Thinking of getting a German Shepherd

[SugarSpike]

Any advice on this breed, we've been thinking of getting a dog and we've got our heart set on a german shepherd. We have two children aged 7 and 4. From the info I have found so far its all been positive, but then again we spoke to someone today who has a 2yr old gsd and said he's scatty and has destroyed their house and is very boistouros(sp?)

Im not worried about walking or attention as I know it will get plenty of this, its mainly whether its a good family pet...oh and I also have two cats

Yes, yes and yes again!

But them I'm biased, sharing my home as I do with two Sheps and having done so in the past too. (I have a Lab cross, 3 cats, a pet ferret and 2 children too).

If I were honest I would say that a Shep is no different to any other breed of dog in this respect. Some make fantastic family pets, others are more suited to an adult only environment. It's all down to the individual.

Sheps do differ in needing a firmer hand than some. For this reason there are some rescues who will only adopt out Sheps who are beyond puppyhood to experienced owners. They are high energy dogs and are generally very smart so they do need a lot of mental stimulation as well as exercise.

But, given the right dog and firm, consistant but loving training, the time and energy to keep him occupied and the determination to match this amazing breed's love with your own and you will have a bond like no other.

You may like to chat with Jayne Shenstone, of German Shepherd Rescue UK, here. You haven't said whether you'd be looking at a rescue dog or a pup, and although both Jayne and I would recommend a rescue dog everytime, I'm sure she would wax lyrical advise on the breed regardless.

There's a photo of Fish, my long haired champagne coloured Shep on my profile. He's officially a long term foster dog and arrived with me just a week ago but the reality is that he's mine, something the rescue boss, a friend of mine, has conceded with a grin. Fish really is as perfect as he looks, as is my 3 yo b&t shorthaired boy.

Honestly, they are incredibly loyal dogs, very willing to please, smart as you like and affectionate too. What more could you ask for?

hi i grew up with gsd. They are great family pets, incrediably loyal, protective, soppy and very intelligent. You will need to train it from day one and be consitant. I've never met a scatty german shepherd or one that wrecks the house. But you need to be really strict with it, these dogs can do alot of physical harm if they are not trained properly. My parents rescued one last year, and she is fantastic, adores the children and loves a fuss made of her.

A grown one needs at least 1 hour a day exercise a day. Also remmeber the kids won't be able to hold it on the lead as it'll be too strong, also the ones we've had get really upset with kids even play fighting, so watch out for that. good luck

Also be prepared for the hair, it gets everywhere!

Haha yes Ive heard about the hair everywhere, Im sure the dog would be worth every minute spent hoovering though

We think we'd probably try and get a fairly young one, purely so it can grow up with the children and therefore hopefully bond with them easier.

Vallhala, Ive spent alot of time looking at gsd rescue sites including the one you've linked, we would consider a rescue dog, though I think they are fairly strict on them being homed with young children?
However it seems a minefield finding a good genuine breeder.
Oh and the pic of your gsd....adorable

GSDR don't usually adopt to people with children under 7, but that's not an absolute and it's always worth enquiring. You have nothing to lose. [email protected]

There are other breed rescues dotted about, some better than others tbh, and most all-breed rescues will have a GSD or more available, sadly for them. If you opt to rescue, avoid those which don't neuter, vaccinate, homecheck (for YOUR benefit as well as the dogs and not as rudely intrusive as it sounds), offer ongoing support and give a written assurance that they will - indeed must- take the dog back if ever you are unable to keep him.

Independent rescue is more likely to judge on a case by case basis than to have a blanket policy about rehoming to young families.

My white chap is 7 1/2, so on the older side by GSD standards, whose average lifespans are about 12 years. However he's a real pup in many ways, playing ball and tug, running around and play-fighting with my 3yo GSD. He has settled in here over the past week as if he was born here and already views me as Mum, very attached to me. With that in mind and my experience of adopting and fostering older dogs I think it's fair to say that an older dog can bond just as well as a younger one. He's very affectionate and soppy with my teenaged DDs too.

Added to this an older dog, especially one from a family background, is likely to be less hard work to the more inexperienced owner. You'd avoid the weeing and chewing that comes with a pup or younger dog and he should have some basic manners and training too, making lead walking, off lead recall and acceptable behaviour so much easier. An older dog is also far more likely to be gentler and more laid back, which is important of course if you have young children. Too many times we hear of problems because a young dog is play-nipping or has knocked a child flying in his exuberance and thus have the owners banging on rescues' door, determined to get rid of their pet.

Good breeders - any breeders apart from the wicked puppy farm sort - are not my area I'm afraid. As a rescuer I only get to pick up the pieces and see the results of the bad breeders' actions.

Do you mind if I ask which county you're in? I can't promise but I MAY be able to suggest a rescue.

Oh... and if you haven't one already, buy a Dyson!!!

I am seriously thinking of buying another to keep upstairs (am both lazy and have a dodgy arm which makes carrying painful), just so I'm not caught out when my current Dyson gives up in disgust at the flaming dog hair!

Morning Vallhala, Im from west london area, so yeah any recommendations would be great. I would hope they would consider us as we would love to help a dog in need, my two kids are very sensible for their age aswell.

No I dont have a dyson, are they really all they are cracked up to be, every animal hair type hoover Ive had have been rusbbish!

look at vigil gsd, also garbo's german shepherd resuce they are a rescues in the south- not all of them are troubled. My parents was a little neglected rather than ill treated. Also look on preloved.co.uk, as there are often dogs that people are looking to rehome, and often ones that are 4-5 mths old.

Vigil are great, don't know if Johm has any restrictions wrt children but it's well worth calling him. (God how did I forget, thatnk you *myermay!).

I would advise looking in Preloved etc as people LIE! You have no real idea what the dog is like, only what they SAY he is like and will have no support and nowhere to take the dog if you're unable to keep him.

For all you know, you could be taking on a biter or a dog with seperation anxiety who barks all day, or one with a serious health condition.

Please don't do it, and don't encourage people rehome in this way as equally they have no real idea of to whom the dog will be going to or how he will be treated.

I repeat, ime, people lie.

We had a terrible experience with a rescued GSD before we had children, they told us she didn't like men, we found out she hated children when she lunged at a toddler and we were barely able to restrain her, bit a friend who had come to our house and got into a car and refused to come out. After the lunge at the toddler, where we feared she could have maimed him for life had my husband not been strong enough to hold her off we took her back. At this point the rescue told us that she had been viciously abused by small children riding bikes at her and had been living in a car in the garden (her only refuge from the children) and had been beaten for aggression by their father We were experienced dog owners with no children, my husband had grown up with GSD's and apparently they thought we could cope without being told all this information that would have put us off taking her. I would second Valhalla's advice about Preloved and would advise also only using rescues that she or other experienced posters have recommended, because as you see from the above they can lie too. We made the decision to get a GSD puppy when we had our own family and brought her up with our children, they are a wonderful breed and quite unlike any other in my opinion. My clever, funny girl died last year of kidney failure and we all still miss her very much.

my parents have had gsd's for nearly 20 years, we lived with them right from dd being new born to age 3 and a half. one was alot loder than the other and was alot more wary of dd, but the younger dog, who had grown up with dd was brilliant with her. i think it makes a difference if it is a pup or not, you never know how older dogs are going to react, but pups can learn right from the start iyswim?

A friend of mine got a German Shepherd who is a few weeks older than my dog, they are both just over a year. She grew up with them and did know they needed a firm hand. Things haven't gone very smoothly in their case and they had a terrible time with her being really mouthy and jumping up to bite them. She showed me her arms up at school once and they were covered with bruises and places where she'd drawn blood and myself and another friend with a dog the same age were pretty shocked at how bad it was.

I think things are going a bit better now but haven't seen her for ages. She got a message to me fairly recently about getting together for a dog walk as her dog really needs it so I think there were issues with socialisation around other dogs too but can't be sure, I wasn't fully convinced she was very happy being around my dog (another bitch), she seemed to prefer the male dog we were with. She did say early on that she had no idea how hard it would be and I know she nearly handed her back to the breeder at one point. Hopefully things are going better now she's older.

Evenstar, I'm shocked beyond words at the irresponsibility of that rescue. I'm glad to say that although some will lie, as will a minority of any organisations, be they rescues or supermarkets, the majority are NOT like this.

I'd like to slap the owner of that one though!

SugarSpike, as Wynken says, some of the breed though by no means all, need a kind but firm hand. My own and my new foster boy are the opposite - my boy is a huge lump of a Mummy's boy, very, very biddable and willing to please and my foster boy nervous and responds only to gentle coaxing as he is scared stiff of loud command or over-firm tones.

And yes, ime Dysons are the only thing to make an inroad upon GSD hair! Plus you get a 5 year manufacturers guarantee. I've tried other pet hair type vacs - they may be cheaper but they are far less robust and all died quickly under the strain of (then) 2 large dogs, 3 cats and 2 messy DDs.

On the Hoover front I'd like to throw Miele Cat and Dog into the arena.

We have one 6 year old massive boy.
We didn't get him from a rescue, but regularly go out for walks with the Big GSD rescue crew. who seem quite reputable. Vallhala might know more about them.

They are a lovely breed, I have two daughters, one only 13 weeks old and he is just a big (protective) teddy bear with them. He is a bit of a grump with other dogs so wears a muzzle when we go out for walks. His herding instinct is so strong he gets mad at people/dogs for leaving the group.

Such good companions. He is really the 5th member of our family and while my husband travels regularly for work, I never feel worried or nervous at all.

PS Animal Dyson.....

Yep, BigGSD, which is led by John of Vigil Rescue, are superb.

www.biggsd.com/

Thank you very much everyone, I think my mind is made up, I defiantly want a GSD, I think Im just going to take my time and do things properly, I'll be paying regular visits to the mentioned websites and maybe speaking to some people on there