Sunapee German Shepherds

10/09/2026

I could see this.... lol

09/29/2026

So true! We are seeing hundreds of shepherds euthanized every month in Arizona because people want their dog look of them but aren’t signing up for the care and needs. When a shepherd doesn’t have a job with excellent training they become unruly. So they get dumped in the desert to die!
Please help stop the crazy train…. If people don’t have experience with high energy, smart dogs they should pick another breed.

THEY WANTED THE LOOK

They wanted the black-and-tan coat.

The upright ears.

The intelligence.

The protection.

What they didn't want was the responsibility.

The daily exercise.

The training.

The consistency.

The leadership.

Most people want the image.

Very few want the work.

Comment GUIDE for a link to our GSD survival guide.

09/29/2026

This is why I say No to people who want their dog to meet mine.

Your German Shepherd being “aloof” with strangers isn’t shyness. And it isn’t a flaw to train out.

It’s a hardwired threat-assessment system that’s been bred into this dog for over a century.

Von Stephanitz selected for dogs that could tell the difference between a real threat and a harmless stranger in half a second — because a herding dog that spooked at everything was useless, and one that trusted everything was dangerous.

That same wiring is why forcing your Shepherd to “say hi” to every stranger at the park usually backfires. You’re overriding a system that’s trying to do its job.

The move isn’t to force friendliness. It’s to let your dog observe, feel safe, and learn that YOU decide what’s a threat — so they can stand down.

Understanding WHY your dog does what it does is half of raising it well.

That’s the whole point of Shepherd’s Signal. One email, every Tuesday, free 👇

09/28/2026

She loves pumpkin anything!🎃

06/11/2026

Great article! Please take time to read

If taking your dog for a walk around Vancouver feels less like a relaxing stroll and more like navigating a minefield, you are not alone.You step out the front door, see another dog half a block away, and suddenly your dog transforms. They are barking hysterically, lunging at the end of the leash, s...

05/17/2026

05/16/2026

Happy 8th birthday Miss Ella. We celebrated with water play and sardines her favorite! 🎂🎉
Since moving her to Farmers Dog food, she has lost 9 lbs and her coat is back with shine and silk! More importantly her allergic reactions are much less!! 👍