Okay so I'm probably going to be slammed for this post but here
we go. Luna my white GS is a very friendly dog 18months old and
I wouldn't have it any other way. We are in obedience class and
our next class is manners 101 training for the CGC test. I can take Luna anywhere and she has been approached by many people
and is very good natured that is not to say she is a pushover.
At home she is protective and territorial. During hunting season
we have had people knock on the door at 9 and 10 at night, claiming their truck broke down, the deer was to heavy to get
by themselves and they needed to call for help. ( cells don't
work in the mountains where I live.)Luna protectively barks and
growls and it would take a complete idiot to try anyting funny,
if you get my drift. My point is that to me this is good common
sense on her part, she can sense by my reaction that strangers
in the middle to the night is not a good thing. However going
out with mom to dog class, dog park, walking down the street
is not cause for an agressive reaction. I'm sorry but I feel
that promoting a breed in my case the white shepherd its important in my opinion that they have good manners, be approached by strangers (as I allow) so that people can find
out about this wonderful breed. Okay slam me. It's okay.
Regards
Betty

Betty,
No slams from me.
In my my opinion you are socializing your dog to suit your needs and lifestyle and expectations. If you have an approachable yet discriminating dog with good manners and enjoy your girl as described, I think you have the perfect dog for you! She sounds delightful.

Don't apologize. Everyone has an opinion. Your dog might not be the kind of dog other GSD owners want just like you might not like a certain aspect of someone elses dog.

Just keep in mind, someone with a different opinion isn't always slamming yours.

?? Huh? Why would we slam you for having a well-behaved dog? Or is there some history I am missing here?

Personally, my next dog I would want to be like that...nice to have a friendly, well-mannered, adjusted dog in my life...someday...wishing upon a star...

I don't understand the point of the post. Like Angela said..."HUH? What am I missing here?"

Okay, maybe I miss read somethings, but so many people seem to not want their dogs to be touched or petted by strangers, this
seems antisocial to me but I felt that maybe the more experienced
folks knew more than me and maybe my approach was not the norm,
slammed maybe to harsh a word but thanks for reminding me that
a difference in opinion isn't a slam. Bad choice of word of my
part.Sorry!!!! And thanks for the replys.
Betty

I have a dog that lives in an apartment building, frequently rides in a small elevator with children and/or folks with walkers, wheelchairs, etc. I can (and do) take him anywhere and everywhere. He does not like to be petted by strangers AT ALL.

He will happily wag his stub at folks who are saying "hello", he will stand patiently next to me for long periods of time while I chat with a neighbor. He likes people, but he does not like people touching him. He avoids it like the plague. I've worked with enough Dobermans to know that it tends to be a breed characteristic, as I suspect it is with most GSD's.

My dog has shown me that he is a more than adequate guard dog on more than one occasion, but at the same time I enjoy having a dog that I feel comfortable with in public.

I think the "no petting" stems from the idea that it isn't natural for members of one pack (you and your dog) to physically interact with strangers from another pack, and it's unfair to expect a dog to submit to it. I personally am very pleased with the way my dog relates to the world, in spite of the fact that he hates petting (except by family) and I tend to respect that.

All dogs are not the same, of course. Some dogs LOVE to be petted and are equal-opportunity mooches:-) If this weren't so there would be no therapy dogs. It's an individual thing.

I'm one of the antisocial ones. If someone wants to pet a dog, they can get their own. My dog being out in public does not mean that anyone has the right to touch him/her. And no, I do not want them to be "friendly"; under control does not equal friendly. Having said that...why do I care what someone else does with their dog in public if it's not harmful to the dog?

BTW...this applies to my GSDs. My Pit likes people, as 99% of them do, and if he wants some grimy kid petting him, then who am I to stand in his way? ;-) It depends on the dog. Not allowing people to pet a friendly WS is not going to turn it into PPD material, so if the dog likes it, and you don't have any goals that could conflict, then go for it.

That's what I meant by being confused as to the point of the post. Iwondered if I missed something specific.

I think a lot of the not letting anyone and everyone petting your dog philosophy applies more strongly in the beginning stages of having a pet dog. That way they learn that you are the best thing in the world and to focus on you.

It also allows them to not be overwhelmed with attention before they are sure of your leadership, which can be scary for lots of dogs.

Of course if you are training for something that contradicts very social behavior then thins are different.

I have both, one dog who I don't allow anyone but family and close friends to pet simply because it makes him uncomfortable and isn't worth the risk. I can have him around people, as long as they don't try to fawn over him.

Loki on the other hand thinks all people are fantastic, and the smaller/younger they are, the better! That being said he is quick to alert me to intruders on the property or someone he thinks is out of place.
He also has a big deep scary bark that makes people back up, so truly he can be the best of both worlds.

My male is fine with people.
But;

Off-leash he will not approach anyone if he is called. If someone approaches him he will move away, unless in a stay (in which case I will deal with the person). He isn't scared but is stand-offish. If I choose to allow someone to pet him I stand next to them and will call him over.

Walking past people he barely glances at them, if I stop and invite them to pet him.

Whenever he is being petted he stands, wags his tail - we use him as a demo dog for the shepherd rescue I support because he behaves himself around people reliably. He is also a certified therapy dog, so will follow basic commands issued by strangers (if I am there), will play fetch etc, allow himself to be petted.

Does that mean I want him to allow anyone to pet him in public? No.
Do I want him to ever approach someone? No definately not, not all people are dog friendly - locally we have a jogger who will kick any dog that gets within kicking distance.

Making a dog think that all / most humans want to pet them will make them more likely to seek out affection from people. I prefer my dog to focus on me.