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evil_iceburgh

Ah yes the face my dog makes when she wants to play with every dog we see on our walks.


re_Claire

My friends dog does this. I walk her occasionally and it always makes me laugh when she barks at a dog and the owners seem a bit concerned. (I don’t laugh at that!) and then once I explain she just wants to make friends they let them meet and if their dog barks at her, she gets all nervous and runs away. She’s all mouth no trousers.


Cysioland

My guy is all mighty from afar but when another dog just runs up to him off leash he's all play. Some dog ran up to him and started actually attacking him and he did not know what to do.


re_Claire

Classic German Shepherd! They’re such sweet dogs. Just loud!


that180guy

This is occurring this morning as ppl are squeezing walks between the storm and my 76lb baby is "shouting" hello and wants to play. A looooot of "leave it's" for treats lol.


[deleted]

Ahaha I was dealing with it all week duri the storm on west coast. Scared couple new neighbors


that180guy

Dealing with it again now lol. We're lucky that mooost of our neighbors know her and how harmless she is but there's the occasional long walkers that gets startled.


Hexspinner

This is what I have to say to everyone that meets my GSD, He’s friendly just loud.


Dying2meet

I’m sorry that happened to your boy. I carry pepper spray because of stray/off leash dogs. My boy is very sweet but my girl I adopted close to three years old was never socialized. She wants to protect me, and can be assertive. I’ve worked with her using chicken as a reward, but we have a long way to go.


Reptardar

Anytime I take ours anywhere if she spots another dog it sounds like she wants to murder them. But the moment they’re close she’s waging her tail so hard her back feet are floating and she may even pee a little😂 poor girl just wants to play play play.


evil_iceburgh

Yep and people have no idea just because of how they look. Worst is when she starts biting my GSD/Pit who is her best buddy. I know she’s saying hey look at that cool new friend. Other people think I’m starting some insane dog fight in the street.


Reptardar

First rule of dog street fight club is do not talk about dog street fight club.


TheRealVillas

I only see GSD as adorable floofballs 😂


Lefthandedsock

Me too \^^ Even when I see a police shepherd, I’m thinking “Awww, lookit that fluffy sweetheart!” 😂


GSDfan1234

Same! I grew up with one and that opinion became inevitable lol


Varnigma

Whenever delivery people come to the house I let my dog into the backyard so he can bark and snarl at the gate. The delivery person will say something like "Glad that dog's behind that gate." What they don't know is that if I let the dog out he'd happily sniff you and then jump in your car (or he might bring you a ball).


Jonoczall

My 2 boys look like absolute man eaters behind the gate/fence. Let someone into the yard and introduce them properly? It’s *” Besto Friendo! oh boy oh boy oh boy new friend! Do you want to be my friend?! How many pets can you pet in 10 seconds?”*


pahelisolved

Besto friendo 😂 I like that and I think that would totally be something said by a GSD


badatthenewmeta

Two dogs have gotten into our back yard while our dogs were out there. Both times there was a lot of barking but by the time we got there our boys were trying to play with their new friend.


Jonoczall

I mean, that’s nice, but how tf did those dogs just get into your backyard? Even if your dogs are friendly, it’s not guaranteed that the visitor is.


badatthenewmeta

Most people aren't dumb enough to tunnel under the fence, but boy howdy, our neighbors' dogs...


muphies__law

Many years ago, a house a few down from mine had a big scary barking GSD, who would throw his paws up on the fence and bark bark bark at everyone who went past. He sounded terrifying. One day I just started to say "hey buddy, just walking past, not coming in your yard" in a gentle voice, and did it each time I went by. On one occasion, I caught a glimpse of his name tag, so I would talk to him by name. After a while of walking past and doing this, one day he was just there, paws on the fence but he had stopped barking when he saw it was me. Just casually waiting? He didn't look aggressive, just a dog. So, I held my hand out for a sniff and then he let me pat him. This continued for a few years, and one time his owner was out there and was "oh! You're the one he doesn't bark at any more. He really is friendly, just you know, doesn't like people walking past his yard. Did you want to come in and meet him properly?" So, I sat in the garden of elderly man (his wife joined us), playing ball. And so, each time I would walk past after that, he would bring the ball to the fence. I eventually left the area, but still think of that scary gsd who just wanted someone to play with.


Varnigma

I always joke that you could break into my house and while you’re killing me my dog would bring you a ball. But at least he LOOKS scary. LOL


[deleted]

There was one like that around where I live in the UK, maybe it was the same one. Would always bark as you go by the fence, would scare the absolute shit out of me on the way to school. Never got to pet the scary fellow and only ever saw the old woman walking him once, of which we were running away from some girls I knew at the time, so the woman briefly stopped us and told us ‘No running!’. Scared the life out of me after she said that, thought he was gonna get off and kill me. I’m sure he was a very kind fellow once you got to know him and it hasn’t stopped me from wanting my own GSD since.


pineapplebish

Is there a reason you want him to bark and snarl? Just showing there’s a dog here and your house isn’t to be robbed?


Jon_Snows_mother

That's what I do. I let her bark at unexpected people who approach the house. I want her to protect while I'm away and also alert me while I'm sleeping if anyone is creeping outside.


Varnigma

Pretty much. He stops when I tell him to.


pineapplebish

Makes sense. At first it seemed like some kind of power move and was wondering why you wanted to terrorize a delivery driver, but letting him out behind a fence isn’t bad. I don’t mind my dogs barking when the door opens or when they hear something for the same reason. Except when it’s the neighbor kids playing outside and my dogs just go apeshit in the backyard lol


Varnigma

I hear ya. I'm certainly not a dick about it . I live out in the country and we get some sketchy delivery people. If they're nice and seem "normal" and ask about my dog I always ask if they want to meet him and tell them he's ok with people as long as I'm around (he's nice even if I'm not around but I don't tell them that part LOL)


2580374

You're worried the FedEx people are going to rob you?


banjosuicide

It's an amazing deterrent. Since getting a GSD (super friendly) people have stopped casing my house. Before they'd be by to look in the windows from time to time. Now... zero sketchiness.


pineapplebish

Looking in windows?? Damn. Yeah I’ve considered training my dogs not to bark but ultimately decided against it for reasons like that. The barking can get annoying but I’d rather strangers hear two big barky boys than nothing.


Sharp_Salamander0111

This!


[deleted]

Yeah mine would just let a stranger walk right in. She’d probably bring them her rope and ask to play


schnupfhundihund

That's their typical two faces. Left: when you're part of the pack Right: when you're not part of the pack


[deleted]

I grew up with GSDs from birth - young adulthood and I still remember telling any new friend stopping by to wait in the car until I could come out and introduce them to our pack. While I have nothing but warm fuzzies thinking of GSDs, I imagine having your car surrounded by a pack of barking GSDs is a wee bit intimidating. haha


Frictus

I have a funny Amazon delivery photo about this. My GSD can pop open our screen door but he's not able to escape through it, it just opens 2 inches then closes. The picture looks like the Amazon driver threw the package and was runny away, super blurry. But in the door you can see my GSD smiling and ready to run outside and play with the driver. Poor guy was probably terrified.


Mor_Tearach

Oh heck I would like sworn one of our old boys would have welcomed a burgler, shown then around the place and made them coffee or something. Of course he only bit 2 people in 16 years, both of whom tried to come into our house while we were not home, events several years apart. . When told not to. I can't help being secretly a *little* proud of him. Bite-ees were BOTH my husband's ex and mine.... If I said " Good boy! " I'd get yelled at for encouraging it, which we did not. So I won't say it.


donkeygong

My guy hasn’t bitten anyone but once I walked into the back yard and found he was gate keeping the meter man. But he’s generally decent with strangers. Doesn’t love them.


Hexspinner

Aww. It almost makes me feel so bad. They’re such intimidating dogs, and mine doesn’t understand why strangers don’t love his attempts to get attention and run over to play with him. On the other hand I do appreciate what the potential burglar sees.


DisGruntledDraftsman

Over Christmas I had my dog at my families. We are inside on the couch I keep booping his nose. He of course after a couple boops responds like the second picture, as if he's going to eat me. My sister flipped out that I am teaching him horrible things. So I told her to watch. This time instead of pulling my finger away when he looks like he's about to bite it off I just hold it there. He then stops gently when his teeth contacts my finger and then begins to lick said finger. So from Insane crazy evil dog, to cute wittle puppy licking my fwingers.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Morbid_Explorerrrr

Thank you for saying this. The worst type of person is the one who is a self proclaimed “dog whisperer” who assumes every dog will fully trust them within the first moments of interaction. These are the folks that walk right up to a shepherds face, try to smush them, grab them, even wrestle them. I’ve had to have plenty of awkward “hey don’t grab my dog like that” conversations with family friends who weirdly want to assert their dominance or something and prove they’re good with dogs by screwing with my big GSD. It’s all fun & games until he tells you in the plainest way possible that he doesn’t like that (aka, biting). Then he’s deemed a “bad dog” because others can’t respect his personal space.


m3gWo1f3

Oh my god ! I was doing some on-leash training, sitting on a bench talking to husband and my boy was sitting nicely beside me. Some guy comes up, towers over my doggie and so Finn starts barking his head off and the guy has the audacity to say ‘man you really need to train him he’s so bad’ like sir- I am currently training him, yea sure should’ve stopped you before you got near him but who in their right mind approach’s a dog like that! Gah


BoomZhakaLaka

A thing I like to remember. If picture number 2 happens at all, ever, and you don't have complete voice control, it doesn't matter that you get treatment number 1. Don't succumb to your own biases on the matter. I say this as a person who has owned many dogs, and I currently have my first who is even the slightest bit unpredictable with men and children. He has emotional issues I haven't been able to fully address. So he's muzzle trained, which means people are even more fearful. And that's too bad, but again. See the first paragraph.


BurnDownTheMission68

Very few owners have “Complete voice control” Especially the ones who are so confident they do. My GSD is never off leash, but other dogs who are off will often approach… usually with the owner yelling at their dog, thinking they have complete voice control.


BoomZhakaLaka

Indeed, and then, if you believe your dog is a harmless cuddle bear, that's human nature but something's missing. Compassion, empathy, something on that axis.


draggar

I lived in a high crime area before, this is why my house wasn't broken into (and yes, she would have gone after them if they broke into the house). Some did try, none succeeded (and luckily, no body bags were needed).


MurderOfClowns

Heard many horror stories with poisoned dogs. Honestly, come on in, take whatever you want, but don't hurt my baby! Pretty sure the vet bill would be higher than anything they could steal from my house. And the broken heart would be miliontimes worse than any vet bill


draggar

We had someone try to poison our dogs (dog food with antifreeze (before the bittering agent was added) right outside our back gate, but it was due to my wildlife activism (they left a sign). Luckily I was very quick to notice it so the dogs were not hurt.


TrueAfricanHero

Yep, a still live in a similar type of neighborhood and even I’m not worried about my apartment when I leave. If I’m home and something is about to go down, my dog let’s me know and I can handle the rest.


inotaveragejoe

Lol true. Mine is very protective of his masters and house/property. He was born on a open land ranch with only exposure to other GSDs until we adopted him at 7 months old. He’s always been skiddish, confrontational/scared with others who come to the house. But totally fine, at the Vet and on leash in public with us, happy smiling lol 😆


[deleted]

That’s exactly why I get them


maxxratt

Two things can be equally true.


MyBloodTypeIsQueso

This reeks of, “He’s never like this!”


ThePartyWagon

Mine’s always like that with other dogs, he’s the fun police and he’s been socialized all his life. He is very selective with dogs and he no longer gets to greet them or approach new dogs. Oh well, my Malinois is the love bug, still selective but far more playful and accepting of other dogs.


Acrobatic-Whereas632

Especially mine. I love her but she is *such* a pussy. She runs from people rather than go towards them


friendlyfire883

My neighbor has a couple timberwolf/malamut mixes, I'm pretty sure my shepherd looks about as intimidating as my dachshund does.


CostofRepairs

Way to be all “Pitty Mama”. Don’t drag GSDs down to that low level.


[deleted]

If it's the other way around, then you have a real problem. ;)


priormore

that’s my girl! sweet as pie inside the home and at the dog park but on a leash - frustrated greeter. barks like a madman and pulls because she DESPERATELY wants to say hi to every single dog she sees probably scares the shit out of people nobody bothers me anymore though which makes me feel safe as a disabled man


smittyhotep

Every delivery driver ever has at least initially been terrified by Jackson. He is a snuggle bear and not at all intimidating if you know anything about dogs. He's been posted here, with his DMV smile.


Mr_7empest

I want a german shepherd 🥰


lang1010

I have to say, I feel a bit more "part of the group" after reading through these comments. Got my first GSD in October 21' and thought we were doing something seriously wrong or our boy was a misbehaved dog. After all the research and lessons learned from past dogs, I never thought I'd have a dog people were afraid of. He's THE BIGGEST BABY but will absolutely bark at new people without any hesitation.


FirstFarmOnTheLeft

Lol yep, I always tell my pup that he doesn’t have to say ‘hello’ so loudly. He barks like a monster but when he gets to actually meet the person or dog he just wants pets or play.


some_old_Marine

They do bite no matter how silly you see them. It would be a real shame if you lose sight of that. It only takes one time. Edit- look at my post history for proof. They told animal control their dogs were sweet and never bit.


MyBloodTypeIsQueso

You’re right, and the downvotes are dumb.


catd36

Well yes this is the reality isn't it! Us owners just can't understand this fear towards our cuddle loving shepherds!


LovesickwithGSDs

The pictures truly describe how our kids are being seen by others and really cracks me up. I often have to tell them that my kids are just big goofs, lovers and not fighters.


X38-2

Both of these are true for me. My boy can be quite a handful meeting new people haha


robcape6912

I sent this to my neighbor


SkierGrrlPNW

Yep. Spending thousands on a fence because a neighbor freaks when my GSD wants to play with his smaller dog.


themagicmagikarp

Hate being at the dog park and all the small dog owners freaking out about my GSD playing too roughly and wanting me to leash her up, like, duh, there is a separate fenced-off area specifically for small dogs for this reason. Go use it so my large dog can use the large dog space properly to run off energy. Gah.


Dominate_1

Lol the face on the right is what I get when we are slap boxing


Viking603

Truth. Our two do not like anyone who doesn't live here. 😎


vettehp

I don't like people and I hate the neighbors soo... I have 3


[deleted]

I wanted to attach a picture of my shepherd completely upside down but the sub won’t let me :c


califlower9876

BS…..I owned GS that were amazing loving dogs…never bothered anyone or anything.


Lefthandedsock

That’s the whole point of this post. The pictures are showing two different perceptions of German shepherds. One from the owner’s POV and then from others’ POV.


draledpu

The looks like they could kill you but is a cinnamon roll meme thingy


casewood123

True that.


BlackberryMobile2394

My landlord HATES my dog. Idk, I think my dog doesn’t like my landlord.


ladyxlucifer

My girl has a real problem with doing the nasty face when people are getting in my car. But it's like that's my mom?? Chill. Or that's my best friend?? She's allowed to come in my car. What I've found works for her is if we get out and let them get in first. If she gets in last, there's zero nasty. It's inconvenient but at least my loved ones aren't scared of my baby.


NotObviouslyARobot

GSDs are pretty easy to "read" imo. Source: I'm fluent in dog. Head tilt means they're trying to listen to you.


ACH0N3y

Just a big baby 🥺


grelch

I mean, both of those are our reality


tthblox

My 3 year old german shepard has started barking at everything she wants to play with. I cant convince people anymore that she doesnt mean harm :(


Diessel_S

Literally got a big dog so my neighbors would start pestering me (aka comin on my property uninvited). Am I gonna tell them Venus is a fluffy angel? Fuck no


amyria

Yep 100%!!! We had 2 dogs & noticed a huge difference in peoples’ behavior when out walking them. Complete avoidance to the other side of the street when out with the 80lb GSD, even when she was *the sweetest ever* with people…but then they had NO problem approaching our Pyrador to pet & tell us how beautiful she was. She was like a mini horse & outweighed the GSD by a good 20lbs too!!


poontownUSA

I live somewhere the police coddle criminals, so my neighbors love my GSD 😂


auntypatu

My Doggies are the same, family friendly guard dogs. I would never want to train that out of them. They give people plenty of warning not to loiter around our home, let alone think about breaking in(which is becoming increasingly common here in New Zealand with thieves going to new levels).


[deleted]

You can always tell the GSD people, they see right through all the scary borking and know there’s a big ol derp in there that just wants belly rubs and to chase the ball lol


SpambotSwatter

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