Advice for a first time owner? - Page 2

"In the case of getting an adult dog, where do you suggest I look, and what should I look for?"

Look for a German Shepherd rescue group.  These are groups of volunteers that pull German Shepherds out of animal shelters and take in ones whose owners have to get rid of them for some reason.  The dogs are placed with foster families and fully vetted-- spayed/neutered, vaccinations, heart worm testing or treatment, etc.  Most of them require an application telling them about yourself and what you're looking for in a dog, and then you can meet the dogs in their foster homes to find the best match for you.  Many dogs in foster homes go to their new forever homes already house-broken and crate trained with some basic obedience.  The adoption fee is usually in the $200-$300 region.  

Emoore - Thank you so much for the advice. Adopting a dog from a rescue group sounds right up my alley. I had been feeling a little guilty about wanting a purebred, when there are so many needy mutts out there who may never find homes. I will definitely look into that option.

>>I am in college, and planning on living in an apartment next year<<

Good luck with that. Most rescues won't even talk to you if you do not have a fenced yard. Some breeders won't either. I finally got my dog from a city pound; he was found as a stray. We both got lucky that day. I eventually bought him a house with a fenced yard. 

Gaf - That is quite discouraging. Hopefully I will be able to find a breeder or rescue group who will at least hear me out. I would be more then willing to do anything they wished in the way of assuring them of my dedication to be a responsible owner.

Happykat -- 

It definitely can be done. I live in a studio of a high rise in the city of Chicago with two WL shepherds and have never had any issues. As long as he/she will be physically AND mentally stimulated everyday, apartment living is more than manageable. My dogs go out once either in the am or pm for a long session of playing ball, and each of them also get worked in obedience. On top of that, I bring them to a PSA club twice a week. They stay happy and I stay happy :)
 

Rescues can be pretty stringent. Have you a pet history with a veterinarian?  That shows you have been a responsible owner? That probably is your only hope. A puppy and a college student in an apartment, (I did it with a lab) but there were two of us... can be daunting. We would barricade the puppy in the "kitchen" area when we had to leave. (This was before everyone had even heard of crate training, lol) When we came home all the cabinets were chewed up from the bottom. Good thing our landlord was blind. 

Beetree - I do have a pet history with my vet in my hometown, but it is all with cats. I haven't owned a dog since my freshmen year of highschool, when I moved in with my grandparents. My grandmother is terrified of dogs of all shapes and sizes. I'm probably going to have three other roommates, who may or may not have pets of their own.

Happykat,
I do not think a GSD in an apartment is a good idea at all.
Yes some pull it off, but so much depends on the dogs temperament and your ability with this breed.
It's a large dog with large needs, not a good dog for limited space and time.
Definitely think this through for the dog's sake as much as your own.
Read some of the nightmares that are posted regarding GSD's kept indoors, GSD's and obedience, maintainance and upkeep.

Moons.

There are so many purebred /mix GSD's in high kill shelters throughout the country. You might have to wait for the right one to come along, but sure you'll find one.
It could be a huge benefit for yourself & literally save the dogs life if you offer to foster the dog from the shelter for a few weeks also. You can use this as a trail period
to see if you could handle a GSD in your apartment with roommates. Many students make great foster homes with shelter dogs.
You'll be providing a loving nurturing environment to a needy dog without the 10-14 year commitment.

I'm sure you have good intentions of providing the best for the dog / puppy. Once you graduate from college / move what will happen to your dog?
Would you be willing not to move back home or take a desirable new rent if they don't allow your new dog in the future?
are you willing to fix / pay for any damages your puppy / dog may cause to your rent? Those are the harder questions you should think very hard about.

I owned a GSD in a 2 bed room apartment successfully years ago. Only work by me getting up at 5:30-6am to give her an 45 minute walk through the park + play fetch before I left for the afternoon.
I repeated this when I arrived home & then again I did a shorter walk + game of fetch before bed time. Plus took her for training 3x a week.
When I wanted to move out my landlord charge me for scratch screens on the windows & carpet cleaning to get the doggie odor out. While she never potty inside or chewed
there was some minor wear & tear I had to pay for owning a dog. My search for a new place went for 235 new apartments to choose from down to 3 which would allow dogs.
Those 3 all charged more $ for having a dog with less amenities than the other rents. but for me it was a small price to pay for keeping my dog.
Our next move was into our first home with a large fenced in yard.
 

happykat, are you a full time college student?  I have 2 kids in college full time and one of them lives in an apartment.  We own 3 gsds.  I do not think my son's apartment would make a good home for a gsd.  My son is a senior and spends endless hours studying and writing computer programs--he has no time for a dog.  My daughter is a freshmen in college and she also has no time to devote to a dog.  Knowing gsds, they require a lot of time from their owners and I know my kids could not provide that as college students.