My choice for a breed would be the GSD but look into their health issues and discuss these with a reputable breeder.

If they will be inside dogs I would also look into a top line vacuum cleaner.

They don't call them German Shedders for nothing.

Working line only!!

Cheri, why apologize. It is a hypothetical question, but not completely. As I said, you'll never know what will happen, I want to be prepared to choose without being so naive.

About reputable breeders in Brazil I agree. There are some. But they only attend within a certain distance of where they have their school. Brazil is an immense country, the fifth largest one of the world. The state Bahia, where I live is huge itself. I have written to various organisations like Cão Cidadão and others, who have a good name. I contacted them when I wanted a good instructer for my at the time two puppies. They wrote, there is no single one in Bahia who is certified and they themselves don't fly so far, they've got enough clientes in their own region.

We have had for 3 months 5 times a week the so called best one here and it was awful. Would be too long na dditional story here. They also can't recommend an experienced breeder here. Extra story again.

Cão Cidadão is very good organized, examines their instructors and has a good informative website. Imagine, I wouldn't be able to travel for example to Sao Paulo, choose quickly a puppy and then fly back home. I'd need to stay there for quite some time in order to be able to choose right. This alltogether would be much too expensive and I would have to leave my other dogs behind, which I never would do.
By the way I don't trust Brazilian Airlines, not because of accidents, but because of the sloppy mentality how they transport animals. We came over here with 3 cats and made our exoeriences. But this is again another story

No, I haven't attended dog shows here for one simple reason: they don't exist. Believe me I've been searching, writing, seeking for infos. But people here don't train their dogs, they let them run about free wherever they want. So a course or something like that would have no chance to survive, because there is no or at least not enough demand. Result: no supply.

What your saying about the aggressivity issues of one of my Pits, your certainly right. Though this problem is "solved" in between with consistent management, in this case first of all by separing. Besides this, she is not a constantly aggressive dog, nevertheless we've learned how to avoid any further attack.

I thank you for the time you invested for your contribution, Cheri Even if it seems purely hypothetical. It isn't. I really prefer prevention and this I have to do before something happens.

Kelly, thank you too. The way you describe your attitude and how you'd choose is the one of a since years and years experienced handler. It is very convincing.
The safety of your resident dogs has priority. I am of your opinion. Safety is for me also paramount. My attitude is the same. But my experience not in the least. I made mistakes with choosing and certainly later on with managing and training too. I didn't know Slippie would develop aggressitivity. While we had only the two Pits never any aggressive behaviour occurred, perhaps because they are sisters.

After a certain time we brought a little rescue in. Slippie accepted her, she never showed the slightest aggressive behaviour towards her. She didn't play with her though, but she was never a very playful dog. Unfortunately this animal died two weeks after castration. She got an infection, was not well treated. a veterinarion error.

Later I found the Lab-Mix on the streat. Slippie seemed to accept her, but an attack happened, because she had a bone which she didn't want to leave to Slippie. We separed them for weeks and brought them again together for short moments, Slippie on a leash. After this she never attacked her again. The much bigger problem began as you know, when we adopted Charlie.

So, when you adopt a new dog, how then can you know, if he will get along with the rest of your pack? I don't have the experience or/and not the talent to see this before.

Bob, yes, a GSD, I'd love. I always found them wonderful dogs. I know they can have health issues, if I'm not mistaken, especially those who have been bread for beauty reason to have - don't know how to say in English - kind of shorter or falling back, which can result in problems with their column and their joints. Is it like this?

Discuss with a reputable breeder? Oh yes! But again same problem. You'll not find any within reasonable reach. Breeding here is: let the female in heat go where she wants and some males will certainly be interested to cover. Didn't you know, That's how puppies are made. And then sold and if not, abandoned. This is extremely expressed, I know. There are many other people of course, but a breeder who sells a GSD brings in the best case two GSDs together, knowing nothing what is important in responsible breeding. Simple equation: GSD+GSD=GSD. But a bit deeper criterias? I would have to be extremely lucky to find someone who has a clue about responsible breeding.


A top line vacuum cleaner we wouldn't need, as ours are unfortunately all outdoor dogs.

We had one by the way, which we gave to transport from Switzerland to here. But it was in a container which never arrived. Buy a new one here? Fairy tales - you'll mostly just recieve scrap, same with fridges, washing machines etc. etc.

Don't missunderstand me, I do like the country, the people, I hait the catastrophic desorganisation. indifference and corruption.

Back to the topic dogs: It affects the dogs very much.

A GSD, yes, I guess /hope nothing bad will happen so soon. This gives me time to go on seeking. But a Pit, a Lab, a Dob, a Border Collie .... too.

Candy, sorry, I was interrupted and then forgot to thank you for your answer.
I know, you don't want to offend anyone, not individuals nor a whole culture. The people here can actually not be blamed for the way they are keeping the dogs. They grew up in this culture and so have another mentality. I don't blame them either, except when I see someone - mostly men - beating their dogs. On the whole people here love their dogs too, it just seems unnecessary for them to train them, vaccinate them - generally spend money for them.
All those conditions make finding a good breeder etc extremely difficult. I'm speaking about my region where I live, not from whole Brazil. But what other foreigners who live in another state told me, it is almost anywhere the same. Only around metropolis you have more possibilities, and even this if you earn enough. But most people unfortunately don't.

 Quote: Christina Stockinger

Candy, sorry, I was interrupted and then forgot to thank you for your answer.
I know, you don't want to offend anyone, not individuals nor a whole culture. The people here can actually not be blamed for the way they are keeping the dogs. They grew up in this culture and so have another mentality. I don't blame them either, except when I see someone - mostly men - beating their dogs. On the whole people here love their dogs too, it just seems unnecessary for them to train them, vaccinate them - generally spend money for them.
All those conditions make finding a good breeder etc extremely difficult. I'm speaking about my region where I live, not from whole Brazil. But what other foreigners who live in another state told me, it is almost anywhere the same. Only around metropolis you have more possibilities, and even this if you earn enough. But most people unfortunately don't.

GSD are extremely faithful companions & very versatile working partners, I agree (having owned one myself) but that's a LOT of FUR for Bahia, Brasil (IMHO) in addition to many health problems with their digestion, eyes, joints, skin, etc. -- However, you know Pitbulls also share those most excellent qualities, along with a Short SINGLE Coat better suited to your climate down there, and better health in general ... I would only suggest steering clear of the blue (grey) ones, as I believe they tend to develop Malignant K9 Melanoma (a highly lethal skin cancer) much more often than the other colors of Pits.

So many different takes, and so manyhard and fast rules. There are exceptions to every "rule" that I have seen posted on this thread.

The German Shepherd "community" in my area is pretty small and familiar. Everyone that cares to socialize with other GSD people (and likewise, the Rottie, PB, and Cane Corso folks in our training circle) seem to know each other, train, and trial together. The three professional breeders in our circle are what I would definitely consider reputable, but they typically are dealing with people that they have a long-term relationship with or someone who is contacting them through an associate. IME if one of them is selling a puppy to someone that they have trained with and competed against for years, they allow the buyer to select the puppy, and those buyers won't have it any other way. They don't usually have waiting lists because the pool of prospective buyers is limited. If they do sell a puppy to a stranger or a friend of a friend, they actively engage the buyer to try to ensure a good fit, but that client isn't getting anywhere near the pick of the litter anyhow, as the prime candidates get promised/selected to the experienced buyers long before the pups are weaned.

I've bought different breeds of dogs under varying circumstances over the past forty or so years. While always open to the seller's suggestions, if I didn't make an immediate connection with the pup in question, I walked away from the deal. My relationship with my future companion is critical regardless of my reason or criteria for wanting said pup. A breeder/seller can pair you up with a puppy that, in his opinion, fits you, but matchmaking is not a perfect science and, ultimately, I have to live with that dog.

 Quote: Duane Hull

So many different takes, and so manyhard and fast rules. There are exceptions to every "rule" that I have seen posted on this thread...

...I've bought different breeds of dogs under varying circumstances over the past forty or so years. While always open to the seller's suggestions, if I didn't make an immediate connection with the pup in question, I walked away from the deal. My relationship with my future companion is critical regardless of my reason or criteria for wanting said pup. A breeder/seller can pair you up with a puppy that, IN HIS/HER OPINION, fits you, but matchmaking is not a perfect science and, ultimately, I have to live with that dog.

You expressed it better than I did, Duane, THANKS

IMHO, there is definitely a Subjective Element to each & every kind of RELATIONSHIP extant, including that of Dog & Owner -- Call it Chemistry or LOVE or inexplicable affinity & attraction, but it does exist to some degree or another ... One puppy will simply APPEAL to me MORE than another pup from those which are available in the same litter, even if all other variables are equal (and any breeder who would try to Insist on Their choice over & above my own would end up with a "no sale" in that case).

You're without doubt right, Candi. How the individual will be aand how we fit togehter no one can tell me for sure.For me it is just a learning process on what criterias to keep an eye on. I think some deliberation we should make, before we choose a puppy. A litter of Pits were accidentally there, we went to look at them. found them incredibly sweet, came once more with a Vet. I think such reflections are not sufficient. We are happy though with the ones we have and would buy them again, despite of certain problems.

For me it is very interesting to read how more experienced people decide.Thanks a lot|

http://www.volhard.com/pages/pat.php

Above is the old "tried & true" PUPPY temperament test -- It is a Fairly General aptitude evaluation, and I'm sure there are others available, but this is the one I cut my teeth on WAY back when Noah was still sailing the Ark ... It's geared for folks who are selecting a family PET for the most part

People looking for a Bite Sport Dog or a Personal Protection Dog for example, have different needs than your average Pet owner, and they would be dealing with Specialized breeders (some of whom won't let most potential buyers handle the litter, for their own professional reasons) -- Anyway, you are HIGHLY unlikely to run into that caliber of breeder, for the type of Family dog you would eventually be getting ... So meanwhile, you can study the Volhard test & be prepared for "sometime down the road"