Another what breed for me thread Which breed for me?

I've seen a lot here although I'm not sure whether they're Mals or Huskies or some of each I've seen litters for both breeds advertised though.

apparently the guys like them for running with (rolls eyes!)

The people running here almost all have Labs. Hugely fat labs too :? One runs with a GSD that looks obese but it could just be the fur as it's long coated. Hubbys boss runs with his Dane. I imagine he runs and the dog walks quickly.

OMG...suppose fat labs arent a rare thing..even in civvie land!

If you've got patience with training what about a Dalmatian?

They shed a ton but you can lessen it with a brush with a rubber curry comb each day.
They need plenty of exercise and like to be with you constantly (although mine sleeps till noon every day) but they are so full of personality and complete clowns.

My boy is horribly stubborn and has a short attention span, but once you get him in the mood he is so quick to learn and can do an impressive obedience display.

Now thats a dog that interests me!

I do hope you look into a working line GSD. So far, I am very impressed with mine Do you know any breeders out there? Perhaps Dyane (JoedeeUK) could have a chat with her friend (Petra?) in Germany to see if she could recommend any reputable breeders who are close to you?

No, we don't know any breeders out here, not decent breeders anyway. I would certainly appreciate any recommendations.

I'll get shot for this, but I've met so many reactive GSDs that, after the exhaustion of owning Cain, it's put me off owning another one. My dog trainer went to a good breeder, socialised and trained and his GSD is still a lungy nightmare. I know that when you get a stable GSD they are lovely, and I still love other people's! But I personally wouldn't go for a GSD puppy (for me). If I ever got another GSD I'd get an assessed adult rescue to ensure it wasn't going to grow up to be a gobby one I know it's just down to personal experiemce and is an unfair generalisation. But to be fair, after Cain, I'm half tempted to skip any puppy altogether and just head over to a rescue and find a nice rescue crossbreed that suits me. I think owning Cain has made me a paranoid sceptic

Whatever you go for, I hope you get a lovely dog, you really deserve it

I'm the opposite Moons Mum, Rupert was an adult rescue and came with more baggage than your average airport He's not completely put me off adult rescues but he has made me want a pup this time round. I do see what you're saying though and it is something that's crossed my mind, that a pup could well grow up to have problems despite socialisation and training. But I still want a puppy

I think when you've had a challenging experience, it's easy for it to cloud your view either way I still hope to get my toller puppy one day but I'm so scared that even if I train and socialise it, it might all still go wrong because of a random genetic throwback or bad experience I'm just be a silly worry wart though, most puppies grow up to be lovely balanced individuals

Although my friends who usually have adult rescues recently took in a puppy and said never again! He's lovely but so high energy, they are knackered I've never had the chance to raise a puppy from scratch and I hope to do it one day.
Any further thoughts on what breed you might go for?

Yeah, I suppose it is easy for a difficult experience to cloud your view. Same with easy experiences, Shadow and Wolf were pups when we got them and neither had any real issues. As I say, I wouldn't turn down the right adult dog, I'd just prefer a pup this time round.

Neither of us have our heart set so firmly on a specific breed we'd overlook everything else but we're both leaning towards a GSD. We're also keeping an eye out for people rehoming older pups or adults, some get a dog out here then when they get posted back rehome it rather than pay for a passport for it.

Have to admit, I've not considered a Dal yet one of the adoptions that fell through before I got Rupert was for a 5 month old Dal puppy. Poor little guy was being rehomed because he counter surfed and was "stupid". I know a few people online who have them and theirs seem wonderful dogs.

I can totally understand why you'd like a pup.

We've been incredibly lucky with Whisper. She's so ridiculously easy and has no major bad habits or issue.

But I still cherish the hope / idea of raising a pup one day and starting with a clean slate. So no, definitely no reason to feel guilty!

Have been brain-washed on here (;-) ) and think GSD's are amazing dogs. The more I learn the more impressed I am with this breed. x

I look for dogs with issues, so I'm not a good person to weigh on this one! LOL

I would not get another puppy, unless it was my Irish Terrier. Puppies drive me nuts. A 3 year old dog isn't going to suddenly develop a fear (aggression) of people cuz he gets scared by a couple of kids.

But that's my take on it... But I really do understand why you want to start with a well bred puppy. My sister wanted the same. Paid $1600 CAD for a Westie. A perfect little dog for her, and fits the breed standard perfectly! She's exactly what a westie should be, without the health issues.

I think in some ways when you get a pup you spend a lot of time thinking of the things you'll do differently next time round, once they are adults

Id quite like a rescue next in some ways but I'm limited to which rescues etc it would still be great to get a pup, but not sure id want a tiny pup, not in a bad way, it's just different. If that makes sense?