I am almost done with college going to graduate in May. I miss having a dog in my life after 5 years without one and am ready to get another one. I am looking for a constant companion, one to go backpacking, bike riding, hiking, and just exploring the great state of Montana with me.
I have researched quite a bit on the GSD and seems to fit my needs. The things I am worried about is that I will most likely be in an apartment right after school is out. I do have parents that are willing to watch the dog while I am at work for the day, and then the weekends I plan to be out in the great outdoors.
I have had dogs in my life since I was a kid, while not a great trainer dealing with a dog is nothing new to me. I have had mostly herding dogs, Australian shepherd, Australian cattle dog X, dingo/blue heeler, and then a knot-headed basset hound(we can let that one slide).
I have looked at lots of breeds but keep coming back to the GSD. I have also found a rescue here in Montana that seems to get quite a few dogs coming through. So am really thinking about get a dog from them. Any thoughts on that?
I am also planning at getting involved with the S&R teams up here, not only as a way to get outdoors, but as a way to pay it forward I guess if I ever manage to get lost.
My other breed choices would be Australian shepherd, Greater Swiss mountain dog, and maybe an Akita. Of course some of these are easy to find here in Montana than others. My last dog was a Australian Shepherd-Cattle Dog X, she moved in with my parent when I came to college and is more their dog than mine these days.
Just gathering more facts and info.
Thanks for any info the knowledgeable people on this forum can give
George

Sounds to me like a good fit. Mine thrives with the busy outdoor weekends in Colorado--snowshoeing, skiiing and hiking. Just be sure to exercise the dog daily after or before work if you are in an apartment. Others do. We are lucky to have a yard (and a doghouse for Maggie to stand on), but she still gets a walk, a run and a fetch session at the park daily. I sometimes combine the park and the walk into one session...

Yeah that is what I am planning. We just had a new dog park open up and it is along a long trail system by the river so lots of room to run and get socialized correctly

Just an FYI, most of us are not real fans of dog parks...

http://leerburg.com/dogparks.htm

or

http://leerburg.com/pdf/dogparks.pdf

and

http://leerburg.com/qadogpark.htm

George,

As long as you are able to supplement mental stimulation when you can't always give the dog a ton of physical exercise, a GSD sounds like it would be a good fit for you.

I would check with the rescue and see what they have available. If you can find a good trainer to go with you to evaluate a potential dog, that would be ideal. Some rescue dogs have a bit of baggage, but I have found that if you are able to work around that and start at the beginning with them, they are some of the best dogs to have.

Good luck finding the perfect companion, and have lots of fun when you do!!!

-Kelly

Thanks for all the information from everyone. The rescue actually has a one-year old that I think would be ideal right now. But being in college I have to wait till I figure out living after college. Will start to really search come June once I get settled into a place. I hope she does not last that long. The real reason for going to a rescue is the fact of not having the money to buy a pup outright. Will be a long time till I can get to that point in life.
Thanks again to everyone.

Hi George,

 Quote: George Wheeler

The real reason for going to a rescue is the fact of not having the money to buy a pup outright. Will be a long time till I can get to that point in life.

Are you sure you can afford to have a dog at this point? A GSD in particular? Considering that this breed is known to be prone to health problems, especially if the dog is not from a good breeder? They also eat a lot.

The health care and feeding i have already though about. It is the 2000 or more a puppy that is getting to me. Plus the route of finding a good breeder in Montana have not heard good things about the one around here. Unless you want to pay a fortune for an imported dog.

Call your local vets, ask for an estimate for a dental cleaning - this will give you the lowest estimate of what to expect for anything beyond the most basic health checkup. Around here anything at all could easily cost $900. A couple of visits like this and it'll cost more than a good dog from a good breeder. Do your math. You'll need around $100/month for food alone if you feed raw. You are going to do a thorough health checkup when you get your dog, right? X-ray hips and elbows, if it's a GSD?

Any dog I have ever gotten had a full work up. I am very aware of the problems of a GSD which is one thing that is keeping from the breeders in Montana.