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The doghouse

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

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Original poster

I have acquired a puppy.

46 replies

Greyhorses · 06/03/2015 07:00

And I don't know what to do!

As some of you may remember I lost my GSD last month and have been thinking about getting another but have been researching good breeders etc and had a good idea of what I wanted. Possibly vain but I like big dark coloured GSD and don't like the smaller varieties as a rule.

Anyway, yesterday I had a phonecall from a friend asking if I could take a german shepherd puppy who had had a very bad time. He was supposed to be 8 weeks. I deliberated and agreed to have a look at him, with the view that I would walk away if he wasn't right. I went to view him and he is completley pathetic and I couldn't leave him outside in a kennel on his own so brought him home. He has worms, fleas, no vaccinations and is about 3kg wet through.

I have warmed him up and he has come to life and has a very full on personality but for some reason I feel really gutted that he isn't my 'perfect' GSD that I had imagined. In fact I'm not even sure he is a GSD at all, he is very very tiny and does not look like most GSD puppies I have seen.

Everyone has fallen in love with him and I must admit I do like him a lot but I don't know if I should try and find him someone so I can get a purebred which makes me feel really guilty!!!

OP posts:

Original poster

Greyhorses · 06/03/2015 07:02

Sorry posted too quick. I'm not sure what to do now! Is there any way I can tell exactly how old he is so I can maybe determine what he is?
If he is the runt is there a possibility he will catch up? I think he is about 6-7 weeks max.

Someone tell me to get a grip and enjoy him please!!

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VivaLeBeaver · 06/03/2015 07:07

Ahhh, I think he was meant to be yours. It's fate. You can't turf him out and break his little puppy heart. Doesn't matter if he's pure gsd or not. You will love him because he's yours and you will have that bond soon.

Original poster

Greyhorses · 06/03/2015 07:10

Ah I know Viva! I think I am comparing him too much to my last dog who I adored as he was huge and gorgeous and now I have this tiny mouse like creature yapping away...what have I done

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VivaLeBeaver · 06/03/2015 07:11

He'll grow, and hopefully stop yapping so much!

Stillyummy · 06/03/2015 07:13

You can have dogs DNA tested if you really want to find out what he will be like.
I always have aspirations of getting a beautiful pure bread animal, then someone offers me a rescue and I have to say yes. I have never regretted this (justifying it with how would I feel if I was rejected for being a tall brunette) but I know it is not for everyone, especally if you want a pet for a particular disaplin or use.
I am assuming you have taken him to the vet to rule out any health issues that may make him small for his age.
If you decide he isn't fr you at least you have improved his chances short term and can find him a loving home.

tabulahrasa · 06/03/2015 07:16

I don't think you should feel guilty if you decide not to keep him - no matter what you'll have given him a better start.

Size as a puppy doesn't mean a huge amount, runts quite often end up being large - my dog was the second biggest in the litter, he's now (at nearly 3) under breed standard for a boy. Not looking like a GSD might mean he's not one though.

A vet will be able to tell you how old he is and it might be a good idea to get him checked out anyway.

If you keep him and he isn't the GSD you imagined...can't you get one in a couple of years?

daisydotandgertie · 06/03/2015 07:20

A photo might help to age him ....

Koalafications · 06/03/2015 07:24

He sounds lovely. Sad that he had such a hard start to life.

Do you have a photo of him?

Original poster

Greyhorses · 06/03/2015 07:25

Thanks for the replies everyone.

He has not seen a vet as yet as I only took him home at 10pm last night. He is a sorry state and I went to 'view' him not realising he would be in some sort of rabbit hutch by himself in this cold. Apparently he has been passed around and has not had a good start so everything is he said she said at the moment and I have not seen his parents or anything like that. I was assured he was a german shepherd or I wouldn't have viewed him but I thought I would have walked away!

He is surprisingly bright and is playing/eating etc but I will obviously have him vet checked. It's difficult to say if he is small as I dont know what he is, by german shepherd standards he is tiny!!! But there is a possibility he is the runt I suppose. He is definatley of GSD type but purebred I'm not sure.

Sorry forgot to add- I am not a breed snob and already have one mongrel who I adore so not adverse to a rescue He just isn't what I imagined when I went on the hunt for a large impressive beast to replace the one I lost...

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Original poster

Greyhorses · 06/03/2015 07:27

Photos are very difficult as he won't sit still but here he is in all his non glory on the trip home...

He is about 4kg I would guess no more!

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tabulahrasa · 06/03/2015 07:32

How small is he? Mine (rottie not GSD) was smaller, though heavier than my two tiny cats when I brought him home at 8 weeks... In fact he came home in the cat carrier.

I know I said he's small, but you're only talking the difference between a bitch and a dog in the same breed small - not like tiny.

tabulahrasa · 06/03/2015 07:34

Crossposted - aw, look at his wee face...

I don't think 4kgs is that small? Especially not if you add in a not fantastic start and worms.

Original poster

Greyhorses · 06/03/2015 07:35

I am not sure as I don't know exactly how old he is. He is proberbly the size of a chihuahua at the moment and isn't very 'chunky' as in he does not have the normal fluffy/huge paw look of a normal GSD. I don't know what they fed him though or if he was healthy or the runt so it's hard to say! I would think he is about 6-7 weeks but it's hard to know. He eats solids but I imagine he has been weaned for some time!

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Ohfourfoxache · 06/03/2015 07:43

Oh Grey he's utterly GORGEOUS! Just look at those big wide eyes, he just wants cuddles and lots of love

I know this isn't really what you were expecting, but give it 24 hours and I'm sure you wouldn't be without him. As a pp said, it's fate!

Could someone tell me what GSD is please? I'm a cat person through and through (sorry!) and this has flummoxed me!

Original poster

Greyhorses · 06/03/2015 07:44

Sorry ohfour that's me being lazy! It's an abbreviation for german shepherd dog

I really hope you are right! He is certainly entertaining!

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tabulahrasa · 06/03/2015 07:46

I know there wasn't much difference between my dog and my neighbour's westie in size until he hit 3 months old at which point, mine proceeded to put on a kg a week and the westie , well, didn't , lol.

He does kind of look fine made...but I don't know if that means anything really, given he's not hat the best start.

tabulahrasa · 06/03/2015 07:46

The westie was the same age...not just randomly comparing him to a westie, lol.

Ohfourfoxache · 06/03/2015 07:54

Oh thank you - makes sense now!

Grey he's wonderful. Even though I'm a cat person I would have a very, very hard time saying no to him - fleas and all!

If you're finding him entertaining so far then that's a really good sign. If he was driving you nuts and annoying the hell out of you then it would be less positive, but I just know you're going to be absolutely inseparable.

It takes time to build a relationship with an animal (took a long time with girl cat - her brother was far, far easier) but by 'eck you're off to a good start.

RattieofCatan · 06/03/2015 07:55

Oh he's gorgeous. I am so jealous!

VirginiaWoofs · 06/03/2015 08:02

I don't think the size is that much of an issue.

Our collie was from a litter of 4 and was quite large at 8 weeks.

A friend of ours got an 8 week collie pup from a different breeder and it was tiny! At least half of the size of ours, but we thought it was because their collie was from a litter of 6.

They're both similar size now, couldn't really say who is bigger!

Maybe your GS pup is from a large litter?

He's adorable!

SnakeyMcBadass · 06/03/2015 08:03

Poor little thing. Whether you keep him or not, his chances of a good life have risen dramatically because you took him. Does he have a name yet?

VirginiaWoofs · 06/03/2015 08:06

I also think he does look like a GSD pup to me but I have no real experience

Original poster

Greyhorses · 06/03/2015 08:11

Thankyou everyone- I feel much better for letting it out as I didn't want to upset anyone else in the family (who all don't care he is tiny!)

He does not have a name yet, best get thinking!

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trice · 06/03/2015 08:13

He is lovely but I would rehome him somewhere safe and get the dog you wanted. It is not your fault shockingly bad dog owners exist and I would be cross with this "friend" for putting you in this position. You are all recently bereaved and vulnerable.

That puppy certainly needed rescuing but it is a mutt not a gsd (nothing against mutts myself) and has had a terrible start. I would find it a loving home and find my own puppy.

gailforce1 · 06/03/2015 08:14

Thank you for not walking away from an animal who was clearly in need of an experienced and caring dog lover to take him in. I do believe that things happen for a reason - even if you decide not to keep him, at least you will make sure that he goes to a suitable rehoming centre which will give him the best chance of a happy future.

Have you thought of any names yet?

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