Best Friends Out of Work

I somewhat believe in your assertion: why aren't there more places in our own country where German Shepard's are bred? over the years I have seen a serious decline in the general health of these truly wonderful beings.

What is your evidence for this statement?

I do believe: Dogs only know two things, "I love you" and "put me to work"

As far as the German Shepherd breed, I believe their popularity has waned a lot over the past 20 years. I see a lot of people getting golden retrievers and other breeds that require little or no training - laziness or lack of time. This is such a shame because there are so many breeds of dogs that have outstanding traits, and they ALL RESPOND POSITIVELY TO DISCIPLINE!!!!

In your tag line, is "psysics" really supposed to be "physics"? Yes? Then fix it!

Perhaps he means "psychics"?

But then I suppose it ought to be "for those who are psychics, "The past, the present, and the future, become an illusion"

Cheers........Codey

our own police forces are my evidence. Talking to K-9 units in my area, I have found that since the "breed" is almost dead (poor health , very, very bad breeding practices, too many "pet stores" , TOO many shelters overwhelmed, not enough LOVE ). Town budgets were also talked about, and since a well bred German Shepherd costs so much, well, the money is not there. An officer I spoke with lost his German Shepherd to a bullet, in the line of duty, and it has been very difficult to replace him.

I think that each town should implement, through their shelters, and media (news papers should dedicate a spot every week to "dogs & love").

Also, my son was an interesting source of information on the subject. He called me from Keokuk Iraq ( Army Ranger) and said, "Dad, they are not sending us everything we need to fight this war". I replied "What do you need son? ". He replied, "SEND ME TEAMS OF GERMAN SHEPHARDS". Enough said

our own police forces are my evidence. Talking to K-9 units in my area, I have found that since the "breed" is almost dead (poor health , very, very bad breeding practices, too many "pet stores" , TOO many shelters overwhelmed, not enough LOVE ).

That being said, there have to some places that are running good programs. I hate to think that it's that bad everywhere.

It is that bad everywhere because so much money and attention is given to show dogs (all great dogs too). Working dogs are expensive, and training programs are few and far between. kudos to search and rescue teams across the country. They live in the moment and all are very heroic. check out vsrda.org. my friends.

let's start a discussion were in we fix this problem. There are so many German Shepherd Dogs (and their handlers)(and needs to be more) Hero's All, out there just waiting to go to bat for us and hit home runs. I think we need to implement programs already in place to get more teams to the forefront of security forces all over the world. Especially in Arabia. Being able to use their noses to "view the present" puts these dogs (teams) at the top of my list of first responders, in ANY situation. Of course there are many other dogs that are just as good, but GSD's are my favorite. We must let these people help us in this new fight. In fact I bet you that many,many more lives will be saved.

I have done my own research and some low key testing, and found GSD's can "smell " people with ill intent, and can sense explosives even quicker .

We should remove more and more of our ground troops from Iran and Afghanistan, and send in more "security teams" to replace them, along with opening up more training centers. I think people would jump at the chance to serve our country in this way, and best thing is .... it's a dog.

Thank you so much for your reply to my question. I am a complete novice at this, but the information contained in the reply gives me hope. I am a long time Colorado master plumber,and over the years have met thousands of dogs of every type, size and temper. I quickly learned how to deal with them on their level, in their home. They have become the smartest animals on planet earth (to me anyway). The only ones who do not respond to me are the Dalmations (sp?), they do not have a job. The GSD are on the other hand are very heroic beings. (as others are too). I just worked for a couple who are with the virginia search and rescue, their Germans are quite something. Check VSRDA.org. Again, thanx so much. cheers

thank you soo much for your input on the subject of hero"s. You should publish your paper and really get the word out about these animals. Maybe Sunday Morning could do a special about them.

The raid on the bin lauden compound by the Seal / team is also a story of a German Shepherd and handler. Just one more reason for people to put dogs to work. If more and more "shelters" became training and breeding centers we could bring the GSD, and other breeds back from the brink of destruction.

why aren't there more places in our own country where German Shepard's are bred?

There aren't enough German sheep?

On a more serious note I agree with the OP, inbreeding has decimated a once glorious breed in Canada. Hip displacia and elilepsy and now common traits in the breed.

I grew up with a beautiful shepard, faithful companion and fearless protector. In the days before leash laws he was known by name for miles around our inner city home. He truely lived up to his name Rex. I've never owned a dog since, no dog will ever measure up to Rex and as I am now an apartment dweller who works away from home it would be unfair to cage up such a free spirited animal as a dog all day and limit his freedom to a couple of daily walks. Please don't suggest a smaller breed, those aren't really dogs. Cats now work great for me.

Back to the original topic though, the reason? Money and greed are why the breed has been decimated.

Almost all of my life I have had German Shepherds. At present I have two.

There is no better dog for me and a lot of my Friends and family. Any one who has had one knows that there is no other.

The two I have now took a lot of time and research in order to find the right breeders. It was important to me, to find one that was raising them for the sake of the breed. They are small low volume breeders. Before any pups are thought of the parents are check out at the University Of Guelph. This is a premeir Ventrenary school in Canada. Traits like hip and elbow displasia are keep out of the bloodline.

I am not interested in show dogs. The ones I have are for compaionship. After health, temperment is the most important thing with me. A good GSD is allready hard wired for that.

Unfortunately there are bad breeders and puppy mills that produce GSD's that will be unstable and will die too soon from inherited conditions.

My avitar is a picture of the big boy.