I want to buy a dog and I don't have mucn experience with dogs; so can I buy a puppy German Shepherd Dog?

Question

Please give me all the tips to raise the dog in a good way and please tell me the qualities and everything about this breed. Thanks

Answer 1

HOW TO AVOID RUINING YOUR LIFE:

1. Do lots of research into breeds. SelectSmart has a great breed match program on their web site ( http://www.selectsmart.com/DOG/ ), but don't stop there....look further into their recommendations.

2. Be certain you have the time, energy, and money to devote to a dog. Most dogs need at least an hour of exercise daily. They need to be walked and groomed. They do not always travel well. They have special medical needs that are costly. They must be fed. They demand attention when you may be tired from other things. All dogs must be socialized and trained. Puppies, in particular, need special training. If you don't have the requisite resources, consider getting a cat or a pet that requires less from you.

3. Take any dog you get to a training class .... or 2 .... or 3. You must establish a pecking order in the household, and you must be on top of it, both for your own peace of mind and for your dog's safety and well-being.

Answer 2

Well buying a dog or any animal takes a lot of thought and change. A dog takes more responsibility than a cat, bird, or small animal. There is the feeding of course, walking twice a day(or if you have a large yard letting him/her outside), playing with, obedience training, buying toys, beds, leashes, collars ect, socializing the puppy, getting shots, and lots of other different things are involved. German Shepherds are big dogs that involve more work. If you live in an apartment, thats not a great choice for that dog breed, however it could work if he/she gets plenty of outside time. Really these dogs are happy when they have work to do, thats why alot of them are used in military work, police work..., ect. They are very intelligent dogs and they just need something to do. These dogs are very loyal and faithful as well, great gaurd dogs, and companions. If you get your german shepherd from a puppy and train him/her it could work out fine. If this would be your first dog, then this breed should not be the first on your list, otherwise you could end up with a very big dog that your not used to handling. Other good dogs are Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Sheltland Sheepdog, and there are other breeds that would make more mellow companions as well. Anyways here is some information on German Shepherds....
Good Luck, hope everything works out well :)

Answer 3

Simply to warn you we had a appear at buying one, and prices for domestic dogs have been from £500. Some huge cash! We rather obtained a rescue dog from Battersea. We have been fortunate and ended up with a 5 month historic German Shepherd move Collie. High-quality pup that had been a stray. There is a German Shepherd Rescue centre, who could also be able to aid suggest breeders, or else you'll be capable to re home a kind of. Bare in intellect that they are giant puppies and will want quite a few undertaking and stimulation.

Answer 4

Just to alert you we had a seem at shopping one, and fees for dogs have been from £500. A lot of cash! We as an alternative received a rescue dog from Battersea. We have been fortunate and ended up with a five month historic German Shepherd move Collie. Fantastic doggy that were a stray. There is a German Shepherd Rescue centre, who could also be capable to aid advise breeders, in any other case you can be capable to re dwelling a type of. Bare in brain that they're colossal puppies and can want plenty of pastime and stimulation.

Answer 5

I would stick with an easier, more pliable breed. German Shepherds need a lot of exercise, stimulation (or they come up with ways to get into trouble), and just basic purpose. For some German Shepherds, they need a JOB! For a novice dog owner, maybe a mix breed non-working breed would be better.
I have 2 male German Shepherds. They are the BEST dogs in the world, but I would NOT recommend a German Shepherd to someone who is not prepared for this busy breed!
PS My boys are busy in Schutzhund, the true test of the breed! Believe me, I keep them busy!

Answer 6

German Shepherds are SMART and need a lot of training. Without rules and appropriate toys, they get bored and can destroy your house. You need to committ to obedience training for YOU and the dog. You also need to have the time and inclination to exercise your dog. They will need a very long walk or a jog twice a day, especially when they are young. These are also very loyal and territorial dogs, so you need to train them early so that you are in control and that they don't run your life. These are WORKING dogs and they are happiest when they are WORKING. They need something to do and they need boundaries and rules.

Do some research on the breed - try www.akc.org, as well as read some books on puppy housetraining and how to care for and raise a dog. This is is committment for the LIFe of the animal so you need to be ready for the ups and downs for 10-18 years for a dog.

You also need to budget probably around $45 a month for food, as well as a couple hundred per year for check-ups and vaccinations.

Answer 7

Well, there certainly are a lot of characteristics about German Shepherds, but i recommend reading "The Good Shepherd: A Pet Owner's Guide To The German Shepherd Dog" by Mordecai Siegal and Matthew Margolis. It will be able to tell you everything you need to know about German Shepherds. Also, you could go to a pet store or to the vet and ask them about the German Shepherd Breed.
Sure, they need a whole lot of care, but they are so lovable.

Answer 8

I am not a shepherd fan myself, so I can't tell you a lot about them except from my experience working at a shelter.

First let me clear up some misconceptions:
The abercrombie chick thinks that big dogs require experience and you should get one later in life. WRONG. Big dogs and small dogs are very similar. Big dogs tend to be less high strung than many of the toy breeds. You do have to train them. Whereas an unsocialized untrained small dog can be very annoying and can sometimes do some harm, an unsocialized untrained large large is harder to ignore and runs the risk of being more dangerous. But IMHO why would you wnat a dog at all if you weren't going to socialize and train it? Big dogs are steadier, easier to handle for training, and generally make better family pets for children.

Someone else (forgot who) suggested watching Cesar Milan, National Geographic Channels "The Dog Whisperer." This guy advocated disciplining your dog by using a dominance roll. This techniques has you physically roll your dog onto its back and physically restrain it. For a new dog owner, this is a VERY DANGEROUS technique. Although a lot of his stuff is good, because he recommends this technique, I would NEVER recommend him to a new dog trainer.

Now on to your questions:
The very best book you can get on raising and training dogs is The Toolbox for Remodeling Your Problem Dog. It's not just for dogs with issues. It gives very clear, simple instruction in how to teach your dog to behave using positive reinforcement. The book is by Terry Ryan and is out of print. You'll have to get a used copy on ebay or at the used book store.

As for the breed itself, I would recommend going to the library and checking out some books.

Some things I know about the GSD as a breed. They are bred for herding originally and are now used for things like police work. They are very smart and very strong. They tend towards liking one person in the family better than the others, but they do well in a family setting beyond that. They have a (to me anyway) VERY ANNOYING whine when they want something. It's not a constant thing, but sets my teeth on edge when they do it.

The popularity of the GSD makes puppy mill and backyard breeding of these dogs very common. There are a large number of low quality animals that may have personality issues (many are kind of nippy) and genetic issues (hip displaysia is a big one.) If you choose the breed, you will be happier paying more from a reputable and ethical breeder. AKC.org has a breeder referral, or ask at local shows and breed clubs.

Some tips on raising any puppy "in a good way":
1. make it an inside pet.
2Get all required vaccinations and keep it on monthly heartworm prevention and Frontline Plus.
3. housetrain it. don't use puppy pads. Take him on a leash to the potty spot, stand there until you get the desired results, then give a special good treat, get off the leash and play.
4. Never punish your dog when it does wrong. He doesn't know why you do this. Instead distract him to end the behavior, redirect him towards acceptable behavior, reward him when he does it right.
5. Exercise exercise exercise. A tired dog is a good dog.
6.Socialize him towards strange people and places. Once he is fully vaccinated, take him everywhere. Make it fun and safe for him. Otherwise once he passes a certain age of puppyhood, it will become very hard to socialize him and he may show signs of fear aggression. A very bad thing.
7. Feed high end pet food. The cheap stuff is not the same.
8. Go to your vet regularly.
9 Spay or neuter for health and behavior reasons.
10 Take a training class from a teacher who uses positive training methods. Training class is to teach YOU not the dog.
11. Have a question or concern? Don't let it fester. Ask your vet or trainer right away. Too many dogs become abandoned to become yard ornaments because the owner never asked the question that would have solved the whole behavior problem.

In short: Make your dog a part of the family. Show your dog only love. Teach him manners. Take care of his health.

That is the recipe for a good dog.

Answer 9

i don't know alot about the breed, except they can be good watch dogs. good idea to research it on line. they are a large breed so make sure you have a big enough yard & $$ to feed it . my 2 dogs go through 40 lb a month eaisly! you can buy a good book from the series " dummies " i'm sure they have one for sheppards. crate trainging is the best , it's not cruel, my akita now thinks of her crate as her room. my husband had several german sheppards when he was young, he said they are very loyal & protective! females can get to be 80 -100 lb...males...up 120+. they best thing to do is if you have your heart set on a shep , try to find a rescue group in your area ^ see if they have any young ones. don't be affraid to search out of your state. some rescue groups will have volenters drive the pet & switch off every 300 miles to another,,,till it reaches u. i live in az & was considering adopting a siamese fom new mexico..they were going to do that for us...

Answer 10

Yes you can buy a puppy German Shepherd Dog.