Hi there, I managed to find this board and it’s full of tons of great information – so thank you. I do have some questions I’d love to get answered though.

We just bought a GSD puppy from mixed German/American lines – mostly German though, and will be getting him at 8 weeks old. Even though our pup is registered, I really don’t know anything about bloodlines, the pedigree is all mumbo-jumbo to us. We wanted a family dog for our home, having 2 children aged 6 and 10. We wanted a large enough and loyal enough breed so that my 10-year-old could walk to the corner store with his dog. Unfortunately we live in the city and our children are pretty confined in this day and age. After much research, my husband and I decided on a GSD. He's very partial to the breed, having had a couple as a child, but it will be my first big dog.

We plan on neutering our dog at 9 months, as we never planned on breeding or showing our dog. We originally read that it should be 2 years, but after reading this board and site, we changed our decision, as our first and most important reason for getting a dog is as a family pet that would also provide some protection for our family and home. I understand that this will curb some dominance issues that might crop up in the future otherwise. Is this correct?

Do we have to “protection train” our dog? I believed that ALL dogs instinctively protected their people and homes. I briefly looked at Schutzhund training as being really interesting, but until we had settled on a GSD, we never knew it existed. As it seems to be a true sport, not a part-time fun hobby for a dog owning family, in retrospect I believe it’s not for us. We intend on obedience training our dog fully – I have always disliked undisciplined, untrained and badly behaved animals. Our entire family will be involved in the training, from home to class so as to ensure we all handle the dog in the same manner and to establish the “pack” order of the dog being on the bottom. Is that not enough for a family dog?

Why do dogs need to stay in crates for two years? Our dog will be crate trained from day one – but I expected to have a dog that would be able to have free run of the home once we have taught it how to behave in the house. Two years just seems so excessive to me. When I was a child I always remember the dog having the run of the house and not being destructive. Is the GSD just more destructive then other dogs? When can you housetrain your dog to be a well-behaved family member when you are out of the home? And does it really have to be after the dog is 2 years old?

I thank you in advance for answering my questions.

Corey - I don't know what you have read on my board about neutering - but the fact is if you only want to raise a house pet you should neuter the dog at 6 months. If you want to protection train the dog then don't neuter him until 2 years.

Saying that a GSD will instinctually protect you is nieve. Dogs need training - even if they have good geentics. Read the Q&A's on my web site.

The reason you keep a dog crates so long is to be sure it will not crap in your home or chew something up. Your dog can be out of the crate as long as you have EYES ON THE DOG. Of course you can always try to re-invent the wheel and go for it. Just don't walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night without slippers. Stepping in a pile of dog shit when you are bare footed wil become one of your more memorable experiences.

AHH the memories. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I know there have been previous threads about letting a 10 year old out alone walking the dog....

There is too much *stuff* going on that I would not expect a child that young to be able to deal with -- for example, loose dogs, taunting children, etc. Just for consideration.....that is a lot of responsibility to put on one so young.

Your selection of this noble breed for a family companion is an excellent choice! (Yes I'm a wee bit partial). You also seem to be commited to a training regimen and involving the family, wish more dog owners had this gumption. Bravo!

This website is a good resource for info, use it! Go thru the archives and read all the puppy info, read the articles, get some video tapes and books. What you instill in your pup during those early months will make the difference for years to come.

It will be your decision the course of training you would like to take your dog. Why don't you see if there are any Schutzhund clubs in your area? Not only will the training greatly benefit your dog, but your children too! It could be a marvelous family oriented hobby and assist you in your training goals. Nothing stopping you now from checking out the various clubs, talking to people, watching the dogs and asking questions.

As far as the crate thing goes...crates are not bad, it is a dog's place of safety. My dogs' love thier crates. Just never, ever use it as punishment. GSD's are considered children till about two years and they can be mischevious! Sure I've fallen asleep on the sofa with my GSD at my feet, awakened at 4 in the morning and she was as good as an angel, but....Look at it this way, we go to bed at night and sleep 6-8 hours, well, so does the dog!
Good Luck with the new pup!

I have a new GSD pup as well, who just turned four months old. He's an amazing dog, and very well behaved. However, that doesn't mean I will let him have the run of the house just yet. Take it slow, it's for their protection and proper training.

Be sure to search the archives for information on crates and how to properly utilize them. Apollo loves his crate, as he sees it as his place of refuge. I can't stress enough that it should never be used as a punishment.

I don't think Apollo would get into any trouble or have any accidents while I'm gone, but I keep him crated anyway, since if something happened to him, or my house, it would be my fault, not his. You and your new pup won't see it as keeping an animal in a 'cage' if you properly utilize the crate. He will love it and see it as their den.

As far as protection goes, I guess that depends on your definition, or what you are expecting of him. Yes, he'll bark at strangers at the door if you teach him to, unless you abuse him or he's got some really bad genes. If you have a picture of him in your head of leaping over a couch and making a burglar into a chew toy though, that's something that usually only comes with the proper training... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Good luck, and read everything you can on this board... it has helped me with Apollo very much.

-Lee Reicheld

Two years seems about right before fido should given the chance to prove he is trustworthy alone. I say given the chance, only because not all dogs will ever be trustworty on their own in the house. My almost two year old GSD has been left alone in the bedroom (dog proofed)with the door shut for 1/2 hour. He still found ways to get in trouble (pulling the clothes off the dresser, and shredding papers left on the desk). Think of your dog as a 8 year child. Would you leave a child alone at that young age? I have to admit that once I feel the pup is housebroken for at least a month, I give them the option of sleeping in the crate with the door open at night. My male loves to snooze in the crate, while my female 7 months old hates the crate. Maybe I have been lucky, but they have never had an accident. I of course will never allow them access to the house until they are mature enough to not get into trouble. Both my dogs are well bred, strong nerved and very friendly. I would hope that if the need ever arose, they would protect me. If not, thats what burgler alarms are for.

Congratulations on your new puppy!
On crates: Yes, I would crate your pup for as long as is advised. I have a six year old bitch who will still sneak into other dog's crates for a nap if she can. They are as a rule more comfortable with a special place and you will be too-the dog is safe when you're out and your stuff is safe.
That said, I have a year old GSD who spends a lot of time out of the crate, even when I leave the house, and it works fairly well-MOST of the time.
It is not ideal, I only do it because this dog has very extreme idiosyncracies where the crate is concerned. He is surprisingly good for a dog his age when unsupervised in the house, but I harbor no illusions-from time to time I can expect a random attack upon the sofa, the hardcover books in the bookcase, or even an attempt to swim in the toilet.
Crate as long as you can!
On schutzhund-you said something that kind of struck a chord with me-I too want to have fun with my dog at the sport while knowing I will never be a "dog trainer". We have only a couple in my region, and well, neither club seemed even mildly enthusiastic about taking on a new "hobby" member. Finding a club or even a group of like-minded people that suits you can be very hard. I read what ever I can get my hands on, talk to people on this board (a lifesaver!) and do what I can on my own. I have had a lot of fun with hunt club dog people-they appreciate a drivey dog even it's not a hound, and were happy to help me do some drive-type tracking.
For me, the social interaction of dog sports is as meaningful as working towards the goal of a title, and I think there's more than a few folks out there who think this too. Keep trying to find a club you like-Bernhard Flinks said approvingly at a seminar I attended in January of his German Schutzhund club that it had lots of hobby type members. While they may not be dead serious about titling their dogs, they pay dues, provide training opportunities, and were the source of a lot of funding for the club. This rational economic look at hobby members may be why Germany has so many more people involved with schutzhund, hmmm-I could talk lots on this topic, but that's not what your post is all about. Sorry...
Good luck in finding fun things to do with your new dog! Stay on the board-great people, advice, and informational videos to be found here!

Welcome to Leerburg Discussion Forum Board. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
There are members with exceptional levels of K-9 knowledge. Everyone here will try to help in any way we can.

Good Luck with your new addition to your family.

Like any group of people we may have different methods and views on dog trainig and problem solving.

When you have questions keep them to the point and do not put a bunch together. It makes it hard to seperate your concerns. ASK as MANY as you need. As with any answers, you will have different opinions. I assure you all are in best interest of you and your new GSD pup.

AS to using a crate: I have three dogs all use crates at certain times. Like others have posted the crate will become the pups safe place and DEN.

Most important: Never use it as punishment for any reason. Most times young dogs get into mischief because of non supervision. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Again, good luck with your new pup and WELCOME.