[Ag-eq] german shepherds

[Fred C]

Hi,

Some schools still do German shepherds.  Guide Dogs for the Blind,  
the largest guide dog academy in the US will do German shepherds upon  
request.  The German shepherd is a very bright dog, and usually  
requires an experienced assertive handler.  Reasons that GDB scaled  
back on the shepherds, and do labradors almost exclusively is that  
labs are easy to train, love to work, and the general public isn't  
afraid of them.  They are kinda like the Volkswagon of guide dogs.  A  
fairly novice dog handler can pick up the harness, get around, and be  
safe.  German shepherds usually like to walk faster, too I've heard.   
In urban settings, handlers often request shepherds because they are  
better at plowing through crowds on sidewalks.  Partly because of  
public perceptions, and partly because the breed is generally more  
assertive.

I've got a cross between an English yellow lab and an American  
yellow.  People often ask if he is a pit bull labrador cross.  His  
head has more of a teddy bear shape, with smaller ears, shorter  
snout, etc.  He scares people who are used to pit bulls, since he is  
used to making eye contact.  Sometimes, when I board a bus or a  
train, women gasp, children shriek, and within the couple seconds it  
takes to flash my pass to the driver, the whole front of the bus is  
empty.  OTOH:  people who are used to labs flock to him.  Waiting for  
lights at corners, or standing in line, we are frequently mobbed.

I felt that I had to make a sign, since none of the signs I could  
find online seemed appropriate.  The sign helped for almost a year.   
Then we crushed it.  The sign read, "IGNORE ME I'M WORKING."  All the  
other signs were too wordy, were not phrased with human psychology in- 
mind, and seemed like they would take too long to read.  Not that I  
need help, but he is a total chick magnet, too.  Guys, gals, and  
children of all ages seem to gather whenever we pause.

The best thing about a dog is that I get around so much better off  
pavement.  Walking through mulch, cobbles, gravel, sand, boulders,  
around gardens, ponds, farms, etc. I don't get my cane stuck.  Hiking  
is so much easier with a dog.  Stream crossings are still tough.  He  
doesn't like to get his feet wet, so it is a struggle of wills until  
I shove him into the water.  Then, he'll guide me across the stones,  
log, or whatever.  He can even climb ladders behind me.  His puppy  
raisers taught him how to climb ladders, walk along suspended 2x4's,  
and other agility dog skills.

That's my 2-cents!
Fred, near San Diego