[LaRen616]

I'll refresh your memory, the only part of your post that specifically related to being in your area is that there aren't many GSDs in shelters around your area. The rest was very vague generalizations about dogs that are found in shelters and much of it simply isn't true.




I'm sorry that you couldn't find a puppy in your local shelter and didn't want to work with a rescue but that in no way relates to all dogs in shelters having mental issues or needing rehabilitation. Luckily, there aren't many puppies dumped in my local shelters either but in certain areas of the country, there are litter upon litter being born in shelters.

Reputable rescues are not a racket and that $400 does not even begin to cover the cost of most dogs in rescue. I have yet to have a foster that we broke even on let alone made money. Let's also not forget the unadoptable dogs that every reputable rescue has.

I won't continue to discuss this in this thread... and I won't apologize for making sure that incorrect information is not spread.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

 

[DunRingill]

I currently have 3 GSDs. Have had 4 here at one time, and that's TOO MUCH DOG for my house and my schedule! I actually preferred having 2 but sometimes a puppy comes along and she's too good to pass up

3 dogs are exponentially more work than 2....even tho The Elder will be 13 at the end of the month, she's still quite demanding. (THROW THE BALL! AGAIN! )

As to the bonding, well a lot of that has to do with what you do with your dogs. My dogs each get one-on-one time, and that's especially important for the youngster!

 

[WarrantsWifey]

From experience, I only have a 1300 square foot house, three bedrooms, and sometimes two large dogs is quite a handful with the little room, especially in the kitchen! LOL! We fostered a puppy for a while and that wasn't much different, but if we would have kept her, I would have gone nuts for lack of space, for another kennel and three large dogs!

Just take a look on how much your current two get underfoot, and think about adding one more. We have a HUGE backyard for them, but when they are indoors, they become quite in the way! <3 Good Luck!!

 

[nikkiscriv]

I won't get into the whole dog breeding politics, and I'm going to ignore some of the very unnecessary comments I read from the OP, but as for my two cents I know a member on here who has 4 GSD's. I've met her and her dogs in person, and they are all wonderfully behaved and they are all very bonded to Carla. I think a lot of what deteremines how many dogs you are able to handle depends on knowledge of the breed, knowledge of training, the personalites of each dog, the manner in which each dog was raised, etc.

If your question is really "If I have 3 dogs will I not have a dog that only focuses on me?" then I don't think you should have another dog, because I personally don't feel like you should be concerned what their main focus is so long as they are happy and healthy. If your male has made you "the center of his world" and that's what you want, then I don't see the point of trying to find another puppy who has made you the center of his/her world. Sometimes certain dogs bond with certain people and vice versa for no apparent reason at all. For all you know your female may not have bonded with you even if you didn't have the male. All dogs have different personalities.

If your question is "Can I handle 3 dogs?" then that is something that you seem to have already stated you are capable of doing.

For me, I have a Golden Retriever who is 3 years old. He loves me, my fiance, the postman, the random guy in the car next to us who waves at him. His whole world is not focused on me, but he loves me and he's happy so I'm happy.

My German Shepherd is definitely more focused on my fiance and I as well as our immediate family, but she still loves to play with our Golden Retriever and is receptive to play and interaction with others. She's a happy girl and I'm happy to have her.

 

[Whiteshepherds]

what do you guys think... keep one of the pups for mom and pops to play with? or get rid of them all? Id love to have a pack of 3. got the room for it and i know they would do well in a pack... it just makes me sad to think that they wont get very much 1 on 1 time seems like thats what they live for

A dog raised with other dogs doesn't know he would have gotten more attention if he had been an only child.

GSD's do like to be with their owners, but I don't think we're ever the ultimate replacement for another dog. My guys love being with us but they also like running around the backyard together. I really do think dogs adapt pretty well to different situations.

Mom and Pop will be okay if the pup goes to another home, and as long as their temperaments are compatible, they'll probably be okay if the pup stays too. You guys have to do what works best for your lifestyle. If you have the space, can afford the extra mouth to feed and have the time to train and work through any problems that might pop up it shouldn't be an issue. The bigger the pack, the less time you'll have to spend with each dog but that doesn't mean they won't have great lives.

Good luck, hope it all works out for you!

 

[JustMeLeslie]

Everyone here who has more than one dog, you are awesome, especially if they are all well trained.

I don't know how you do it! :shocked:

I spend every free moment training Rocky, I can't imagine another dog right now!

I am right there with you. I have three dogs which only one is a GSD. I THOUGHT I wanted another GSD, but I am glad I didn't get another. Jamie takes up alot of my time with the constant training. I take my hat off to all of you that have multiple GSDs. They are a wonderful breed, but only one at a time for me.

 

[sagelfn]

I hope you are spending time with the puppies and making sure they are well socialized happy healthy pups when they go to their new homes. I also hope you monitor and keep track of each puppy so that you know about their personalities. That way when you are placing them you make sure each puppy is in the right home. Don't let people pick one just because they think it is the cutest or the largest. The pup may not fit their lifestyle. If this litter is registered please sell them on limited (non breeding) registration.

It sounds like you can't manage 2 dogs so I would not keep a puppy. Some people are capable of having 5+ dogs and making sure every dog's needs are met. Some people are not capable of doing that for 1 dog. Nothing wrong with not being able to manage that many dogs. Important thing is to recognize your limits before you are in a situation to rehome an out of control 8month old puppy. Then he'll just be some mut in a shelter no one wants to adopt.

 

[vat]

lol another *******.

What??? Then do not come here asking for advice if you do not want it. I did not insult you nor did the other that you referred to as a piece of work. I warned you that you would not like the comments you received.

I do believe I offered advice and this is what I get? I dunno who is the piece of work here, seems it is you!

 

[selzer]

Ya know Vat, when your advice includes things like, "that is the stupidest thing I ever heard," well, you cannot really be too surprised that the OP took offense.

And I am not surprised that the OP became rather abrasive -- was that the word.

Does that mean he is right to breed his pets together to complete the circle of life or whatever reason he gave, pups for the mum and pap to play with? No. But I think that we all have to remember that
not everyone that comes onto this site has been an internet GSD junkie for months if not years.

You do not need to be blind and deaf to not have adopted all the reasons people share not to breed pets together. It is just something that touches John Q Public very little. I do not know that pounding on people with a bat helps it to go in though. I only save my bat for the oopses because I think people are a little too accepting of that, and for the occasional budding puppy miller, I figure both are lost causes, but it helps to rant a little.

So a minority of dog people, a minority of GSD owners, are actually members of the dog fancy (dog community, chat rooms, training clubs, breed clubs, show people, working dog people, etc). The rest of the people are just out there, they know what a pure-bred dog is, they own one or more, and they may have taken a dog to classes, but for the most part, they do not give dog-ownership, and responsibility to the breed much thought.

When they do have a problem or a question or a reason to get more info (like a litter of puppies on the ground), they turn the oracle of all knowledge, and find US! YAY! And they make that first post and WHAM! We may have been the first people that have ever suggested to them that breeding their dogs wasn't such a great thing.

The thing is, we say it over and over and over, more harshly each time -- why do these people just not get it? But the thing is, THIS person was not the person last week and the one two weeks ago and the 3 or 4 last month.

So then the person gets defensive -- what a surprise; says a few choice things; thinks we are all nuts. And some of us rant, and some of us defend, and some us watch eating popcorn -- though that was called out as rude in one of the posts, so some people are not going to do that much any more.

I do not know the answer.

I mean, people SHOULD know that not everyone in the health section is a veterinarian, not everyone in the food section is a canine nutritionist, and not everyone in the breeding section is going to be happy that you bred your dog. But they don't.

 

[vat]

Ya know Vat, when your advice includes things like, "that is the stupidest thing I ever heard," well, you cannot really be too surprised that the OP took offense.

And I am not surprised that the OP became rather abrasive -- was that the word.

Does that mean he is right to breed his pets together to complete the circle of life or whatever reason he gave, pups for the mum and pap to play with? No. But I think that we all have to remember that
not everyone that comes onto this site has been an internet GSD junkie for months if not years.

You do not need to be blind and deaf to not have adopted all the reasons people share not to breed pets together. It is just something that touches John Q Public very little. I do not know that pounding on people with a bat helps it to go in though. I only save my bat for the oopses because I think people are a little too accepting of that, and for the occasional budding puppy miller, I figure both are lost causes, but it helps to rant a little.

So a minority of dog people, a minority of GSD owners, are actually members of the dog fancy (dog community, chat rooms, training clubs, breed clubs, show people, working dog people, etc). The rest of the people are just out there, they know what a pure-bred dog is, they own one or more, and they may have taken a dog to classes, but for the most part, they do not give dog-ownership, and responsibility to the breed much thought.

When they do have a problem or a question or a reason to get more info (like a litter of puppies on the ground), they turn the oracle of all knowledge, and find US! YAY! And they make that first post and WHAM! We may have been the first people that have ever suggested to them that breeding their dogs wasn't such a great thing.

The thing is, we say it over and over and over, more harshly each time -- why do these people just not get it? But the thing is, THIS person was not the person last week and the one two weeks ago and the 3 or 4 last month.

So then the person gets defensive -- what a surprise; says a few choice things; thinks we are all nuts. And some of us rant, and some of us defend, and some us watch eating popcorn -- though that was called out as rude in one of the posts, so some people are not going to do that much any more.

I do not know the answer.

I mean, people SHOULD know that not everyone in the health section is a veterinarian, not everyone in the food section is a canine nutritionist, and not everyone in the breeding section is going to be happy that you bred your dog. But they don't.

Well my apologies to the OP and everyone else. That comment was not saying that the OP was stupid. I suppose poor choice of words I could have said silliest instead, should have waited until after my coffee.

However with that said, the OP has been pretty abrasive to some people that were trying to offer advice. I do not feel the OP should be insulting and calling names, JMO.

 

[Coopracing]

Ya know Vat, when your advice includes things like, "that is the stupidest thing I ever heard," well, you cannot really be too surprised that the OP took offense.

And I am not surprised that the OP became rather abrasive -- was that the word.

Does that mean he is right to breed his pets together to complete the circle of life or whatever reason he gave, pups for the mum and pap to play with? No. But I think that we all have to remember that
not everyone that comes onto this site has been an internet GSD junkie for months if not years.

You do not need to be blind and deaf to not have adopted all the reasons people share not to breed pets together. It is just something that touches John Q Public very little. I do not know that pounding on people with a bat helps it to go in though. I only save my bat for the oopses because I think people are a little too accepting of that, and for the occasional budding puppy miller, I figure both are lost causes, but it helps to rant a little.

So a minority of dog people, a minority of GSD owners, are actually members of the dog fancy (dog community, chat rooms, training clubs, breed clubs, show people, working dog people, etc). The rest of the people are just out there, they know what a pure-bred dog is, they own one or more, and they may have taken a dog to classes, but for the most part, they do not give dog-ownership, and responsibility to the breed much thought.

When they do have a problem or a question or a reason to get more info (like a litter of puppies on the ground), they turn the oracle of all knowledge, and find US! YAY! And they make that first post and WHAM! We may have been the first people that have ever suggested to them that breeding their dogs wasn't such a great thing.

The thing is, we say it over and over and over, more harshly each time -- why do these people just not get it? But the thing is, THIS person was not the person last week and the one two weeks ago and the 3 or 4 last month.

So then the person gets defensive -- what a surprise; says a few choice things; thinks we are all nuts. And some of us rant, and some of us defend, and some us watch eating popcorn -- though that was called out as rude in one of the posts, so some people are not going to do that much any more.

I do not know the answer.

I mean, people SHOULD know that not everyone in the health section is a veterinarian, not everyone in the food section is a canine nutritionist, and not everyone in the breeding section is going to be happy that you bred your dog. But they don't.

I appreciate your post! I came here totally unaware of the passion and reasons for that passion. I have learned a lot and for that I am thankful. I have also changed my views on some of these topics, but I find some are totally out of self control with that passion. I do not intend to offend anyone, I just appreciate the folks that have explained the reasons for that passion. I came here totally oblivious to these things although I have always owned a "dog". Years ago folks did not have the resources they have now, ie the internet, therefore we can educate and learn things so much easier. I have a new pup and a new found appreciation for the breed, training, breeding, and many other things. I am no longer just a "dog owner" but looking to be a trained GSD owner, and I thank those that has helped with that. I was so scared to post anything due to the fact I did not want to get flamed for my ignorance with some of these subjects. So Seizer, thanks for recognizing us.

To the op, I am hoping to get another within the next year, but I think two will be all I want.

 

[selzer]

Thanks, and certainly there are days when two are all I want. It would make thing much less complicated. The explorer has two crates in the back. Dog food would not be $6000+/year. I would not STILL owe my vet $400. They would both have a stream of alphabet soup after their names. I would not mind driving across the state line and many miles for a herding outing. I might even have the money to travel to an event and stay in a hotel with my dogos. And, I would not have to worry about whoever is back home feeding and caring for the others.

And, I have to outlive my dogs. I mean, I MUST stay in good health and not die as Jane Eyre put it. Because nobody is going to want to deal with my dogs if I go and die. But then I think about which two would I keep? Joy and Odessa? But I would have to keep Babsy, and Jenna, and Heidi, and...
I do love them all. It is not always EASY to "get rid of them" at eight weeks. You do get attached. But it is a whole lot harder to give them up at ten or eleven months old. And worse at four years old.

And this is why this thread is actually important. The OP is interested in keeping a pup out of his sire and dam. And two years from now, the owners could be having a really nasty time crating and rotating dogs who do not get along. They can be facing rehoming one of their dogs because of it. Finding homes for cute puppies, even without health certificates and titles on the sire and dam is usually pretty doable, especially if you are selling cheap. But a two year or four year old dog, who has a problem with dogs within the pack, is a whole lot more interesting.