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I am going to be 50 tomorrow, I have always wanted a german shepard. My question is do I get a pup or a grown dog. I do not have small children, but I do have small grankids. Please help decide what to do. A few other facts, I do own a house with a fenced back yard in a great neighborhood, I do not work so I have time to train. However, having had a small dog(shui-tzu) from a pup I do not like house breaking,
Thoughts, suggestions, and anything that will help make my future bestfriend and I happy.
my own preference would be for a grown dog .... 18 mos to 2 years or so.... old enough to be past the annoying puppy behaviour .... well, most of it, at least..... and young enough to still be a young dog....
Happy Birthday and what a great way to celebrate! I agree that I would look for a young adult GS. If you have any rescues within 100 miles or so, that's where I would look. Many volunteers gladly transport.
Thanks for the b-day wishes, but I live in a small town and the rescue place is empty, hence the thread request.
I run a rescue in middle TN. I"ve adopted dogs all over the east coast and have one flying out to UT this weekend. Rescues will work with approved adopters to get the new pet to them.
I second the suggestion to hit Petfinder. Also to find a young adult in rescue, not a shelter, if you've never owned and trained a large, intelligent breed dog before. And please listen to what they tell you and follow what they say. I love GSDs but they are a more difficult dog in my experience. I've got two at home right now - one a forever foster and the other is being treated for HWs and will be available after she tests positive. The male is much older and very neurotic, thus he's not available and will spend the rest of his life with us. The female is incredible - obviously professionally trained. But as amazing as she is, she's incredibly smart and active, even at 8 years old.
Do lots of resereach and make sure you let them know this will be your first so you'll need one that's already well trained.
Happy Birthday and what a great way to celebrate! I agree that I would look for a young adult GS. If you have any rescues within 100 miles or so, that's where I would look. Many volunteers gladly transport.
I use to pull and transport for GSD rescues. So yes this is another option.
I run a rescue in middle TN. I"ve adopted dogs all over the east coast and have one flying out to UT this weekend. Rescues will work with approved adopters to get the new pet to them.
I second the suggestion to hit Petfinder. Also to find a young adult in rescue, not a shelter, if you've never owned and trained a large, intelligent breed dog before. And please listen to what they tell you and follow what they say. I love GSDs but they are a more difficult dog in my experience. I've got two at home right now - one a forever foster and the other is being treated for HWs and will be available after she tests positive. The male is much older and very neurotic, thus he's not available and will spend the rest of his life with us. The female is incredible - obviously professionally trained. But as amazing as she is, she's incredibly smart and active, even at 8 years old.
Do lots of resereach and make sure you let them know this will be your first so you'll need one that's already well trained.
I totally agree here. Going through a rescue would be a benefit, they could match you up with a dog that would be great for a first time owner.
My male was very laid back, easy to train, and would have been great for the first time shepherd owner, one of my females, not so much. She was a handful and very stubborn.
Good luck with your search.
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