[Emmandog]

Okay I'm 15 and small for my age. I currently go to the gym to help build upper body muscles. My mum said that I can get a German Shepherd dog after I attempt to enter my other dog into shows and doing training etc to show I will train the German Shepherd.

I was wondering if I would be better with a male or female puppy.

I would be entering the dog into agility and obedience training and once I was older I would gradually introduce it into prey training etc simply because I want to be an Army Dog Handler when I'm older. (I do know a person who does this and teaches the dog hide and seek etc and he's a dog warden)

I do have two dogs at the moment;
A Labrador Collie cross- Female-Neutered
A Jack Russell Collie cross- Female- Not neutered (yet)

and I also have two cats... but they are kept upstairs.

We don't have a massive yard but I do live in front of woods and I also live in walking distance of a park I can take my dog. We are also across the road from another woods that takes you around into a golf course that dogs are permitted on as long as they don't disturb the golfers of which there about 5 ever so often so obviously there is a lot of places to take my dog.

Would I be better getting a female dog or a male dog. I would really like a male dog as I did have one growing up which died when I was about ten That dog was a lovely temperment and his name was Prince and he too was a German Shepherd though he did have some back problems.


Also is there any tips on getting a hold of decent puppies? I have £900 in the bank but obviously I don't want to spend all that on a dog. My mum says she would be willing to spend up to £600 if I went for a pedigree.


So what gender would be better and would I be better getting a pedigree?

Also would I be best off checking breeders in the area or near us or what?

Thank you

 

[Rescued]

I hate to burst your bubble, but 600 pounds (about $900 here in the US) probably won't even buy you a puppy- GSD's from good breeders tend to start upwards of $1500 here.

Who will be paying for vaccinations, food, toys, supplies, spay and neuter, heartworm prevention, and flea and tick?]

I know this isnt the answer you were looking for, but all of this stuff needs to be figured out before you even begin to look into puppies.

Currency converted- your 900 pounds is about $1400 here. If you get EXTREMELY LUCKY, you might manage to spend about that in the first year of a puppies life.

 

[hanksimon]

I don't think that gender will matter. I prefer males, only because I've always had males. You've had females, so it's a toss up.

Rather than getting a puppy, you might go to a German Shepherd rescue or adopt one from a shelter or dogpound. In addition, you could consider a 2- 5 year old adult, which might be easier to work with than a puppy. And, you might find one with the personality that you're looking for.

Typically it is fairly straightforward to obtain a lovely temperament... You teach Bite Inhibition, socialize with lots of people, do a lot of training, 'socialize' in different areas and different environments, and socialize with lots and lots of different dogs and other animals... All that will result in a much more confident, calm dog.

 

[luvmyfurballs]

I pretty much rescued my GSD when she was 3 months old. She is a wonderful dog!! She has qualified for schutzhund, loves agility, and excels in obedience. You have to really look around, but there are good dogs out there(all ages) that need a home. I firmly believe you will get out of the dog what you put into it. You have chosen a wonderful breed...Good Luck!!

 

[luvmyfurballs]

I hate to burst your bubble, but 600 pounds (about $900 here in the US) probably won't even buy you a puppy- GSD's from good breeders tend to start upwards of $1500 here.

Who will be paying for vaccinations, food, toys, supplies, spay and neuter, heartworm prevention, and flea and tick?]

I know this isnt the answer you were looking for, but all of this stuff needs to be figured out before you even begin to look into puppies.

Currency converted- your 900 pounds is about $1400 here. If you get EXTREMELY LUCKY, you might manage to spend about that in the first year of a puppies life.

You can get a puppy from a good breeder for about $1000.00 if you look hard enough or go through a rescue..There are lots of GSD rescues with good dogs. You can also go to a lot of breeders and get an older pup or one of their retired dogs for a decent price. To be honest I have spent a total of about $900.00 on mine and that includes what I paid for her, spay, shots, food, and obedience classes in a year. Could of I spent more? Yes, but there are many different ways to get things for dogs, especially medically that are a quarter of the price what one would normally pay. For example I paid $65.00 for her to be spayed through my vet, shots and heartworm for a year were only $100.00. It can be done if one really wants a dog and wants to give it everything it needs.