What is my relationship with the breed? (ie breeder, first time owner etc)
this's the first time I'm owning a GSD...my family used to own GSD's long time back but now I'm the sole owner of a handsome GSD...he was adopted by me as my friends had to relocate... been with me for more than 2 years and i'm loving it!!!
What is the average lifespan?
the GSD's my family used to own were very healthy and the best I've seen was 15 yrs. sadly, we'd to part with him because he had problems with his arthritis...he was from a working line though..
the worst lifespan i've seen personally is for 10 yrs which's another GSD owned by my family.
What is the general temperament/personality?
this depends more on the way the dogs're socialized. some are timid, some aggressive when not properly socialized. When they're socialized they become one hell of a dog to play with!!!
Is it a breed that a first time dog owner could easily cope with?
personally i feel that a first time owner can cope up with this breed, provided they're totally dedicated....or else, the dog ends up with some issues....
regarding the breed standards...
" Any tendency to over angulation of the hindquarters reduces the firmness and endurance and consequently the working ability"
I'm more doubtful about this being followed as many of the GSD's i've come across in show rings do not actually comply. Also, the hindquarter's do not have their legs parallel most of the time....
I'm not being a critic but I want this to be cleared..." DO GSD'S COMPLY WITH BREED STANDARDS EVEN IF THEIR ANGULATION AND GAIT MOVEMENTS ARE
NOT UPTO THE WRITTEN DOWN RULES"???
