GSD and Existing Dog

[Kempo]

I'm looking for some first hand answers from anyone who owns or has owned a GSD.

I've been seriously thinking about a GSD mostly as a deterent to someone breaking into the house, plus my wife has always wanted one. We currently have a 6 year old neutered male shi-tzu who is a sweet little lap dog, and barks at any strange noise, but his bark is less than intimidating.

I had a GSD years ago when I was working in the Philippines. Bought him as a puppy, but when my son was born my then wife was afraid to have him around the baby. I had him about 2 years. He was a good looking dog, all bark and no bite, but he was a handful. He was pretty destructful of things in the yard, although from what I read now, that was probably from my not giving him enough exercise.

If I got one now, he would be primarily kept in the house. Would a daily walk of a mile be enough exercise? What other things could I do to keep him/her from being destructive? I'm no athlete, but do have time as I said for a mile walk every day, and probably some other playing inside the house.

Do GSD's usually adapt to another existing dog in the house, especially if I got it as a puppy and it grew up around the existing dog?

Hair apparently is a problem, and I've read about the Furminator, which seems like a great solution.

[Platz]

German shepherds will do great with existing dogs when you raise them together from puppyhood (on the gsd's part that is). Even most adults, if they've had any socialization at all with other dogs, will adapt quite well to living with others.

Exercise doesn't necessarily have to be a daily walk, as many will portray. I get better results with fetch in the yard. Don't just sit there and toss a ball in the same direction over and over - boring! :) Get a "cuz" (look it up) or other valued toy and give it a toss in various directions. These things will hit the ground and rocket in all different directions. Dogs love it. Keeps 'em active and paying attention, not as dull as a tennis ball going the length and back 30 times.

The furminator and a regular bath will make a huge difference in the shedding. Use a good shampoo (no cheap stuff) and scrub the heck out of them when they're blowing their coat. This loosens up all the undercoat trying to come out. Towel dry well and once they are completely dry, follow up with the furminator.

[swatbwana]

get a good dog with a solid temperment from a reputable breeder , expect to pay $1000,00 and up for a good example.
Yes tehe mile walk will be good, I would alos get in 15 minutes of ball tossing or tug work and about 20-or so obedience,,, this is for a home pet.
your little dog will be fine if you get a puupy and socialize early,
Crate train when not at home, a GSD in a fenced yard without supervision is not a good idea. He'll escape if he wants to mine climbed our 6 foott privacy fence at 7 months just so he could be in the front yard where the family was, yet he knows when to go to the crate and many times knows when we will be leaving so he heads in automatically.

[Kempo]

expect to pay $1000,00 and up for a good example.

Crate train when not at home, a GSD in a fenced yard without supervision is not a good idea. He'll escape if he wants to mine climbed our 6 foott privacy fence at 7 months just so he could be in the front yard where the family was, yet he knows when to go to the crate and many times knows when we will be leaving so he heads in automatically.

I've noticed on all the web-sites they are expensive if you want a good temperment. IMO though, it's worth it if you get a good one.

I wonder how hard it would be to crate train it if it was in a crate and the shi-tzu wasn't. Seems that would drive him crazy?

[oldgraywolf]

get a good dog with a solid temperment from a reputable breeder , expect to pay $1000,00 and up for a good example.
Yes tehe mile walk will be good, I would alos get in 15 minutes of ball tossing or tug work and about 20-or so obedience,,, this is for a home pet.
your little dog will be fine if you get a puupy and socialize early,
Crate train when not at home, a GSD in a fenced yard without supervision is not a good idea. He'll escape if he wants to mine climbed our 6 foott privacy fence at 7 months just so he could be in the front yard where the family was, yet he knows when to go to the crate and many times knows when we will be leaving so he heads in automatically.

All good advice. Regarding what a good pup will cost, I'd agree that $1K is about the bottom end. That said, you can pay a lot more and still get a less-than-great dog. You need to do your homework regarding breeders. Both mental and physical issues are important. Plenty of people have had great experience with shelter dogs and I salute them. I was never willing to gamble that much.

You should also pay attention to the drive level of the pup you get--he/she should be rated (independently of the breeder). If you don't know GSDs well, I would steer clear of high drive dogs. They will drive you nuts if you don't know how to deal with them.

Also, more exercise and stimulation (challenge your dog mentally) = a less destructive dog. I crate trained my GSDs when they were pups but by the time each was 6 months old they could be left in the house alone with no problems. My dogs have always gotten a lot of exercise and attention and I've never had problems with them. GSDs are wonderful dogs.

[Platz]

I wonder how hard it would be to crate train it if it was in a crate and the shi-tzu wasn't. Seems that would drive him crazy?

Nah, he'll adjust quickly. I crate train all dogs coming through here for fostering and they adjust quickly to the other dogs being out and them not. Give pup a kong with a little bit of peanut butter or a squirt of easy cheese and by the time he's finished, he'll be ready for a nap. He won't even remember that he's in a crate.

[DoubleDog]

I've had GSD's all my life. I've had a male, and a female at the same time and had no problems.

I've had as many as 3 male GSD's at the same time. Other than normal rough-housing I have never had a fight between any of my dogs...

The 2 males I have now, Logan, and Camo are the best of buds...

We've raised each from puppies, and in each instance we bought a puppy in while we've have an adult dog...

We do use a crate for the puppies...

DD~

[w30olds]

We have 5 dogs living with us. 2 are full blooded German Shepherd and 2 are mixes. We also have a border collie. All get along well together most of the time. We've had a few scraps over dominance, but they were small and no blood shed. Now they all seem to know where they fit into the pack. We have a 6 month old solid black GSD pup who has alot of drive. Loves to grab and tug on things. Loves to chase the vacuum cleaner and broom. She has solid nerves and is very alert to her surroundings. She's from German bloodlines and is super drive and a workaholic. I can rough house with her for hours and she never seems to get tired. She's the definition of a working dog and loves physical exercise. Our 3 year old GSD also has high drive. She'll wear you out playing with her Kong ball in the yard. Both are great. Our other 2 are GSD/husky mixes and they are the most affecinate of our dogs. They love most everyone they know. Both also are very energetic. Our 3 year olds buddy is our 3 year old collie whom is the Alpha of all things.

So with training and proper socialization dogs will usually get along. Until they learn who the Alpha is there might be some issues, but they will work themselves out. Most dogs tend to have a stand offish personality when meeting other dogs. It's in their blood I guess. Especially our GSD's. They usually dislike other dogs outside their pack. They are not aggressive towards other dogs though. They just don't run up to another dog/person for affection. They tend to be sort of neutral towards others, but that is the GSD's nature usually.

GSD's usually have a neutral prescience to them and I've not meet one yet who is over excited to meet new people, or dogs. With our two GSD's they will sit and observe a person from a distance and be very alert when meeting people they don't know. If they know you they will greet you with tons of affection. If they just met you then don't expect them to come to you for petting until we've proven to them that you mean no harm. After they know this you can play with them until you're dead tired.

Just wanted to chime in on what we've experienced with our dogs. It's a slow process, but with time and proper training it can be done. Good luck

[Kempo]

Thanks to all who responded. I'm still checking websites for GSD breeders in Pennsylvania and the surrounding area, and plan to visit a few of them before making a decision.

If any of you can recommend a good breeder who is very mindful of temperment, and within a reasonable driving distance of Pennsylvania, please feel free to advise me.

[Platz]

This is an incredibly reputable rescue that adopts to your state, if you're at all interested in rescue.

http://www.magsr.org/

Currently available males: http://www.magsr.org/maleadopt.htm

Females: http://www.magsr.org/femaleadopt.htm

[MARKDANIEL]

A good way to find a breeder in your area is to check with your vet, My wife used to work for a vet they know the good breeders from the bad ones. You can also go to a local Gsd dog show and find out a lot about the local breeders.

[avail]

I wonder how hard it would be to crate train it if it was in a crate and the shi-tzu wasn't. Seems that would drive him crazy?


Crate training is great, if you do it right. My GSD loves her crate. Sometimes, she even hangs out in there when I'm at home. She was raised to see her crate as a nice, safe spot to chill out. It shouldn't drive him/her crazy to see the other dog out, unless you allow him/her to get upset about it.

[blueiron]

One mile walks are not enough. Mine walks about 4 to 5 miles and still has plenty of energy. They are working dogs and don't do well as sedentary 'ornaments'.

I recommend a rescue dog about a year old. You can examine its temperment and see if it will integrate into your house. You'll save money, get a decent dog, and rescue it from an uncertain future. A pup, even from a good breeder, has no guarantees. They can be a handful and destructive as they grow.

[Kempo]

This is an incredibly reputable rescue that adopts to your state, if you're at all interested in rescue.

http://www.magsr.org/

Currently available males: http://www.magsr.org/maleadopt.htm

Females: http://www.magsr.org/femaleadopt.htm


Thanks for the links. There are some interesting dogs on there. It seems to me though that many of those dogs would be "damaged goods" due to being shuffled around or abused before? I did notice that they required you to visit them first, bringing any current pets with you, to see how everybody gets along. This will be just another thing for me to think about. I'm not in a big hurry to get a GSD, and plan to do my research as best I can before getting one. I would absolutely hate to be a person who ended up having to turn a GSD I had bought over to a shelter too. In fact, if I do decide to get a GSD, chances are I'll wait until early next spring and winter is over. We normally get lots of bad weather here in winter, which would probably curtail any exercise program I might be trying for a pup.

[Disintegr8or]

If I got one now, he would be primarily kept in the house. Would a daily walk of a mile be enough exercise? You walk time might be cut down a little after you start vacuuming the house every day. :whistling: