[jdp2134]

Mods if in wrong place please move.

I sit here contemplating on getting a older dog sometime in Feb. around 2-3 yrs or even a retired dog be it breeding or whatever. Why you might ask? IDK!! maybe im crazy. I love my little baby Kaizer who is 12wks today but i want more!! Kaizer would be around 10 months old during that time and have another playmate. and i can have another SchH dog to help me out and "teach" me SchH.

Its all just talk right now BUT what if i decided to do this. I know a female would be easier to bring in but could it be doable having another male? Would the other dogs age make it easier or harder? or should i not get one at all and just wait?

Suggestions are welcome good and bad. Thanks.

 

[Kuklasmom]

So many folks here on the GSD message board (with far greater GSD experience than mine!) have advised others (on many other different threads!) to concentrate their energies on getting their new puppy <u>extremely</u> well trained <u>before</u> adding another dog to the family.

Their reasoning seems sound. The main focus of your training with Kaizer will be to get him to concentrate his attention <u>on you</u>. The commands (sit, stay, come, down, heel) and skills are useful, of course, but the whole point of them is to teach Kaizer that <u>you</u> are a strong, dependable, trustworthy leader and that following <u>your</u> commands without a fraction of a second of hesitation will ALWAYS bring very, very happy results.

Of course, that's a lot to accomplish!

And so many folks will recommend that it's easiest <u>for Kaizer</u> to learn to focus his attention on you <u>without</u> the distraction of a new dog in the household.

Then again, I'll be the first to admit that I'm certainly no expert; I'm just an average dog-owner, like so many folks on this board--I'm here to learn!

I think the best source for information would be the trainer at the training school you plan to attend with Kaizer or the members of the Schutzhund club that you plan to join.

Also, perhaps asking your questions on any of the puppy training, dog training, or Schutzhund sections of this board would bring more specific answers, which would be based on years of experience.

Whatever your decision, I certainly wish you success. And congratulations to Kaizer on having such an enthusiastic owner!