Eitan, it's great that you are being so thorough in your search.

And certainly take advantage of the trainer's offer to accompany you when you start looking. He should be able to offer insight into a particular dog that may not be apparent to you upon introduction.

Hey Eitan,

Just thought i would put in my .02 cents here.

I do agree with everyone on obtaining an older dog. And have no fear about the bond you will have with the dog or the dog will have with you. Puppy or adult...it will happen.

I would hold off on any tug games at all until you have some solid obedience down and are sure that tug is the right game for the dog you get. I thihk there's a link where Ed explains why tug is not always a good idea. If you are confident that your dog understands the rules and understands his role and won't take the tugging too far then by all means, once your obedience is strong. But for now, work more on the obedience and some good old 2 ball fetch and walks to exercise the dog.

There are alot of great low key low drive GSD'S out there, it's just a matter of making sure the breeder knows exactly what you're looking for and can match you up with the right one.

Marker training is a great way to teach a dog to pick up items or turn on lights etc etc....plus again it will mentally help with tiring the dog out when exercise is just not possible.

endless possibilities....

IMHO the size of the dog is very important here, even with a low energy very calm dog. You might want to consider a dog you could physically handle without help at all times. For example lift him if he is injured or control if he is misbehaving.

Does your trainer handle all breeds or GSDs only?

Anna,
I think you're right regarding the size of the dog. That's why I'm looking for either a small German Shepherd or something of that size. It's also why I'm looking for a female rather than a male.

If border collies were just a little bit less energetic that's probably what I would choose. I have a friend who has border collies and he says that if they don't get a huge amount of attention and exercise they can become destructive.

in all seriousness, I think I'm leaning more and more towards getting the dog from a shelter. I'm just a bit apprehensive as to what dog I will get from the shelter (history of the dog, etc.)

Eitan Waks

No matter where you get your dog from, take it to your vet right away and do a thorough health check(blood, fecal, urine tests + any breed-specifics). All shelters I contacted here take a dog back if a pre-existing condition discovered within days of the dog leaving the shelter. Any good breeder would do the same.

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If border collies were just a little bit less energetic that's probably what I would choose. I have a friend who has border collies and he says that if they don't get a huge amount of attention and exercise they can become destructive.

A well bred Border Collie given an adequate amount of training and attention can make a great active pet.

I have 3, they get about 1 1/2 hours of exercise and training a day. This is broken up into 10-30 minute increments spread throughout the day. They also have kong toys, treat toys and nylabones on occassion. If you have a yard you can get out and play fetch in along with couple good walks a day and a job for the dog (like training the dog for service dog tasks and a few other games that require brain work) they do pretty well. The ones who get crazy and destructive tend to be the ones with owners who think that "smart" means a dog that comes pre-trained!

Border Collies do best when you live a fairly dog centered life style - they like going places with you, doing things with you and just hanging out with you. I rarely go anywhere without a dog in the car in good weather. And I'll get them out for a few minutes and train in various areas. It works very well for me and my dogs.

 Quote: Eitan Waks

9. And now for my personal favorite, there is a beautiful white German shepherd in a kennel not far from my home. She's two years old and supposedly calm, house trained, and very friendly with all other animals (dogs, cats, people, etc.). Other than taking their word for it, is there any way for me to actually predict if she will behave the same way once I take her out of the kennel?

I vote for this one! 2 years old is a good age for a dog, you should be able to get a feel for her temperament, you'll know how big she is already I would just go and play with her at the kennel, see if you can handle her on a leash at the facility, see what commands she knows (like sit). How does she greet you, is she nervous? that kind of stuff.

As Ana said, have a vet check her out!

Type A and Type B personalities in humans is explained here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personality_type

Some people will describe a dog's temperament as A or B using these same general guidelines.

There are lots of great threads here and some podcasts about puppies and toys and other "things" you need for a puppy. I keep remembering what you said about having a trainer available to help you. I'd use that resource as much as you can. Ask them to check out the dog at the kennel with you.

I'm in the same boat you are, but we've chosen the breeder, just waiting for the puppies to be born. Another week or so.

Good luck to you. I'll be watching your posts.