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Considering another GSD

5 replies

BrassicaBabe · 09/07/2011 14:32

Maybe I'm mad, maybe I'm sleep deprived, but I want another GSD.

I posted a while ago about my 11year old GSD going off his food. I had lots of lovely help and advice here.

Anway, a fortnight ago (the day after our twins were born) we had to have the lovely Louis put down. He'd been seeing the vet for the previous fortnight and I thought he was on the mend. But he suddenly went right off his legs and the only treatment options would have highly speculative and invasive. So we took the difficult decsion to have him put down. The vet came to our home and while it was a difficult, it was the right thing to do. (This is only half the details, but I won't bore you with symptoms and treatment etc.)

I think I'd be classed as an "experienced" GSD owner. Louis was a challenging dog in many ways. HmmGrin I'd never answer the door without putting him in his crate first. Once people were in the house he was lovely, but couldn't be trusted at the door. I wouldn't let him off the lead unless I knew with certainty who was around.

I'm not bonkers enough to make a desicion on the back of sadness for the poor chap. But equally the house is rather empty and I think we've got a lot to offer. We live on a farm, loads of other dogs and people around, access to fields for exercise avoiding strangers if need be, we have a lovely and mad young springer. But we also have new born 2 week old twins. But surely a new pup, or a young rescue dog would grow up with the babes?

So, my experince with my old pooch aside, I don't have experience of a GSD with babies and young children. (I already have absolute confidence in the springer after watching my 2 year old nephew try to put raisins up her nose Hmm)

Have I waffled? I guess my primary question is around GSDs and babies/toddlers.

OP posts:
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DooinMeCleanin · 09/07/2011 14:49

GSDs around babies/toddlers are the same as any other breed, it depends very much upon the individual dog and like all dogs and children they need contsant supervision.

Contact a good GSD rescue and ask if they have any suitable dogs in, it doesn't necesarily have to be a pup, many older dogs are in rescue through no fault of their own and have been raised in loving family homes around children. If anything I'd be wary of such a large breed puppy around children because of the jumping and nipping. I remember as a teen my arms being covered in bruises and scratches through playing with our GSD pup.

There are three beautiful Sheps down our street and they have always been superb and very gentle with my children. dd2 adores them, they are her best friends Smile

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mdoodledoo · 09/07/2011 15:25

I previously owned a GSD who was delightful with kids - she loved the attention that kids often give dogs and we trusted her implicitly, to the extent that the kids were only allowed to play in the patch of woods beside the house without an adult if the dog was with them to 'look after' them! I had no experience of her with babies but can't imagine that she would have been any different.

I honestly never had even one moment's doubt with her and any other animal or human, adult or child. She used to 'play' with my pet rats by rolling them over with her nose and shuffling them along the carpet, they, in return learned to climb up onto her (when she was lying down) and belly slide down again. Daft - but hours of comedy value to be had from watching them!

It was so disappointing to me that people would often cross the road or pick up their children/small dogs as we went past on walks because of the reputation that GSD's have. As is said so much on this board, I firmly believe that any dog has the potential to be nasty but, in combination with their individual personality, the way that they are raised and trained is vitally important.

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TechLovingDad · 11/07/2011 15:41

Our first ever dog, is a GSD who is now 1. She's mental, crashes about a bit but is so lovely tempered. The only worry our daughter has is that she might get knocked over or licked to death.

I can see why people are nervous when they see her, GSDs do look imposing but she's so lovely. Most people smile and shove their hands in her mouth (nutters). Grin

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DogsBestFriend · 11/07/2011 16:20

That sounds very familiar, TLD, only we have 2 GSD crashing about!

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TechLovingDad · 11/07/2011 16:21

Grin I always think, oh no people will think she's out of control. Then the vet and receptionist start making a fuss of her so she gets worse!!

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