Guidance on GSD - Page 1

Dear all,

I am an Army Officer posted in the northern hills of India. I am interested in keeping a GSD. I am new to this breed and would like some guidance from any knowledgeable person regarding the preparations required before getting a GSD. It may also be noted that I am staying away from my family (being a field posting) and I have an 8 years old son & 5 years old daughter. Will the GSD be able to adjust with them after two years?  

Thanks!!  

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080830225617AAiA64Q

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/9623/willis.html

http://www.dogsey.com/dog-articles.php?t=41156

http://www.fransangsd.com/history_GSD.htm

http://www.nwk9.com/gsd_brochure.htm

Abovce are some of the links to get you started. Read and Read more before you get the dog.

Unless you gain knowledge there is no point getting a dog home. Any dog for that matter not only GSD.

cheers

Here is a FAQ which I wanted to present to you.

This should be pretty comprehensive set of information to all your queries.

cheers

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/dogs-faq/breeds/gsd/

Thanks Vikram!

You have provided me enough material to go through for next two days. However can you tell me if a GSD will be able to adjust with kids after two yeras of age

Yes if the dog is well socialized in early childhood then yes he should be a good family citizen. Its the prey drive in the dog which makes him/her go after small children. But this gets controlled after an age and early well handling

You need to handle the pup right way since early puppyhood

regards

also you need to pay utmost attention to the breeding from which you take the pup. Take a pedigreed and well bred puppy from a relaible breeding program

a well bred gsd loves children and to ensure a good transition to family life make sure the dog has been socialized to children while he is still very young.  when i had my first child i had a 4 year old gsd and he had no problem adjusting but i socialized him - let him experience kids many times - doing this before he 16 wks is key.  i also handled him the way kids can sometimes..  I pulled on him, fell on him, tripped over him, ran around him eratically ... all while he was young - i wasn't overly rough about it never put all my weight on him or pulled his ears too hard but enough to get him to be ok with unprodictible behavior but not so much as to scare him.  gsds can be trained to do most everything but they need early exposure/ imprinting - to set the stage - so they have something to build on later..