German Shepherds?

Thank you to everyone. I am starting to doubt if he will be there tommorrow. Since he & his sibling were technically available today (but the shelter is closed) I wouldnt be surprised if people were going to show up first thing Tuesday morning to adopt them. As I said though, if it is meant to be, he will be there.

I would plan on enrolling him in puppy kindergarden classes to start with (or should I do basic obedience?). Thank you for letting me know on how to temperment test him, I will be sure to do that & also check his ears, eyes, mouth and nose.

I would LOVE to do agility with him, I have always wanted to try but the only dog of mine I could do it with (My other one is deaf) is scared of the jumps & tunnels.

Shedding doesnt scare me, they have a saying that dalmatians shed once a year for 365 days and I have found this to be extremely true. Everything I own that should be black is white, everything I own that should be white is white & black. I dont even want to talk about my car seats. What do you mean by "blowing their coats"?
I am still thinking on it and don't want to make any rash decision or take on a dog when I dont feel I have a lot of time to train him. I would love doing agility (I think they have to be 1 though) & until then obedience classes. I have learned a ton from i-dog that I think would help. I am also trying to think with my brain instead of my heart, and realize if this dog doesnt do well in the temperment test or doesnt look well, no matter what I should not take him, or expect lots of problems.

I know dals too have hip dysplacia, although I dont think it is as prevelant in dals. I am pretty sure they have to be 2 before they can be tested for that. I appreciate all of your advice & will consider it. I dont want to make a bad decision as I said before and want to make sure that I have plenty of time to train a GSD. It is hard too not knowing what the parents were like & how their health was, exc.

My dogs arent left outside, they are crated during the day while I am at work and then they get their play time when I get home. I already figured out the Kong trick with my dals  ...

I read a few places that they could be dog aggressive.

I guess as long as you get them as a pup & socialize them like crazy with everyone/everything and be the alpha and be sure to spend a lot of time training them and giving them a job they should be a well balanced dog?

Thanks again, I will let you all know how it goes tomorrow when I go to check out his health/temperment. (IF he is even still there!) I plan on enrolling him in puppy kindergarden (or basic obedience) for the next session which I believe starts in July (that is if he is healthy, does well on temperment test and is still there.). Thanks again for all the great advice. I am going to print this out & take it when I go to see him tomorrow after work. I again appreciate all of the great advice, I will let you know how it goes tomorrow. Thanks.



Oh yeah, one more question, what is a good score for the puppy aptitude test?!? I am going to print it off & take it with me tomorrow when I go. Thanks!
 
 
Glenda-I know they are really cute & sweet. It is hard to say no, especially because I know they are at Animal Services and I know that the people there are just happy when a dog gets adopted out and doesnt have to be PTS. Needless to say they dont screen the people & I really dont want this pup to end up in a backyard as a "guard" dog when it could live with me & live a really nice life inside and I could have a dog to work with. A lot of people here in the south dont respect animals at all & think of them more as posessions. I will let you all know how it goes tomorrow.
 
One more question too, can't a dog who isnt registered earn it's CGC award? Also, can they earn agility & obedience titles? That is something I have always been interested in.
 
I truly planned on taking Weston further than just basic obedience but he has to take those phenobarbitals and doesnt ever feel up to doing obedience work or most anything. I guess that is why a lot of people try natural cures for epilepsy, I just know how hard a seizure is on him & dont want to take the chance on that either. (sorry that was off topic)
 
 

A puppy that rate threes and fours on the puppy aptitude test. You can take the pup to get a CGC. And you can look in to getting a ILP on the pup through AKC.
[linkhttp://www.akc.org/reg/ilpex.cfm]http://www.akc.org/reg/ilpex.cfm[/link] 

Well, I went to the shelter today & he was still there. He comes home on Thursday. []
 
His gums looked pale but the shelter manager assured me it was worms (which can easily be fixed). His nose was also running. The shelter manager told me though that they havent had parvo or distemper in a long time.
 
Will be sure to post pics. Thanks for all of your advice. By the way, the other GSD was adopted at the same time, we filled our paperwork out together. It was kind of aggrivating though she said the female will be a "outside dog". Oh, well, there isnt much I can do about that. That is why I am glad I got this fellow. Name suggestions are appreciated. I thought of Stryker?

Yayyyyy!!! How exciting. I think Stryker is an AWESOME name for him!!!  Did you get to play with him today at the shelter?

Well congrats!!! to Stryker and you. I really like the name Stryker. Can't wait to see pictures.

Good name, cute puppies[]  I've had quite a few GSD's, great dogs, a pleasure to live with.

I am so excited for you - Stryker is a great name - and you will do a great job with him!!!

Congrats on your new family member! Hope to see pics soon of him happy an safe with you at home.

Good luck with your new rescue. And I love the name! I have owned GSD's since I was a kid and have always loved the breed. I currently share my home with 3.

If you need more GSD (German Shepherd) information, please visit my site for more info as well specifically about the GSD in particular. I look forward to future pictures of Stryker.

The biggest advice I can give you, besides the usual health and training related info is to socialize, socialize, socialize.

Good luck

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IS A GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG RIGHT FOR YOU?
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• German Shepherds shed a lot. If having dog hair flying around you house bothers you then, you definitely should not consider getting a German shepherd. They shed continuously, as well as blow all their undercoat at least twice a year, spring and fall. To help with this, they should be brushed regularly, but this will still not stop the fur balls from collecting everywhere.
  
  
• German Shepherd is a large breed, and a very energetic one. They require daily exercise to keep them healthy and happy. They do not do well confined to a dog run or yard on their own all day, every day. They are very devoted to their family members, and much prefers to be with them every waking moment, rather than shut away on their own.
  
  
• If you are going to be gone for long periods of time and do not have time for training and playing that the GSD needs, then please consider another breed of dog. German Shepherd Dogs do NOT do well as outside dogs left in kennels with little or no attention, nor do they do well sitting out on a chain all day, just being fed twice a day, with little human contact. They love people, and they want to be with people. The more time you spend with your GSD, the better he will get. A GSD left for long periods of time will quickly become a nuisance barker, digger and chewer.
  
  
• They require obedience training, basic commands and house manners. German Shepherds are a very powerful breed, and unless taught to walk nicely on a lead, they can drag their owner on quite a tour of the neighborhood, Obedience training should also include socialization, with other animals and with humans.
  
  
• German Shepherds are very intelligent dogs, and require a firm handle. This does NOT mean an abusive handler but, rather, one that will confidently take his/her place as pack leader (there is a BIG difference). German Shepherds need a job to do, and if left to their own devices too often, they will create their own enjoyment, which could be eating your furniture, digging up your back yard, or barking non-stop all day long.
  
  
• Remember, the GSD is big dog, an active dog, a working dog, and a loyal dog. So if you don?t mind a little extra vacuuming and extra time spent on your dog, then in return you will have a wonderful friend and companion.

Good luck with Striker, and PLEASE, get him a job for the sake of the breed!!!

Congrats! See, it was meant for you and Stryker (love the name) to be together.

It's pretty cool that my first post is about GSDs. We lost our first one last year.She was about two months shy of 14. We also have a male AWS (American white shepherd) who we love dearly.
 
In know this matter is mostly settled, but for future readers, I'll add that my observations would echo a lot of what is said here.
 
My thoughts would include:
 
* GSDs are VERY much the kind of dog that wants to be where you are. I think it would be very cruel to make one an outside dog only. If you don't want to deal with shedding, a GSD is probably not the right dog for you.
* They are extremely athletic and need space to stretch out their legs. They can very prone to gaining weight if they don't get plenty of recess.
* They are barkers, LOUD barkers.
 
Also they can be pretty intimidating to those who don't know the breed or dogs in general. This may or may not be a good thing. I personally think it is kind of sad. They are so sweet.