The trainer would probably be more objective and better equipped to evaluate the dog. If it were me, I would offer to pay for his time to do this. Dogs are with us and our families for years, so IMHO this small expense is well worth it.

Steve, Mary, I will be checking with the trainer to see if he'd be willing to do that (it's a couple hours drive time to get there). Good idea, thanks! If he can't go with us, I may see if I can find a trainer in that area who will meet with us.

I'd make sure that if it is someone near the owners...that it is not someone that they know or have any relationship with or you may not get an unbiased evaluation of the dog.

You want that person working for you.

Anne's post has made me think of something else Jon. I would make sure you can return her if there are problems. Be clear on that and right up front. You'll know if she's friendly enough with you to bring her home or not, then ask the trainer you know to evaluate her at your home.

Let him see the initial reaction from her to your kids. Her temperament may have her acting different where she's comfortable and you'll get a better idea of how she is in the new setting.

Jon,

I can't disagree with any of the admonishments posted. It is wise to hedge one's bets.

My bias is always for the dog. It seems to me a dog 'managed' by a 'hobby breeder' is being put aside for whatever inane reasons by said 'hobby breeder.' I did mention I have zero use for hobby breeders, didn't I?

Anyway, you are interested in a dog, and there is one available. My limited experience with dogs is that they fill the heart, are loyal and repay kindness with steadfast companionship.

I've had submissive dogs, hard dogs, spirited dogs, mellow dogs, almost every temperament of dog come through my home. A few have stayed, been adopted and are part of the family. All were prepared for adoption, and all found the right family for their forever home.

We don't always get the dog we want but, in my opinion, we get the dog we need. Some one told me that and I've come to understand its wisdom over the years.

We all have an ideal dog in mind. Mine have become the dogs I have and have had. They have their idiosyncrasies, and temperaments, and some are more aloof and some are more cuddly... But they all have their place in my heart.

So, a new dog in the house is an opportunity. For your children it is an opportunity to learn patience and caring responsibility. For you and your bride it is an opportunity to work to goals and understand goals are not ends.

I suffer from the unfortunate affliction of looking at a dog and seeing possibility rather than drawback. There have been dogs through here that others had given up on but giving up is easy.

I doubt a 'hobby breeder' would know a high drive dog from a fearful one. That further betrays my bias.

So, all too simplistically I opine that for the most part a dog is a dog is a dog, and many more times than not, a dog has surprised people with its real accomplishments in spite of its initial assessments.

My children were raised with GSDs. I was always more concerned about the problems the children might initiate rather than the reactions of the dogs. I'm mindful of the possibilities of negative outcomes but I think it a much less probable possibility than a positive one.

Sorry for the ramble.

So I shouldn't necessarily take the kids along to go pick her up? Just bring her home and have the trainer here evaluate her when she and our kids meet for the first time? Either that or find a breeder/trainer in that area to meet her with me?

One of the things that concerns me is that the owner/breeder is leaving Tuesday to go to Arizona, so I'm not sure if I'd be able to return her or not.

The longer I think about it the more concerned I am that we're getting into something over our heads, and that perhaps I should just keep looking and buy a puppy from a reputable breeder.
At the same time, how often does the opportunity to own a purebred GSD just fall into your lap?!
Oy...

 Quote: Mike Arnold

Jon,

I can't disagree with any of the admonishments posted. It is wise to hedge one's bets.

My bias is always for the dog. It seems to me a dog 'managed' by a 'hobby breeder' is being put aside for whatever inane reasons by said 'hobby breeder.' I did mention I have zero use for hobby breeders, didn't I?

Anyway, you are interested in a dog, and there is one available. My limited experience with dogs is that they fill the heart, are loyal and repay kindness with steadfast companionship.

I've had submissive dogs, hard dogs, spirited dogs, mellow dogs, almost every temperament of dog come through my home. A few have stayed, been adopted and are part of the family. All were prepared for adoption, and all found the right family for their forever home.

We don't always get the dog we want but, in my opinion, we get the dog we need. Some one told me that and I've come to understand its wisdom over the years.

We all have an ideal dog in mind. Mine have become the dogs I have and have had. They have their idiosyncrasies, and temperaments, and some are more aloof and some are more cuddly... But they all have their place in my heart.

So, a new dog in the house is an opportunity. For your children it is an opportunity to learn patience and caring responsibility. For you and your bride it is an opportunity to work to goals and understand goals are not ends.

I suffer from the unfortunate affliction of looking at a dog and seeing possibility rather than drawback. There have been dogs through here that others had given up on but giving up is easy.

I doubt a 'hobby breeder' would know a high drive dog from a fearful one. That further betrays my bias.

So, all too simplistically I opine that for the most part a dog is a dog is a dog, and many more times than not, a dog has surprised people with its real accomplishments in spite of its initial assessments.

My children were raised with GSDs. I was always more concerned about the problems the children might initiate rather than the reactions of the dogs. I'm mindful of the possibilities of negative outcomes but I think it a much less probable possibility than a positive one.

Sorry for the ramble.

Thank you for that, Mike! Your response settled my nerves about this a little bit! One of my wife's co-workers has been putting a bug in her ear about how they've owned working (K-9 unit) GSD's and would not trust any of them around kids, so that has had me a little on edge as well -- like if she doesn't have the "perfect" temperament she may just go off the deep end and kill us all! (Obviously that's an exaggeration, but you know what I mean, hopefully!)

It's times like these I wish I was a smarter man..

They fall into your lap constantly Jon. Rescues are full of them. If you want to take the kids, thats up to you. This really comes down to your judgement. If you're not sure about reading the dogs temperament, I wouldnt want to see you take any risks when it comes to your kids.

Its not that owning a dog is over your head, thats not what I mean. What I'm talking about is called kennel blindness. A breeder who is going to try and convince you all their dogs are wonderful and don't worry about her being afraid to come out of the kennel, she'll be fine once she gets to know you.

 Quote: steve strom

They fall into your lap constantly Jon. Rescues are full of them. If you want to take the kids, thats up to you. This really comes down to your judgement. If you're not sure about reading the dogs temperament, I wouldnt want to see you take any risks when it comes to your kids.

Its not that owning a dog is over your head, thats not what I mean. What I'm talking about is called kennel blindness. A breeder who is going to try and convince you all their dogs are wonderful and don't worry about her being afraid to come out of the kennel, she'll be fine once she gets to know you.

Well, my thought as of right now is to go down there with my wife and our youngest (since the other kids will be in school at that time), have my wife and daughter hang back while I meet the dog first, and see where it goes from there.
At this point, I'll tend to take anything the breeder says with a grain of salt, believe what I see with my own eyes, and follow what my gut tells me.

 Quote: steve strom

They fall into your lap constantly Jon.

Amen, and Hallelujah!!
Don't be afraid to pass on this dog just because it's free. Ian pointed this out hours ago (pat-on-the-back emoticon inserted).

Since I've had my first working GSD (a free-to-good-home rehome) and come to this forum, a little over a year, I have been offered two pedigreed GSDs for free, both owner surrender rehomes. One of them was the mother of my dog.

Because she had followed Sadie's progress in my home, the breeder and owner of the dam seemed to have some sort of realization that her dogs were other people's pets and could lead full doggy lives, and she wanted to retire the dam into a pet home. There are lots of dogs out there from similar circumstances, and I bet almost anyone who travels in dog circles knows someone who needs to rehome a dog but doesn't want the dog to go to a shelter or rescue.

As far as working dogs, I don't think the problem should be fear of the dog going off. By far the biggest issue with K-9s in the home is adjusting the lifestyle; not a tendency towards aggression. Working K-9s are generally very disciplined and aloof. The potential problems are activity level, need for stimulation, and unknowing humans making unwanted advances toward the dog. Though no fault of the dog's, it's just usually not a good fit with a young family, especially if there's limited knowledge about working dogs.