<p>The OP never said the family was getting a puppy solely for protection.</p>
<p>^ You’re right, they didn’t say solely. But it seemed to be a pretty big reason considering that’s the reason they wanted a German Shepherd.</p>
<p>You’re right, the OP did say the parents wanted companionship, but companion dogs don’t have to be big. And there’s plenty of breeds which do an excellent job as watchdogs without the size (shelties, for example, are highly alert dogs with a bark that could wake the dead), so logically, the desire for a GSD comes primarily from the intimidation factor. But that’s troubling to me since GSDs (on average) are probably the hardest of what I think of as the intelligent troika of “scarier” big dogs (GSD, dobie, rottweiler) to maintain dominance over and train. As evidenced by his/her dad’s previous experience, the family may very well not be up to the task…</p>
<p><a href=“shelties,%20for%20example,%20are%20highly%20alert%20dogs%20with%20a%20bark%20that%20could%20wake%20the%20dead”>quote</a>
[/quote]
</p>
<p>:D Ain’t that the truth!</p>
<p>If these people really want a dog, I sincerely think that they should pick a breed that they can manage, and go to the local breed rescue organization for that breed. With any luck, they will be able to get a relatively stable, neutered adult dog that they can reasonably manage.</p>
<p>I had GSDs most of my life, and I love them, but they really are not the dog for a novice owner. For one thing, even if your GSD is the most mild-mannered, friendly dog on earth, a substantial percentage of people will automatically be afraid of it. Behavior that terrier and small dog owners laugh off will get a GSD accused of vicious aggression in a heartbeat. And then there’s the shedding…double-coated dogs are not for everyone.</p>
<p>That was my next point: If you get a GSD, you will have enough hair for a second dog.</p>
<p>We love them anyway. They are the most popular breed in the world for good reason.* GSD do everything dogs can do and do it well, with beauty and nobility. They do not have more health problems than Shetland Sheep Dogs. Speak to a vet that has treated more than fifty patients of each breed.</p>
<p>Not all GSD are AKC registered. As the OP shows, there are people breeding white GSD. And blue for all I know. There were people breeding way oversize GSD and registering themselves as “Shiloh Shepherds”. I don’t know if that is still going on. Some guide dog schools breed their own lines of GSD and other suitable breeds. Notably Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, California. And no, lots of those do not fail training as one poster said. Email them and get their per centage. Watch “Love Leads the Way” if you can get your hands on it.</p>
<ul>
<li>You wanna dispute this? As our President said when the healthcare bill was challenged in the Supreme Court: Bring it on.</li>
</ul>
<p>Simmer down, cotton. Unless you’re going by sheer numbers (and the lab is most numerous IIRC), popular is an opinion and frankly irrelevant in the OP’s situation. I’ve had a GSD mix before. Absolutely wonderful dog. Not for the OP though based in what he/she has told us.</p>
<p>Not sure why you’re so tetchy about GSDs. I love the breed myself, and plan to get one in a couple of years. They are indeed very popular, but that only serves to exacerbate the lack of controlled breeding. And on average, yes they are less healthy than shelties. Not only are GSDs susceptible to a wider array (50+) of hereditary diseases, they present themselves more commonly than most other breeds. That is fact - and is a large factor in why militaries and police are using more and more Malinois. The Osama raid? A Malinois. </p>
<p>This shouldn’t dissuade anyone from going with a GSD if you know the breed’s temperament and energy is a good fit for you, but it makes the breed even worse of a choice for inexperienced owners. Owners who, in all probability, will have no idea what they’re doing when choosing a dog.</p>
<p>We always get adult dogs, already housebroken (for the most part) and whose personalities are already established and can be observed. That way we pretty much know what we are getting.</p>
<p>Our most recent labs were both rescue dogs, and both badly abused before we took them in. Being labs, they were very friendly and very loyal once they learned that they were safe and that the food would keep coming. The only quirk from the abuse was that even after ten years with us, Charlie would never go into the basement (he’d been turned in to the SPCA after being confined and starved in a basement) and after 6 years, Libby still cringes when we put her harness on to walk her (who knows what someone did to her head?).</p>
<p>Both Libby and the Chuckster had different names before we got them. Use the new name every time you address the dog, especially every time you feed it, and they catch on quickly.</p>
<p>DO NOT GET A DOG AND FORCE IT TO BE AN OUTSIDE DOG. Dog’s are pack animals and they need to be with their human pack. Outside dogs bark because they are miserable. Inside dogs will still bark to let you know someone is coming. A well-treated dog is easier to train and gives far more rewards than just a feeling of protection.</p>
<p>Food for thought… my insurance company won’t insure homes with german shepherds in them. Some companies will insure the home while excluding the dog, but some are shying away from even doing the exclusion as the courts don’t always uphold that part of the contract. OP, make sure your parents check their policy to make sure they won’t mess up their insurance.</p>
<p>I don’t think the OP should be getting any dog at all without doing a crapload more research and probably some growing up, but I am staying out of that discussion lest I get myself into trouble! ;)</p>
<p>The OP is long gone, only took an hour and a half. They’ll probably get a cat.</p>
<p>Considering the OP, they might end up with a mountain lion.</p>
<p>They can be the US version of <a href=“Meet the couple who share their South African home with a 27-stone Bengal tiger | Daily Mail Online”>Meet the couple who share their South African home with a 27-stone Bengal tiger | Daily Mail Online;
<p>And when that tiger attacks, they’re going to blame the tiger, not the idiots who kept a wild animal as a house pet. And considering that’s an endangered species, what the heck is it doing in a private home? Stupid, stupid, stupid and I can’t believe it’s legal. UGH. It’s one thing if you want to put YOURSELF in danger, by all means let natural selection take its course, but don’t put those 14 other pets in danger. They’re not the ones making a stupid decision. /rant</p>
<p>Guys it might not have seem like it, but I have been reading this thread multiple times a day. I have been trying to the best of my power to try to persuade my parents in adopting a dog from the animal shelter, rather than getting this puppy. I have gotten into numerous arguments with my mom and our relationship has been strained many times just over getting a dog, which you would think should be a joyous moment in someone’s life. However, I unfortunately have to tell you guys that my parents went out and got the puppy, knowing the fact that it would be much more expensive and much more toublesome. I know this will leave many of you angered and flustered, but I did try my best to persuade them otherwise, most likely I am just as angry as you guys are, but it is what it is and I am trying to deal with it. Now I have a bunch of questions to ask about this dog, because obviously no one in my family knows anything. </p>
<p>First off, the dog doesnt move at all. The person my parents bought it from (I was not present at the purchase, I was at work and my parents and my siblings went by themselves) had kept the mom and her litter in a barn. Apparently, they were never let outside and were fed dog food with scraps mostly. My mom said the mom dog was scared of the owner and even at the barn the dog we had purchased did not move. He had a sister who they said also cuddled together with and my dad did try to buy the sister as well, but did not have the money. I know if I was there myself I would question everything about how this man raised this dog, which to me he is clearly breeding for monetary gain, and I would yell at him. However, back to the dog, it doesnt move, we made a “bed” for it and all it does is lay in there. It breathes heavily and rapidly?, what does this mean, it ate some cereal at the beginning, but I bought some real dog food from work (puppy food) and it hasnt touched nor its water. Is this normal for a puppy? I red the panting could be the house is too warm compared to the barn, but for not moving at all? Is it depressed from being taken away from its sister, or could this be from its previous owner abusing him or something? It does not even bark, it hardly makes a sound at all other than for its breathing, we are taking it to the vet tomorrow. Any help would be appreciated, please and thank you.</p>
<p>First of all, if I were you, I’d find out who your parents got the dog from and call the SPCA or animal control to go check it out. At the very least, tell your story to the vet and get his/her opinion about what you should do. </p>
<p>No, that’s not normal for a puppy. That puppy needs to go to a vet. He/she will tell you tomorrow. Your parents are likely going to be in for a huge surprise tomorrow when they get the vet bill.</p>
<p>Oh good heavens…I don’t know where to begin. Please stay close to the poor thing tonite and be prepared for a rush visit to the nearest 24 hour emergency vet–puppies can go downhill very fast, and this doesn’t sound good at all. I can’t begin to express how foolish your parents were to take this animal (well, a much stronger word than foolish came to mind). If the vet says the puppy is not 100% healthy, they should have the vet provide whatever immediate care is needed and return the pup to the “breeder” right away. </p>
<p>I’m afraid to even ask if the breeder was able to provide papers to prove the puppy is a purebred. The breeder should also have provided evidence that the animal was given appropriate vet care from birth. </p>
<p>I’m sorry your parents didn’t listen to your advice–but I certainly hope this story has a happy ending. Best of luck.</p>
<p>Echoing the same thing: that is one very, very sick puppy. </p>
<p>I don’t think anyone who had any experience or knowledge of dogs would have made the mistake of taking that dog once they had seen the animal & the conditions it was held in.</p>
<p>I agree that dog is deathly ill and will need immediate intervention to have a chance.
How often is it going pee? Sounds extremely dehydrated.
If you can’t get him to lap water, soak cotton balls in water to squeeze into his mouth until you can get him to the vet.</p>
<p>Agree with all the above statements. How old is this puppy? Get it checked out immediately. It does sound dehydrated. It probably has parasites. Poor, poor thing. I know it wasn’t the right thing to do but at least this little guy is out of that situation. One just hates to encourage the breeder. A call to ASPCA would be in order or to animal control to have the situation checked out. It clearly sounds like an abuse case.</p>
<p>That’s really bad. The not eating or drinking is fine - usually puppies take about a day after moving to a new home to start doing so. But the complete lethargy combined with panting is NOT normal. I fear your family may be facing some hefty vet bills…</p>
<p>^^We don’t know that the bills will be higher than normal. Maybe it’s not a good idea to discourage the family from taking him to the vet. Do we even know how old the pup is?</p>
<p>Be glad your parents are taking the dog to the vet, OP, and although I don’t recommend getting a puppy this way, maybe your family will be a better home for the dog than he came from. Please get him the care he needs pronto.</p>