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Original poster

buying a german shepherd

78 replies

myermay · 30/05/2009 09:32

We are currently doing our research as buying a german shepherd.

Now we are not looking to show/breed our dog but i'm amazed at the difference in prices. We're going to look at some which cost £350 and some that are costing £650! the more expensive ones, the lady asked all the questions, and seems very interested in the kind of home it's coming too (which i know is good), told me all about hip scores etc, will be kc reg and comes with papers. However, the cheaper one won't be kc reg,but the father is - but is being brought up around other pets and kids.

My question is, does it really matter as we are not intending to breed or show the dog? obviously we'll look at the parents and see what the temperaments are like but we really did not want to spend £650. Do you think it'll be a very unhealthy dog?

OP posts:
bella39 · 04/06/2009 11:10

Take morethan with you!

Yes, as morethan says, fear aggression is just as much of a problem as the standard type.

Poor dog, she is probably brilliant but of course you do have to check her out.

Could your vet recommend a properly qualified behaviourist who could see her with you if you're not sure, or does the rescue itself assess them properly?

morethanyoubargainfor · 04/06/2009 11:26

Sod it, lets all go! ot could be a very good day for the dogs, probably between us we could rehome all of them!

Sounds a fine idea to me

bella39 · 04/06/2009 11:29
morethanyoubargainfor · 04/06/2009 11:33

((whispers, but where are we heading?))

bella39 · 04/06/2009 11:37

...dunno....

morethanyoubargainfor · 04/06/2009 11:39

meet you there then

bella39 · 04/06/2009 11:42

Don't do what I did and google GSD rescue - there are so many of them, and so many awful stories...

morethanyoubargainfor · 04/06/2009 11:48

i know its horrible isn't it. makes me sad to. One day i will own a cstle with 150 acres of land so i can bring all the poor dogs home with me . If only.

KingCanuteIAm · 04/06/2009 12:15

Hi Myer, sorry I missed your question!

If you go to see her then look for certain pointers. If she is wary it is harder to distinguish but observing her quietly at fisrt is probably key.

When you/she walks into the room for the first time what does she do? If she is wary she will probably stick to her current owner/carer. That is fine. She may bark - shepards can be very vocal. If she is barking and backing away this means she is trying to work out if you are safe. Hopefully, when you stay calm and relaxed she will stop barking and weigh you up. Stay calm and relaxed, chat to the carer, keep a light voice. After a few minutes a dog who is wary but not fearful will probably come closer to you and try to have a sniff, possibly from a distance at first. Stay calm and let her do her thing, once she has worked her way up to you and seems more comfortable try talking to her, again, light, calm, relaxed. If she runs back to the carer, start again. If she respondes, gently offer her your hand. Progress steadily from there.

If she is overly fearful or fear aggressive you may find she will keep going back and starting the barking again and will not go to the next stage of properly investigating you calmly. Bad signs could be things like keeping the ears back (fear) for a long time, refusal to engage or look at you (more fear). Although those signs can also be nerves that she will get over given enough time to come round. You have to read her as you go along. Talk to the carer about how she normally reacts and how long it usually takes her to come round to people. She may need several visits before she feels confident enough of you to be happy so don't think it is all over in one session unless you are getting very bad vibes.

A rescue is not a no-no but I do think you need to look at a rescue that properly assess thedog first, straight home to home rescue is risky IMO as you only really have the owners word and a couple of observations by staff to go on. Having had a home to home go horribly wrong with a fear aggressive dog I would advise strongly against it - but there will be other people who have had good experiences of course! With my home to home I had to have the poor dog PTS and it still breaks my heart, it also left me and my eldest dd fearful for quite some time so caution is the better part of valour IMHO!

As has been said, some rescues are perfect family dogs who have done nothing to even make a person raise an eyebrow at their behaviour so it is well worth doing your research and speaking to the rescue center at the very least!

Babywhiting · 04/06/2009 12:24

my gsd pup is now 6 months old she is gorgeous , yes scatty and so hyper! i have 4 dc aged 1 to 8 but she lovs them all.

Thankfull we have 1.8 acres for her to run in but she is hard work and training is a non stop event she is kc registered and has straight backed blood lines her parents were top dogs and would love to breed her one day so we can keep one or 2.

love her to bits and maybe at 18 months i'll try some agility any experience of it anyone??? oh pic of her on my profile

bella39 · 04/06/2009 12:44

babywhiting - your pup is gorgeous! As is the ds/dd in the Tigger suit!

I'm looking to do agility in the future too - no experience of it but have done the horsey bit so am hoping that will help

KC - hats off to you for your fab post and, more importantly, your typing. That would be take me all week to type - hence Bella tends to be succinct.

Myermay - KC gives a really good account of what to expect/look for when you meet her, and after that it is a case of 'stressing' her (i.e. putting her in potentially difficult situations, like taking a toy out of her mouth) and judging her reaction. Ideally this should of course all be done by a proper behaviourist, or at least someone very experienced.

We are probably making it all sound much worse than it is, but of course if it goes wrong it's a very bad situation to be in, so best to be over-cautious.

Am waffling now so will scoot.

Any news, KC?

KingCanuteIAm · 04/06/2009 12:50

Babywhiting, you can join the MN GSD club if you like (ok there is only two of us so far and there is no actual club but you are welcome anyway ) Ours are little too!

Myer, I seem to be posting mini epics all over your thread, hope you can wade through them to the useful stuff!

Bella, nothing yet. I have been ringing all morning but just keep getting answer phone. Her status on the site is still clear though

bella39 · 04/06/2009 12:52

lol - I check that too, KC.

Wanna see some puppies? Give me 1 min and then look...

KingCanuteIAm · 04/06/2009 12:56

Got it..

bella39 · 04/06/2009 12:56

Mine's the black one...

KingCanuteIAm · 04/06/2009 12:57

Aww, they are so fantastically wonderful Bella!

Yours is the only standard there?

bella39 · 04/06/2009 12:58

It's actually quite hard to find a black one these days...

She looks feisty though, don't you think?

KingCanuteIAm · 04/06/2009 13:01

She looks like she has bags of character already!

I am not jealous though... honest

OOooh the number is engaged now - that might mean someone is home...

bella39 · 04/06/2009 13:05

Right - off to do something useful.

Myer - best of luck & keep us posted.

KC - ditto

Morethan -

KingCanuteIAm · 04/06/2009 13:16

BOOOO

but also Yay

She is staying with her foster carer Bella. Great, great news for the dog of course! Happy for her, sad for us!

bella39 · 04/06/2009 13:24

I knew she was too nice...

Have a look here then...

here

KingCanuteIAm · 04/06/2009 13:43

I know, I am quite upset actually. I had just got her slotted in, in my mind IYKWIM.

Of course this is the best outcome for her so I am really pleased about it too!

Had a look at the site, I am surprised how many un-neutered dogs they are offering, isn't that going to perpetuate the problem a bit?

Blondeshavemorefun · 04/06/2009 16:58

awwwwwwwwww king

sorry you didnt get your woofa

babywhitling - what a cutie- pup and child

KingCanuteIAm · 04/06/2009 17:48

Thank you Blondes [pout]

Blondeshavemorefun · 04/06/2009 17:51

we will have to find you another one who needs the kings love