People with GSD's - advice and tips please :) General Chat

A couple of you may know I am thinking of getting a GSD in the future (4-5 years probably).

It will be my first "big" dog, as I have alfie just now, and if I get another dog between alfie and my big dog (not 100% on the gsd as I haven't done anything like enough research, but pretty sure it is what I want), it would be another small one.

Any advice/tips? How easy is training? What is the average age they live to? (I would get a puppy from a good breeder).

How much do they cost on average? (If people don't mind answering that!)

Did they have a bad chewing stage or teenage stage?

At what age are they "mature"?

Grooming wise? (My brother likes the short haired ones and plans to get one in a good 10-15 years time lol, but I prefer the long haired ones I think )

Just anything anyone can tell me would be great

And of course pics!!

I have seen GSD's but never "met" one... :-(

So that is on my "to do" list at some point too

hi they are great dogs had 3 over the years all black and tan just got a puupy gsd but he is blue and tan they have all been easy to train no problem with house training
the first lasted till 11 and the second was only nine died due to a tumor on his spleen which the vet said was very common but never heard of this before
good look in finding one thats right for you

GSDs are what I call "handler dependent" which makes training a somewhat easier task than say a husky.

Think about it, they are trained to compete in all sports, be guide dogs, search dogs, protection dogs, herd sheep, the list is endless.

They can lead long lives eg to 16 however they do tend to get a bit dodderier than other breeds when the DO age.

A well bred GSD that comes from breeding stock that has been hip and elbow scored, tested for haemophila A and eye screened can cost between £500 - £650 on average.
Did they have a bad chewing stage or teenage stage?

At what age are they "mature"?
Hmm GSDs can be very serious very young or remain very puppy like until around 2 - 3, however males in particular do change between 3 - 5 too.

Well I have a normal coated GSD (some would say too short) and he moults like there is no tomorrow. NOTHING moults like a GSD! Many longhairs do not have the correct double coat, and so may shed less.


I would strongly suggest you visit shows and kennels to be sure you can live with them if you have never met a GSD before; the reality can be somewhat different to the dream.........

Yeah this is my plan as I may meet one and just feel it isn't the right dog for me. I don't see it happening, but you never know eh!

Money I won't be concerned about as I will save and it won't be for a good few years yet anyway

I am verging on definitely sure I want a female.

Thanks for the replies

I have met a few GSD's (and a cross) apart from the cross (BC x GSD) not my cup of tea. (sorry SB!)

Why dont you find a few good breeders in your area, and ask if you can pop round for a chat and a coffee, or breed rescue.

My neighbours had a GSD x BC too and she was lovely, except she wasn't trained properly and ended up getting pts at 6 years old due to aggression

I may have a look for breeders near me then - good idea

There's a couple of GSD rescues in Scotland, may be worth seeing how far away they are. I know they're always on the look out for volunteers and fosterers!
My only GSD pup was "second hand" so can't answer on price but she definately had a real teething stage - just about every pair of jeans in my wardrobe ended up with tooth holes in the bottom But after that she never chewed anything in the house, and Casper doesn't chew anything when left now.
Prue wasn't your typical GSD because she had a few issues - most likely stemming from being from a free ad magazine, her first owner bought her from Loot for a couple of hundred pounds. Can't say she ever really mellowed out, though maybe she would have if she'd lived longer.
Casper's really calmed down in the last year or so though - I don't know his exactly age but he's roughly 4-4.5 now. Just got a lot calmer in the house and more of an 'off' button during play.
Grooming wise they just need a bit of a brush to get out the undercoat (especially when they change their coats for summer/winter), and the longhaired ones need a little bit of attention paid to the longer hair on their legs, tail, bum area, etc. to stop it knotting. Casper's hair is quite course so don't really tangle, other than the soft fur behind his ears, so I make sure I brush that frequently. But yes, GSDs moult. The best way I've heard it phrased it that they only shed once a year - it just lasts 365 days Think daily hoovering, a lint roller/brush for your clothes as you go out of the door, you'll never cook a meal without a dog hair in it for the rest of the dog's life and so on
Casper took a little while to catch on to clicker training but I've heard this said about most dogs who were previously trained using old fashioned methods. Prue was pretty quick to learn, they're intelligent dogs so they've got the brain power to learn well. Casper's definately getting the hang of it now though
Oh, also in terms of cost - remember they're big dogs and eat more food, vet treatment costs more, you have to buy things in larger sizes which costs more, etc. Insurance-wise, purebred GSDs also cost more than large crossbreeds - despite being the same age, both neutered/spayed, and nearly the same weight, Kiki's insurance is about £15-18 at most reasonable cost insurers, whereas Casper's is £25-30

Last but not least, a quick photo for you

Oh, Leo is an absolute stunner. Lovely nature, very well trained, and good looking too!

I love my shepherds and have had standard and longcoats over the years. My personal preference is for a well bred longcoat (have a look at www.kazetigsds.co.uk) but the temperment should be the same whatever the length of coat. Just beware, there are some breeders who put coat length before health and temperament and they should be avoided.

Whereabouts in Scotland are you? You would be welcome to visit my two (as well as a pack of working sheepdogs! ;-)) if you weren't too far away.

I can only echo what Smokeybear has said re ; temp, ease of training etc. They are a breed that do need lots of positive socialisation from a young age and benefit from firm but fair training - and plenty of it

As well as trying to meet plenty of shepherds, I also recommend reading John Cree's Understanding the German Shepherd Dog.

Thanks
I am in Edinburgh, where are you?
I do really love training

About an hour out of Edinburgh, in the Lammermuir Hills

Oh wow!
You are fairly close then, but not just like 5 mins away.. lol

Omg I just remembered I have met a german shepherd - kind of haha.

At alfie's puppy class (we only went to like 3 classes as I really didn't like the "trainer" at all), there was a 10 month old short haired male gsd!

I never "met" him, but sat next to them the times we went as he was Alfie's best pal there! (Alfie is JRT size and he was about 4 months old at the time.....).

Need to properly meet some though

can i ask which training class you attended? was it a course or class?

A class of "drop in sessions" so people came and went as they pleased.

It was one in Currie scout hall.

There may be 5 dogs one week and 12 the next.. none of the dogs were allowed to play/socialise, not even allowed to get too close to sniff or let them meet.

Try taking a 3-4 month old puppy to a small hall with 12 other dogs and "making them ignore them all". All it did was stress him out.

Also I didn't like her methods.
Alfie knew how to "give" but sometimes took a little time as he was so young, but tbh I didn't appreciate her pulling him up by his lead to get him to let go.....

I will admit alfie could probably do with learning to ignore other dogs at times, but as that is his only real flaw and I am working on it.

I made sure he was really well socialised and we do a lot of training so I don't regret not going, but I would have liked to have gone if it was better organised with a better trainer.

I don't think i would ever be without a GSD now, im hooked!! True loyalty

Awesome

After watching this video I totally fell in love with long haired gds's and her name is Solea which I think is lovely too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuXwKqXTBsE