German Shepherd
Author
Discussion

Mc Lovin

Original Poster:

5,588 posts

242 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
I'm thinking of buying a German Shepard puppy, i wouldnt mind another rescue one but i have a young daughter and you can never be too sure!

The one i had when i was a boy was the best dog i have ever had and i still miss not having her around, i've been searching around and looking at puppies and i'm surprised that there's not much choice, there was a time when the local rag was loaded with the buggers, now there's not much at all.

Prices seem to have shot up as well, i know its been 14 years but i thought they where about £250 to £350 not £295-£1000 with an average price of £650!!!

I've looked on the usual sites, so i thought i'd post up here to see if anyone knew of anyone having a litter or suggestions on where to look.


10 Pence Short

32,880 posts

238 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
As a family we had a few. Sadly they're susceptible to the old hip problems and seemingly, tumours as well.

Brilliant and trustworthy family pets though, despite the reputation as being guard dogs.

Always wanted a white one.

Superhoop1904

563 posts

229 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
10 Pence Short said:
As a family we had a few. Sadly they're susceptible to the old hip problems and seemingly, tumours as well.

Brilliant and trustworthy family pets though, despite the reputation as being guard dogs.

Always wanted a white one.
+ 1. Our suffered with hip problems later in life and did stop him walking in the end, fantastic dog though. Good luck searching.

Mc Lovin

Original Poster:

5,588 posts

242 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
10 Pence Short said:
As a family we had a few. Sadly they're susceptible to the old hip problems and seemingly, tumours as well.

Brilliant and trustworthy family pets though, despite the reputation as being guard dogs.

Always wanted a white one.
Thats how mine timed out with, her back end collapsed and she was put to sleep, still upsets me to this dayfrown

Agreed though, they are great dogs, thanks to her i have many good childhood memories, be it, making dens with her or going off on adventures as you do when your a kid. She used to sit by the gate for 4 weeks at a time untill i came back from school, people couldnt beleive it!

I prefer the black/sable personaly thumbup

otolith

64,603 posts

225 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
My folks always had them, lovely intelligent family dogs, and not at all nasty if raised well. We'd love one, but fatpuss took ill with stress related urinary tract blockage when we brought kittens home, the stress of a big smelly dog in the house would do him no good.

Ganglandboss

8,484 posts

224 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
I got bitten on the arse by a German Shepherd. He apologised afterwards though and even asked me if I'd like to stroke his dog.

CatherineJ

9,586 posts

264 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
We have a german shepherd cross called Ben. He is 15 this September and he is suffering from arthritis in the back legs and we suspect that he probably won't be with us by Christmas.

We dread the moment he is no longer with us and we both will be totally devestated as we have had him since we were in our last year at University.

The other half really want's to have another German Shepherd, rather than a second Labrador and we suspect that we will have to pay between £600 and £1000 also. We will go down the route of finding a breeder from the Kennel Club Puppy Scheme website, although that doesn't guarantee you will find a good breeder.

We certainly have learnt some lessons when it comes to selecting breeders and ultimately I will try and find someone who doesn't keep the family in an old stable with only a radio for company.



Edited by CatherineJ on Tuesday 19th May 15:06

toggs

179 posts

207 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
Where abouts are you based to ?
I could put you in touch with a very good breeder which I use when I stud my German Shepherd.
Also are you after a bh or a Dog as I know of a 18mth old bh that needs rehoming but will need a good handler.

anonymous-user

75 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
Dont discount a cross breed! they are less likely to suffer the generic health problems of some breeds and unless you want to breed pedigrees or require specific traits you will have a perfectly good (if not better) family companion!

Mc Lovin

Original Poster:

5,588 posts

242 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
toggs said:
Where abouts are you based to ?
I could put you in touch with a very good breeder which I use when I stud my German Shepherd.
Also are you after a bh or a Dog as I know of a 18mth old bh that needs rehoming but will need a good handler.
I'm looking for a bh, I would have gone for a rescue dog or one in need of re homing as thats where my last one came from but i have a young daughter now and you can never be too careful, so i'd rather go for a pup, that way i can train it from day one as well.

Any reccomendations would be greatfuly received, i'm in no rush, plenty of time to find the right one!

Edited by Mc Lovin on Tuesday 19th May 15:31

Davel

8,982 posts

279 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
My wife got a rescued, ill-treated one, that was 18 months old.

When I met her, it was fiercely protective of her but soon got to accept me and my kids etc.

He was the most wondeful, loyal and loving dog with his newly adopted family (us). When we had kids, he accepted them too without any sign of feeling pushed out.

He sadly developed cancer and died on the operating table. Even when he must have been in terible pain, and before we knew how ill he was, he never once showed any nastiness to us as we stroked and played with him.

I've had lots of dogs in my life but, without doubt, he was the most special and loyal friend and companion.

He died 11 years ago and we still miss him every day.

PD9

2,039 posts

206 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
1-2-3, awwwww



Edited by PD9 on Tuesday 19th May 15:43

Crazy Fool

3,159 posts

236 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
I've had two, I've only got one left now. Blaze died in November (I still miss him) and we'd had them, brother and sister, since puppies. They where the most loyal loveable and amazing dogs. They where great around little kids and always happy to see me. Sadie is 11 and suffering with bad hips and some form of doggy depression because of the dead brother and my sister going to New Zealand half her pack have gone. But she is perfect and when the time is right I will get more.




CatherineJ

9,586 posts

264 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
PD9 said:
1-2-3, awwwww



Edited by PD9 on Tuesday 19th May 15:43
Awwwhhhhh who is that???

toggs

179 posts

207 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all

I'm looking for a bh, I would have gone for a rescue dog or one in need of re homing as thats where my last one came from but i have a young daughter now and you can never be too careful, so i'd rather go for a pup, that way i can train it from day one as well.

Any reccomendations would be greatfuly received, i'm in no rush, plenty of time to find the right one!

Edited by Mc Lovin on Tuesday 19th May 15:31

[/quote]

Well the breeders based in South wales if thats any good for you ive used the same breeder for well over 15 years with no problems and can speak very highly of her.


Mc Lovin

Original Poster:

5,588 posts

242 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
laugh this is not helping me!!

Mrs Grumpy

863 posts

210 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
Please don't discount the rescue route frown

Dogs end up in rescues for various reasons - death of owner, breakdown of marriage, etc, etc. There are so many dogs looking for a home. If you look for one that has been fostered with children, then yo ucan get a pretty good idea that they will be OK.

Have a look though the forums on this website at all the dogs needing homes: www.dogpages.org.uk

My current foster is a Collie x GSD and came from the pound. I would trust him with small children and take him with me when homechecking to see how the kids behave with dogs.

Mc Lovin

Original Poster:

5,588 posts

242 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
toggs said:
I'm looking for a bh, I would have gone for a rescue dog or one in need of re homing as thats where my last one came from but i have a young daughter now and you can never be too careful, so i'd rather go for a pup, that way i can train it from day one as well.

Any reccomendations would be greatfuly received, i'm in no rush, plenty of time to find the right one!

Edited by Mc Lovin on Tuesday 19th May 15:31
Well the breeders based in South wales if thats any good for you ive used the same breeder for well over 15 years with no problems and can speak very highly of her.
Yeah South Wales is not that far, if you could put me in touch that would be brilliant biggrin

toggs

179 posts

207 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
Crazy Fool said:
I've had two, I've only got one left now. Blaze died in November (I still miss him) and we'd had them, brother and sister, since puppies. They where the most loyal loveable and amazing dogs. They where great around little kids and always happy to see me. Sadie is 11 and suffering with bad hips and some form of doggy depression because of the dead brother and my sister going to New Zealand half her pack have gone. But she is perfect and when the time is right I will get more.



I aggree they are very loving I lost one of my dogs 2 years back through old age he was 13 years old and he was the most soppy dog you could meet.
My current shepeherd is the same

baker77

149 posts

232 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
We also have a german shepherd who was a rescue. She was about a year old when we got her and she is the most loving, friendly dog you could imagine, and we have a 9 year old son who was 4 when we got her. Certainly don't discount getting a rescue one. Have you tried here: http://www.germanshepherdrescue.co.uk/index.html there is a list of breeders on there as well as rescue dogs.

Gratuitous pics