GSD For A College Student???

[GSDSunshine]

I think It really depends on a few things. I am currently go to college. I live with my boyfriend, so he helps but I also have a job. I have almost no free time now that I have the goober, I am either at school, at work, or playing with my dog. If I were to have a puppy, I would have lost my mind!!! And if it was just me, and I had no BF, I would have died from exhaustion.

So think about how long the dog will be alone total each day. How long will he be crated per day? How much time will you have available to exercise, play, train, groom (i know not much.. but still)? Is your yard fenced (asked because puppies need crazy amount of play time, and frequent potty trips)?

I adopted an adult GSD, I believe its a great choice. You have a good idea of the exercise requirements, the temperament, and some training and the capacity for holding their bladder, learning decent amounts of self control... etc. If you don't feel comfortable with a rescue and want to know the history, there are some breeders that have adult available.

I would strongly caution getting a puppy, even though they are super cute. Unless you have a large amount of free time and your major is super easy, you will most likely want to study hard for a test, or hunker down for finals, or have a job..... And an adult GSD would be able to adjust a little better than a pup. There are so many stories of people that came home 30 minutes latter than usual from work and had a puppy covered in pee because he just couldn't hold it anymore.

[Fodder]

not all college students are created equally, and not all dogs are created equally. therefore, i'd personally wait until i'm moved into the house and gone thru a semester or two of college, then select a young adult from a rescue that fits perfectly into your new lifestyle.

[elisabeth_00117]

I think really waiting until you have a good understanding of what University/College life is like first will help too like what Fodder mentioned.

I waited until I was 1 year into my Master's program before getting Stark and did all the research (and more) for the 4 years I was completing my Undergrad.

Realize that it is A LOT of work, especially a puppy and there are some days where you want to stay home and relax on the couch and can't because the little fuzz ball wants to play outside or go for a walk or needs to be excerised/mentally/physically and know that this breed isn't one that "a walk around the block" will cure.

Just to give you an idea of my day today:

5:30am - wake up
5:45am - take dog for walk/potty
7:00am - home from walk/feed dog and cats/get ready myself
8:00am - take dog out for potty break
9:00am - school
**during this time my sister takes the dog out for 1 more walk (about 45mins to an hour) and potty breaks**
7:00pm - home/dog our for walk/potty break
8:00pm - feed dog and cats/make my supper
8:30pm - out for some late night tracking/training/play time
9:30pm - inside to do some homework
11:00pm - potty break for dog/short walk
11:45pm - bedtime snack for dog (cookie/bone)
12:00am - bath and bed for me

And I didn't even have to work tonight! It is definitely a comittment so think hard before you decide.

[ShepherdsField]

I have a Lab. One. She has always been less obedient than the nearly dozen shepherds we've had over the years. Many a shepherd pup has pounced on our linoleum. The Lab tore it up and we're about to put down ceramic tile next week. Schotzie, Maxi, Rex, Princess, Heidi, Sheena, Coco, Little Max, Telah, Roxy, and Taz (1979 to present) have been easier or are easier to train than Raven. Ali and Axel our fosters are newbies and I can't vouch for them yet. Nuff said.

Puppies are babies and need constant care. If my DH wasn't home all day, we would not have a puppy. I would NEVER reccommend a puppy for a college student. An older dog would be best and a rescue the most rewarding. Find one that matches your personality and good luck.

The Lab does love her crate though. She is often in it just to relax or nap. Or to escape puppy-nado.

[Shawn D]

Wow! Thanks for all the responses.

I am a sophomore in college now with a fairly easy major and am not much of a partyer at all. I have lived in the dorms until now but am getting a house for this summer onward. This summer I am only taking 1 class so will have LOADS of free time to work with a dog. I love the outdoors here and do not think physical exercise would be a problem. I was thinking that a puppy might be easier especially one with no health problems and a solid temperament, but I do not know much about rescues and need to do some research there. Is it hard to find an adult dog with no health or temperament issues from a rescue shelter?

Also I will have help with my dog. My girlfriend will live just down the street and one of my roommates is also a dog lover (he has an Anatolian Shepherd and English Mastiff back home).

I had originally thought that a GSD would be much more difficult than Labs, but it sounds like they are about the same if not easier (but each with their own quirks)

[GSDElsa]

One thing people aren't mentioning is money. I'm assuming you're in the category of not a lot of financial freedom, as are 90% of college students. Just be careful that you can easily afford all the dog expenses, plus extras such as vet emergencies. I think college students can adjust their schedules to fit a dog, but most college students do not have a lot of disposable income--they are relying on student loans, their parents, and a low paying job.

[RunSarahRun]

It might be helpful to ask yourself what you are looking for in a dog. Several GSD rescues have put to together great info on the question 'Is a GSD right for me?':
Before You Own
BrightStar German*Shepherd Rescue, Rochester, NY

A major difference between labs and GSDs is the high likelihood that a GSD is protective of his people and home. Do you need that? It is a double edged thing: You must know how to be in charge of your dog, or the dog will take charge in the way a GSD does. For example, when you take him for a walk off leash, a well trained and well handled GSD will move to the handler's side when a stranger approaches, ready to protect just in case. The poorly handled and poorly trained GSD is likely to approach the stranger and bark threateningly. I once had to walk my last GSD while having a flu with a high fever - b/c I was weak and wobbly the dog wouldn't let anyone near me on that walk. A great GSD as far as I am concerned but not a dog for everyone. One of the reasons I adopt GSD (mixes) is the protectiveness - I enjoy solo hiking, and I am in charge of my dogs. But a protective dog is also always a liability.

Most GSDs are reserved with strangers and dislike being petted by strangers. Would you want your dog be chummy with your friends and neighbors?

Of course, there are always some individual dogs that do not behave 'typically' for the breed. A shelter in my area currently holds a pb yellow lab that was relinquished for being protective of his home, something the lab owner didn't know how to handle and didn't want. It'll be difficult to place this dog, and I fear for him. A GSD in a lab's body has a harder time than a lab in a GSDs body.

I've always had rescued dogs, all terrific. You can get purebred and great mixes in rescue and from shelters, and there are many lab/shepherd (crosses and sorta) puppies that get killed in shelters. Here are lists of GSD rescues:
www.akc.org/breeds/rescue.cfm#812
Eden Publications - US Online Pet Resources - Dog Breed Rescue & Adoption
(one from the akc, one from evangelists - i am not a fan of either but the lists are helpful) These are just lists - adopters might want to check out a rescue's policies and reputation, e.g. see 'questions to ask a rescue before adopting' that i posted on another forum:
Questions to ask a rescue before adopting - GermanShepherdHome.net

If there is no breed specific rescue in your state: People travel long distances to meet a breeder - why not travel to the next GSD rescue to meet a dog? And: Since you live in Utah - you can visit the Best Friends Sanctuary! Best Friends Animal Society Home Page
Being a sanctuary and not a foster home based rescue group, many of their dogs have medical or behavioral issues - some dogs have overcome the issues with good care in the sanctuary, others not. BF discloses everything fully.

And have a look at the rescue forum here, both 'urgent' and 'follow-up', to get a sense of what dogs look like in shelters and how they blossom in foster care and in their adoptive homes. There are terrific dogs there!

Sarah

[Fodder]

Originally Posted by Shawn D

Is it hard to find an adult dog with no health or temperament issues from a rescue shelter?

absolutely. a reputable breeder can tell you about a pup based on the parents, lines, and past dogs they've produced. a reputable rescue can tell you about the dog, based on experience and the dog thats standing right in front of you. both of my dogs were rescues and have exceeded my expectations in so many areas. i got them both around 9.5 months. both came from known situations, so i was fortunate to have a bit of background on them too!

its a crap shoot with either if you ask me. when you combined the average pet owners needs [average meaning you arent planning on breeding, showing, advanced titles, etc] and the amount of homeless pets... i have not yet found a reason for me to personally go to a breeder.

as far as enjoying the outdoors and amount of physical activities that you mention - keep in mind that a puppy won't be able to participate in a lot of these things for anywhere from 6 - 18 months.

[Liesje]

If it is a rental, make sure you have permission, in writing, from the landlord. You may have to pay a high pet deposit (I pay $100 per pet in addition to the normal security deposit). The landlord may be restricted because of home owners insurance. Some will not cover GSDs.

I waited years to get a GSD because I didn't think my college housing was suitable or stable enough to keep a dog and guarantee there would be no landlord/insurance/roommate issues.

[Lola1969]

Sarah has a lot of great questions to ask yourself. Ozzy is my first GSD and unlike any other dog I have had. He is:

1. Territorial of his yard
2. Protective of his people (like Sarah said, you need to be on top of this)
3. Couldn't care less about any of my friends or relatives. Does not seek affection and can be considered very anti social by lab standards!
4. Requires lots of mental stimulation and exercise
5. The world's biggest shedder!

All these things said, having Ozzy has been the dog owning experience of a lifetime. He's different though. Very devoted to me and my husband, tolerates others. I've never had a deeper connection to a dog though. Of course there are sheherds who are social and couch potatoes as well. I think that's why going with an adult rescue would be the way to go.

Good luck!