Hi,

My wife and I are thinking of buying a German Shepard. I would prefer
a male, she would prefer a female (-: I can't imagine why :-). My
wife is under the impression that male German Shepards are harder to
handle and that the risk of agressive behavior is higher with them.
Considering that we have three small kids, this is not a point I can
ignore.

My personal experience with dogs is that I never had a problem
handling male dogs, but this might be my rather assertive ("alpha
male" if you wish) kind of personality. My wife is also concerned
that while I might be able to handle the dog just fine all hell might
brake loose as soon as I turn my back (that is already somewhat the
case with our kids anyway).

Are her concerns founded? Is there a significant difference in the
behavior of male and female German Sheperds, in paticular concerning
obedience and agression?

Are male German Sheperds more likely to be a risk for small kids?

Many thanks in advance for any advice,

TW

all small children (under 10) need to be supervised with the dog at all
times

as for the gender of the dogs........ there is a reason they call the
females a bitch

:-)

i'm with you, a male is going to be calmer

"tux" wrote in message
om...
Hi,

My wife and I are thinking of buying a German Shepard. I would prefer
a male, she would prefer a female (-: I can't imagine why :-). My
wife is under the impression that male German Shepards are harder to
handle and that the risk of agressive behavior is higher with them.
Considering that we have three small kids, this is not a point I can
ignore.

My personal experience with dogs is that I never had a problem
handling male dogs, but this might be my rather assertive ("alpha
male" if you wish) kind of personality. My wife is also concerned
that while I might be able to handle the dog just fine all hell might
brake loose as soon as I turn my back (that is already somewhat the
case with our kids anyway).

Are her concerns founded? Is there a significant difference in the
behavior of male and female German Sheperds, in paticular concerning
obedience and agression?

Are male German Sheperds more likely to be a risk for small kids?

Many thanks in advance for any advice,

TW

all small children (under 10) need to be supervised with the dog at all
times

as for the gender of the dogs........ there is a reason they call the
females a bitch

:-)

i'm with you, a male is going to be calmer

"tux" wrote in message
om...
Hi,

My wife and I are thinking of buying a German Shepard. I would prefer
a male, she would prefer a female (-: I can't imagine why :-). My
wife is under the impression that male German Shepards are harder to
handle and that the risk of agressive behavior is higher with them.
Considering that we have three small kids, this is not a point I can
ignore.

My personal experience with dogs is that I never had a problem
handling male dogs, but this might be my rather assertive ("alpha
male" if you wish) kind of personality. My wife is also concerned
that while I might be able to handle the dog just fine all hell might
brake loose as soon as I turn my back (that is already somewhat the
case with our kids anyway).

Are her concerns founded? Is there a significant difference in the
behavior of male and female German Sheperds, in paticular concerning
obedience and agression?

Are male German Sheperds more likely to be a risk for small kids?

Many thanks in advance for any advice,

TW

all small children (under 10) need to be supervised with the dog at all
times

as for the gender of the dogs........ there is a reason they call the
females a bitch

:-)

i'm with you, a male is going to be calmer

"tux" wrote in message
om...
Hi,

My wife and I are thinking of buying a German Shepard. I would prefer
a male, she would prefer a female (-: I can't imagine why :-). My
wife is under the impression that male German Shepards are harder to
handle and that the risk of agressive behavior is higher with them.
Considering that we have three small kids, this is not a point I can
ignore.

My personal experience with dogs is that I never had a problem
handling male dogs, but this might be my rather assertive ("alpha
male" if you wish) kind of personality. My wife is also concerned
that while I might be able to handle the dog just fine all hell might
brake loose as soon as I turn my back (that is already somewhat the
case with our kids anyway).

Are her concerns founded? Is there a significant difference in the
behavior of male and female German Sheperds, in paticular concerning
obedience and agression?

Are male German Sheperds more likely to be a risk for small kids?

Many thanks in advance for any advice,

TW

"tux" wrote in message
om...
Hi,

My wife and I are thinking of buying a German Shepard. I would prefer
a male, she would prefer a female (-: I can't imagine why :-). My
wife is under the impression that male German Shepards are harder to
handle and that the risk of agressive behavior is higher with them.
Considering that we have three small kids, this is not a point I can
ignore.

My personal experience with dogs is that I never had a problem
handling male dogs, but this might be my rather assertive ("alpha
male" if you wish) kind of personality. My wife is also concerned
that while I might be able to handle the dog just fine all hell might
brake loose as soon as I turn my back (that is already somewhat the
case with our kids anyway).

Are her concerns founded? Is there a significant difference in the
behavior of male and female German Sheperds, in paticular concerning
obedience and agression?

Are male German Sheperds more likely to be a risk for small kids?


Not in my experience. Females are more short tempered and cranky.

"tux" wrote in message
om...
Hi,

My wife and I are thinking of buying a German Shepard. I would prefer
a male, she would prefer a female (-: I can't imagine why :-). My
wife is under the impression that male German Shepards are harder to
handle and that the risk of agressive behavior is higher with them.
Considering that we have three small kids, this is not a point I can
ignore.

My personal experience with dogs is that I never had a problem
handling male dogs, but this might be my rather assertive ("alpha
male" if you wish) kind of personality. My wife is also concerned
that while I might be able to handle the dog just fine all hell might
brake loose as soon as I turn my back (that is already somewhat the
case with our kids anyway).

Are her concerns founded? Is there a significant difference in the
behavior of male and female German Sheperds, in paticular concerning
obedience and agression?

Are male German Sheperds more likely to be a risk for small kids?


Not in my experience. Females are more short tempered and cranky.

"tux" wrote in message
om...
Hi,

My wife and I are thinking of buying a German Shepard. I would prefer
a male, she would prefer a female (-: I can't imagine why :-). My
wife is under the impression that male German Shepards are harder to
handle and that the risk of agressive behavior is higher with them.
Considering that we have three small kids, this is not a point I can
ignore.

My personal experience with dogs is that I never had a problem
handling male dogs, but this might be my rather assertive ("alpha
male" if you wish) kind of personality. My wife is also concerned
that while I might be able to handle the dog just fine all hell might
brake loose as soon as I turn my back (that is already somewhat the
case with our kids anyway).

Are her concerns founded? Is there a significant difference in the
behavior of male and female German Sheperds, in paticular concerning
obedience and agression?

Are male German Sheperds more likely to be a risk for small kids?


Not in my experience. Females are more short tempered and cranky.

"Child" wrote
snip
Not in my experience. Females are more short tempered and cranky.

Males seem to be more predictable IMO. Neutering may also help decrease the
liklihood of dominance issues since it sounds like a concern of yours. That
and it eradicates the danger of unwanted pups. I like both sexes and think
either can make a great pet, but the boys are sort of special. (Ed? Yes, but
that's okay. I like goofy.)

If your wife is concerned about her ability to control the dog, she should
be the one to feed and train him. And she should take him to obedience
classes. I find, as the main dog person in the house, the dogs listen to me
more than my husband. It has nothing to do with who is "more alpha" and
everything to do with how much time each of us has put into working with
them. Of course, if your wife tends to cave in and be a complete softie,
well... Yeah. The dog might not respect her. But that would be the case with
either sex.
--
-Andrea Stone
Saorsa Basenjis
http://home1.gte.net/res0s12z/
The Trolls Nest - greenmen, goblins & gargoyle wall art
www.trollsnest.com

"Child" wrote
snip
Not in my experience. Females are more short tempered and cranky.

Males seem to be more predictable IMO. Neutering may also help decrease the
liklihood of dominance issues since it sounds like a concern of yours. That
and it eradicates the danger of unwanted pups. I like both sexes and think
either can make a great pet, but the boys are sort of special. (Ed? Yes, but
that's okay. I like goofy.)

If your wife is concerned about her ability to control the dog, she should
be the one to feed and train him. And she should take him to obedience
classes. I find, as the main dog person in the house, the dogs listen to me
more than my husband. It has nothing to do with who is "more alpha" and
everything to do with how much time each of us has put into working with
them. Of course, if your wife tends to cave in and be a complete softie,
well... Yeah. The dog might not respect her. But that would be the case with
either sex.
--
-Andrea Stone
Saorsa Basenjis
http://home1.gte.net/res0s12z/
The Trolls Nest - greenmen, goblins & gargoyle wall art
www.trollsnest.com

"Child" wrote
snip
Not in my experience. Females are more short tempered and cranky.

Males seem to be more predictable IMO. Neutering may also help decrease the
liklihood of dominance issues since it sounds like a concern of yours. That
and it eradicates the danger of unwanted pups. I like both sexes and think
either can make a great pet, but the boys are sort of special. (Ed? Yes, but
that's okay. I like goofy.)

If your wife is concerned about her ability to control the dog, she should
be the one to feed and train him. And she should take him to obedience
classes. I find, as the main dog person in the house, the dogs listen to me
more than my husband. It has nothing to do with who is "more alpha" and
everything to do with how much time each of us has put into working with
them. Of course, if your wife tends to cave in and be a complete softie,
well... Yeah. The dog might not respect her. But that would be the case with
either sex.
--
-Andrea Stone
Saorsa Basenjis
http://home1.gte.net/res0s12z/
The Trolls Nest - greenmen, goblins & gargoyle wall art
www.trollsnest.com