New Here....German Shepherd Questions..... - Page 3

I think that the odds of your new German Shepherd NOT getting along with at least one of your 8 existing dogs are so high as to make it a near certainty.  

We live on 1 1/2 acres (one acre which is completely fenced in) with 3 gsds, 2 cats, and 2 kids (in college and not at home from August to May) and believe me, that's more than enough for us.  I think with so many dogs, there will be fights even if you get the gsds as puppies.  Sorry if that's not what you want to hear, but I wonder how much time you could devote to them (gsds) since they require more time than other breeds.  You seem to already have your hands full.

I see myself as having 5 dogs, since they are the only one in my house, the others are in a separate house. But I don't want anything to happen to my existing dogs, so I guess I will pass. I never had a problem getting a dog as a puppy, my animals always got along great. But I have never owned a german shepherd. My neighbor had awful problems with her Jack Russels when she got a German shepherd. The breeder I was going to get the gsd did not think there would be an issue with her temperament gsd. She said she has several along with other breeds and has never had an issue.

 "My question is whether or not German Shepherds will get along well with my other dogs, if I brought them in as a puppy."

-Maybe, maybe not. Slightly dominant/insecure/unfulfilled GSD or yorkie and you could have a dead yorkie imo.

I would ask myself whether I could give these pups what they need, myself, in your position, could not.

Personally I doubt this would work for you. Where would you find the time to continue giving the right amount of attention firstly to your children, then to your current dogs whilst trying to raise, house train and title 2 pups who would most likely focus upon each other as opposed to you or anyone else in the picture?

I have one Son who is 7 years old and 3 GSDs, ranging from 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 years old. My Son is involved in all aspects of animal care (aside from the nasty jobs of scooping poop etc). He comes first and foremost in my life. The dogs come second but they do get individual training, playtimes, walks, mentally stimulating games and collectively too. Then there's the time they spend with my Son. This takes up almost all of my time so I really cannot see how you can dedicate yourself or your time appropriately to new pups and their needs.

In addition, all 3 of my dogs "work". Zane is an assistance dog and they all are used to work with me when I attend primary schools to teach young children how to remain safe around dogs.

Without a specific amount of stimulation for a GSD, you will definitely run into many problems that can include aggression (not only towards each otehr but possibly towards outsiders' dogs, you, your children etc) and destructive tendencies.

How would you supervise that many kids and dogs being involved together? 24 hours in a day just isn't enough to provide properly for as many as you have AND another 2 pups on top. I think you'd be doing your family, your corrent dogs, any new dogs and the breed itself a disservice by taking on any more.

You've already said you have some larger breed dogs. Why not train them for protection work if that's what you're into or get them titled?

If your current dogs are old then why not wait until they are no longer with you before changing breeds or taking on more dogs.

Glad to see you have decided to pass on this.

Now, someday in the future, you will be looking at this breed again I am sure.  When you do, look very carefully at the breeder... are they breeding American Show Line dogs and titling them in the AKC or UKC ring?  are they breeding German Showline dogs and titling them in IPO 1 and in the conformation ring?  Are they breeding German or Czech Working lines and titling them to IPO 3 or selling them to become successful working K9s, Guide dogs and so forth?  If not, then find a different breeder.

Do your homework.  The lines I mentioned above are very very different in temperament, working drives, stamina and looks!  KNOW WHAT YOU WANT. 

One of the responses you recieved mentioned German Shepherds possibly viewing the small dogs as prey and treating them as such (probably killing them).  I can tell you that this is a very real possibility.  I had a German Shepherd in my past who was not well socialized with any dogs other than the other mix breed dog I had.  She would have killed a puppy or small dog (she was obedient and never did). 

Currently I have a 3/4trs American Show Line spay and a West German Show Line Spay.  The American dog is bigger and sometimes when they play, she will suddenly go over into prey drive toward the German Show Line dog.  I have to be careful with these two dogs.. and watch for the American Show Line dog's pupils to dilate.. and this "look" to come over her (I think sometimes she has a screw loose..).  I don't allow the two to be together a lot where they can run loose (like the back yard.. I have an acre) because of this.. and these are two dogs, similar in size and the same breed and spayed! 

I work both dogs in Obedience and other things... this breed of dog needs a JOB.. and it is a LOT of work and  there are just two of them.  I have a FT job, no kids, no husband/SO.. and it is a LOT of work to keep them  occupied with training (obedience and so forth) and work/things to do!

If you do not give this breed of dog a job to do, they will find one on their own that more often than not is what you DON'T want them to do!!!

Pretty sure you guys have scared me away from ever getting a German Shepherd....I don't think I will ever be able to devote 100% of my day to one dog.  Its weird, because I have allot of neighbors that have German Shepherds, they have multiple dogs, and kids, both adults work outside of the home, the kids are in school all day, then activities,  and the dogs seem to be doing just fine.  Other than the one neighbor that had issues when her GS was a puppy.....but now her dogs all get along just fine, despite being left in the house all day while both parents work and the kids are in school.  I am not going to debate this, and it is not a chance I will ever want to take to have a dog come in and destroy my other family members.  :-(  Not a chance I will ever want to take and if German Shepherds are that tempermental than it will never be a right fit for my family.  I guess a German Shepherd should NEVER be in a household where adults work?   I guess that should be a warning plastered some where.... I know that I have time for my dogs (and kids), so again, no reason to debate.  The kids help out with the dogs, feeding, bathing, walking, running, and playing with them.  They are a part of our family, and they are the focus of allot of our day.  We all go on walks/runs together, and the dogs are by our side we are all here 95% of the day, and together on the weekends.....I wouldn't bring in another dog if I felt that I was overwhelmed or didn't have enough time for it....but apparently with all the time and love we have.....German Shepherds will never be a good fit.  I just find it weird because we spend 1,000,000% more time with our animals than our neighbors and their GSDs seem to be just fine and happy.

myjordash,  the sheer number of purebred registered GSD sitting in shelters waiting for homes, is the result of the breeds need for work.  Sadly many people do not research the breed or understand just how strong this need is.  I am glad you took the time to research. 

I won't make friends here but I don't think GSD are the best choice for young kids, especially if you already have an extra busy life with 5 young kids and 8 dogs. 

I have 3 kids (12, 11 and 2) and my dogs are great with kids but my 1yo GSD have a lot of energy.  She loves the 2yo baby but she is big and moves fast so I have to pay extra extra attention when the dog is free running and my baby is around.  She is super safe with the older kids but I am always around and never let the kids alone with the dogs even if I think my dogs are 99.99% safe with kids, we never know.

 

myjordash....honestly, in my personal opinion, no a GSD is not a good choice for a family where someone is not home most of the day.  I've owned GSD for 15 years now and even before we had kids my husband and I did not work the same shift.  He worked 8am-4pm and I worked 7:30am-10m and 4:30pm-10pm and he and I both worked less than 2 miles from home so no commute time.  I also had the flexibility in my job to stop home and check on the dogs as often as needed when needed.  For the last 9 years I have been a stay at home parent and we have 3 GSD and a little dog and I never leave the GSDs and the little dog home together.  If little dog is left home she is crated in a rom with a closed door.  They get along great, but it only takes one second for one of them to flip in to "drive mode" and I would have a dead little dog, and they will act as a team.......we lost all of our rabbits because i literally turned away for a moment, the rabbits were in a hutch.....a solid hutch, and the dogs and rabbits had been together and around each other for MONTHS.  If a rabbit got out one of the GSDs alerted us to where it was and would mouth it softly until we got there to pick it up.  Then one day I was out with everyone, like usual and I turned away for just a momet and turned back and the entire side of the hutch was destroyed and the rabbits dead, it all happened in a split second, that is all it takes for the to switch into drive and once they are in drive mode they will kill anything little, even if it is off limits, like the family yorkie.....sad ending, dog will end up destroyed or in a shelter because it reacted to a natural instinct.   

They are a very strong breed, that generally need a strong experienced handler.  They are fiercly loyal and eager to please and ALWAYS looking for a job to do.  If they are bored they get destructive, and two puppies together will almost always be destructive.

Sure there are many GSDs who live in homes where their family works all day, but As brynjulf said, the sheer number of purebred, registered GSD in shelters and rescues is an indication of how powerful the breed is and an indication of how often it does NOT work out.  they ARE a magnificent breed, they love their people, they are an amazing family dog but they really require a lot from their pack leader (YOU), and they NEED a job to do.  With a lot of little dogs i think it isn't a matter of if, it is when, something tragic happens.  If you ever do decide to get GSD (they really are a rewarding breed) I would make sure you have a fort knox secure enclosure for the little dogs to be in if you can not supervise them all together.  Most GSD can hop over a 6 foot fence like is is 18" high and it takes them just a few minutes to get under a fence as well.  

i am very glad that you had the good sense to ask qustions.  Will you find breeders who will tell you they don't see it as a problem.....of course, they want to sell their dogs.  just because they have champoion bloodlines doesn't mean they have morals, they want to make money off of you.  ay breeder worth their weight in high end kibble would not sell you  puppy right now.  I would not rule out owning a GSD all together, just for now, they are a breed that is very rewarding and GSD people spead of their dogs with a different fondness than owners of any other breed I've ever known.

Thank you for taking the time to ask questions.