I'm thinking about getting a German Shepherd

[snorri]

The area around here is getting a little too rough,

Your neighbourhood wiIl be no less rough with the addition of a German Shepherd.

 

[ColinJ]

I used to visit a Hungarian guy who had a warehouse full of valuable goods in a ropey part of Budapest. In one corner was a stinking, filthy cage containing a very large baboon, which he let out at night. I don't suppose he had many burglaries.

How did he get it back in the cage in the morning ...?

 

[Piemaster]

This needs less looking after...........

I don't think the dog would be much good at swinging that. Though you could probably train it to fetch it for you.

[QUOTE 4088265, member: 9609"]
I knew a bloke with a scrap yard, he used to have two or three Alsations that would roam the yard at night time, they were seriously scary beasts, he used to train them when they were young by leaving them by themselves in the yard, he would then get a stranger to come in and beat them to within an inch - once that had happened to them a couple of times, the dogs did not welcome strangers.[/QUOTE]
I've got a relative that had a back street garage with a similar arrangement, big 'DOG LOOSE IN YARD' sign. He only kept one dog, it lived in a donor car and he and his business partner were the only ones who could handle it, or for that matter even want to go near it. Was never mistreated though, it didn't need to be as it was bright. One of his neighbours spotted someone climbing over the wall with nefarious intentions one night. Dog was nowhere to be seen, at first anyway. It was waiting until the victim was well into the yard first...

Aren't there changes in the law about responsibilities for dog attacks/bites even on your own property now?

 

[Andy_R]

I don't think the dog would be much good at swinging that. Though you could probably train it to fetch it for you.


I've got a relative that had a back street garage with a similar arrangement, big 'DOG LOOSE IN YARD' sign. He only kept one dog, it lived in a donor car and he and his business partner were the only ones who could handle it, or for that matter even want to go near it. Was never mistreated though, it didn't need to be as it was bright. One of his neighbours spotted someone climbing over the wall with nefarious intentions one night. Dog was nowhere to be seen, at first anyway. It was waiting until the victim was well into the yard first...

Aren't there changes in the law about responsibilities for dog attacks/bites even on your own property now?

Yup. If your dog is loose in your premises and someone breaks in and gets bitten, you are as responsible for it as if it happened in a public place, especially if you deliberately get a dog as a guard dog.

 

[ScotiaLass]

Another who says, in this circumstance, avoid a rescue.
Your smaller dogs would not be at any more risk from a GSD, than from any other!
In fact it's been reported that smaller dogs, esp Jack Russells, Chihuahua's etc are far more aggressive with people and other dogs than a GSD.
I'd agree with home security and some good lighting, light timers etc

 

[Piemaster]

In fact it's been reported that smaller dogs, esp Jack Russells, Chihuahua's etc are far more aggressive with people and other dogs than a GSD.

JR - only dog I've ever been bitten by that meant it, no warning at all. Ripped a pair of jeans which probably stopped it being any worse.
My parents had a couple of Cavalier King Charles that had their typical lovely temperament, except when they had a beef bone (quite rarely) when they were very possessive. Lots of warning growling and snarling leaving you doubt it was theirs and you could sod off

 

[ayceejay]

I dunno a German shepherd sounds a bit tame, what about a German wrestler?

 

[rich p]

I believe that it's enshrined in the British Constitution 2nd Amendment
...being necessary to the security of a free ghetto, the right of the people to keep and bare arms (and tattoos) and keep mad dogs, shall not be infringed.
Summink like that anyway. Possibly the right to arms bears (and baboons)

 

[ColinJ]

I believe that it's enshrined in the British Constitution 2nd Amendment
...being necessary to the security of a free ghetto, the right of the people to keep and bare arms (and tattoos) and keep mad dogs, shall not be infringed.
Summink like that anyway. Possibly the right to arms bears (and baboons)

And the baboons to bare bottoms?

 

[perplexed]

I'd recommend getting some tips from Home Alone...

 

[fossyant]

I would have thought the Jack Russell cross would be a bigger deterrent - they only need to bark to alert the owner.

I also thought GSD's were great pets generally, just 'BIG'. They really don't deserve the reputation. Thing is, any rescue dog will have problems that you would need to work out. You'd also be best if you could introduce your dog to the 'potential' one at a rescue centre before making a decision.

We'd love a dog, especially as the two older cats are no longer with us, but the big bruiser might not be too happy

 

[Globalti]

When I used to mountain bike my brother and I used to enjoy doing a ride that started in a place called Gauxholme (@ColinJ will know it). You had to open a gate and follow a ROW through a builder's yard to gain access to a lovely old cart track that curves sinuously up the hillside above. In the builder's yard was a psychopathic dog on a chain that was just short enough to prevent it reaching you as you sidled past. Once we had got outside the second gate we would stop for a while and piss the dog off by lobbing stones onto the corrugated iron roof of its kennel, which always drove it mad. You can see where this is going, can't you?

Anyway one day we entered the yard and were heading for the far gate and out came the dog came from its kennel as always, barking and slavering, like an Exocet missile. But when it reached the end of the chain, instead of the usual neck-breaking sudden stop, the collar broke and to our horror the dog was free. We nearly pooed in our Ron Hills. We put the bikes between us and the rabid dog and sidled past saying "Nice doggie!" but strangely the dog didn't come near us; either it hadn't realised its collar had gone or it simply didn't consider the narrow strip of the ROW to be its territory. We didn't go back there again after that fright.

 

[ScotiaLass]

JR - only dog I've ever been bitten by that meant it, no warning at all. Ripped a pair of jeans which probably stopped it being any worse.
My parents had a couple of Cavalier King Charles that had their typical lovely temperament, except when they had a beef bone (quite rarely) when they were very possessive. Lots of warning growling and snarling leaving you doubt it was theirs and you could sod off

I really dislike small dogs for that reason. I have had 3 GSD's, raised alongside 5 children, including newborns, and hand on heart, I never had one incident. Ever. Of course, I would never leave a dog of any type, alone with my children.
I think training is key as well. My kids could take a treat from any of our dogs, and the dog would sit and wait, as it was trained to do.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Maybe i didn't explain myself properly. It's not a fear of being burgled as this area is virtually burglar free. I want one for when i walk out at night time, or if there are some undesirables outside intent on causing trouble.

 

[vickster]

I'd definitely be looking to move if I didnt feel safe walking around my neighbourhood at night!

You'll want to look into the costs of running a big dog if wanting to go that way, especially as you'd be best getting a pup for the reasons stated above, purchase has to be a grand to start for a pure breed