[Tony]

Hey everyone,

I am picking up my puppy tomorrow and I am VERY excited!!! I've wanted a GSD since I was little and I'm finally able to get one. Just wanted to stop by and say "hi" as I know I'll be relying on this site as a great resource, as I've never owned my own dog before (had several growing up though).

I'm already looking into training classes that I can partake in with her and am excited to get started! We know her owners personally and they bred their own dogs. The father is a retired police dog and the mother is also very well behaved, with neither of them having any medical issues. I'm still mauling over different names, but I'm leaning towards Maya.

Look forward to meeting you all and learning more about GSDs here! Also any first week advice would be very appreciated!

 

[Stosh]

Aww how cute! Great picture, you look like a proud dad already! She looks like a Maya. Do you have a crate for her? What are you going to feed her?

 

[Pattycakes]

Welcome! Congratulations on your new puppy! Great photo of the two of you!

 

[Tony]

Thanks for the welcome! Yeah, I definitely have a crate ready and waiting! Not sure of the food name off the top of my head, but the owner recommended a specific brand of food that I'll be picking up tomorrow.

I should also mention I was between the names Maya and Shenzi (Whoopi's Hyena on the Lion King).

 

[Stosh]

Both great names- you'll know what one suits her when you get her home. Where in Jersey are you? We used to live in Frenchtown

 

[CaliBoy]

Welcome to the forum. She is so beautiful. I think the most important thing for new owners is patience. GSD puppies are quite a handful, and many new owners in their moment of weakness get tempted to slap them or hit them for being naughty. Please never do this. She's like a baby, and that will harm her emotionally and mentally, not to mention physically.

Be very careful about being outside. Puppies love to take off and run and not come back when you call. For getting housebroken, let the folks around know she should go out every two hours at least to the lawn, even if it doesn't seem like she needs to do her business. When she goes (outside, that is), give her lots and lots of praise.

I'm a little biased, but I think the females have one drawback, and that is, IMO, that they can be more moodier, whiny, or clingy than the male puppies. But when they get older they are so intensely loyal and loving, it is not even funny. The one drawback with being a GSD owner is that as time goes on, your attachment to the dog will be almost insane, as you will find out as you get to know people in this forum. They are wacko crazy about their dogs, but that is what the GSD does to you.

 

[MaggieRoseLee]

That puppy is too cute! Hey, just hang in the puppy section and you'll get lots of info and have fun posting!

 

[Tony]

Both great names- you'll know what one suits her when you get her home. Where in Jersey are you? We used to live in Frenchtown

Yeah, I love both the names. Although no one else seems to like Shenzi (even though it's my favorite).

I'm living in Egg Harbor, not far from Ocean City/AC. I'm probably going to be moving to CA within the next year, though.

Also, thanks for the advice Caliboy. I'm very much for positive enforcement and I'm also in the midst of watching Michael Ellis' videos. I've found a lot of great information on here over the past week, and will also be picking up some of Caesar's books later today.

 

[Deuce]

Welcome to the forum! Is she a long coat?

 

[doggiedad]

go with the name you like the most. i'm in Egg Harbor weekly.

Yeah, I love both the names. Although no one else seems to like Shenzi (even though it's my favorite).

I'm living in Egg Harbor, not far from Ocean City/AC. I'm probably going to be moving to CA within the next year, though.

Also, thanks for the advice Caliboy. I'm very much for positive enforcement and I'm also in the midst of watching Michael Ellis' videos. I've found a lot of great information on here over the past week, and will also be picking up some of Caesar's books later today.

 

[GSDAlphaMom]

Welcome, she is adorable! I have both male and female, and have for years. I've always found the females to be smarter!

 

[Tony]

Welcome to the forum! Is she a long coat?

Yeah, she is! She's adorable... she's going to look just like the father (also a long coat- the mother is a short coat). She is also supposedly the most shy of the litter and is very calm (not for long I'm sure lol).

 

[KZoppa]

She looks like a Maya to me. For me a Shenzi would have a lot more black at this point and an evil crazy cackle!!! lol jk. But i like Maya.

good luck with her and welcome to the forum! You look like a proud daddy already!

 

[Stosh]

Ha! I just ordered my first Michael Ellis dvd yesterday. Looks like an interesting philosophy. It's nice to see someone doing their research before they get their pup! Why doesn't anyone like Shenzi? It's got it all- two syllables, ends in an e sound, fun to say...

 

[GsdLoverr729]

:welcome: congrats on the pup!! adorable!

 

[Tony]

I'm sure when I get her home one of the names will strike me as being more suitable. Can't wait to pick her up!