What one item do you think is indespensible for a new ownerof a GSD? - Page 1

While I'm waiting for my puppy's 12 week birthday when I get to bring him home and then not speak to him for 2 days (Yard to crate, crate to yard, 3rd day I get to walk him, work on his obedience training and then play), I'm watching 3 training videos from my breeder/trainer, and (who knew?) buying all the necessary paraphernalia (as bad as having a first baby) listed in my breeder's instructions, and now I'm reading posts here that scare the living daylights out of me like a GSD choking because it swallowed a ball.  I quickly went online and bought two Gappay balls and a Starmark ball with a hole in it in case he swallows it, he can still breathe. Good grief.  Help me out here, I haven't had a GSD or a dog since the early 70s when I was a kid, I'm turning 55 this month and figured since I don't travel all over the country while working now, this is my last opportunity to buy a wonderful dog, I've got the time and patience.  What should I not be without?

SharonCA wrote:
'While I'm waiting for my puppy's 12 week birthday when I get to bring him home and then not speak to him for 2 days (Yard to crate, crate to yard, 3rd day I get to walk him, work on his obedience training and then play),'


Umm, what?
Not speak to him for 2 days?

Not Speak To Him for 2 days, WHY NOT??

Are you allowed to hug him, kiss him, pat him ???

What kind of a breeder are you dealing with ?

 No talking??? Downright evil!   

Bully sticks... I was doing bulk.....

Yeah, uh, WTF?  And who is this breeder who thinks puppies can't go home before they're 12 weeks old?

good advice by the sounds of it, good luck with your pup

Food.  Otherwise you won't have a dog for very long.  

It sounds like the puppy is coming from Thinschmidt's in Corona, CA from the DVDs and the go home age, I believe the puppy has probably been doing their 4 week obedience program, 8-12 weeks old. I think they go home able to do a 30 minute down stay if I remember correctly among other commands?????? Not sure I could get my 6 times SchH3 male to do a 30 minute down stay LOLOL!!

My essentials were Bitter Apple spray (to keep them from chewing the furniture) and a nice quality Bite Rag (usually leather or jute material with a handle at one end, used to build drives and encourage good bite skills later on in life)

But yeah, I second that "um WTF" about not talking to the pup for 2 days...That's utter nonsense. I occasionally ignore my puppy  when he starts getting to clingy but its only for short intervals and I certainly couldn't imagine not talking to him...jeeze.

Look at it from a logical perspective like this (sure I'll be flamed for comparing a human to a puppy, but too damn bad) how would YOU like it if someone randomly came, picked you up and took you to a new home, away from the family and surroundings you had known your whole life and then didn't speak to you for two days? You'd likely be a basket case. Not to mention, how does not talking to him help the initial bond? Dogs respond not to only to our words but our voice ques, just some food for thought.

"Not sure I could get my 6 times SchH3 male to do a 30 minute down stay LOLOL!!"

That's a lot of pressure on a 12-week-old pup.

"It sounds like the puppy is coming from Thinschmidt's in Corona, CA..."

Looks like a pretty nice puppy mill.