Is a German shepherd puppy a bad idea?

[Dannexe]

Dh is desperate for a dog. Our wonderful rough collie died unexpectedly last year and we’ve all taken a long time to get over it but I think we might be ready now to have another dog. I’m actually a little nervous around dogs that I don’t know very well so we would have another puppy.

Locally there is a litter of german shepherds. Dh doesn’t want a small dog. Are German shepherds very difficult dogs. We have two cats and also chickens (although they are in a large walk in coop).

DC are older teens

Unless you have a lot of experience, time and patience I really wouldn't get a German Shepherd.

I grew up with German shepherds and they are amazing dogs but I wouldn't get another one due to the likelihood of back problems.
My last dog was in constant pain from a couple of years old and his back end went a few years later. He was the best though.

They've been overbred so that their front half is much taller than the back.
Do you know if the parents are straight backed? Or could you get a vet to check the puppy over before buying it?

Good GSDs are fantastic dogs, as long as you don’t mind the coat shedding.

The problem, of course, is finding a good one because the world is full of GSDs which are physically unsound, diabetic, mentally neurotic, nervous-aggressive or some unfortunate combination of all of the above.

German shepherds are wonderful dogs but require knowledge and experience. They are used as police dogs for a reason. I would get a more user friendly breed in your position.

Tsk, clearly you just need another Rough Collie (biased here) - their numbers are reducing, they need to keep their supporters! Much easier than a GSD.

(If you do have another Rough, ensure you buy from a breeder who tests for DM and eye tests, at least.)

They are wonderful dogs, I'd be cautious about getting one now as @Danielle9891 has said the over breeding has caused them back issues. I'd be very very wary of buying one from 'a litter locally'. Sadly.

it's a minefield getting a puppy these days. Though breed specific rescues can sometimes help.

They are the best dogs in the world. Intelligent, easily trainable, loyal, just all round brilliant. The only downside is their health issues- hip dysplasia. I've had pedigrees who I lost at 7 years to HD and a not quite pedigree who lasted a couple of years more. Like all dogs the key is socialisation socialisation socialisation from the earliest age.
Good luck.

If you are nervous around dogs then a German Shepherd is not for you. An adult can weigh up to 40kg so they need to be incredibly well trained otherwise at best, you have an unruly giant on your hands when taking for walks or at worst, they could seriously hurt another dog or person. Based on what you have said, this is not the breed for you and I would recommend you research breeds that would fit your lifestyle rather than getting a puppy that happens to be available locally.

I’d love another. We had one 20 years ago. Such a soft, gentle, soppy, adorable dog. He had been thrown out on the moors, someone found him on the road. But yes, his back end went aged 7. He was on a chariot for another year then pts.

(Rough Collie bias aside …)

German Shepherds are very varied, and all types have different issues with health and conformation - from the extreme German types with roached backs to the over-long backs and excessive angulation (often with far fewer health tests and added epilepsy issues) of the extreme English types. Very German pedigrees are often very high energy and very much need a job to do if you want a house left.

A sensible GSD of decent workmanlike conformation is a wonderful thing - although obviously still a dog that needs thorough training - but for the novice to buy and know what they’re getting a very tricky thing these days.

As a further aside - many of the GSDs lost to ‘hip dysplasia’ will also have been lost to DM rather than HD - as I mentioned for Rough Collies, you should ensure GSD litters are tested for this along with recommended hip/elbow scores, haemophilia testing etc.

I’ve lived with GSD for over 30 years and spent a lot of that time fostering ones that people can’t manage.

I love GSD, they are amazing dogs but they really aren’t for anyone inexperienced. They need an experienced handler and minimal mistakes to turn out as they should. They also suffer many health and temperament issues so research is so important.

If I was to get another (which I probably won’t after this one, too much hard work with a young family!) I would only consider it from breeder who has the relevant health testing and from a line where I could assess the temperament very carefully. I would want to see siblings, parents and relatives of all kinds to check for any nervous or reactive dogs within that line before I committed. There’s so much variation in temperament now due to backyard and dodgy breeders breeding less than ideal dogs. Socialisation is also important, they are sensitive souls and need good handling from birth, sometimes by the time you get them at 8 weeks your already fighting a loosing battle if they have not been socialised correctly by the breeder.

It’s probably easier to find a nice rough collie if you know what you’re looking for.

Thanks everyone this is helpful. We are obviously used to having dogs but only from puppies (which is why I mentioned that I’d be wary about a dog we hadn’t had from a puppy). It does sound like you really need to know what to look for which I don’t really so perhaps back to the drawing board. We love rough collies but our last dog was so gentle and wonderful and it broke our hearts when we lost him, I think getting another would remind us too much of him.

Leonberger has great advice there. I wouldn’t want a GSD if I couldn’t do those checks.

I grew up with German Shepherds and the GS I see today are nothing like the ones I grew up with. I don't know what they've done but it's so sad to see.

German shepherds CAN be wonderful dogs, I met one recently that was everything they should be, smart, sporty, brave and with a bombproof temperament.
However bad breeding is rife, so you need to really know what you want RE show or working line and I’d want to know a lot about the lineage of those dogs. I wouldn’t just pick up a puppy as there were some local.
Prone to crippling health issues and I see a lot which are horrendously fear/stranger aggressive

Well bred german shepherd's are amazing dogs. They are fun, loyal and trainable. Poorly bred german shepherd's can be absolute disasters, they can be nervous, reactive and neurotic. Unfortunately the poorly bred ones are far outweighing the well bred ones. My current shepherd is 3.5 years old, he was a dream when he was a puppy but went through one of the worst second fear periods I've ever seen in a dog and at 45kg it was not easy, even for an experienced dog owner. He's amazing now and we can take him anywhere but without spending the thousands I did on a very experienced trainer, I think he would have ended up being pts. His bloodline is known for this type of behaviour so its best to research the lines very carefully before making a decision

Agree with previous posters. A well bred and well trained GS makes a wonderful dog (that's why police and guide dogs use them).

A litter from down the road may well have health issues...and they need someone experienced to train them well. They tend to be very vocal as well.

from The info you have given I would advise against one, and I would never buy one from a local litter as you have no idea what you are getting.
I have a 6 month old and I researched breeders for months and went to the other side of the country for him.
he has a lovely temperament, and has been easy to train, although you have to be consistent. I left him at home with my daughter while I went away for ONE night, I came back and he thought he could sleep on my bed and share my dinner with me! They don’t miss a trick.
I have one problem to iron out which is sometimes barking at other dogs when he’s on the lead. He’s not vicious with it but you can’t help but be aware of people’s perception of the breed.
They also have a very strong prey drive so you may have more of a problem with them chasing your other animals than if you got another breed. I have a cat and it has taken a lot of time and effort to teach him not to chase her.
So yeah, you need a ton of time to invest in them.

We had one and had to have her PTS as it was nervous - agressive. The GSD rescue wouldn't even except her.

I wouldn't. It was the worst few years. We got her from an excellent breeder - a vet infact.

People say it is how you bring a dog up. Not at all some dogs are genetically unsound.

German shepherds can be wonderful. But those that are are from very carefully bred lines and health tested to the hilt.

A local litter that’s available would be unlikely to be one IME.

I think it's a bad idea to choose a breed because a litter is available locally.
Especially a breed that is known to have issues. As others have said it is important to select a breeder who fully health tests and is trying to improve the breed.

I’ve just reread the bit about cats. My current one is very high prey drive but lives with them happily, other than a little bit of stalking and bossing about. It’s taken many hours of training to get there though and she tried to chase many times as a young dog. Luckily I have cats that won’t tolerate that nonsense and she learnt that way.

She’s also grown up and been trained around livestock. If I’m there she won’t even look in their direction but if she thinks she an alone then the chickens wouldn’t last a second. Of the many GSD I’ve had I can’t think of many I would trust alone with small furries or birds, maybe one.

Shes too intelligent. She knows she isn’t allowed on furniture for example, but at the same time she also knows if I’m out then I can’t stop her 😄 She also went through a horrendous fear period during adolescence as many of them do. One of the many reasons I switched breeds to something generally calmer and less busy!

In many ways I found my border collie easier than the GSDs!

Yes to them being too intelligent!
I was impressed that I was able to leave my boy for a couple of hours from 4 months without him eating the house, but then I realised he takes this as his opportunity to jump on my bed for an illegal sleep. When I come in I hear a thud as he jumps down!