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by myjordash on 14 April 2012 - 15:04
I do not have my mind made up, I have already changed my mind about getting two pups....to possibly getting one. The one I get (if I get one) will be fixed. I am trying to get information to determine whether this breed will work for my circumstances, whether it will be a good fit for my family (2 legs and 4 legs), and whether NOW or later is a good time to even jump into this venture. My dogs are a part of my family....that is why I am doing the research to ensure it will work before getting a new member....and if GSD is not a good fit for my family I will research other breeds. Don't always assume the worst....there are good people out here just researching and looking for answers.
by aceofspades on 14 April 2012 - 18:04
Lots of people, breeders icluded, will rotate the dogs in and out, some in and some out, everyone takes turns. Also like mentioned above, some breeders have females that live in family homes who they take back for breeding and then again close to whelping time and they whelp at the breeders and the breeder raises the puppies and then the female goes back to her family after that. In these cases the dogs are often kept in very nice indoor/outdoor runs.
I have three GS dogs and right now they all are inside most of the time. I am considering a 4th....but not sure if that will be this year or next and definitely NOT before I have at least four 10x10 covered runs for them....each dog has it's own run. We have 5 acres, plus our neighbour's 5 acres (they are life family), so essentially ten acres that our dogs have free run on, and I feel like I do not have enough room to properly keep my dogs until we do some major modifications to our fencing set up proper runs and kennels for them. We will start with 10x10 outdoor runs and the dogs will still all sleep inside at night, and eventually make the runs indoor/outdoor. The reason for this is mostly as a safe place for the dogs to be when we can't be with them and as a safe place to keep an in season female or the males if the in season female is loose on the property. I or my husband is almost always home....the dogs are alone less than 2 hours a day on average, most days maybe 20-30 minutes, but we travel as well and I will bring one or two dogs with me, but we have a house sitter and those times we need safe places for the dog(s) that are staying home while my husband is at work or while the house sitter is not here.
It really is important to make sure that the dog(s) all have a safe place where they can go. We have always trained our kids that when a dog goes into it's crate it is saying "please don't bother me" so the kids respect that the crate is the dog's safe place. Having more than two dogs together in any situation, without taking major precautions, is not a matter of if there will be problems it is when, and this goes for pretty much any breed, but especially a dominant breed like a GSD. I for one am not saying "don't do it" but make sure you have all of the necessary precautions in place before you do it so that you avoid heartbreak. My GSDs have killed small animals, yet they are the most loving dogs ever. We have a small dog and we have not had any issues, but I can see even in playing togethr that one of the GSDs could easily get carried away and accidentally hurt or kill our little dog. They are always supervised when together. My dogs killed our rabbits when I turned my back for a mere second.....these are rabbits that they had cuddled with in the past. Our dogs have caught and killed wild rabbits, and someone around here must have had their chickens get out because last summer I found Ace in our front yard eating a chicken (let me tell you I cleaned that up fast, I was waiting for some chicken farmer to come hunt me down), and these are dogs that are enclosed on our property so the chicken found it's way into our yard somehow. These are all things you have to consider when you have a dog such as a GS. many of the people here have multiple GS's, but most of them are not combining them with multiple small children and multiple small breed dogs, who are intact, and most of the dogs around these parts are worked hard and used for sport and they get tired out daily. A bored GS is a destructive GS......I have the holes to china in my back yard to prove it....LOL. When they start getting destructive it is an indication that someone needs more time than they are getting. They also need to be mentally tired out in addition to physically tired out. They really are a high maintenance breed. If you want something big that will scare people but is relatively low maintenance, get a bullmastiff. They are shockingly low maintenance for such a large dog, but still a great deterrent for people who may consider trying to steal from you.
I have three GS dogs and right now they all are inside most of the time. I am considering a 4th....but not sure if that will be this year or next and definitely NOT before I have at least four 10x10 covered runs for them....each dog has it's own run. We have 5 acres, plus our neighbour's 5 acres (they are life family), so essentially ten acres that our dogs have free run on, and I feel like I do not have enough room to properly keep my dogs until we do some major modifications to our fencing set up proper runs and kennels for them. We will start with 10x10 outdoor runs and the dogs will still all sleep inside at night, and eventually make the runs indoor/outdoor. The reason for this is mostly as a safe place for the dogs to be when we can't be with them and as a safe place to keep an in season female or the males if the in season female is loose on the property. I or my husband is almost always home....the dogs are alone less than 2 hours a day on average, most days maybe 20-30 minutes, but we travel as well and I will bring one or two dogs with me, but we have a house sitter and those times we need safe places for the dog(s) that are staying home while my husband is at work or while the house sitter is not here.
It really is important to make sure that the dog(s) all have a safe place where they can go. We have always trained our kids that when a dog goes into it's crate it is saying "please don't bother me" so the kids respect that the crate is the dog's safe place. Having more than two dogs together in any situation, without taking major precautions, is not a matter of if there will be problems it is when, and this goes for pretty much any breed, but especially a dominant breed like a GSD. I for one am not saying "don't do it" but make sure you have all of the necessary precautions in place before you do it so that you avoid heartbreak. My GSDs have killed small animals, yet they are the most loving dogs ever. We have a small dog and we have not had any issues, but I can see even in playing togethr that one of the GSDs could easily get carried away and accidentally hurt or kill our little dog. They are always supervised when together. My dogs killed our rabbits when I turned my back for a mere second.....these are rabbits that they had cuddled with in the past. Our dogs have caught and killed wild rabbits, and someone around here must have had their chickens get out because last summer I found Ace in our front yard eating a chicken (let me tell you I cleaned that up fast, I was waiting for some chicken farmer to come hunt me down), and these are dogs that are enclosed on our property so the chicken found it's way into our yard somehow. These are all things you have to consider when you have a dog such as a GS. many of the people here have multiple GS's, but most of them are not combining them with multiple small children and multiple small breed dogs, who are intact, and most of the dogs around these parts are worked hard and used for sport and they get tired out daily. A bored GS is a destructive GS......I have the holes to china in my back yard to prove it....LOL. When they start getting destructive it is an indication that someone needs more time than they are getting. They also need to be mentally tired out in addition to physically tired out. They really are a high maintenance breed. If you want something big that will scare people but is relatively low maintenance, get a bullmastiff. They are shockingly low maintenance for such a large dog, but still a great deterrent for people who may consider trying to steal from you.
by myjordash on 14 April 2012 - 19:04
My neighbor/friend is going to be breeding her English Mastiff in about a year and she tells me it is the best breed in the planet....I will have to research that breed as well. Thank you for shedding more light on this subject and the reasoning behind the out door runs. I do have allot to consider....
by mfh27 on 14 April 2012 - 21:04
Myjordash, the difference between you coming on and saying you have 8 pet dogs and BoCRon saying she has 8 dogs is that BoCRon is an experienced trainer; you on the other hand came off as a hoarder in your initial post. It was only later you clarified your situation.
If you're looking for a scary looking dog that will bark, then consider livestock guard dogs. They are lower prey drive and have much more natural protective instincts.
If you're looking for a scary looking dog that will bark, then consider livestock guard dogs. They are lower prey drive and have much more natural protective instincts.
by ILGSDs on 15 April 2012 - 00:04
Try looking at shiloh shepherds or king shepherds that are specifically bred as family dogs, not working dogs. I think even a showline from west german bloodlines would be overwhelmed in your household.
by aceofspades on 15 April 2012 - 00:04
King shepherds are great dogs. I don't know enough about Shilos to comment.
Kings have the disposition of a golden retriever but the look of a gigantic shepherd. Great family dogs that adapt well.
by Bhaugh on 15 April 2012 - 18:04
As someone who used to rescue Mastiffs ( placed my last female English Mastiff last sept) be prepared for your life to go topsy turvy. Although lazy and wonderful as an adult, they will give you a run for your money as a puppy (slow to mature mentally) Its hard to stop a 120lb puppy who says "Cat?" They are heavy droolers and can ransack a room in an hour. From what I have heard from my gals adoptive parents is that she got out of her heavy wire crate and ate the couch. Whew better them than me!
A well bred SOUND puppy will make the adustment from kennel to home in short time. I would not give that much consideration if you find what you like.
A well bred SOUND puppy will make the adustment from kennel to home in short time. I would not give that much consideration if you find what you like.
by SitasMom on 16 April 2012 - 01:04
I keep my dogs indoors....
by myret on 16 April 2012 - 09:04
I have bought all my gsd from breeders that keep them in kennels outside and they are very nice dogs just as much as dogs raised in the house
by John Kennedy on 20 April 2012 - 01:04
Hello,
I take my bedroom closet door off and put a kennel door in its place. Closet is 6ft by 6ft. Plenty of room to place a whelping box in and enough room for momma to hop out to get away from pups when they get to 3 weeks old. This is a lot better than having it out in the building and having to constantly walk out there to check up on them.
Once the pups reach around four weeks of age (this part is a pain), they spend time out in the building and outside for about an hour or so, depending on the weather. When they get to around 6 weeks, they spend most of the day outside of the house, weather permitting. Around seven weeks, they get to play in the mud and whatever else they can get into.......lol.
I do not like kids playing with pups before they are 6 weeks of age.....JMO
Kind regards,
John Kennedy
I take my bedroom closet door off and put a kennel door in its place. Closet is 6ft by 6ft. Plenty of room to place a whelping box in and enough room for momma to hop out to get away from pups when they get to 3 weeks old. This is a lot better than having it out in the building and having to constantly walk out there to check up on them.
Once the pups reach around four weeks of age (this part is a pain), they spend time out in the building and outside for about an hour or so, depending on the weather. When they get to around 6 weeks, they spend most of the day outside of the house, weather permitting. Around seven weeks, they get to play in the mud and whatever else they can get into.......lol.
I do not like kids playing with pups before they are 6 weeks of age.....JMO
Kind regards,
John Kennedy
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