The truth about German Shepherds

Okay, don’t hate me for this!

My dog friends will already know that I am prone to calling German shepherds names along the lines of “total wimps,” “walking fences” and “complete doofuses”.

It’s not that I don’t like the breed, more that I don’t like the perception put on the breed by many trainers or die-hard shepherd people. The way they are revered for being courageous, afraid of nothing, running into the face of danger, when most I know will pee their pants if a chihuahua looks at them funny.

I guess what I have a hard time coming to terms with, is that their classic fear and stress signals are seen as a good thing to lots of badass, tough nut wannabe trainers or German shepherd people. They bark at everything? Nah, it’s not because they’re obviously suspicious and nervous, it’s because they’re big and brave and dominant. Forget the fact that they scream for twenty minutes when they stub their toe, or trip over their own legs and fall down the stairs whenever the doorbell rings.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve worked with many, many shepherds, I’ve shared my home with them, I’ve lived with them, loved plenty of them. But I love these dogs for what they are, not what people want to believe they are. It’s damaging to discard facts, ignore what the dog in front of you is saying and instead overriding it with “but he/ she is a German shepherd”.

You don’t need a firmer hand, you don’t need an ex-police or army handler, you don’t need to constantly deliver punishment or be dominant just because your dog is a German shepherd. These stereotypes perpetuate abuse towards these dogs, under the guise of training. You’re used to German shepherds? Cool, but you’re not used to this exact individual. There’s not a “one size fits all” just because they are the same breed.

Sweet, nervous, totally wimpy little baby Skye here was slapped with the label “aggressive” by her vets and was heavily punished by one of the aforementioned wannabe tough-guy trainers for showing any signs of fear. It’s justified to shout at and prod a puppy when they’re eating, because it’s the way German shepherds need to be trained. They’re not allowed treats or toys, they’re not allowed luxuries or to be spoiled. Any bark or growl from a shepherd is automatically seen as them being dominant, not afraid. Except, this five month old baby has no interest in being big and brave, she wants to play with her toys, eat yummy treats and she shouts at the world because it’s scary.

I don’t dislike German shepherds at all, but I think the idea of them is overrated. Many don’t fit the stereotype at all, but because they’re shepherds they suddenly lose any individuality. Their voice is silenced, because we have our German shepherd cookie cutter, and we force dogs to fit that, even if they absolutely don’t.

If you hear me complaining about German shepherds, it isn’t because I don’t love each and every one I’ve ever met. But because I love these dogs, I wish people could remove their rose-tinted spectacles they wear when viewing the breed, and instead appreciate these wonderful dogs for who they actually are. I actually think the reality- big, wimpy, doofuses with a brain (somewhere) and a big heart is actually better than the stereotype.