What made you fall in love with the GSD breed?

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Kaia Murphy

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I’ve been curious about this lately, everyone seems to have that one moment or reason that made them fall in love with German Shepherds.

Was it a dog you grew up with, something about their loyalty or intelligence, or maybe just seeing how they carry themselves? For me, it was the mix of confidence and gentleness, they just have such presence.

What was it for you?
 
I'm just getting to know the breed, a lot of people who have them say "I've had German Shepherds my whole life" or "I've only ever had GSDs".

What I can say, is that I can fall in love with most any animal, but what I find completely different is the level of intelligence she has. It is just unbelievable really, always catches me off guard. She's too smart for her own good, but it makes me love her all the more.
 
I've worked with animals for 10 years, and while I've met SO MANY DOGS, GSDs were one that captivated me. And they're aloof, so you see them in the professional setting and they're like, "hey, how are ya, I'll take a treat but we're not BESTIES." (I have a fair bunch that I am besties status with though). It's a chore to earn their respect and friendship, and I love it because when you do, you feel so accomplished.
 
My first dog was a GSD mix. He looked exactly like a GSD except his ears laid flat. He was the perfect dog. Naturally well behaved, neutral, and protective at the same time. I grew up in a rough neighborhood. I was bitten by a stray dog at a young age. Strays roamed the neighborhood in packs. I was terrified.

The neighbor had this little puppy, 10 weeks old. They were going to give him to a guy who was known for fighting and killing pitbulls.

For some reason my fear of dogs were put aside and I begged my parents for that dog. They relented and he was mine. I named him Shadow. I was 10 years old. I slept on the floor with him. I house trained him. I walked him. I played with him. I did everything with him.

We moved to a better neighborhood and I started taking him to parks, longer walks and we played with a ball, a lot.

He lived 15 years. He was incredible. The perfect family dog. Before we moved our house was broken into and he mauled the intruder - true story.

My home life was chaotic. I moved out the second I graduated highschool. Shadow became my dad's dog. I visited as often as I could.

At 15YO he was probably a few years past his time. He couldn't get up to relieve himself. My father called me - it was time to say goodbye. I carried him to my car. We drove to the vets office together.

We said our goodbyes. He went to sleep with the same quiet dignity he lived with.

Its been 20 years and I still think about him every day. He is the single best dog I ever had and sparked a love for the GSD breed that has burned ever since.
 
Kaia Murphy said:
I’ve been curious about this lately, everyone seems to have that one moment or reason that made them fall in love with German Shepherds.

Was it a dog you grew up with, something about their loyalty or intelligence, or maybe just seeing how they carry themselves? For me, it was the mix of confidence and gentleness, they just have such presence.

What was it for you?
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I’ve honestly never really thought about it. I didn’t get to grow up with one, I’ve never owned one, and I don’t exactly remember when or why this beautiful breed became my favorite. I just know I’ve always adored the way they looked ever since I was a kid. The GSD is such a strong, confident, sturdy breed. Their loyalty to their human might just be my favorite thing about them. I’m an incredibly lonely person and I’m working to get my life together so I can get a German Shepherd of my very own. I think I also enjoy them because they’re a breed that excels in service dog work and I’m in desperate need of an SD again.
 
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LeeLovesSheps said:
I’ve honestly never really thought about it. I didn’t get to grow up with one, I’ve never owned one, and I don’t exactly remember when or why this beautiful breed became my favorite. I just know I’ve always adored the way they looked ever since I was a kid. The GSD is such a strong, confident, sturdy breed. Their loyalty to their human might just be my favorite thing about them. I’m an incredibly lonely person and I’m working to get my life together so I can get a German Shepherd of my very own. I think I also enjoy them because they’re a breed that excels in service dog work and I’m in desperate need of an SD again.
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That was really sweet to read. I totally get what you mean about being drawn to them without really knowing when it started, I felt the same way. There’s just something about their presence and loyalty that sticks with you. It sounds like you’re putting a lot of care into getting ready for the right time, and that kind of mindset is exactly what a GSD thrives with. You’ll make an amazing team when the time comes.
 
MyDogBitz said:
My first dog was a GSD mix. He looked exactly like a GSD except his ears laid flat. He was the perfect dog. Naturally well behaved, neutral, and protective at the same time. I grew up in a rough neighborhood. I was bitten by a stray dog at a young age. Strays roamed the neighborhood in packs. I was terrified.

The neighbor had this little puppy, 10 weeks old. They were going to give him to a guy who was known for fighting and killing pitbulls.

For some reason my fear of dogs were put aside and I begged my parents for that dog. They relented and he was mine. I named him Shadow. I was 10 years old. I slept on the floor with him. I house trained him. I walked him. I played with him. I did everything with him.

We moved to a better neighborhood and I started taking him to parks, longer walks and we played with a ball, a lot.

He lived 15 years. He was incredible. The perfect family dog. Before we moved our house was broken into and he mauled the intruder - true story.

My home life was chaotic. I moved out the second I graduated highschool. Shadow became my dad's dog. I visited as often as I could.

At 15YO he was probably a few years past his time. He couldn't get up to relieve himself. My father called me - it was time to say goodbye. I carried him to my car. We drove to the vets office together.

We said our goodbyes. He went to sleep with the same quiet dignity he lived with.

Its been 20 years and I still think about him every day. He is the single best dog I ever had and sparked a love for the GSD breed that has burned ever since.
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That story honestly gave me chills. Shadow sounds like he was the kind of once-in-a-lifetime dog that changes everything. It’s amazing how he helped you overcome fear and became such a huge part of your life, it really shows how deep that bond can go. You can tell how much love and respect you still have for him, even after all these years.
 
stereotypically of course in my early childhood i grew up with one, but of course, its their intelligence and loyalty!

it really strikes me surprised every time i meet a GSD, theyre honestly unlike any other dog youll meet, and so, so incredibly smart.

i was probably 4 years old when my childhood GSD passed and that was the last time we had one until recently. but seeing videos, photos i could really tell how aware she was, always following and watching, playful yet protective.

truth to be told, when you have another dog, and get a GSD, you realise how stupid (but cute ofc) the other dog is 😭
 
Summer of 2005 I had my house robbed, there was a lady fostering a massive GS, he must of been a king GS, I still have never seen one as big as him. He had the most abusive history for a dog who had such a short life. I got him when he was 7 months old, and he had to be put down when he was 19 months due to the amount of pain he was in. Even through his medical conditions, he was very protective of me and the children. Probably a little too much. Looking back we all make mistakes with our first dog. He still let me train him, little 5ft me 150lb him. He just was in pain. after him, I had up to five at any given time.
 
fritzy said:
stereotypically of course in my early childhood i grew up with one, but of course, its their intelligence and loyalty!

it really strikes me surprised every time i meet a GSD, theyre honestly unlike any other dog youll meet, and so, so incredibly smart.

i was probably 4 years old when my childhood GSD passed and that was the last time we had one until recently. but seeing videos, photos i could really tell how aware she was, always following and watching, playful yet protective.

truth to be told, when you have another dog, and get a GSD, you realise how stupid (but cute ofc) the other dog is 😭
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Aww that’s so sweet, and I totally get what you mean. There’s just something different about the way GSDs think, like they’re always a few steps ahead and completely tuned in. It’s amazing how much of an impression they leave, even from childhood. I love how you described that mix of playful and protective, it’s such a perfect balance.

Cali said:
Summer of 2005 I had my house robbed, there was a lady fostering a massive GS, he must of been a king GS, I still have never seen one as big as him. He had the most abusive history for a dog who had such a short life. I got him when he was 7 months old, and he had to be put down when he was 19 months due to the amount of pain he was in. Even through his medical conditions, he was very protective of me and the children. Probably a little too much. Looking back we all make mistakes with our first dog. He still let me train him, little 5ft me 150lb him. He just was in pain. after him, I had up to five at any given time.
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That must have been such a tough experience, but also so special that you were able to give him love and safety after everything he’d been through. Even with his pain, it sounds like he really trusted you and wanted to protect his family. It’s amazing how much they give, even when they’re hurting. He sounded like a gentle giant with a huge heart.
 
I've always had a hyper fixation on dogs, they were a special interest of mine growing up (seeing as I was an only child growing up in the country with three golden retrievers for siblings). Honestly while I've always liked GSDs, they were never a breed that stuck out as a favorite, I just loved them as much as any other large dog breed.

But as I said, I grew up with dogs my entire life. My partner and I both grew up with dogs but didn't have any of our own for our first 5 years together because we rented apartments. We didn't want to have a large dog in an apartment, and we didn't want to have to worry about pet-friendly places to rent if we needed to move. We bought a house with a large backyard in August of 2020, and I immediately started looking for puppies to adopt. We wanted a Rottweiler (my partner grew up with rotties), but were open to other dogs. We applied to adopt several dogs but were passed up (COVID dog adoption boom). One day we came across a craigslist ad for GSD/Husky puppies, one puppy was left, with the classic bi-color black/tan markings (like Rottweilers). We debated pulling the trigger for hours, and finally went and picked him up.

So within two months of buying our house, we got our baby Kylo 🥰 He may not be fully GSD, in fact after a DNA test we learned he's got a hell of a lot more breeds that just GSD and Husky, but his appearance certainly favors the GSD genes. Ever since we got Kylo, I now gravitate towards GSDs and they've become one of my favorite breeds.
IMG_4718.jpegIMG_4781.jpegIMG_6614.jpegIMG_5646.jpeg

We adopted Boba when Kylo was 1.5 y/o, he's also part GSD but he favors the husky and pit bull genes lol.
DSC_0784.jpeg
 
Sarahbagel said:
I've always had a hyper fixation on dogs, they were a special interest of mine growing up (seeing as I was an only child growing up in the country with three golden retrievers for siblings). Honestly while I've always liked GSDs, they were never a breed that stuck out as a favorite, I just loved them as much as any other large dog breed.

But as I said, I grew up with dogs my entire life. My partner and I both grew up with dogs but didn't have any of our own for our first 5 years together because we rented apartments. We didn't want to have a large dog in an apartment, and we didn't want to have to worry about pet-friendly places to rent if we needed to move. We bought a house with a large backyard in August of 2020, and I immediately started looking for puppies to adopt. We wanted a Rottweiler (my partner grew up with rotties), but were open to other dogs. We applied to adopt several dogs but were passed up (COVID dog adoption boom). One day we came across a craigslist ad for GSD/Husky puppies, one puppy was left, with the classic bi-color black/tan markings (like Rottweilers). We debated pulling the trigger for hours, and finally went and picked him up.

So within two months of buying our house, we got our baby Kylo 🥰 He may not be fully GSD, in fact after a DNA test we learned he's got a hell of a lot more breeds that just GSD and Husky, but his appearance certainly favors the GSD genes. Ever since we got Kylo, I now gravitate towards GSDs and they've become one of my favorite breeds.
View attachment 324View attachment 325View attachment 326View attachment 329

We adopted Boba when Kylo was 1.5 y/o, he's also part GSD but he favors the husky and pit bull genes lol.
View attachment 331
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Aww I love this story. Kylo sounds like such a perfect addition, it’s funny how one dog can totally change which breeds you connect with. I bet that mix gives him such a fun personality too! It’s awesome that you waited until you had the space and setup you wanted before bringing him home, that kind of planning really shows how much you care.
 
For me, it was how aware they are.

My first shepherd wasn’t the easiest dog, but the way he watched the world… it was like he understood things on a deeper level. You could see him thinking, reading people, noticing shifts in tone or energy before anyone else did. Once you live with that kind of awareness in a dog, it’s hard to go back.

The loyalty and drive are incredible, sure. But it’s the quiet moments, the eye contact, the calm presence beside you, that hooked me for life.
 
My first dog was a cocker spaniel; I was over protective with her and she only had one dog friend in her life: the gsd rough collie mix of my grandma, and boy that gsd was something special

Only one year older than my cocker and so mature; would let my cocker hop on her belly and just be relaxed, but when my dog did something wrong like sneaking on her food, she would gently correct my dog

Defended my grandmothers house from a robber once

When the house had visits she would walk to each person separately very gentle and demand a short pertting from each person

Maybe my favorite breed is still cocker spaniel but I needed a dog to test my soul and bring me to knowledgeable situations, so I got a gsd and named her after my grandmas dog
 
Kaia Murphy said:
I’ve been curious about this lately, everyone seems to have that one moment or reason that made them fall in love with German Shepherds.
...

What was it for you?
Click to expand...
Honestly, at first it was Rin Tin Tin. I grew up in the 60s. But when I was finally out and had my own home and stopped moving every year or so, I knew I wanted that dog I'd always dreamed about. Did a lot of research, and, well, jumped in. And it's been the only breed for me, for forty years.

It's the intelligence that I most appreciate, and which is in service of their main goal in life, which is, well, shepherding. Shepherding entails a lot more than just moving creatures around. And that's the kind of person I think I am too. My shepherds and I always seem to "get" each other. A look, a gesture, is all it takes, and they know what's up. Ditto with me and them: I can tell pretty exactly what it is they're saying, just by looking at them; and I look at them all the time. I think most people in this community do the same, or they wouldn't be here, but I've certainly known plenty of people to whom a dog is "just" a dog. This feels like a comfortable place to be, with like-minded people.
 
In the North said:
Honestly, at first it was Rin Tin Tin. I grew up in the 60s. But when I was finally out and had my own home and stopped moving every year or so, I knew I wanted that dog I'd always dreamed about. Did a lot of research, and, well, jumped in. And it's been the only breed for me, for forty years.

It's the intelligence that I most appreciate, and which is in service of their main goal in life, which is, well, shepherding. Shepherding entails a lot more than just moving creatures around. And that's the kind of person I think I am too. My shepherds and I always seem to "get" each other. A look, a gesture, is all it takes, and they know what's up. Ditto with me and them: I can tell pretty exactly what it is they're saying, just by looking at them; and I look at them all the time. I think most people in this community do the same, or they wouldn't be here, but I've certainly known plenty of people to whom a dog is "just" a dog. This feels like a comfortable place to be, with like-minded people.
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This is so beautifully said.

I’m still new to the breed, but the way you describe that quiet understanding, the looks, the gestures, the “we just get each other”, that’s exactly what draws me to GSDs. It’s not just intelligence, it’s that natural partnership.

Hearing stories like yours makes me even more excited to eventually have one of my own. And I totally agree… this community really does feel like the right place for people who see their dogs as more than “just dogs.”
 
The many facial expressions is something I wasnt ready for and it teaches us a deep level of language, wild and pure cause there is so much they like to communicate and they are able to do it all without the need of words (although they do use many voice tones)

And they are not known for being very touchy; there are moments for this but not always

My other dog is very needy and cuddly and sometimes i think "maybe my gsd is feeling lonely and ignored" so i go Elmyra tf out of her and after a couple minutes she reacts in a way that makes me imagine her telling me "alright enough let me go" in an adolfian way
 
sambravo said:
The many facial expressions is something I wasnt ready for and it teaches us a deep level of language, wild and pure cause there is so much they like to communicate and they are able to do it all without the need of words (although they do use many voice tones)

And they are not known for being very touchy; there are moments for this but not always

My other dog is very needy and cuddly and sometimes i think "maybe my gsd is feeling lonely and ignored" so i go Elmyra tf out of her and after a couple minutes she reacts in a way that makes me imagine her telling me "alright enough let me go" in an adolfian way
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Haha this made me laugh because I’ve already noticed that GSD “okay that’s enough now” attitude. They’re so expressive without saying a word, the look alone is louder than any bark. It’s funny how they want affection on their terms, and then switch right back into serious, observant mode. I love your description because it really does feel like they’re communicating a whole language we’re just trying to catch up on. GSDs are such a vibe.
 
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