Husky or Shepherd: Which is best for me (New question...see last post)

The German Shepherds I know are intense, active dogs. They are very obedient, and tend to be one person dogs.

The Huskies I know are more independent. They seem more intense (but I've never met a well-trained, well exersized Husky--- Most of the GSDs I know are stimulated daily), and less inclined to obey. They're louder, for certain, and shed heavier[]

To start your search check out [linkhttp://www.petfinder.com]www.petfinder.com[/link] []
 
A GSD can be just as difficult to train as any other dog.  With over 150 breeds to choose from it is difficult to make up your mind.  Then to add, finding a breeder who is responsable is very difficule especialy for the more popular breeds that you seem to be interested in.  Be very careful and stay away from newspaper ads when searching for a puppy.  There are too many breeders out there who only breed to make money and do not care for the health of the dogs that they breed.  At the very least make sure the dog is health tested and comes with a contract where the breeder is responsable for any genitic defect. 
 
If you are looking for a companion dog then I would suggest to check out your local shelter or get in touch with a foster program.  Many foster programs will have you fill out a survey and then match you up with the dog that best fits your lifestlye.  Mixed breeds are just as wonderful as pets as any pur breed dog.  Also if you adopt an older dog many come already trained and you know exactly what you are getting health wise and temperment.  Puppies can be a bit of a pain to start with and they take time to train, you would need to take a puppy out every 2 to 4 hours just to house train it and if you don't them you will get accendents in the house.  Fpr any dog I highly suggest obedience training, it's good for the dogs and helps the owner get a better grasp of how to handel the dog.
 
Good luck with your search, and welcome to the forum!

Absolutely look at www.petfinder.com . Also check out labs and lab mixes. Some wonderful companion dogs who meet your criteria very well would come under the lab mix category! Attentive, smart, and trainable. I think a less intense but smart and active dog would do very well for you. []

GSDs are extremely intelligent, quick to learn, and can be stubborn, but as a whole are generally very biddable.

You must be smarter than your GSD, because otherwise, he WILL make a fool out of you.  GSDs require more mental stimulation than other breeds, and if not kept busy, they will occupy themselves in ways you may not approve of.

The GSD is also known as a velcro dog.  It is always with you.  It is also a breed that picks its person!  You do not get to choose who the dog attaches to (you can try, but it rarely seems to work).  The German Shepherd Dog loves his entire family, but will make it clear to all who "his person" really is.  For example, if the dog is bonded to you, he will immediately reply to your every command without hesitation.  If another family member does so, the dog will comply....but will make it clear "I'm doing it because it's expected, not because you're mum."  In other words...they won't respond as readily.

GSDs are NOT (at least they shouldn't be) "OMG I LOVE YOU!" dogs with others.  They are a breed that is supposed to be aloof.  Aloof means if somebody comes up and asks to pet your dog, the dog may give the person a cursory sniff, and then take no more interest in them.  This does not mean the dog is unfriendly.  The GSD does not make overtures of friendliness like a Retriever does.  He assesses a situation, and takes it as it is.

Health wise, GSDs are prone to hip displaysia, elbow issues, Degenerative Myleopathy (referred to as DM) and a myriad of other problems.  I'd be lying if I said they were an incredibly healthy breed.  PLEASE Google the issues that come along with the breed, because they can be hard enough to deal with when you KNOW about them.  Being blindsided is awful.
 
Blowing coat!
When Strauss blows coat, I honestly CAN'T tell unless I run an undercoat rake for him.  He doesn't "tuft" like my old man does.  Some dogs look like their hair is falling out in clumps, others shed more profusely, and still others are like my dog, who show no physical signs of blowing coat.  You don't know until you start grooming.

I personally brush Strauss daily, simply because it keeps my mum happy and Strauss's coat is better for it.  If I don't brush him, he'll get a build up of oil from the coat oils not being distributed through the coat....and honestly, that just feels nasty. 

I bathe Strauss every other month.  In the winter, he goes without a bath unless he absolutely stinks, and then I take him into work with me and give him a bath and blowdry.  If Strauss and I are attending a show, he's bathed the day before (or day of, time permitting) as a courtesy to the judge, even if he has already been bathed that month or the month prior.  Judges don't like to put their hands on a greasy dirty dog.  Strauss shows in obedience, not conformation, but obedience requires a stand for exam, and thus, since the judge is required to touch my dog, I'm not going to present him an oily dusty mess.

GSDs are chewers.  GSDs are mouthy, and GSDs are talky!  "It's not a matter of whether or not a Shepherd talks, it's how much!"

The German Shepherd Dog is a vocal breed.  Some more than others.  Ranger speaks when he feels there is something important to announce.....Strauss lets me know what's going on in every aspect of his life[8|]  Their vocals can be anything from a soft "woo woo" to a noisier warbling type sound.  They're endless entertainment if you get a talker xD

The first thing you have to do though if you decide to go with a GSD, is decide "German Working Lines, German Show lines, or American Showlines" because each one has something COMPLETELY different to offer

 

I would go to the Petfinder link that someone posted and check out lab mixes or shepherd mixes. Either one will have plenty of medium to large dogs of various ages. Being your first dog, you will find it alot easier (and emotionally rewarding!) to adopt a 1-3 year old dog than a really young puppy. The really young puppy will be extremely demanding timewise, you will lose lots of sleep, and they are easier to screw up. A well adjusted adult is great because you see exactly what you're going to get.

Both Breeds have there good and bad aspects.  The best advice I can give is do a lot of research and maybe some hands on experience with each breed.  I own both breeds and I won#%92t lie to you at times it#%92s been a challenge owning a working dog and a herding dog.  Siberians need constant training and someone with patients in that area. Shepherds need a lot of socialization and training as well, plus its true a German Shepherd is a Velcro Dog. In Sky#%92s eyes I am her Person and no one else#%92s. 

Hey another Boilermaker it looks like!

How about adopting a mixed breed? There's a fabulous boy at the Tippecanoe Humane Society right now that fits almost all of your criteria and who really needs a home. I'd be happy to tell you more if you're interested. Heck we could even meet up to talk about dogs or you could stop by the next Campus Dog Owners' Group social (in about 2 weeks) on campus to meet some fellow dog people at Purdue.

ORIGINAL: stardog85

Hey another Boilermaker it looks like!

How about adopting a mixed breed? There's a fabulous boy at the Tippecanoe Humane Society right now that fits almost all of your criteria and who really needs a home. I'd be happy to tell you more if you're interested. Heck we could even meet up to talk about dogs or you could stop by the next Campus Dog Owners' Group social (in about 2 weeks) on campus to meet some fellow dog people at Purdue.

 
Hi there. I am not looking to get one until possibly when I graduate(this spring). I am trying to get a feel for which dog breed will suit my personality best. I keep getting some conflicting comments which makes it hard to figure which is best for me.
 
Definitely a mixed breed might be a good compromise. Seeing as those are a hit or miss basis, I can't say I want a mix breed with part husky part GSD right now. So what I really want to do is learn about these dogs and get an idea of which is better suited for me. When I eventually do go to pick one out, I would then also look at mixed breeds of the breed I felt fit me best.
 
Is this a good strategy?
 
Also for the owners of the huskies and GSD's, do they show affection? I know the GSD's are a dog that will attach himself to you but what about the huskies? Are these the type of dog that would be excited when his owner came home or could they care less? Thanks everyone!

My dad (who didn't live with me, my parents were divorced) had a husky when i was younger. He mainly kept the dog outside, so it was crazy...i couldn't even go out to play with him without getting knocked over several times. He was a good dog though. He howled a lot.
 
I have a GSD right now. I think he's incredible. He's pretty affectionate...but not in your face, jumping on you. He needs a lot of exercise and a lot of mental stimulation. He's loyal to no end, and very easy to train.
 
I know a lot of people who have huskies are devoted to them, same for GSDs...i would interact with the two to see which you think is a better fit...good luck!!

I have a husky whom I love to bits.  I wouldn't trade her for anything in the world but she's not a walk in the park.  If I was to let her off lead she would run and go on adventures, as well she is not car smart.(she once snuck out of the backyard gate as someone was leaving and ran into traffic and got hit by a car. amazingly unharmed the vet was amazed. im over protective ever since)   She's an independent soul!! (to say the least). She is affectionate when she wants to be but she's not a cuddly dog.   She does have a double coat so there is a considerable amount of time spent on grooming.  She's more active when it's extremely cold. She woos and howls instead of barking(i love it!)   And needs a ton of exercise!!.  She's not loyal to one person but to anyone and everyone.   I'm lucky and she's not a fence hopper or a digger.  But as a warning I know a lot of people get there huskies stole so be aware.   Cheers
shes amazingly well behaved but we have done a lot of training together- Over 5 obedience classes and 2 agility classes.    Huskies aren't the breed for everyone but I know I couldn't ask for a better dog!.

How about a GSD/Huskey mix?  I've seen a few of thoes in shelters.  You might get more chariteristics of one breed then the other but if your getting an older do you should already be able to tell what's in the mix.  Just keep your eyes open, good dogs are all over the place.  It seems like some of the best dogs are the ones that find you.

I just thought of a question. One thing I would really like to do is run with my dog and go outside and catch a frisbee or something(I know this sounds like a really new dog owner thing...give me a break I have never had a dog ). But I hear that you must keep the husky on a leash or they will run away. So would playing with my dog in this way be impossible with a husky? Do either of these dogs actually like to play in this manner(not being a "retriever" I don't know)?

Hey there. Siberian Huskies are my favorite breed. You can train any dog to retrieve, it's just easier with a retriever. You throw a ball to a Lab, he'll bring it back to you. You throw a ball to a Husky, he'll take off at about 35 miles per hour and expect you to catch him. Sibes, as a breed, are a working dog. But dogs from a working line would be a special case indeed. These are bred athletes. The can sustain speeds of over 30 mph for 10 minutes or more. In a team, they can pull a sled loaded with supplies and a human at 20 mph for a couple of hours at a time. So, they have the strength, energy, and endurance to do this. And want to do this. Every day. Sibes are a bit aloof at first. They are not usually good guard dogs.
 
There have been Sibes that win off-leash obedience awards. And a few of those have run off. There was one case of a Sibe that got out and ran to a friend's house, about 30 miles away. The guy received a phone call from his friend about an hour after the dog got out that he was hanging his place. The dog averaged 30 miles an hour for an hour. And they want to do this every day.
 
All dogs shed but Huskies blow coat, where they shed enough fur to make another dog. During the blow, biggest in the spring, you will need to comb or brush every day to help dislodge the old fur.
 
Huskies are good with humans and like to play and play hard. 60 + lbs of love with a top speed of 40 mph coming at ya.
 
So, let me give you the mantra. Train, train, train, train, train, train, ....did I say train? Well, in case I didn't, train.
 
 
FWIW, I didn't know squat about Sibes before getting Shadow, a Siberian Husky/Lab mix. But I rose to the challenge. Good for you for researching before you do anything. In the end, follow your heart. Get the dog you want to have with you, regardless of breed. Don't get a dog someone else says you should have because of their own requirements. Just be ready that this is a commitment that can last 10 to 20 years.
 
 Ace's Mom has a dog just like Shadow but Ace retrieves more readily than Shadow does. But in each of our cases, I think, the Husky part is the predominant characteristic.
 

I have a Siberian, Bandit, who is 8 yrs old now.  He has lived with us since he was a pup.  Starting at 8 wks, we (between myself, my husband and my teenage daughter) spent literally 24/7 with him until he was about 6 months old.  During that time he received constant training and companionship.  It was A LOT of work, but the end result was well worth it. 
 
Bandit is a dog who has (so far) 100% reliable recall, although I would never leave him unattended in an unfenced area. He loves to play fetch, and is very friendly with everyone he has met. He loves kids. He loves toys. He loves riding in the car and is comfortable with new situations. He isn't food aggressive or particularly prey driven  He is thrilled to see us when we get home. He is affectionate, yet not a velcro dog, meaning he is fine with laying in the other room and not under my feet.  He sleeps beside our bed and always has.
 
He also sheds an incredible amount. He "talks" a lot, and always has to have the last word. I don't think he ever layed down the first 6 weeks he lived here (boundless energy). He can be quite stubborn. If we weren't paying close attention to him outside when unleashed, I know he would wander away.  He typically has a 1 acre fenced area to be in with the other dogs at home.
 
The bottom line, for us anyway, was that we ended up with an excellent dog, but not without many many hours of hard work and training.  If you have that kind of time and energy to put into a husky, you can end up with a dog who you have a wonderful relationship and bond with.  If you get one without having the time to put into him, he will likely end up at the shelter or tied up out back somewhere alone, as far too many huskies do.
 
Hope this is helpful!