German Shepard Breeder + 2nd dog Q

macl

Please PM only as per forum charter!

I have been researching various breeds over the last year and have decided that I would love a GSD. I've taken advice from other dog owners, read a tonne of material and am looking for a breeder that would best service my preference! Here's what I'm looking for:

- Breeder who's available to give me some practical advice at time of purchase, maybe free for a follow up call or two should I have them

- Breeder who breeds straight backed GSDs

- A breeder who loves what they do and loves their dogs!

Please PM me if you have any recommendations in this regard!

Second Q: We want to get a second dog in or around the same time as the GSD. Something of another breed and from a rescue. We were thinking of something like a collie and think it would be wise to get a puppy so as both dogs start off at the same time. Is this a good idea or should we get a dog a little older first?

Myself and my Fiancee work and are gone from the house approx 7 hours per day but are home for lunch which breaks that time up nicely (for about an hour) . I wouldn't like to have 2 puppies at home for this time so considered taking a week off work to ween them into the new home. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated also!

Thanks a mill

Cherry Blossom

Why do you want one dog from a breeder and one from a rescue? Just curious.

You won't get a puppy from a rescue if there isn't someone home all the time, a lot of breeders won't give you a puppy either for the same reason.

TBH I think it would be madness getting two dogs of any age at the same time, basicly 2 dogs = 3 times as much work and time put into training and you don't have the time to do this if you are working full time. How will you keep the two dogs until you are sure it's completely safe to leave them alone together without supervision. If I was in your position I would think about getting a older dog, down the line when the first dog is completely settled and trained and you are 100% confident about how no. 1 interacts with other dogs then you can think about number 2. When it comes to the second dog you may not be able to just get what you want because number 2 has to be completely based on what works with the first dog. If you want a GSD fully reseach the breeds traits and those of any other breed you are considering and imagine how the two dogs would interact with each other. eg. The GSD is a herding breed so a collie might seem like a good match but Collies require a massive amount of stimulation and some can be quite highly strung so in that case you need to consider if you are able to cater for this on a daily basis (hours of exercise, training etc. day in, day out).

Sorry it's all a bit hypothetical but that's the angle you need to be coming from tbh. One definite I can say for sure is that the second dog should be the opposite sex to the first one, male/female pairs get on best.

maggiepip

It is great to have 2 dogs to keep each other company but I strongly advise you not to get the 2 together.

Get one dog first and bond with that dog, train him etc... Then introduce the second dog at a later stage (after about 10 to 12 months). The resident dog will then (hopefully) also be a better example for the new dog to follow.

What happens if two new dogs are brought into a new home at the same time is you will find them very difficult to train and form a connection with. They will gravitate towards one another more and basically wont listen to you! (of course there are exceptions, but this is what generally happens).

I would agree you might be better getting a more mature dog if you will be out at work.

gud4u

It would be hard to leave one pup alone for a few hours and even harder to leave two, twice as much carnage when you get home:p

We got our first GSD and had him for about 10 months before getting a JRT, which imo seems to be a good match for the GSD, a lot of people I know and see have this combination. I'm sure others will have different suggestions.

The transition from 1 to 2 can be a handful and I would definately suggest a small dog as you're second. It went well for us, our first GSD was 18months when we got him, didn't get a pup on our first. It was hard training the JRT with the GSD bouncing around so two pups would be hardship.

The Jrt is small but tough and has the energy to keep up with a GSD.
I would suggest the GSD first, but honestly don't know how you're ging to manage a GSD pup if you're not there daily, although, you did say you would be home for an hour? even so, they take a lot of work and are a real people dog, loving attention and you'll see some threads here about the trouble they can cause when bored..they also get anxious if left alone too long, etc, etc but I'd say you know that anyway.

Our first GSD was very pychologically damaged and the JRT calmed him, so introducing extra dogs can be a good thing. Our second GSD is a gentle fool and hates being left alone too long, but has the company of the JRT. We got him at 6 months and trained as we didn't have the time for a pup. (PM'd you that breeders details)

Either way, one or two, you're going to have your hands full, so good luck with whatever you choose.

macl

adrenalinjunkie wrote: »

Why do you want one dog from a breeder and one from a rescue? Just curious.

Personal reasons.

adrenalinjunkie wrote: »

You won't get a puppy from a rescue if there isn't someone home all the time, a lot of breeders won't give you a puppy either for the same reason.

Just to put a practical slant, 4 days a week there would be no one there from 9.30 to 12.30 and from 1.30 to 5. Is this too much for 1 puppy? Assuming I'm taking a week off work to break him into the house, get used to his surroundings etc etc

Agreed on the male/female mix

gud4u

macl wrote: »

Personal reasons.



Just to put a practical slant, 4 days a week there would be no one there from 9.30 to 12.30 and from 1.30 to 5. Is this too much for 1 puppy? Assuming I'm taking a week off work to break him into the house, get used to his surroundings etc etc

Agreed on the male/female mix

That's similar to what I work now, my husband is there on and off. I took a week off to get new pup settled in, but he has the company of 3 others when I'm not there. He toilet trained really quick and I put this down to following the others.
Our first GSD would have been older but was on his own from 8am-6pm some days,and it didn't bother him,( it would be cruel to leave our present gsd like that as he's more sensitive:o) depending on my work at the time, he had a big garden and was beside a yard that had people calling during day, he seemed happy.
We have four dogs now and they're happy out, they chase each other, play and lie around all day. Once I'm home they're in/out as they please.

All I can say is our GSD is the most demanding of our affection when we've been away for a few hours, even the pup doesn't create the racket the gsd does. If he's really craving attention he'll bark at the ground and dig stones until you pet him. Despite being 2years now, the pup still breaks out in him and he sometimes jumps on you for attention.

portgirl123

macl wrote: »

Personal reasons.



Just to put a practical slant, 4 days a week there would be no one there from 9.30 to 12.30 and from 1.30 to 5. Is this too much for 1 puppy? Assuming I'm taking a week off work to break him into the house, get used to his surroundings etc etc

Agreed on the male/female mix

yeah personally i do think this is to long for a pup to be left alone, dont get me wrong of course ppl have to work, but even though you are home for a hr during the day, this would be great for a older dog, who is going to house train him? at first a pup needs to be brought out every 20 mins or so. also i have a gsd and they dont like be left for long periods. they are a real person dog

Kash

Firstly, I agree with the posters above. Two dogs are great company for each other, but getting two together will more than double the work. Puppys are hard work at the best of times. So, I would get one, work on socialising and training it as conmpletely as possible, and then introducing a new pup when it is older. There are 3 years between our two and this seems to be a good gap (granted they are mother and pup, which i think is probably easier). Giving yourself some time inbetween will allow you to recognise what doggy traits you will look for in a second dog.

On leaving a pup alone for 3-4 hours at a time... this does not seem unreasonable to me. It's not ideal, but it's not a disaster waiting to happen either. It gets easier the older the dog gets - pups can probably 'hold it' an hour per month of age. Any longer and you risk damaging their kidneys etc. But you need to do it right, and ideally you would be able to build up to it.

For example, you are taking a week off, could your girlfriend take the following week (or even a week of half days?) Could you stagger your lunch-breaks or your work days so that at least one of you is at home more often? Can either of you work from home?

Then you need to keep the entertainment and activity levels up - walks and playtime before you leave, at lunch, and after you come home. Interesting chew toys - the kong is my two's favourite, with a bonio and/or peanut butter stuffed inside. That can keep either of them entertained for a very long time.

Best of luck with your new pet, I am sure you will give each other endless joy

macl

Thanks for your feedback.

We're both active so a walk in the morning / evening is not a problem or a new thing for us. Apart from the few hours during the day (4 days a week) the GSD would be kept quite active. I understand they are very much people orientated dogs hence why I was concerned about leaving them for those few hours and posted here.

We'll probably get one older dog accustomed to us and the house etc before bringing in the GSD but will keep an eye out for good matches for now.