Hey everyone,
I have been looking into adopting or purchasing a GSD for several years now. I do not have much first-hand experience with the breed other than talking to breeders & owners at the agility trials I attend and watching a few SchH classes that the local club holds/talking to the trainers and handlers. (Although I am continually learning a LOT from this forum!) I am confident that I can handle a GSD, but whether or not the breeder or rescue thinks so might be a different story. Anyway. Onto the questions.
Currently I have two small/medium females, a 3 year old Sheltie and a 6 year old Border Collie mix. The mix, Pixie, is extremely dominant, while Kayla, the Sheltie, is timid and submissive. I was wondering, in the event that I end up with a GSD, what gender would be better? Since I do have two females representing both "extremes" in the pack order, I have been told that getting a male would be wise. However, my mom is concerned that housebreaking a male would be a nightmare because she says that male dogs mark EVERYTHING (which to an extent is true, but I think that can be trained out...plus, wouldn't neutering help? I'm not planning on breeding.) Another concern is that, in general, GSDs are big dogs, but males are larger than females. My parents are already extremely apprehensive as to owning such a large breed, so I'm thinking that a female would be best in that case. But again, the whole dominace thing - three females in one household? Can it be done?
I would really appreciate any information you all could give me. All of this is theoretical, really, since I'm not even sure if my parents would agree to allowing me to get a third dog. But GSDs are my favorite breed, and I've been dying to learn more about them and hopefully own one since I first laid eyes on the breed about 10 years ago.
I have been looking into adopting or purchasing a GSD for several years now. I do not have much first-hand experience with the breed other than talking to breeders & owners at the agility trials I attend and watching a few SchH classes that the local club holds/talking to the trainers and handlers. (Although I am continually learning a LOT from this forum!) I am confident that I can handle a GSD, but whether or not the breeder or rescue thinks so might be a different story. Anyway. Onto the questions.
Currently I have two small/medium females, a 3 year old Sheltie and a 6 year old Border Collie mix. The mix, Pixie, is extremely dominant, while Kayla, the Sheltie, is timid and submissive. I was wondering, in the event that I end up with a GSD, what gender would be better? Since I do have two females representing both "extremes" in the pack order, I have been told that getting a male would be wise. However, my mom is concerned that housebreaking a male would be a nightmare because she says that male dogs mark EVERYTHING (which to an extent is true, but I think that can be trained out...plus, wouldn't neutering help? I'm not planning on breeding.) Another concern is that, in general, GSDs are big dogs, but males are larger than females. My parents are already extremely apprehensive as to owning such a large breed, so I'm thinking that a female would be best in that case. But again, the whole dominace thing - three females in one household? Can it be done?
I would really appreciate any information you all could give me. All of this is theoretical, really, since I'm not even sure if my parents would agree to allowing me to get a third dog. But GSDs are my favorite breed, and I've been dying to learn more about them and hopefully own one since I first laid eyes on the breed about 10 years ago.