Hello everyone! New user..looking for GS :)

[zyppi]

didn't see you'd gone up to $1000 - $1500. That's in the ballpark, but you need to have a healthy amount to cover initial vet charges and a little fund for possible health problems.

You need to look into crates and other equipment too.

[maxxym]

Maggie! OMG that second video is AWESOME! Look at the lil pup turn around and wait for you! That is AWESOME!

See, that's what I want to do Go out with my dog, play with it...go for a run..

I know it's a life changing experience and I am willing to do it. I am home every day after work anyways, so that woudn't be a problem. I also workout at home every morning in my gym in a basement, so it would be nice to go out with a dog after my workout I am active person and my dog would go with me everywhere. I am not into just sitting home on a couch and being lazy. I play basketball over here in a summer...and do lots of things that I could involve my dog in.

[maxxym]

I am willing to spend money for the right one of course. I have about year and a half to learn about GSDs. My schedule might change, who knows. I also understand that are expenses involved. Food, toys, medical bills, etc. It's just like with humans. You need EF to cover yourself in case you lose your job or whatever...

[Elaine]

You should read up on all the stuff in the puppy section specifically the biting, chewing, barking while crate training, before you even think of getting a puppy. Puppies bite A LOT and they do a lot of barking the first few weeks while crate training that your neighbors might not appreciate.

I do rescue and can't tell you how many people glorify puppyhood and are shocked at how hard it really is to raise up a well behaved little devil and dump them in rescue when they can't control them anymore between 6-12 months of age. Getting an adult can be a wonderful thing.

[maxxym]

Hi guys..it's me again.

I made a decision of rescuing GSD. After looking into it further, I was BLOWN away how many awesome young purebred GSDs are out there. WOW. Some of them are perfect age 7 months...already trained...amazing.

This one for example is what I would be looking for

Petfinder Adoptable Dog | German Shepherd Dog | Bethel Park, PA | Sophie

I was really thinking hard about it and as much as I would love to get a puppy and have it from the "begining", with my schedule and countless hours spending on reading puppy section, it would be really tough for me and a dog. Simple fact is, that I would be away for work everyday too long to have a puppy It sucks but really it doesn't at the same time. I will have a chance to rescue a dog that I want.

I was pumping gas one time and there was this one guy next to me with this beautiful GSD just sitting on the passenger seat. She was awesome. I was talking to him and he said he rescued her. WOW...I really didn't expect all those rescue dogs to be so nice.

[Kaz]

Hello,
It is possible to get a puppy for $600 or so. Remember, a lot of the posters here are also breeders. So dont be discouraged if they try to push you to spend more.

I spent a lot on my pup, and one man at Beverly hills actually called me silly for doing so. Evidently, he had grown up with GSD's all his life, and even now he had 2. And he showed me pictures of healthy young dogs, and he had purchased them for the $600 to $800 range as you specified.

Ultimately find a good breeder, some one your guts and research tells you to trust. Do some research. Dont think spending more is going to give your quality.

Just check if the parents of the pup are AKC registered, and if the parents have OFA certification, and if the breeder is guaranteeing your pup against hip dysplasia and other diseases for a year or two. I encourage you to do some more research in this matter.

Your major expenses apart from buying the dog it self :

1) Crate - one time - $100 (buy the biggest plastic one u can find, which is IATA certified).
2) registering with AKC one time- $20
3) Microchip one time $45
4) Food $20 to $40 a month
5) Treats $10 a month
6) Bed, toys, bowls, - one time $30 to $50


You will probably want a young pup, I purchased mine at 8 weeks, and as some people said, they do need to poo/pee a lot. At 4.5 months my pup needs to poo / pee 4 times a day.

If you get a 5 to 6 month old pup, they could potentially go 3 times a day. So in the morning before going to work you can take him out, have a dog walker take him out at lunch time, and when you come back in the evening you can take him out again, and if you want, one more time around mid night before going to bed. (Hmmm, thats actually 4 times, so you could have a pup younger which needs to go 4 times.).

Some people prefer a older more docile dog, whose temperament is known. But then you miss out on the joy of raising your puppy.

Its scooping out the poo off the kitchen floor, with a young excited pup running circles around you, which really makes the bond between you and your dog. As you let go of your inhibitions about not touching icky stuff, and have this love in your heart which fills with warmth for your puppy child, thats when the bond develops.

Its hard to describe.

But suffice to say, I love Manfred (my pup) a lot more (and he loves me a lot more), because we went through all the phases together.

Ultimately its your choice, some people do have sage advise here. Consider your options.

And remember, more money is not always the best.

How do you, after-all, put a price tag on love?

Good luck.

And lastly, remember this : raising a GSD is not all fun. They are very intelligent, and their intelligence is what gets them in to trouble more often than other dogs.

[Kaz]

One major reason I decided to purchase instead of adopting, because I wanted to know the parents, the history, the known statistics of the dog and its immediate family vis a vis temperament. My fiancee and I plan to have children in the next year or so. And we wanted a dog, we could trust implicitly.

Manfred used to get compliments for his temperament even when 8 weeks old and we went to high traffic tourist spots. One retired police dog handler actually tried getting a rise out of him, and when he couldn't, showered him with praises about what a wonderful temperament he had.

And besides, if you "like" an available pet for adoption, there will be a thousand others who will also like it. So you gotta move fast, have the connections in place, get the review of your place done in advance.

Besides many of these shelters aren't exactly fast in responding to you.

From what you wrote, the fact you are researching before even getting the dog, shows you are a conscientious person and would be a superlative "daddy".

I applaud your decision to get a dog. I am sure you will provide a good home to the best animal on the planet.

[Castlemaid]

maxxym - Wonderful news!!! Adopting a pup that is a little bit older is perfect for you. Can't think of a better win-win situation. Very happy to hear that you took your time looking into things and took the advice given here into serious consideration.

Just to clarify a comment made above - not one of the previous responders are breeders, so not sure where the "pushing to spend more" comment came from.

Getting a puppy from a good breeder is one way to stack the deck in your favour that you will end up with what you want, but adopting a dog that is a little older is also a great way to have some insight into the temperament, health and personality of the pup that one is bringing home.

I can feel your excitement, good luck in finding that perfect match.

[maxxym]

Thanks everyone! Yeah, after looking into things, adopting is better way for me. I mean think about it. I would still be able to get a very nice GSD for a fraction of a cost, possibly already potty trained, little older so I could have peace of mind when he is alone...and not to mention, I would save one! Just can't beat that route for me. Perfect.

I was totally surprised when I started doing more research about rescue GSD. I find that there is TONS of them out there because people simply bought them, spend bunch of money and found out that the dog wasn't for them. How sad.

In any rate, I just have to look around, check some places out....get my ducks in a row

I am wondering if it would be better to go for one during winter or during summer. I think closer to summer when weather is nicer would be better because then it would be easier to take the lil guy out to a park.

I can't wait! I can picture myself with one already...driving with me.. going for a morning walk/jog... going to the beach.. playing fetch with him and making him super tired hehehehe...and not to mention, just the companion every day. I sit at home sometimes and think how awesome it would be to have a dog walking around...