As mentioned it really depends on what you want PUP versus Adult. Also the time committment you want to make. I generally tell people who want to buy a dog from me they a buying a "hobby". Most people who have hobbies big vacations, golf, fishing , hunting, motorcycles, etc etc etc need to give up something when getting a real working dog. I myself gave up spendy vacations and golf-dogs can go hunting and fishing and camping and so can my two kids so its a good fit. I too am a PACIFIC NORTHWEST resident. Why don't all to PNW residents on this thread cough up where they live. I live in SW Washington about 25 minutes from Vancouver the last sign you see before my private road says "The speed limit in a national forest is 35mph unless otherwise posted" so I live in a private spot also. Nearest neighbor about 1/4 mile. Good idea you need to be ready to take care of yourself..911 is a half hour away. Don't just be prepared for self defense but also first aid, fire etc etc. Anyway if you decide on a puppy or want to know more I have a small kennel(real small now-building a new one just moved here in July.) of Czech GSd's and usually have something for sale and will have a litter born about Christmas. Rather than say Czech dogs are not for beginners I prefer to say they are not for the uncommitted. From just a family standpoint I feel in the right hands and situation a good czech GSD is the best family dog you can have. My 7 year old male stays in the house and loves my 3 and 6 year old kids. He also literally ate a hole in a new crate so he could crawl out and chase a badguy who wanted to look through my sheds for something to steal. I had the dogs crated as its deer season and I want to be a lazy hunter and shoot one or two on my training field. Good for the dinner table and the k9 diet as well. I'm out $80 for the new crate though. Also my property is fully fenced and covered with No Tresspassing, Dog on Duty, Beware of Dog and Keep out signs. Same with all of the neighbors we still all have to watch out for each other though...people come out and cruise rural areas because they can drink and drive and if you aren't home and don't have a dog or more and motion lights etc etc its an easy steal for them. In Clark COunty where I live between 9pm and 6am there is only one deputy who patrols everything in the county North of 503. If you know the area its huge-several hundred sq miles and 1 sheriffs car. Take care of yourself and get to know your neighbors.
Anyway back on topic good luck with GSD search PM me if you have anymore questions. Do your reseach and educate yourself the best you can before buying. There are alot of knowledgeable people on this board and by the sounds of it a more than a couple who live in the PNW. And I think a couple people other than myself from the NW also have Czech dogs on this board so advice should be easily found. Derek

I forgot to add I AGREE WITH OLD BOB 100%..I have never been around dogs easier to train. Low repetitions, willingness to learn they have it all in my opinion. And once they know it they know it. Also keep in mind in Carolyn's case she is moving onto 10 acres. If she has a good fence she won't be going on walks unless she wants to. The dog can explore, dig in the dirt, chase squirrels whatever. Mix that in with a game of fetch or frisbee and some obedience work and it can be a great partnership. Alot of the drive and energy that these dogs have we train into them as puppies because its what we want. If you want a more relaxed dog it is possible to raise it that way. Ed Frawley states the same thing on his DVD. You put the drive you want into the dog. Of course dogs are born with more or less but us owners we can certainly mold our dogs to fit our needs within reason.

Most people who have hobbies big vacations, golf, fishing , hunting, motorcycles, etc etc etc need to give up something when getting a real working dog. I myself gave up spendy vacations and golf-dogs can go hunting and fishing and camping and so can my two kids so its a good fit. Think Derek put that very well. I know most people I know imagines a pup will fit seamlessly into their lives after a week or so of housebreaking, and certainly don't plan on restructuring their lives when the new addition comes in. And then they all start coming to me with lots of questions (read problems) when the pup is about a year old and still doesn't listen, still jumps up on everyone, won't stop barking, etc.

I haven't found letting my pups loose alone in a huge yard, to be a replacement for the socialization and training I can give my dog. But that's to have a dog that is a member of my family and I can take everywhere and do anything with. My experience shows that adding a puppy is a huge commitment in time/training/socialization etc for the first few years.

And I have not trained a dog for schutzund, let alone titled in the sport, but from everything I've read to keep up the dogs (and handler) skills it take a vast amount of time. And since Carolyn had posted originally with that as her intent, that type of pup/adult dog, that she wants trained for her protection, I wasn't sure she knew what a true commitment she would be talking about.

Jenn-very well put. I do believe there are some dogs that you can bring home as pups and the parents can give them to the kids as a gift, help with housebreaking and be done. But those dogs aren't GSD's, rotts, Dobermans, Malinois etc etc. Do you want a real real nice dogs as a family member and a hobby or toy that can love you back? A jet ski doesn't show much affection last time I checked but also you can't winterize your dog and park him the garage for 7 months either. Maybe some breeds of lap dogs can just be taken home and raised like a cat but most dogs can't. But I do beleive if a person is ready to make the committment and has the facility, the money and time and willingness to learn even a beginner can raise a GSD puppy into a good family member. And even hard working Czech lines or other working lines. Its just like a car in a way we can tweak and tune then and use them to our needs. How many people have seen a well dressed 70 year old grandma driving a nice shiny corvette or a mustang? Now I bet she doesn't race it on weekends or spend her spare time turning wrenches adding high performance parts but she loves the car as much as the people who do and it fits her needs just as much.