Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Original poster

experiences with german shepherds please

155 replies

ThatVikRinA22 · 27/08/2013 00:28

thinking of getting a german shepherd pup. This would be my first "big" dog , i work in the police and have already enlisted potential help in training from a bobby who is a dog handler and does dog training as a second job.

i have thought about getting one for a while - met quite a few through work, and love them. DD met one while staying with a relative last week and is smitten with them.
i would get a dog rather than a bitch and a long haired GSD. House is not huge but garden is of a good size and the park is just 2 mins walk away.

i do have an aging cavalier king charles. totally going for a change here....(and to soften the blow when my beloved girl goes....she is knocking on)
so. GSD owners.....what do i need to know before i get one.
i have the name and number of a reputable breeder and am prepared to go on a waiting list. not in a huge rush.

OP posts:

AdoraBell · 27/09/2013 02:45

I have a big Teddy bear, he's not called Teddy in RL but I think it's fab ñame. Glad you found one.

GladitsnotJustMe · 27/09/2013 08:46

Awwwww how exciting for you!!! Once you see him you'll be in love, guaranteed.

Funny, I call my GSD Teddy as a nick name, as well as Bear, and have decided that the next GSD I get I'll either call him Teddy or Yogi..!

chrissiegsd · 27/09/2013 13:21

Oh my, I certainly hope that you're not expecting him to be as quiet as a Teddy Vicar! Great name tho!

Yes! Definitely pics required!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ummm, my male is called Kaos - which suits him absolutely...........

chrissiegsd · 27/09/2013 14:13

Hmm, now what about "Quest"?
You've certainly been on one to find him - lol!

Rolo - if he's black & tan
Boss
Suga
Shadow

chrissiegsd · 27/09/2013 14:22

Vic, if you decide on a pet name before she registers them with the kennel club & ask nicely, she just might incorporate his pet name into his KC one for you, which is exactly what I did with my female.

BoreOfWhabylon · 27/09/2013 17:17

Oooh, like 'Doghouse of Mumsnet's September Teddy Bear'

And I picked the name [proud]

I am going to be Teddy's Auntie Bore

Yonididnaedaethat · 27/09/2013 17:34

When I got my GSD, the breeder let me choose her kennel club name......she's Princess Snow Storm, took me ages to pick one lol but thought that was a good one as I have a white one. 6 months later when I got another from the breeder I put her kennel club name down as Snowstorms Shadow .

Good luck with the new pup.

chrissiegsd · 27/09/2013 17:40

Yes, exactly correct "Auntie" Bore!

Yoni - those are really nice names & are any of those their pet names too?

BoreOfWhabylon · 27/09/2013 18:13

Original poster

ThatVikRinA22 · 27/09/2013 22:35

going to see him on Monday or Tuesday - so will post pics soon!

OP posts:

BoreOfWhabylon · 30/09/2013 16:34

bassetfeet · 30/09/2013 17:16

Hello Vicar so excited to read you are getting a GSD pup.
What a fabulous noble breed they are . Their eyes shine intelligence .
Lucky pup to have you for an owner.

LadyTurmoil · 30/09/2013 17:19

I like Banjo and Mojo for names...

bassetfeet · 30/09/2013 17:40

Name ?

WOLFeeeeeeeeee come here you bugger .....NO NO leave it ........oh god please leave it .......come back .......Come BACK .

Wolfie must be his name Vicar . waiting for pics .

Original poster

ThatVikRinA22 · 30/09/2013 19:30

i cant do Wolfie cos i just think of Citizen Smith!

we are going tomorrow so DD can come too, she has a day off college on a Tuesday, i am very excited! its a 2 hour drive.

I like Banjo! DD wants to call him Milo but not sure....think ill wait to meet him. I think ive decided Teddy is too cutsie for a GSD.
Took my other little dog to vets today - her heart murmur is much worse so she is now on tablets. I wanted to get her teeth cleaned but its too risky to put her under now, luckily they arent that bad and she has no loose ones, but she is getting on now in terms of how long Cavs live.....so i think the pup will be good for her and for us - i dont want an empty house when she goes and the vets said a puppy may well give her a new lease of life, though she is still very sprightly for her age.

also found out about puppy training classes - there is one near to me that does basic obedience and agility training and you can just keep going even after the initial course so i think we will do that as a family - i think pup will like a bit of agility....i can take him from his 2nd vaccinations. All being well he should be coming home at the end of October.

DH is looking forward to it too now, he was talking about how nice it will be to have a dog that he can walk and that will play - i hear GSD like balls and frisbees!

im going to take lots of photos tomorrow so i will post pics when we get back.

OP posts:

Floralnomad · 30/09/2013 21:27

What about calling him Bear or Yogi .

tshirtsuntan · 30/09/2013 21:42

Have a look at kazetigsds.com - really lovely well bred animals, and lots of info.

Original poster

ThatVikRinA22 · 30/09/2013 23:40

I just thought of Loki but dd doesn't like it. I want her to come with us to meet them tomorrow but she has assignments for college. really struggling with names. ..

OP posts:

Booboostoo · 01/10/2013 07:43

Fantastic news! Hope you can post pics!

A small point and I am sure the club would tell you this anyway but keep in mind that agility is not suitable for puppies because of the strain it puts on growing limbs. With a large breed dog you want to wait until about 18 months before you start agility. Ideally even in the home you want to restrict access to stairs and carry him up and down for a while.

However, in my experience agility training is a lot easier for a dog that has basic obedience training, and while you wait for the agility classes you can always do the KC good citizen awards which are good fun and veru useful.

Don't worry too much about the name, you need to know the dog first and the name will come!

GladitsnotJustMe · 01/10/2013 10:28

Oh GSDs love balls and frisbees alright... the challenge is finding some that they don't destroy in 10 seconds flat!!

Just a note on training - the number one best thing I did for my GSD when he was little was take him to work with me (I was lucky in that I worked outdoors where there were lots of public) - what it did was socialize him really well, got him used to all sorts of different scenarios, people, kids, dogs, bikes, wheelchairs, large crowds etc etc.

So if you can, try and get the dog out and about with people as much as possible once he's vaccinated. They say there's a critical window of time up until they're about 16 weeks where they're 'open' to new experiences..and if they're not socialized until after that time they may become fearful and aggressive. Not sure how true this is, but it certainly worked for us. My problem is my GSD is too friendly, he hugs (i.e. puts his head against the legs and expects a cuddle) every human he meets.....

Good luck!

Booboostoo · 01/10/2013 16:57

It is certainly true GladitsnotJustMe although the exact timing is unclear. Up to six weeks old seems to be a crucial time for puppies to be with their mum, from about 8 weeks to about 14 weeks is a crucial time for puppies to see the world. The vaccinations are an issue but if one waits until 2 weeks after the second vaccination there is hardly any time left for socialisation. Personally I take the risk after the first vaccination and carry my puppies where I think there may be unvaccinated dogs and foxes. As it is puppies shouldn't walk a lot so carrying works out really well. I have seen other people with pet buggies for larger breed puppies.

moosemama · 01/10/2013 17:57

I agree not to worry about names. We spent weeks arguing about what our puppy should be called, but just knew what his name was within a couple of hours of having getting him home.

I am so but equally pleased and excited for you. Hope the visit went well and you got lots of lovely puppy cuddles.

Original poster

ThatVikRinA22 · 01/10/2013 21:08

this is my new boy - not a great pic though....
my fluffball

and his brothers/sisters

talk to the paw!

OP posts:

BoreOfWhabylon · 01/10/2013 21:12

Oh oh oh! Beeeooootiful!

moosemama · 01/10/2013 21:16

He's gorgeous - you lucky thing!

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7