all of this is true but would u rather take a hit form a APBT or GSD if you didnt have a sleeve? i dont know i really am just an idiot asking stupid questions so i can be less of an idiot but from the minimal experience i do have it seems the rotties an APBTs are a little more sturdy. i know they have higher pain tolerance; mabey that doesnt come into the scenario? arent rotties/apbts stronger than gsds? does that matter either?

Didn't Van Camp have a post where GSD'S have the same jaw pressure as a Pit or Rott?
Art

Rotties
Rotties
Rotties, The rottweiler is second only to a pit-bull in biting pressure. GSD Have more stamina than a rottie but my experience that a rottie hits the sleeve harder than a gsd. I know Van Camp will blast me on this one!! :rolleyes:

My understanding is that a really big (OK, oversized) GSD, say 100+ pounds, won't really hit as hard as a smaller one in the 75-90 pound range--they're just not as fast.

I'm a big GSD fan, now working with my first serious dog (out of Asko von der Lutter).

Anyone have any info on working Akita's. I know there won't be many, <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> just curious.

Having owned a HUGE GSD (#135) they hit just as hard or harder. Now you won't see the agitator picking them up and swinging them around, mostly because he is laying flat on his butt, they do hit very hard. Often they won't leave their feet to do it the way a smaller dog will. I would rather see the dog be able to physicaly control the bad guy, rather than count on them reacting to the pain of the dog.

As a demonstration of way too much time, they clocked some dogs with a radar gun. The 100# plus GSD's were getting up to 35 mph prior to making a hit. Combine that with all that mass and the person is going down.

For me, I want a very large (>100#) black dog. I like the Giants, BRT, or a big black GSD. I don't know enough about Bouv's to comment. The other thing I like is a very balanced dog. No extreme prey drive dogs. I would much rather see a higher level of fight/defense (which ever you want to call it). A dog that is going to be able to stand up to pressure from the bad guy.

I'm partial to Dobermanns and German Shepherds.-period-. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Hi Crabtree
My bitch is a chow/akita cross. She has flunked out of schutzhund and SAR, although I feel she would have gladly done both. Schutzhund- the trainer said it was a bad mix, but possibly good for tracking. SAR thought she would be aggresive to other dogs.
Six years later, we still track the elusive beef hot dog for fun. Today she decided to quit before finishing 10 feet of the trail-and I think that's typical for this type. When they're done with a task, they're done, period. But when she's on, she's on.
Obedience, she's absolutely the best dog I've ever had. A little soft-which surprises me, but very willing. Absolutely I can take this dog off leash anywhere. Strange kids can run up and hug her.
As for protection, we never trained in that aspect but she has driven two intruders from the house and once backed down a group of teen-aged gang-bangers who tried to take money from me in a parking lot. One of them kicked at her and she leaped up and punched him in the belly with all four paws. I would have liked to have formally trained this dog, but no one gave us the chance after hearing the breed mix.

Alex, I have a 85 pound female. We tried some bite work with her when she was around a yr. old. Plenty prey drive, hard to control. Like you said, when they are on they are on, when not that's what caused me to stop working with her. She has made a fantastic house dog, she too doesn't back down from anything, real good OB, loves people and kids.

If any of the GSD owners think that they have a shedding problem, try the AKITA. Looks like sheep were sheared in my house.

she has yet ato accept my GSD pup. My male GSD and the pup are best of buddies so far, alais that's a trait of the AKITA. This is aanother great K-9 that show breeder have trashed.

Crabtree-
HAIR-o my yes! Hair everywhere! Always! Constant!
My GSD pup is a poodle next to the bitch. My mom had GSD's all when we were growing up and she can't believe this bitch with her shedding. Every time I dry clothes I clean the lint screen halfway through-it's clogged with hair.
And yeah, she is allowing the GSD pup to live in the house-grudgingly. Only because she knows I'd beat her tail if she killed him. She is very very jealous. But he is relentless and I can see he will be the dominant dog. She releases her bones and toys to him when he's loose, but when he's on leash she's made some nasty passes. It is improving. She loves my mom's toy poodle though-and my cat-wierd dog.