So I bought a German shepherd. He's only six weeks old so I have to wait a couple weeks before I can pick him up, so that gives me some time to prep. Anyone have any experience with shepherds? I want to get him a crate. I'm not sure how big of a crate I need though. The 48 inch crates are almost $200 from Petsmart. I'm hoping I don't need one that big.
I had 2 German Shepards growing up. I can't remember what size crates we had, but I know they only were put in the crates as young pups. They are great dogs, very loyal sometimes over-protective. Only downside to the breed is hip dysplasia and the average Shepherd only lives 9 years.
Look on craigslist free section. People give used crates away all the time. Also you and him need to take a dog training class, it will help you both and to also get him socialized around other dogs and people.
I didn't snap any and I don't get to pick him up for another two weeks. Maybe I'll ask the breeder to send me some pics.
Dog obedience classes are not the same as taking your dog to a dog park. But they do hold dog obedience classes at some dog parks. Remember, he is a dog. (Many owners actually forget this) That means he thinks of you and everyone in your family as dogs. Throughout his life but especially when he is a young and teen dog he is going to try and find his place in your pack of dogs (meaning you and your family.) You need to know and understand these behaviors and more importantly know how to respond to them correctly when you spot them. Hint, beating the dog isn't always the correct response. Also you should remind him daily how much his life sucks because he doesn't have thumbs. Can't open doors, use can openers, drive, etc all because he doesn't have thumbs then remind him that because you are a dog that does have thumbs you can do all of these things.
I've had Shepherds for about 40 years. If you raise them right, I think they are the best breed there is. If they don't get the training they need, they can be a huge pain in the ass. There are lots of effective training methods. The important thing is to choose one and commit to it. You'll enjoy your dog so much more if he's well behaved. He'll enjoy being trained by being allowed to go more places if he minds. My brother in law used a training method that claimed that it is imperative to start training on the first day of the seventh week. His dog was well behaved using this method, and iirc, it was all positive reinforcement training. If this is the way you choose, you need to get the book soon. You'll probably need to show the people that have your pup the book to help convince them that you need to take him home a week earlier than the traditional 8 weeks. About the crate, it somewhat depends on the training method you use. I know a lady that trains search and rescue dogs, and she uses a large crate as part of the training. I don't use that method, so a medium crate to transport him when he is a puppy works for me. You might have a decent shot at buying one on Craig's list. You probably know this, but don't take your pup anywhere until get him his shots. Iirc, this is a series of 2-3 shots, with some time between. Go Blazers
The book is Family Dog, by Richard Wolters. They have it at Powell's. A lot of his book is a study of his young son (6?) training the puppy. Most training methods start about 6 months, and are some combination of positive and negative reinforcement. If it was me, I would use the Wolters method when he's really young, then find a place that gives classes for 6 month old dogs. You will get a lot out of the class because you'll have confidence that your dog already knows most of the stuff you'll be doing. It's hard to train a dog that there are times that he must mind, this instant, even if he REALLY doesn't want to, with all positive reinforcement. Training with a group of others will help with this training. The dog park is a good place for socialization. You should take advantage of that if you live near one. Having a 100 lb german shitbird that wants to tear up the male golden retriever next door every time he sees him is a major headache. Just my experience, but my sheps have lasted about 12 years when we've had to put them down. Go Blazers
For a crate, try to find a wire crate (Precision is the brand I got for the Rotty/Cane Corso mix) that comes with a puppy training divider. You can expand the size of the crate as your puppy grows. You're gonna want to get the biggest one that you can find. Your dog is going to be huge & that way you only invest in one crate & your dog will grow attached to it as it gets bigger. Patience. You're going to need lots of it. Don't ever yell at it or spank it.. I ruined my first dog. It fears me & it really bothers me. I made sure I didn't make that mistake with my 2nd dog. You're going to need to walk your dog a lot. It's the best thing for them. I urge you to take your dog to some obedience classes at PetSmart. I think it's around $100 for 8 sessions. They give you loads of coupons too. It's worth every penny.
Here's an add on Craigslist: http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/for/1957207241.html And another: http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/for/1955187627.html Neither lists that it comes with a puppy divider. It looks like you could get a new one for about $150 with the divider.
I don't want a guard dog per se, but I want a dog that will protect my family when I am away. Even if he is the nicest dog in the world, a German Shepherd is still one of the most intimidating dogs on this planet.
I grew up with Shepherds, and have had them all my life. My family used to breed them, so I think I know a lot about the breed. Here are the most important things to do, IMO. 1. Make sure the dog has all it's shots. 2. IMMEDIATELY take the dog to obedience school. 3. IMMEDIATELY take the dog to "social events". Remember, you want a dog that can protect, not that is over protective. 4. Buy the book "The art of raising a puppy" There is a great website for working dogs http://www.workingdogs.com/book008.htm 5. Do you have kids? If so, get all of your kids friends over as early and often as possible. This also goes for your friends, but not as important. Introducing the dog to any and everything is the key. German Shepherd are the best dog on the planet, IMO. You just have to be sure the dog is trained and controled early. I have seen people who can't handle their shepherd, and it's not good. I have a neighbor who's shepherd is constantly barking at kids coming over, or at other animals. My dog literally just sits at attention until she is told to do otherwise. My dog is a large breed shepherd that weighs 123 lbs, and not one person on the street is affraid to come up to him. My neighbors dog is fairly normal at about 75 lbs, and constantly barks at everyone. The only time my dog has ever "acted up" was when a meter reader came into our backyard. First of all, they aren't supposed to do that if signs of a dog are posted. Anyway, he went back there and ran into my dog, and freaked. He started running, and my dog barked and snarled. He froze, and I walked outside and said "ausrushen" or relax in German. My dog sat down and stopped immediately. I fully expected to have a big hassle on my hands about this, but I never heard a word about it. My point is, make sure the dog is well trained, or you could be in for all kinds of issues.
