterford. Two, Its the owners not the dogs fault - lack of socialisation and training. Three - people need to be educated in dog ownership not blamed for someone elses crimes. All dogs are not the same.
I acutally had a nightmare the other night with something to that effect...wierd!

bizmark

Wont pass didnt they try this before?

corkimp

I vaguely remember but not the details. I'm from Cork and as a kid I knew the dog had to be well trained and kept under control - the dogs on the list need to be muzzled. As much as I dislike muzzles, if it stops people blaming every dog they see for "attacks" and protects innocent dogs from these claims, I'll put one on my dog - for her safety more then anything. I've actually to buy one soon for my pup...she's currently being trained to a halti so it won't be such a big leap for her. I find it is unfair to blame all these dogs for some problem dogs of the same breed.

alexdenby6

they can take my dog from my dead hands

~Thalia~

alexdenby6 wrote:

they can take my dog from my dead hands

Exactly, I feel the same way.

Here is my little girl Magic, she is almost 7 months old. She is a rescue GSD and has become my best friend in the whole world!

On another note does anyone find that as a puppy GSDs don't eat very much. I'm very worried that Magic might be a little underweight as she is only 20kgs at this stage. She has never really been a good 'grubber' even though I have tried her on lots of different types of food.

Any GSD experts out there have any hints to help her gain a little weight?

alexdenby6

two solid meals of quality food a day plenty of exercise, maybe an extra bit of scrap meat from the butchers or leftovers to help her bulk up. anyone else add anything

~Thalia~

alexdenby6 wrote:

two solid meals of quality food a day plenty of exercise, maybe an extra bit of scrap meat from the butchers or leftovers to help her bulk up. anyone else add anything

Thanks Alex.. we have tried so much, have had her on BETA, Science Plan and Proplan and have tried mixing all of the above with some tinned food so she gets the taste factor as well. She LOVES her bones from the butchers but I only get these once a week and I want her to have more than those. She just doesn't seem all that interested in her food in the same way that other dogs wolf their food down. She is a little highly strung, maybe that's why.
I asked the vet and he said her weight is ok but just myself I feel she could do with a little extra bulk on her to keep her strong.

We were at a dog show recently and someone commented (I over heard) that she was very thin and I felt like such a bad Mum even though I have tried so many different things...

Thanks again for your advice and any more is welcome!

corkimp

They haven't a chance of taking mine from me - even from my cold dead hands! I'll haunt them! lol

Thalia - your pups gorgeous! She's alert and healthy - that's the most important thing. Personally, I find my one can be quite finicky - she goes through days where she won't eat until night time. Think it is to do with the weather lately, warm but damp too. I feed my one Royal Canine maxi junior. When I got her she was on pedigree but my vet suggested changing her over. Her coat is glistening! At 5 months, she is 16kg now. When she won't eat just the dry food, I add things like (reduced salt) bisto, soup (canned left over chicken soup) and scraps of meat. She's spoilt! There is a "puppy gravy" available to help make meals more appetising for pups in most pet shops - think chicken flavour. Maybe if your cooking mince, pour a little of the fat and meat into her bowl and leave it cool or cooking cicken pieces - chop up a bit for her.
This is my one at 5 months:

My sisters dog Kesh was always quite skinny until I suggested she change his food to Royal canine too ( he is a fussy eater and nearly 2 now). When I went up 2 weeks ago, the difference was amazing - he was on it a month maybe and put on a good bit of bulk - he really needed it. Here's a pic of him (hope she doesn't mind!)


As for food, that's just what I tried and Esri is blossoming on it. But I hear Beta and science plan are good foods so dunno. Maybe ask your vet what he/she would suggest? Yes I know I sound like I'm plugging Royal canine here (not trying to!) but they do the Maxi (for large breeds like the GSD) but they also do breed specific foods - the German shepherd food. I'm thinking of trying the GSD one but she seems ok on what she is on now so see what happens. Hope this helped ya.

~Thalia~

corkimp wrote:

They haven't a chance of taking mine from me - even from my cold dead hands! I'll haunt them! lol

Thalia - your pups gorgeous! She's alert and healthy - that's the most important thing. Personally, I find my one can be quite finicky - she goes through days where she won't eat until night time. Think it is to do with the weather lately, warm but damp too. I feed my one Royal Canine maxi junior. When I got her she was on pedigree but my vet suggested changing her over. Her coat is glistening! At 5 months, she is 16kg now. When she won't eat just the dry food, I add things like (reduced salt) bisto, soup (canned left over chicken soup) and scraps of meat. She's spoilt! There is a "puppy gravy" available to help make meals more appetising for pups in most pet shops - think chicken flavour. Maybe if your cooking mince, pour a little of the fat and meat into her bowl and leave it cool or cooking cicken pieces - chop up a bit for her.
This is my one at 5 months:

My sisters dog Kesh was always quite skinny until I suggested she change his food to Royal canine too ( he is a fussy eater and nearly 2 now). When I went up 2 weeks ago, the difference was amazing - he was on it a month maybe and put on a good bit of bulk - he really needed it. Here's a pic of him (hope she doesn't mind!)


As for food, that's just what I tried and Esri is blossoming on it. But I hear Beta and science plan are good foods so dunno. Maybe ask your vet what he/she would suggest? Yes I know I sound like I'm plugging Royal canine here (not trying to!) but they do the Maxi (for large breeds like the GSD) but they also do breed specific foods - the German shepherd food. I'm thinking of trying the GSD one but she seems ok on what she is on now so see what happens. Hope this helped ya.

Corkimp - Esri is GORGEOUS! A real little cutie, as is your sister's one. Of course I am biased but I think GSD pups are absoluetly adorable. Might give the Royal Canine a go once the current food is finsihed but Esri sounds like my little one where you say she will faff around all day and not east until night time. I suppose I shouldn't be too worried as you say she is alert and healthy and the vet has okayed her weight so maybe she just needs a little more time to gain some weight or maybe she will just be a small GSD.

Thanks a mill for all your help and for the FAB pics! Hope you are enjoying having Esri. Magis is almost 7 months old now and I can't imagine life without her!

alexdenby6

ours has been on the most expensive of the lidl brands and she really likes it, she gets left over meat from my brothers workplace(restauranyt) and is spoilt rotten. make sure you're giving her cod liver oil as well.

corkimp

Some people can be cruel saying dogs are "thin" and assuming your not feeding them correctly. My sis' dog - Kesh, was quite thin and to be honest the vet said he was ok so we weren't sure what to do with him. When my own vet suggested the royal canine for esr, I told my sis to give it a go with Kesh and it worked. A healthy weight is when you can feel the ribs but not see them. As I type, Esri is conked out on the floor - been there for over 2 hours! lol so spoilt!
I think some canned foods don't agree with GSD's...I tried Esri with the puppy pouches and she wasn't a huge fan of the jelly. So I got the adult pedigree gravy food and give her some every now and then as a treat. But wouldn't give her up for the world. If your ever stuck for anything or fancy a chat, feel free to pm me

alexdenby6

its also bad meat and can upset their stomach giving them the runs. my mags has an especially fragile stomach. bones, lots of meat and tins of food dont agree with her.

corkimp

Sometimes meat can make them sick. Esri loves mince meat but if I give her too much it has a bad effect. So occassionaly I put aside some of the meat I cook for our dinner - plain chicken, and scraps of steak and stuff (all cooked of course). Gsd's as a whole have a sensitive stomach - so care is needed not to make them "sick" from things like meat and over rich food. My one loves rawhide bones, pig ears and chewing plastic bottles!?! Must admit, not a huge fan of pig ears but she loves them! Keeps her teeth away from anything she's not meant to chew!

Gillie

peasant wrote:

All you German sheperd lovers, read this thread

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055117692

Only a matter of time until someone's gonna come and take your dog away and kill it! :eek:

As Charlton Hesten said: "Outta my hold dead hands!"

peasant

Gillie wrote:

As Charlton Hesten said: "Outta my hold dead hands!"

You might want to re-think your Charlton Heston / gun lobby parallel there ...:D

alexdenby6

yeah my one loves the plastic bottles.

Gillie

peasant wrote:

You might want to re-think your Charlton Heston / gun lobby parallel there ...:D

I was gonna till I seen your post! Now I might need a gun!;)

corkimp

My one loves plastic bottles - chewing it away to beat the band! She ran out the door last night with it and ripped the paper off before I could get it off her and lay there chewing away. If I go to put on the dryer, she sits under the window thinking if she looks sad enough I'll feel sorry for her and bring her in! She was already in over 2 and a half hours getting attention and sleeping on the rug! lol She loves towels also..must feel nice in her mouth.
edit: Thalia you just reminded me - Esri and her littermates (there were 13 - their poor mother!) were given some 2l plastic milk cartons to play with - running around after whoever had it and chasing it. On top of that, she'll go into the side entrance of our house and play with it there, knowing the sound of her barking/bottle noise is amplified - along with her whining for attention. She ain't no fool! She also sits by the sliding door - whines and looks over her shoulder nose in the air to see if we are watching! lol

~Thalia~

corkimp wrote:

My one loves plastic bottles - chewing it away to beat the band! She ran out the door last night with it and ripped the paper off before I could get it off her and lay there chewing away. If I go to put on the dryer, she sits under the window thinking if she looks sad enough I'll feel sorry for her and bring her in! She was already in over 2 and a half hours getting attention and sleeping on the rug! lol She loves towels also..must feel nice in her mouth.

The plastic milk bottles are a HUGE favourite in our house, I think it is because they are so light that they just fly across the kitchen tiles and provide a good chase! They keep her amused for ages on end which is great in this lousy weather when we can't play ball outside!

Mawg

They're all gorgeous. I have a (mostly) golden lab at the moment, but if I was ever to get another dog I'd definately try to get a german shepherd, if there was one looking for a home.

GG66

They're all gorgeous. I have a (mostly) golden lab at the moment, but if I was ever to get another dog I'd definately try to get a german shepherd, if there was one looking for a home.

I've got a 2 year old male looking for a good home. Our neighbours don't appreciate him as much as we do..

Obedience trained, sit, stay, come, wait...will do all of this to hand signals
Will wait until you give him the go ahead before he munches, can safely take his food away, but why would you?
He's used of being around us all day as both my partner and I work from home.
Good with other dogs, kids, if a little boisterous..
Will walk on lead
Neutered, vaccinated, wormed etc.
He's a big un!
Usual GSD reaction to strangers and if you've had one before you'll be familiar with a lot of people's recoil when they approach them.

Can't think of anything else right now but PM if you want photos or are interested...

We're heartbroken to have to let him go. Good home only!

peasant

GG66 wrote:

Usual GSD reaction to strangers

Just out of curiosity ...what is the "usual GSD reaction" ?

corkimp

I remember walking my sister's dog Kesh as a pup - bout 7 months. A man was walking towards us. He saw Kesh who as a pup wanted attention and looked up at him as he approached. He literally turned so he could pass me turning sideways and and walking like that until her passed her. Kesh was confused as I was - I left over 2 metres space for him to pass me! People are always assuming that a GSD is something to fear. It's quite annoying when people act like. But its just misconceptions being taught down from generation to generation.

GG66

Just out of curiosity ...what is the "usual GSD reaction" ?

From my experience and talking with others who had GSD, they're wary of strangers around their own patch. very protective, i.e. they bark loudly and hold their ground

That said, once people are introduced he's fine. we've had friends come to the house once, return a year later, open the gate and walk into the house. A stranger would be intimidated by his barking...

Once out in public, he's fine with other people and pretty much ignores the incessant grief he gets from smaller dogs with aggressive attitudes....oddly enough owners of these dogs don't seem to feel their dog should be on a lead..

GSDs are wonderful dogs but people's perceptions of them can be annoying, like corkimp i've seen people cross the street when he was a 6 month old pup. He was on a short leash

Killme00

:eek: Peassant..you seem to be trolling, thats terrible from a mod, shame on you!!


As for the usual GSD reaction, i know exactly what you are talking about but i think thats mainly down to education. The media and legislators at the moment dont seem to be helping the situation, but its up to GSD owners to prove them all wrong. What i try to do is get my GSD to sit when some people are walking by. If they look particulary apprehensive i tell them its okay while smiling and rubbing the dog. More often than not they smile and pass by, sometimes not often they will rub the dog. Congrats on the wonderfull dogs everyone, they all look like strong and happy dogs.

peasant

Killme00 wrote:

:eek: Peassant..you seem to be trolling, thats terrible from a mod, shame on you!!

S'cuse me ?

All I did was ask a question.

BTW ...I have a dog at home that displays the "usual GSD reaction to strangers" (now that I know what it's supposed to be ) ...it's an Old English Sheepdog Mix.
A very good guard dog and he does take his job rather seriously. Only with him people don't expect it.

Killme00

peasant wrote:

Only a matter of time until someone's gonna come and take your dog away and kill it! :eek:

Peasant..some of your comments have sounded like you have wanted some sort of argument. Forgive me if i am wrong. I am glad you now know what the usual reaction to GSD's and other large dogs is.

peasant

Killme00 wrote:

I am glad you now know what the usual reaction to GSD's and other large dogs is.

If you read through the last few post again (ie read, not interpret, not assume nor guess) you will realise that the reaction TO GSD's wasn't my question, but instead what exactly somebody deemed to be the usual reaction OF GSD's.

Are we done misunderstanding then ?

Killme00

peasant wrote:

Are we done misunderstanding then ?

As long as thats all it was :rolleyes:

peasant

Killme00

I don't know what your issue is with me (other than trying to goad me into an argument?) but if you read my posts in this thread http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055118055 I think that you'll find that your "suspiscions" are unfounded.

Now ...back to topic ...