I understand the need for GSDs that are aloof or even hostile toward all strangers, even the need for GSDs that will, on command and without hesitation, savagely take down a child. But there’s another kind of working GSD that’s also important, and which doesn’t seem to get a whole lot of respect here. I have been blessed with two such GSDs, both of whom would be viewed with contempt as “village idiots” by many of the people here.

What are these dogs? They are my assistance dogs. I have rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease, and these dogs help me get around. My older dog, Jake, is a West German working lines import. He is the most kindhearted dog I have ever known, and he loves attention from strangers, as long as they are decent people. (Yes, he knows the difference, and his judgment is faultless). Unlike most service dogs, he is not corrupted by the attention, since he has a very strong sense of duty. When people ask if they can pet him, I explain that normally you can’t pet service dogs, but this one is different. Jake happily accepts their attention, then goes right back to work.

I work at a hospital, and Jake’s welcoming attitude toward strangers has brought immense comfort to sick and grieving people. On one occasion, an obviously distraught older gentleman asked to pet him and then seized his head and clenched him in a long hug. Jake just stood patiently, somehow understanding how much the man needed him. On another occasion, a lady asked if her sister—a badly disabled, spastic lady in a wheelchair who could not speak—could pet him. Her sister was delighted with Jake but had difficulty reaching him to pet him. Her petting was more like banging because of her spasticity, and could not have been pleasant for Jake. Yet he saw her difficulty and slowly rose up into a begging position, gently placing his front paws on the arm of her wheelchair, so she could reach him more easily. It was the kindest thing I have ever seen a dog do.

Yes, I know that police and others need entirely different kinds of GSDs. I am well aware of the high level of violence in the world and the necessity for self-defense—so aware that I’m an NRA-certified instructor for rifle, shotgun, and pistol, and an NRA-certified range safety officer. However, the shining glory of the GSD is his ability to do so many different things so very well. I just wish the kindhearted GSDs got more recognition and respect.

It’s so sad when there’s a mismatch between what the owner wants and the dog’s fundamental temperament, and the owner refuses to love the dog for what he is or rehome the dog. Would anyone here tell someone who was unhappy with a high-drive GSD to gently redirect the dog to lie quietly in the house when the dog wanted to be active? Or offer to set the dog up to have a horrible experience while enjoying active work in order to teach him to hate active work? But people here have suggested ways to try to “remake” gentle GSDs into aloof or hostile ones. Far better for the owners to learn to love these dogs for what they are, or to find them new homes and jobs where their kind hearts will be treasured instead of despised. How keenly these poor dogs must feel the contempt of their owners!

 Quote: Susan Shott

\—so aware that I’m an NRA-certified instructor for rifle, shotgun, and pistol, and an NRA-certified range safety officer. However, the shining glory of the GSD is his ability to do so many different things so very well. I just wish the kindhearted GSDs got more recognition and respect.

Susan,

You and I would get along great. I do belong to the Second Amendment Sisters and the NRA..so I commend you on that.

And I also agree with you. I work with and around several GSD's that are import working lines and they are some of the friendliest dogs around. I am a Malinois and Bloodhound fan myself but I love to see a good GSD, no matter what the discipline.

That was a great post.

 Quote: Susan Shott

But there’s another kind of working GSD that’s also important, and which doesn’t seem to get a whole lot of respect here. ... What are these dogs? They are my assistance dogs. ...

You have read something here that indicated lack of respect for assistance dogs, or therapy dogs, or any kind of service dogs?

I'd appreciate a link to whatever you saw about service dogs that gave you that impression.

http://www.leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=cfrm&c=22

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

 Quote: Susan Shott

But there’s another kind of working GSD that’s also important, and which doesn’t seem to get a whole lot of respect here. ... What are these dogs? They are my assistance dogs. ...

You have read something here that indicated lack of respect for assistance dogs, or therapy dogs, or any kind of service dogs?

I'd appreciate a link to whatever you saw here about service dogs that gave you that impression.

I wish I could still edit...dangit....
I missed that part....I think, or it did not register when I read the post.

I do not think anyone here disrespects service dogs or thinks lowly of them, I know there are a lot of threads that have people asking about them and from what I see, not a lot of us really know how to go about training that type of discipline. There are some, but I have not seen them in a while.

Maybe you could help those that have training questions? If you do a search you should probably be able to bring up some threads on service dogs.

I think they are wonderful.

 Quote: Carol Boche

.... Maybe you could help those that have training questions? If you do a search you should probably be able to bring up some threads on service dogs.

I think they are wonderful.

http://www.leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=cfrm&c=22

I certainly agree with Carol and Susan that they are real working dogs; they may have a different job from a PSD, but they have an important job.

I had a great time last year helping a group of seizure alert dogs get their CGCs. This was a group of several breeds; if a dog demonstrates that ability, you don't ask to see his papers.

Several LB board members work with service dogs.

 Quote: connie sutherland

 Quote: susan shott

But there’s another kind of working GSD that’s also important, and which doesn’t seem to get a whole lot of respect here. ... What are these dogs? They are my assistance dogs. ...

You have read something here that indicated lack of respect for assistance dogs, or therapy dogs, or any kind of service dogs?

I got the same impression from the post, though I have to say, I've never heard anyone on this forum disrespecting assistance dogs, or even "friendly" dogs. Many people on this board have dogs who are simply companions (myself included), but we value much of the information and discussion just the same, because raising and training a healthy, balanced dog comes before focus in any specific canine discipline.

There are many here with protection or sport dogs - their training is tailored to their goals - though I have always felt that there was a great respect here for the goals of EVERYONE, whether that be sport, agility, SAR, rehabilitating a rescued animal, or simply raising a new member of the family.

Susan, your dogs sound simply wonderful, and you should feel very proud to have established such an incredible, working bond with them. Please don't ever feel like either of you are not appreciated or respected for the work you do or that your dog's particular character and temperment is frowned upon - they sound like true representatives of their breed to me!

*All that said, I greatly enjoyed reading about you and your dogs!

~Natalya

For the most part, maybe I either ignored or haven't read the kind of posts you're referring to here, but I don't get that "village idiot" comment. I know there are people very intent on having an extremely competent, effective PPD or similarly trained GSD, and I had one many years ago. My current one, tho, is the "kind hearted" type you refer to. She'd never be a PPD. So I'm working on getting her certified for therapy dog work. I know she'll never be like a fuzz ball lap dog, or a licky, slobbery Lab or Retriever (no offense intended.) But I know there's a real need for the kind of therapy she can provide, e.g., the local San Diego hospital that treats and rehabs military personnel, including those with severe combat injuries.

We started therapy dog class twice with a local trainer, and both times, were politely asked to leave because, at one point in each class, she gave a low growl at the school owner. She then told me the dog just doesn't have the temperament to be a therapy dog. (BTW, she was the only GSD in either class.) Well, I say that's BS. Being a rescue dog, there could well be a genetic component or a history behind that behavior. I think there's a personality problem between the two of them, as this is the only person I've seen her act that way toward. But regardless of the cause, I need to work a lot harder, a lot longer, and with a lot more people to make sure I can always expect kind hearted behavior 100% of the time. And it may just be that I won't be able to reach that goal.

I guess my point is that much of the uninformed general public expects a GSD to be an unapproachable, well trained, aggressive "machine." I'm hoping I can shape mine into one that will show people they can also be a kind hearted working dog.

Mike

Susan,
I think you're far off track....

I've never so much ever caught a hint of a disparaging attitude from people on this board about pets, as in lap dogs, and certainly never seen anyone copping a holier than thou about 'real working dogs' vs. the 'mundane service dogs'.
We people on this board love dogs in all their forms.

Randy

i mean, we have talked about our CHIHUAHUA'S here for crying out loud........


i think most if not all of us respect non-working(as long as they are well bred) GSD's. Some may have a bloodline preference, some may not like american gsd's(well, who would.....) but any service dog is a service dog, and worthy of respect.

Wow I never got that impression on this site.

The working line people are very passionate but I never felt at the expense of anyone else.