GERMAN SHEPHERD PING LIST
This is a low-volume list………so don’t worry!
(Please Freep-mail me if you’d like to be on or off the list.)
Posted on 08/23/2011 1:15:51 PM PDT by markomalley
What, you don’t enjoy a battle of wills with a 22 pound dog?
The hair appears shorter? Also, do they shed as much? Beautiful doggie.
The Belgian Mals that our military uses (and perhaps the dogs they’re talking about in the article) are from Belgium. They have a much sharper temperment than the Amercian bred Mals. I’ve been told by a military dog training consultant that the Belgian bred Mals favorite thing to do is bite; that’s what they’re bred for and if they don’t do that they’re basically cut from the military program (probably put down because they don’t have the temperment for “normal” homes, but that’s just my guess) and certainly not included in further breeding. The Belgian bred Mals are NOT family dogs.
Better all 'round dog.
However, for pure guard work I would take a Dobie or German Shepherd. Power does sometimes make a big difference.
If Dobies had longer hair I would pick them as the best working dog in the world.
Dutch shepherds? Are they long haired?
“Belgian Shepherd. The breed, also known as the Malinois,”
Just so people know, the Malinois is a “variety” of Belgian Shepherd (also called other names in other countries). The varieties are the various coats, i.e long haired black (Groenendael), short haired fawn (Mal), long haired fawn (Tervuren), etc.
Mals are smaller and have fewer health problems than GSDs in general. They’ve been bred for police work for a long time.
GERMAN SHEPHERD PING LIST
This is a low-volume list………so don’t worry!
(Please Freep-mail me if you’d like to be on or off the list.)
“the dogs were healthier and more courageous than their German counterparts.”
That I can understand. ALL “responsible breeders” seem to be ignoring this. I don’t just mean “those fru-fru American show people”, either.
“Belgian Shepherds can also be used as sniffer dogs, unlike German Shepherds, which are largely limited to security details.”
SAY WHAT? Since when? They must be clueless over there.
1st, it’s “Shepherd” - shep-herd - sheep-herding. Remember the herding part.
They are called Deutsche Schaferhunde. German Sheep Dogs.
Hip problems have been around long before “sloping backs” - in any of its bloodlines.
There are many problems w/GS that go beyond the ever-present HD, which you’d think is the only problem the way GS People and Joe Schmoe talk about them. I have the most allergic dog in the world - a “hidden” non-discussed problem of GS, primarily it seems European. They also have epilepsy and Degenerative Myelopathy(Sp?), etc. It is tragic.
That’s a Groenendale, or what the AKC calls the Belgian Shepherd (really the general name for all of the type).
If I had to bet my life on a dog, it would be a well-trained, well-bred German Shepherd.
I think they go with the Belgians because they are smaller and possibly cheaper to feed.
“They’ve been bred for police work for a long time.”
Germans have been bred for it since c.1910. They invented the concept.
Not sure if I would complain about the short hair, only thing bad about my ‘Mal is she sheds like a banshi....
Not with little dogs... I generally lose! (We have Corgi’s too, and they also are a hand full... Even the GSDs treat them with great respect!)
That’s a Groenendael, not a Malinois. Today, to see Groenendaels in police work is very rare. Both are considered Belgian shepherds, but the 2 varieties are very different in working capability. There are 2 other varieties, the Tervuren and the Laekenois. The Groenendael is known as the Belgian Sheepdog in AKC parlance.
How biddable are BSD’s compared to GSD’s? I was a bit surprised to read BSD’s are easier to train but perhaps GSD’s have more of an independent watch dog trait in them?
Popularity and bad breed standards adversely affected GSD.
The AKC is messing with the Belgians too. They have divided it into four breeds and disallowed interbreeding.
What is that? Perhaps that is what my friend's dog has. Her rear end just seems to be collapsing and she can no longer handle stairs, or walks. She has 20 acres and an adjacent golf course to roam (when it is closed). She can no longer do that. Although she has always been independent and a good family guard dog, she hardly wants to go out now.
Funny thing, she likes being on the leash now, rather than to roam independently. I think she feels more secure because she knows that her owner will not stray too far away.
Her vet says she's not in pain, but it breaks my heart to see this noble creature in such pathetic shape. And, she is no longer allowed to play with my dog because my Golden is considered too rough on her. She used to beat my dog to a pulp by repeated "body hits" on him (he loved every minute of it), but she is just a shadow of her former self, and they are the same age.
My friend's GSD was bred to be show dog, and she cost a lot of money. My Golden (who is just as beautiful) was found as a stray and adopted from a rescue organization. I took a lot of ribbing from my friend's husband for adopting a dog from a rescue organization because (in his words) "You don't know what you are getting." Well, I got the dog that lasted longer! But, it gives me no pleasure because I love her GSD almost as much as my Golden. Also, as I watch her dog deteriorate, I know that mine is next; and it makes me sad.
Maybe 10 years is normal for a GSD, but my previous Golden was with me for 15 1/2 years, despite having suffered a ruptured disc at 5. 10 years seems just too short.
15 years is very long for these dogs; that’s more a small dog’s age. 12 at best; 11 probably average.
As for DM, here’s a little group on it: http://www.mzjf.com/
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.