Liesje
Posted : 5/24/2007 10:53:24 AM
they actually can be friendly to strangers, just like any other dog
I'm not talking about friendliness as much as how inherently outgoing they are and trusting of complete strangers. Sure they CAN be, but...
"The [German Shepherd] has a distinct personality marked by direct and fearless, but not hostile, expression, self-confidence and a certain aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and indiscriminate friendships."
The standard calls for a certain level of aloofness and disregard for strangers. A lot of fanciers like myself value this trait. I want a velcro dog that is alert, but remains focused on me and will size up a stranger and ignore rather than approach it in a friendly manner without any hesitation. If
that's what I wanted, I'd get a labrador. [

]
Fanciers like you and I understand and appreciate these subtle differences and the purposes they serve. But someone like JQP thinks that's bad thinks all "good" dogs are over friendly. For example, my mother in law, who does love dogs but doesn't really care to know or understand as much about them, now dislikes German Shepherds because she went to someone's house and their two sat across the room and "looked at her" (this is exactly what she told me). She would label that bad behavior, because she's used to a dog that barks excitable when the doorbell rings, jumps up on the company, and licks them to death, or approaches all strangers on a walk with his tail wagging and tongue lolling.