I spoke to many of the local GSD local club memebers today. I did ask alot of questions. A main concern was our work schedual (my wife and I). There were concerns that we are not home for 10 hours of the day, five days a week. I was told that a puppy needs to eat four times a day and has to be taken out of its crate every three hours minimum.

I work 30 miles from home and my wife works 20 miles from home. So going home for lunch wouldn't work for us. I am having second thoughts about getting a puppy now and mabe starting to look for a young adult gsd. I don't know what to do.

 Quote: Frank Crivello

...we are not home for 10 hours of the day, five days a week...I am having second thoughts about getting a puppy now and mabe starting to look for a young adult gsd. I don't know what to do.

You are definitely right to reconsider a puppy. Unless you can get someone to come by a few times during the day, it's not really a workable thing.

I will probably not be in the majority here, but I would go so far as to question your availability for a young adult dog. If you do decide to go this route, you'll need to plan to get up extra early to work and excercise your dog before you go for the day, and you'd better plan on building your life around your dog when you're home at nite and on weekends. (This goes twice for a smart, active breed like the GSD.)

There are a lot of folks on this board who work full time and have dogs, and you'll probably hear from some of them. It can be done well; it's just being realistic about what you need to provide for the dog in this situation. You'd still want to have a pet sitter type visitor during the day, for example, but that's workable.

The puppy tho? Doesn't sound like a very promising set up. I respect you for thinking this thruough carefully now before getting a pup.

leih

 Quote: leih merigian

 Quote: Frank Crivello

...we are not home for 10 hours of the day, five days a week...I am having second thoughts about getting a puppy now and mabe starting to look for a young adult gsd. I don't know what to do.

You are definitely right to reconsider a puppy. Unless you can get someone to come by a few times during the day, it's not really a workable thing.

I will probably not be in the majority here, but I would go so far as to question your availability for a young adult dog. If you do decide to go this route, you'll need to plan to get up extra early to work and excercise your dog before you go for the day, and you'd better plan on building your life around your dog when you're home at nite and on weekends. (This goes twice for a smart, active breed like the GSD.)

There are a lot of folks on this board who work full time and have dogs, and you'll probably hear from some of them. It can be done well; it's just being realistic about what you need to provide for the dog in this situation. You'd still want to have a pet sitter type visitor during the day, for example, but that's workable.

The puppy tho? Doesn't sound like a very promising set up. I respect you for thinking this thruough carefully now before getting a pup.

leih

Yes, I have been doing tons of reading/research, asking gsd owners questions etc.. I am a perfectionist and I would like to make the puppy's life as enjoyable and as comfortable as possible with us and its environment. I would hate myself if I knew I didn't raise my puppy right and made his life miserable.

However, we are committed to taking care of an older gsd that has been past the puppy stage. I am home on the weekends and I am home at 5pm. My wife is the morning person, so she would walk him in the early mornings and I would be walking with him at 6pm and 11pm, if that is an okay thing to do with a gsd. Eventually, when he get's older, I would like him to jog with me.

Does this sound more realistic to you guys/gals and of course the older gsd?

One thing I do fear, is an older gsd (young adult)being aggressive since I did not raise him. But then again, I have seen Police Officers bond with their dogs as well as blind people and disabled people. I think I answered my own question here

There is one other option if you work situation is conducive - take you pup along to work, crate him in your car and go outside during breaktime/lunchtime to exercise and work with him.

Of course this is only going to work if you have a safe, always shaded area to park your car and an area at work to work with your pup. A more casual atmosphere at work is very helpful, too. Suits and puppies don't really mix...

 Quote: Mara Jessup

There is one other option if you work situation is conducive - take you pup along to work, crate him in your car and go outside during breaktime/lunchtime to exercise and work with him.

Of course this is only going to work if you have a safe, always shaded area to park your car and an area at work to work with your pup. A more casual atmosphere at work is very helpful, too. Suits and puppies don't really mix...

Unfortunately taking the pup to work would never work at my job. No dogs allowed where I work. Also, the pup would cook to death as it gets hot where my truck is parked, in the direct sunlight.

I believe that an adult dog will bond to you just as much as a puppy--and you to him. Puppy-rearing is fun, in a challenging sort of way, but it isn't, IMO, the most satisfying part of having a dog in your life. The best parts happen after the dog is past the zoomies and he has enough maturity that you can connect on a level higher than where to pee.

Can you pay a neighbor to let a puppy out during the day for a few months?

I completely agree with Leih! Please don't make a puppy endure being in a crate that much, all alone! Dogs need companionship and will have many, many behavior problems if they don't get it - barking, destroying property, separation anxiety, and lots more. I've seen it so many times with neighbors who do just what you described.

A puppy needs bonding and training ALL day in order to grow up confident and knowing who's the leader of the family - even more important in a breed like GSD since they are herding dogs and need a 'boss' and work to do mentally and physically.
Even a young dog, in my opinion, needs more time and training than just a few hours an evening - unless it's a breed that doesn't need much stimulation and exercise and wants to just lay around all day anyway.

 Quote: frank crivello

One thing I do fear, is an older gsd (young adult)being aggressive since I did not raise him. But then again, I have seen Police Officers bond with their dogs as well as blind people and disabled people. I think I answered my own question here

Is your concern that all GSDs available for adoption through a rescue are somehow "damaged" or necessarily aggressive or unruly? While it's true that some dogs end up in rescues because they have issues that make them hard to manage for an average pet owner, there are an equal number of perfectly wonderful, well cared for individuals who are surrendered due to unexpected changes in their owners lives and due in no part to the behavior of the dog - these dogs are fully capable of moving on to a new family and bonding beautifully with their new humans. In this situation, I would definitely support the idea of looking for a youthful adult in need of a new home over the prospect of getting a brand new puppy... there are SO many good dogs already out there...

Best of luck Frank - and I join Leih in commending you for thoroughly thinking this through before you jump at the desire for a puppy. Canine companionship can come in many forms... puppies are just one.

~Natalya

Just to give my two cents on an adult GSD.

My husband and I have four dogs. The Westie and Peke mix are 8 yo. A senior GSD who is probably 8 or 9 yo and a 4 yo GSD.

Just on the GSDs, the senior GSD came to us a year ago from a rescue, we've had the 4 yo GSD for almost 2 years.

The senior dogs are definitely less demanding when it comes to exercises. The senior GSD happily lays in his blanket for hours at a time, we walk him 2-3 miles per day, but he will probably be just as happy with two shorter walks.

The younger GSD has a much higher energy level. I am fortunate that I work 10 minutes away from home. Except for one day a week, when I have to work from 9 am to 4 pm without an actual lunch break, my husband and I usually feed the dogs by 7:20 am in the morning, walk them (with obedience work) between 8:30 to 9:10 am. Leave for work. Then I come home at 2 pm to let the dogs out, do two short sessions of obedience training with the younger GSD. Return to work, we are usually home by 7 pm, have dinner, then out with the dogs again by 8:30 pm.

In terms of bonding with an adult GSD, my younger female took longer to bond with us, but once she is bonded, she is very sweet and loyal. Looking at her now, you would've thought that I've had her since she was a puppy. The senior GSD did not take long to bond with us, he integrated into our family lives very easily. He is just a very easy-going, low maintenance dog.

Depends on what you are planning to do with your dog. Are you looking for a pet? A dog you can do sports with?

If you were to get a working line GSD, like my female, keep in mind working line dogs like to have a lot of mental and physical exercises. We didn't realize that when we got her (should've done our research better, LOL), but we wanted her to be as happy as possible. So we adjusted our schedules, and joined a local sports club, we now train her twice a week with a club to give her a "job."

And yes, our schedules revolve around the four dogs

Having adopted lots o' seniors, big ditto on the above post.

I would absolutely arrange the adoption or purchase to take place at the beginning of a vacation week or two, BTW.