shepherd or dalmatian?

Dalmatians and Shepherds both need lots of exersice. Some Dalmatians are shy while others are aggressive with other dogs. Good with older childern. They can be stubborn. Good watchdogs. Deafness is a common problem with Dalmatians.

German Shepherds (which I am thinking you are referring to) need lots of exersice. They shed year long and heavy during the summer. They are REALLY SMART, so training comes easy. They must be socialized at an early age to prevent dog and people aggression. Bathing is only once a yr for them.

German Shephard

No on ecan really tell.Most dalmations dont get along with kids and a german shepard sheds alot.

Originally Posted by nepoole@sbcglobal.net

No on ecan really tell.Most dalmations dont get along with kids and a german shepard sheds alot.

Having owned a Dalmatian, and having friends who have had GSD's - I can speak from experiance... Dalmations shed - ALOT. They have short course hair that works it's way into EVERYTHING.

While it is true that Dals are generally not very kid friendly, you have to look at the PURPOSE of the breed. They were created and bred to be cautious and warry. They were bred to be guard dogs. They were bred to protect people and pocessions. Now, there are dals out there who are very good with children - but it depends on not just the individual dog, but also the children who interact with the dog. If the child is calm and respectful, the dog will be as well - in most cases.

GSD's are notorious for being kid friendly. BUT they too were bred for protection. The GSD's of today are so over bred that the majority of them are not suitable for interaction with children or strangers.

There are ALOT of good dogs out there of both breeds. It is up to you, the potential owner to do your research and find the right dog for your family.

I will say this - Dalmatians are NOT the dog for everyone.

Well German Shepherd are not for everyone either. I am owned by seven of them. If you don't know what you are doing they will take over leadership. And yes they are shedders. They need at an early age socialization with everything around them not just people. And basic obedience training is a plus. And I also wanted to point out that you have your show lines (American/Canadian and West high lines) and your working lines (DDR (east), West, Czech). You have to figure out which lines you are interested in and start doing your homework. And if you go with the shepherd make sure that the pedigree has a hip/elbow score not just the parents the whole pedigree. You have your A stamp, OFA, and PennHip. When you look at the pedigree for the hip/elbow score make sure you see A stamp a normal, OFA excellent or good, PennHip being in the rang of 0.29 to 0.39 (that is excellent to good hip rating). This will give the pup a better chance of having good hips and elbows. And you also don't want to over feed the pup and don't over excerise the pup either and don't let the pup jump up and down from high things these things help put the hips and elbows at a very high risk.

There is site that will help you understand the differents in the German Shepherd. Its called justshepherds.

Raggs this is the first time I have heard anything like you have stated

Germany took the AKC to court about how they changed the German Shepherd and they won. The "American" line of Shepherds is now to be known as the Shepherd Dog.

Because I own three American show lines as well as four DDR (east) working lines shepherds. I've been into German Shepherd Dogs for ten years now. I think you mean the White German Shepherd Dog. The SV (Verein für Deutsche Schaferhunde) doesn't recognize the White German Shepherd Dog. The SV changed the name to Berger Blanc Suisse (White Swiss Shepherd). In America, the full diversity of the German Shepherd Dog gene pool was not impacted by World War II and White German Shepherds were fully accepted, registered and shown at AKC dog shows through the 1950s. Then, through the late fifties and early sixties, influential members of the German Shepherd Dog Club of America endorsed the German Club’s mandate for “breed purity” and mounted a campaign to exorcise all dogs with the white gene from the gene pool. An impossible goal. An impossible goal given the gene for white coats was entrenched in gene pool at the very foundation of the breed! By the mid-1960’s the color white was made a disqualification in the GSD Breed Standard as defined by the German Shepherd Dog Club of America (GSDCA.) The disqualification was then approved by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and on April 9, 1968, the White German Shepherd Dog was outlawed from the AKC show ring.

Here is a site that will give you lots of information about the WGSD and where it can be registered. AKC will not register them. American White Shepherd Association Very interesting reading.

I'll have to ask my friend about this who works in the Raleigh AKC office. Because I have never heard of this. I know that the SV got upset for the way the German show lines have went to the extreme with the roach backs.

OK! I contacted my friend and she said nothing like that has ever happend. She said that its the first time she has heard about this. She said everything goes to the FCI (The Fédération Cynologique Internationale). If anyone would like to know you can contact her by e-mail which I have her e-mail address.