At present we are looking at getting a female german shepard as a family pet, as we have not had a dog since before we got into camping, we were wondering, do campsites allow german shepards, or do they prefer smaller breeds?
One site that we used to use regularly, states that they don't allow dangerous breeds, such as pit bills, Rottweilers or staffy bulls, so imagine with that camp we would be ok.
Does anyone else own a german shepard, if so how do you on when booking your camps, and does it sleep in the awing or in the camper/caravan?
Chris.
------------- February - Blakemere Touring Cheshire
April - Lakeland Haven
May - Sandimouth. Bude
August - Ninham Holidays. I.O.W
August - Windy Harbour. Blackpool
October - Callow tops. Ashbourne
I've met lots of GSD's on campsites and never had a problem with one yet. They normally want to play once they've found a friend. Just follow the standard campsite code of keeping it on a lead cos not everybody likes or feels comfortable around dogs.
Yes there are some sites that will not accept certain breeds - but that is due to their own ignorance.
Any dog can be dangerous if not brought up properly. Used to be a lady who lived by us, with a chihuahua (sp) - and many a dog lover wouldn't risk stroking it, for fear of being bitten - it was mummy's baby who was carried most places, and lovely as the lady was, she couldn't see anything wrong in her baby.
We have a staffie cross who will lick you to death if you let him. Yet because of the chavs using staffies as a status symbol they have a bad bress. GSDs are the same along with dobes and rotties.
The way I see it is that if a site will not accept a certain breed of dog and not just staffies they I will take my hard earned pennies elsewhere.
I don't see any difference between a G S and any other dog on site as long as they are kept under control and the owner is following the site rules regarding dogs...
Some individual dogs(not specific breeds) are unsuited to camping life due to their personalities...For example a constant barker...Or a pitch guarder...One who sees it as his/her job to protect the family on site...
Meg...My old springer was a great dog to take with me..Nothing ever fazed her...Millie my current springer is good too...Susie(Yorkie) was a nightmare.. on guard 24/7 and a constant yapper so she stayed with the inlaws when we went camping
Two years ago we took Ted(daughters JR) camping for the 1st time....Never again(If I get my way...)
Last year (Main hols) we left Millie and Ted at home for a dog free week...Family pitched beside us had two rescue dogs(recently brought into their home)Small one constant barker which set the big one off...Big one snapped at me (unprovoked) on two separate occasions..Neither of them seemed to be on leads/tethers that I could see...Family never once reprimanded either of them for their behaviour...Got the impression because they were rescues they could more or less do what they liked as far as the family was concerned....
Wont go so far as to say they ruined my holiday...But it was a bit wearying and strained relations between us and them...
Used them as an example of dogs not suited to camping....
Jelboy.
------------- Campers of the storm,Into this world are born
Not ignorance at all. No everyone likes dogs. Not all dog owners control their dogs properly. Many people are afraid of "dangerous" breeds. It is the camp site owner's business decision to allow or not.
There are many camp sites that do accept dogs. I wouldn't expect the OP to have a problem with a GSD.
My wife has twice been attacked by out of control dogs whilst out walking our own dog. Hospitalised on one occasion.
Sadly the ignorance or lack of concern is with many dog owners. Not the paying campers who are entitled to be on site without fear.
If everyone obeys the keep dogs on lead rules I can't see any problem with any breed camping, off lead dogs are trouble to everyone even other dog owners.
Yes, I do know some campsites have a policy on dogs (max no, unaccepted breeds etc) and, for the majority, I don't think it's a bad thing.
I know now that lots of Rottie/Staffie/Dobe/GSD owners will retort with "My dog is always under control / my dog wouldn't harm a fly" type posts. The fact is, that might be absolutely true, but some of these breeds do make other people nervous (even people who have dogs themselves, like me!), especially when they have children with them and even when they are tethered and not running free. As Tentz has said, the 'ignorance' seems to work both ways, if owners of these powerful breeds don't understand why some people will feel uneasy, having them tethered on the next pitch.
That's exactly why rules and regs should be applied to ALL dogs on site...You might think/know your dog is the best well behaved dog on the planet...Would never be a problem to you or your camping neighbors...But what about that dog three tents down?? Has he any issues? Is he quiet? Does he like strangers??Would he steal the sausages for the BBQ from the next tent given the chance???
Would he pee up the side of your tent when running about...???
All dogs on a lead/tethered under control...All owners following the rules Picking up after their dogs etc makes life so much easier on site...As of course does humans abiding by rules regarding quiet times etc...
It amazes me some times when you see folk who think campsite rules do not apply to them(or their dogs)
Jelboy.
------------- Campers of the storm,Into this world are born
I have a GSD. We use CC sites. As long as you realise that not everyone knows that your "dog wouldn't hurt a fly" and keep him/her under control at all times and on a leash then there should be no problems. I find there are more problems on sites with smaller dogs such as toy Yorkies etc which wander around off a leash because of their size and it's someones "little baby".
It's a shame that campsites don't vet "please excuse the pun" some campsite users in the same way.
I do believe its normally the owners / handlers not the dog..
Jelboy53 you hit the nail on the head.
------------- Thank you Donnod123
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I have a Staffy and a Collie, both agility dogs and obviously well under control, but when I had a site in Cornwall query my booking because of the type of dog I had, I didn't even discuss the matter, I just told him to stuff his site and himself.
There are hundreds of dog friendly sites out there.
It is always the owners who can't control their dogs who cause the problems, not the dogs themselves..
All dogs should be kept on leads on site, and poo always picked up, jelboy53 has it spot on, if you control your dogs well, you won't get complaints .Good luck with your GS's.
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Topic: German shepards and camping?
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