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by Genipher on 26 November 2010 - 07:11
Hi everyone,
I'm new here & this is my first post - I'm getting a 7-month-old German Shepherd female tomorrow and I need some advice! I have three kids, ages 16, 5, and 3 - is this safe (for my kids I mean : )? My two youngest kids will not be here this weekend when I bring the dog home - they'll be returning Sun. eve. Is this a good idea or should they be here so the dog knows this is their home? Also, when I met the dog it seemed quite rambunctious and I'm told it still jumps up on people - I will need to extinguish this behaviour immediately - what is the fastest way besides an e-collar?
Thanks for any advice!
Jennifer
I'm new here & this is my first post - I'm getting a 7-month-old German Shepherd female tomorrow and I need some advice! I have three kids, ages 16, 5, and 3 - is this safe (for my kids I mean : )? My two youngest kids will not be here this weekend when I bring the dog home - they'll be returning Sun. eve. Is this a good idea or should they be here so the dog knows this is their home? Also, when I met the dog it seemed quite rambunctious and I'm told it still jumps up on people - I will need to extinguish this behaviour immediately - what is the fastest way besides an e-collar?
Thanks for any advice!
Jennifer
by Ace952 on 26 November 2010 - 08:11
Sounds like you are getting a dog without doing any homework first.
Good luck with that.
by Penny on 26 November 2010 - 08:11
Hi Jennifer,
A seven month old is not the easiest for some-one new to dogs, as you sound. Did you not already introduce your kids to the dog? Why are the people letting her go? Find out the reason they tell you that they are letting her go, and then find out for yourself the real reason they are letting her go by doing your homework WITH HER before you bring her home.
i.e. - take her for a walk without them, introduce her to your kids especially the little one ON HER OWN HOME GROUND and see the reaction, and also as important, watch the reaction of her family.... when I let an older puppy go, it goes on a months trial, so that I can keep an eye on how things are going and the family know they can return her - if the family who have her are not willing to play that one, ask why. Does she bark at you when you arrive at her home? That is a good tell tale sign when 7 months of age... and how the family react with her if she does is another sign of how she has been taught to behave
This could work brilliantly, or it could be a disaster, but thinking E collar shows a distinct lack of trust in the dog in a big way, and a lack of confidence in yourself to train her carefully.
No dogs can be fully trained with "tools" - but every dog can be ruined with them if used wrongly.
Good luck. Mo.
A seven month old is not the easiest for some-one new to dogs, as you sound. Did you not already introduce your kids to the dog? Why are the people letting her go? Find out the reason they tell you that they are letting her go, and then find out for yourself the real reason they are letting her go by doing your homework WITH HER before you bring her home.
i.e. - take her for a walk without them, introduce her to your kids especially the little one ON HER OWN HOME GROUND and see the reaction, and also as important, watch the reaction of her family.... when I let an older puppy go, it goes on a months trial, so that I can keep an eye on how things are going and the family know they can return her - if the family who have her are not willing to play that one, ask why. Does she bark at you when you arrive at her home? That is a good tell tale sign when 7 months of age... and how the family react with her if she does is another sign of how she has been taught to behave
This could work brilliantly, or it could be a disaster, but thinking E collar shows a distinct lack of trust in the dog in a big way, and a lack of confidence in yourself to train her carefully.
No dogs can be fully trained with "tools" - but every dog can be ruined with them if used wrongly.
Good luck. Mo.
by Doppelganger on 26 November 2010 - 12:11
If you are worried about getting a seven month old GSD with kids then the answer is don't get it. Unless you are 100% sure about how the dog/kids will react then why get it and if you are thinking in terms of an e-collar at that stage then I really fear for the future of this pup.
by Penny on 26 November 2010 - 13:11
This is the way I feel too - doppeldanger is right, worries re your kids and the dog should be sorted BEFORE you collect, not after and certainly not with an e-collar. Mo.
by LMH on 26 November 2010 - 14:11
I agree with Dopple and Penny. You should have brought your kids with you. Right away you would have felt if it was doable or not. Secondly, you don't bring a new dog home and immediately start training. The dog is scared and needs some time to settle in........and, the E-collar reference is absolutely absurd......even if you only mean it as a non-usable, last resort. Sorry....but I have a bad feeling.
by ShadyLady on 26 November 2010 - 15:11
The OP's post can't be real. Sheesh.
by beetree on 26 November 2010 - 17:11
The problem with relying on an e-collar without the proper insight, will result in an untrained dog who only understands limits set by an e-collar. I know this because my sister's Australian shepherd is one such dog. Absolutely untrained but experienced in its limitations only through an ecollar.
An example would be this Thanksgiving where the dinner buffet was set and wired so the dog would not help himself. It bothered me that this dog spent his time panting, (stressed) a safe distance away from the table. I would prefer a dog learns his place and will wait calmly until the meal is finished before showing any expectations.... (yes, I give scraps but only in his bowl, after everyone is finished, and we do not have a beggar.)
I think you were given execellent advise on the General Side. Make sure your children are taught how to respect the pup... no teasing, etc. It is difficult with the little one's because they want to cuddle, not be pack leaders. I make it a game if the dog has some manners, and teach them all to play "Trainer", arm them with treats and commands so they feel empowered, for a start. Never, ever leave them alone at this stage of development in the pup and in the young kids.
An example would be this Thanksgiving where the dinner buffet was set and wired so the dog would not help himself. It bothered me that this dog spent his time panting, (stressed) a safe distance away from the table. I would prefer a dog learns his place and will wait calmly until the meal is finished before showing any expectations.... (yes, I give scraps but only in his bowl, after everyone is finished, and we do not have a beggar.)
I think you were given execellent advise on the General Side. Make sure your children are taught how to respect the pup... no teasing, etc. It is difficult with the little one's because they want to cuddle, not be pack leaders. I make it a game if the dog has some manners, and teach them all to play "Trainer", arm them with treats and commands so they feel empowered, for a start. Never, ever leave them alone at this stage of development in the pup and in the young kids.
by Genipher on 26 November 2010 - 18:11
Hi again,
My two youngest kids have met the dog, at the dogs' current residence.
Some good advice from Penny, but it's too late for me to do what you suggested. I'm picking up the dog tonight.
I hope the attitude of some of the responders here is not indicative of the personality characteristics of German Shepherd owners.
I got some great advice in the General Topic forum. Thank you to those people!
Genipher
My two youngest kids have met the dog, at the dogs' current residence.
Some good advice from Penny, but it's too late for me to do what you suggested. I'm picking up the dog tonight.
I hope the attitude of some of the responders here is not indicative of the personality characteristics of German Shepherd owners.
I got some great advice in the General Topic forum. Thank you to those people!
Genipher
by Genipher on 26 November 2010 - 18:11
Thanks also to Beetree
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