Thinking of 3rd gsd.what sex/age should I choose? - Page 2

My own simple thought.. 1 GSD = 2 hands 2 GSD = 2 hands 3 GSD = still only 2 hands to work with, one will feel put out. That is in a family situation, 2's company 3's a crowd

I thought that once the pack order is established(yes after a fight or two probably!) the dogs would know their position and things would settle. Take lessons on how to break up a dog fight and plan on being biten.

klekoni, You only said that you are "keen of getting"another dog without any other information as to why you want a third dog. I would highly recomend you taking some time to look at your reasons vs. how well it will work out in the long run for you and your dogs.Example: are you prepared to clean up crap for 3 dogs, haul 3 dogs around with you, spend a fair amount of time with 3 dogs, break up fights or seperate them on a perminent basis if need be, and the list goes on. Dogs are a tremendous responsibility and each one requires lots of individual time ( especially the gsd ). So you need to ask yourself all of the hard questions and know why it is important for you to have another one. This is not meant to talk down to you, it's just to help you look at the whole picture, cause when it's all said and done your life will go on but the dogs will have to live with it IF it doesn't work. Good luck in your decision process.

Another 2 cents worth: To gottagsd - your "simple thought" is Brilliant! To 1doggie2 and klekoni - some dogs will fight to the death, way beyond a skirmish to establish pack order. Even if you manage to get them separated, the vet bills can be enormous. IMO, humbly offered, I think you will enjoy the 2 you have far more if you wait a LONG time to get a third. It is nice to let an old, very civilized family dog teach a pup manners. That dog-to-dog socialization makes later training much easier. Have fun. Let us know what you decide. Rob

No matter what sex you choose for your third dog, there could be trouble on the horizon, and double time for you to spend with your dogs. Two females who do not get along can work up such a dislike for each other - sisters often do - they'll explode at the sight of the other. Females go to the bitter end in a fight, they kill! A male in a fight will let the other male go when it surrenders. But, surrender may only happen when the other male has been badly insured already. I own a male - he has mellowed now at 13 years of age - who loves to tease other dogs in a very strange way, with a slight flick of the head he gets the attention of the other dog and then keeps walking away. He did this to a female for a few months until one day she exploded. From then on, she would explode at the mere sight of him. He himself is not a fighter, he doesn't care but he loves the attention.