Puppy/College - Page 1

 Hi,

 There's a lovely 3 month old GSD puppy ready for a home near me.  He's smart and confident, a red sable boy with a drive that will make him a great schutzhund dog.  I'd love to give this pup a home, but I'll be going away to college in a couple years.  I'm looking for some opinions here... What's the best thing to do?  Find some way to take the dog when the time comes?  Find someone willing to care for him?  Not adopt at all?

 Be honest, please. Thanks.

 CJ 

If you can't care for the dog for the entirety of its life, let someone who can.  Now if the dog is in a shelter type of situation and the clock is ticking then take the dog until you can re-home him.  Schutzhund is not going anywhere.  Find a club near you.  Many people often become collectors and would like help in training their dogs. There will always be another litter of hopeful prospects as well.  Use this time to learn pedigrees and the muscular and skeletal systems of the GSD.  You know what the right answer is kiddo.

Kyle

I faced a similarly tough decision when I was a junior in high school.  I had fallen in love with a dog that my trainer owned.  If I had bought the dog, I would have had to limit my college options to local colleges because my parents were not willing to care for the dog had I gone away to college and because those colleges required freshmen to live in the dorms.  I decided not to get the dog; and I am very happy with my decision because I was able to go to a top university.

If you are unsure about what will happen to this pup when you go to college, I suggest not getting it.  Don't put yourself in a situation where you have to choose between whats best for your future and giving up your beloved companion.  I would wait until your situation is more stable and you know with more certainty that your dog will have a home with you.  I planned my college class schedule so that I would have an easy Junior year to raise a young SchH pup.  Before I even put a deposit down on a puppy, I made sure to sign a lease with an apartment complex that would allow me to have a German Shepherd.

In the meantime, maybe you could foster dogs with a local German Shepherd rescue.  Try teaching those dogs Schutzhund style obedience or tracking so that when your pup comes along, you will have a good amount of experience and wont make beginner mistakes.

mfh27, What a wonderful idea, the rescue and fostering. Each dog brings a different issue to deal with and helping them deal and learn is very rewarding.
You will get more of an education, the dogs will benefit from OB and getting a safe place to land until rehomed.

CJ, Lots of good advice...Ill throw in my two cents. As I cannot tell you not to get the dog because this is exactly what I did I would say that there are a ton of things to think about. Dogs arent cheap and niether is schutzhund, I know that trying to be involved in schutzhund and go to college and take proper care of a dog is tough. You never know whether you are going to run into health problems or bad hips or many other situations. My first dog had bad hips so I made the decision to place him in a pet home and get a second dog for the sport....Then I left for the Marine Corps and had to sell my dog again. Dont get me wrong I loved every minute I spent in schutzhund and with my dogs it was just tough. Another way to get involved in Schutzhund, and even compete, and get ready for when you are truly ready for a dog is to learn helper work! You can go very far in the sport doing helper work and will be of great benefit to your club. You will also learn a ton being on "the other side". I waited to get into helper work till after I got out of the Marine Corps but wish I would have concentrated on it the entire time. Whatever you do....Have fun!