[NAGDU] shepherds as guides

[dchandler001 at carolina.rr.com]

Hi Kerri and others.  I have a gsd pet.  I've never been given one as a guide so I bought a gsd.  They have a lot of pluses like they're incredibly smart, mine knows how to open the refrigerator.  Their minuses would be that the public is often afraid of them.  This doesn't matter if you don't care.  Also they are often protective, they often bark at home because they're guarding their territory.  This is what they've been bred to do.  They are quite strong so one needs a good bit of arm strength to manage a gsd.
Deb and Tally
---- Kerri Sprecher via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote: 
> Hi list,
> I have been curious about this for quite some time, but just hadn't gotten around to asking. I have had a yellow lab, a golden retriever, and a poodle, but have not had a lab-golden cross, or a shepherd. I'm sure the crosses are a combination of the traits of the lab and golden, which I am well-accustomed to, but I have always wondered what shepherds were like as guides, and their characteristics and traits in general. I just had my Seeing Eye instructor visit a couple weeks ago, and we got to talking about breeds, and she said that the shepherds that the Seeing Eye used to train were pickier eaters than more recent shepherds; I asked if they were still more standoffish or aloof to others except their handler, which I love about them, and she said they were friendly but yes, most are a little cool toward others unless they really get to know them. This is why I'm really hoping for a shepherd this time, although I'll be happy with any dog that works well and loves their job as a guide. So, I'd be very interested to hear from you shepherd handlers or those of you who have had them in the past or know someone well who has one; what I love about them most is their work ethic, loyalty, seriousness about their work, and their natural tendency towards being a one-person dog.
> I'll be waiting for some ineresting and informative responses.
> Talk soon,
> Kerri
> 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
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