German Shepherd Owners--what advice can you give?

Question

Hello!

First, I apologize for the length of this question.

I'm looking for thoughts, advice, suggestions and experiences that you can give a new GSD puppy owner. Here is some background:

We are in our late 30's and have no children. This would be our 2nd GSD. We lost our Jagr in 2006 & it was devastating but we're finally ready for & wanting, another dog. We had him for 11 wonderful years but its been a LONG time since we had a puppy in our house.

Jagr was a fantastic dog, smart, loving, loyal, wouldn't change a thing...but we were first time owners and we made some mistakes. We also have experience because of Jagr with a dog that has medical issues and we live in a great neighborhood with a fairly private yard and lots of places to walk. In the winter we go across the street and into the woods and walk the snowmobile trails, which is great off leash exercise.

We're looking at a litter today for the second time, and going with someone who trains dogs but specializes in GSD's for assistance but I wanted to see if the Yahoo! community could offer some thoughts and ideas.

As an aside, we have considered (and have not completely ruled out) rescuing a shepherd. However, we have both personal and in my case as an insurance agent, professional experience with dogs that bite and we're very leery about taking on a dog whose history we do not truly know.

Any thoughts, advice, tips and hints you can offer are welcome!!

Thank you!

Answer 1

It's always a good thing to look at the breed clubs home pages.

http://www.gsdca.org/base/index.php

I'm not a expert on GSD at all but I know they suffer from some of the same types of illness that my Golden's do!

I would make sure the breeder does OFA on hips & Elbows!  Also make sure they do proper screening on their dogs hearts, & thyroid & eyes!  

Temperament testing is a must in my book for any pup.

I have starred this for more knowledgeable people to hopefully give you a much better answers than I can!

Good luck in finding your new pup!

Thanks Reika! :)

Answer 2

Thank-you for starring Golden Gal :-)

If you are familiar with the breed, I am sure that you know their characteristic tendencies and behaviors.

Temperament is of the utmost importance in a German Shepherd Dog puppy. A responsible breeder will have that in mind. There is a lot to consider when buying a GSD puppy.

The first step is to find a responsible and credited breeder. I assume you've done that, but just in case you haven't:

Look for a breeder that only breeds German Shepherd Dogs and is familiar with the breed standards. I suggest a breeder that only produces a few litters each year. They may not always have puppies available, but they will keep a list of interested buyers. Preferably the breeder should work with their dogs in herding, protection, obedience, agility or conformation. A reputable breeder is one that encourages you to spend time with the puppy's parents. The breeder should have all genetic testing done on both parents (OFA hips/elbows, CERF etc.)

A good breeder will provide you with references from previous buyers. I prefer a breeder that is involved in breed clubs (national, state and local). They should provide a (spay/neuter) contract (if a pet) and health guarantee for their puppies.

A responsible breeder should ask you why you want a German Shepherd Dog and what you plan on doing with your dog etc. They will ask for a veterinary reference. It's very important that the breeder has a contract stating that they will take the dog back if you can no longer keep the dog.

You can find a responsible breeder by contacting breed clubs and visiting dog shows in your area.

Now that you've found a breeder, you need to choose a puppy. A responsible breeder should be able to find a match for you based on your needs and wants. A breeder that does not help select a puppy for you is not a responsible breeder in my book. I don't know what you're looking for in a dog nor what your plans for the dog are later on and so cannot give you certain traits to look for in a puppy. I highly suggest evaluating each puppy individually. I have used the Volhard puppy aptitude test for years and highly reccomend it to new puppy buyers.

Here is a link if you're interested.

http://workingdogs.com/testing_volhard.h...

Finding a responsible breeder and selecting the perfect puppy for your family is worth it in the end. Your companion will be healthy and sound in temperament.

ADD: I have been involved with a German Shepherd Dog rescue for many years. I can understand your reluctancy to except an adult dog into your home, however, I would like to state that every responsible breed specific rescue evaluates every possible candidate that comes in the door before ever putting them up for adoption and placing them into a home. A responsible rescue will not place an aggressive dog into a home. They will assist you in finding a dog for your specific situation and lifestyle. Every dog that comes into our rescue is temperament tested and is fostered in a family setting before ever being considered adoptable. If you can find a responsible rescue organization in your area, I believe it would be worth it to speak with a rescue representative and see what they currently have available. If you need help finding a responsible rescue near you, feel free to ask. In the meantime, I suggest looking at the breed club of America and searching for either a responsible breeder or a responsible rescue organization near you.

http://www.gsdca.org/base/index.php

I know that this is a lot of information, so if I can help answer any specific questions, feel free to e-mail me!!

Answer 3

Can't help with the question as we have never owned GSD's but just wanted to say what a refreshing, responsible and sensible post this is.  Good luck finding the right dog!

Answer 4

rescues are great, but you never know what ur getting. all animals act different in a shelter. U also run the risk of having health problems. it seems like u guys are wonderful owners and have gsd experience.

good luck!

Answer 5

Have you talked with a GSD rescue? The stereotype of shelters/rescues is that the dogs are just fed and watered and not worked with. That may be true of some shelters/pounds since it's more like a holding facility until a breed-specific rescue can come and get them. However, many of the GSD resuces are contacted by the owner themselves and relinquished straight to a foster home, not a pound. The rescue people understand GSD's more than anyone since they've taken in just about any kind of health and behavior case imagineable. Right now, the market is so bad that dogs aren't getting transported (gas prices) and the ones dumped at a shelter aren't making it out. It's sad. And MANY of the dogs turned over to a rescue is because of foreclosure, or the owner has died and no other family member has stepped forward to take the dog on.

I guess what I'm saying is, give petfinder.com a good, honest try. Many of these dogs are already trained, behaviors figured out, temperament tested, etc. by people who know the breed. And the rescues are busting at the seems FULL of dogs; if you want something exact, chances are good they will help you find it, there are plenty to choose from.

I can understand why you'd want a puppy...nothing bad has happened to them and you can raise them exactly the way you want. But try talking with a few rescues...I think you'll be REALLY surprised.

Good luck with it!