Question for those of you who have or have had Working line German Shepherd Dogs:

Thinking back, or thinking about your first working line GSD, raising it and having it at your home, is there anything you would have done differently (regarding choosing the dog, *training*, manners, diet, etc)?

For those who have gone on to have more dogs, what types of changes did you make with those subsequent dogs?

What I'm essentially looking for are mistakes. I'm making a list of mistakes I've made in the past with my dogs and looking to learn from others experience too.

How much time do you have ? I made a ton. He turned out ok despite that. I think the biggest mistake is not being firm enough and following my gut on trainers. Don't assume that just because they're the "expert" that they know more about your dog than you do, or that they're correct about the direction you should take. There are trainers out there who intentionally will screw up your dog...especially if they have one to sell you . Remember that while they may be 90lbs and scare all the neighbors...they're still babies and can be set back severely by mistreatment, if not "broken."

Decide what you want to ultimately use him/her for and plan for that during puppyhood. My ex used to yell at mine for tugging too hard on his toys (because the dumbass bought him expensive stuffed animals, lol), and it took me literally months to teach him to bite and hold on...even though he genetically was programmed this way at one point. I think it's very hard to raise a working dog with other people in the house. I would not allow anyone to interact with my dog if I had it to do over again. No one plays with him, no one tells him what to do. It's much harder to build up confidence, drive, whatever you want to call it, than it is to control it. My pup started out bold and fearless, and quickly changed into a pup that "looks" for permission for everything, b/c my ex really controlled him. Don't get the wrong idea-he was not abusive, but he definitely ran a tight ship. The result is an extremely well-behaved dog that I'm having a hell of time getting to "lighten up."

I would give Ester C to any dogs I have in the future starting from early puppyhood, and would immediately transition to exclusive raw to promote steadier growth. I would also give vit E, wild salmon oil, and some enzyme supplements w/every meal to help the transition.

Jenn, I could have written the same thing!
The only difference for me is that my dogs are part of our family ,they are not kenneled dogs.But no one other than me tells them what to do, the kids really could care less to play with the big dogs other than swim with them and throw the ball .All the commands come from me, plus they only folow me anyways.
That's why I bought our little dogs cause the kids always complained the gs never wants to hang out with them.Anyways
I also agree, the diet, if you can start your dogs on raw from day one, do it, the best thing you can do for your dog.My parents have fed raw since I was little and for so many years I fed kibbles cause I had no time for raw.Now the dogs have been on raw 100% for a while but I always regret not starting long ago.Doing Raw on a few days a week was not enough(that's what I did)
I have learned too that not everyones K9 training techniques works for everydog, and not every titled dogs are great dogs or is a breedable dog.I have seen tons of crapy dogs with titles that I wouldn't take if it was free

Angelique, what gave you the idea that my dogs are kenneled? I wish!

I'm just a control freak who doesn't like anyone else messing with my dogs. My newest addition's name is Italian for "mine," LOL.

Oh no I was talking about mine,being part of the family as supposed to a dog that lives in the kennel.I knew yours weren't.
You wrote everything just about what I would have said, I had to add something
"Italian" You're funny

My working line GSD is a year old now. I feel lucky, because the breeder had two puppies available from the same litter, and he steered us towards the calmer of the two. I didn't realize how important that was until we brought our little guy home and started living with him. For me it isn't so much what mistakes I made, as what I didn't know. If I was advising someone thinking about getting their first working line GSD puppy, I'd warn them that they have a lot of energy, are very smart, and need to be exercised and kept busy. And go looking for something else if you really just want a companion who will lay at your feet all day.

Rich, my female is working line and she is pretty laid back she will lay at my feet if I let her, I'm not sitting all day so she can't but she is great on the field, brings alot of energy to her bite work , she turns it on when she needs too.I love that about her.I think it all depends, I see a golden retriever now and then that lives a few house away and he has more energy than she does and he is older and not a working line that's for sure.I think it depends on the dog and it's surrounding, the age factors in too.
http://s141.photobucket.com/albums/r77/cadogancna/

Aangelique,

Wanna trade dogs? Just kidding. As I type this he is laying on his side at my feet. But when he wants to go, he wants to go.

Thanks for the insight to my question.

Yeah, it's not so much as having made mistakes, but simply not having the facts about dog training previously in my life.

So, that said, with the information I've gathered, the books I've been reading, I truly feel ready for the responsibility. It's really interesting to now know for a FACT what I will *not* do!!! Also, feeling pretty armed and excited about what I will do.

 Quote: Michele McAtee

So, that said, with the information I've gathered, the books I've been reading, I truly feel ready for the responsibility.

I have faith in you Michele