Well it is time for me to decide if I am going to make the reservation for the pup from the kennel I have chosen. I have been doing so much reading and I am getting confused.

I live, work and study at a university and I have a ton of people in my home and around my home all the time.

Is a well socialized german shepherd with high drives going to be a safe dog to have? And what if it enters into schutzhund or dvg bite training is it still safe to have?

I would like the dog for protection at night but otherwise its a sport dog and companion.

Julia,

A well-rounded GSD will make a good dog - it will take work and patience.

Socialization & obedience are the basic foundations. without these - you will have mulitiple problems.

I have recently retired my police service dog, he is living at home with my family - makes a very good addition to the family. I am working my replacement police service dog and he is going to be as good as well --- but work on socialzation AND obedience.

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I live, work and study at a university

My concern would be more if you have the hours of time needed every day for such a high energy puppy (or any dog for that manner). I know when I was in school I would not have had time (or money really) for a puppy, let alone a highly intelligent and full of energy puppy that it sounds like you are looking for.

I am probably getting a puppy next year and I'm already NOT looking forward to the having to get up early for housebreaking, getting up in the middle of the night for housebreaking, stuff that will get chewed up and ruined when I'm a bad mom and not paying attention. I'm lucky on some of the costs because I have enough food bowls and a crate and other doggy things. But will still have more vet bills, TRAINING costs, etc that pop up.

The hours a day needed to play/socialize/bond with a puppy. The hours a week to train a puppy. The money to raise a puppy properly (and God forbid there is a health issue that crops up, or emergency vet situation). I know that when I was in college there was NO WAY I could have added any of those additions needed to be a responsible dog owner.

Why are you in such a hurry to get a puppy? Can you wait until you graduate? How about getting an older dog, already trained somewhat and with the puppy issues over? A rescue or an older dog from a breeder?

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Puppies and college students don't really mix very well. The shelter in my area can attest to that. What happens when you have to move and can't find a pet friendly apartment, the roomie lets the dog out without a leash and it gets hit by a car, the roomie gives the dog treats for fun and uses commands improperly, etc.

At this point, fostering for a rescue might be a better idea. Then you won't have to sell/dump your dog if you have to move all of a sudden, the dogs will be MUCH more suited to other people handling/interacting with them. I'm a college student right now and hopefully will be for quite a while, so I have gone through the same thing. To own a dog and keep it the way I see fit, it would cost 1 to 2K a year. That's money I don't have, and if I worked more to make the money then I wouldn't have time for the dog.

Once I get ready I might start fostering for a terrier rescue (most apartments won't allow anything above 30 lbs), but due to the limitations of living with non-dog people I won't be able to do any serious training.

If you are set on getting your own dog, then I would suggest an adult. Anything that barks will provide you with some protection, and rescues are filled with lots of yappers <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> .

My dog came to college with me. He lived with one of the faculty that lived on campus (I lived in dorm). Thier son really wanted a dog around but they didn't want to buy one and it worked out great. I spent lots of time with him. College was lots of work, lots of studying but there was also small 'bits' of down time and it was great having him close by.

Sounds like Julia works as well as studies, so I would also think has thought through the 'cost' issue? A young pup can be a lot of work initially, so that is definately something to think about.

As far as your concern. A well socialized gsd with sound temperament will be safe to have around.

Well luckily I have told the breeder I am still thinking about it. I have the time, but its the schedule I worry about, dogs need to be on a schedule and mine is always changing. By the time I get the pup our athletic season will be over ( I asst coach for the OSU golf team ), so I will have afternoons free. I better keep thinking about it. I still wanted to make sure though that WHEN I do get teh dog even if in a couple of years that this will be a safe dog if handled correctly. I want it also to be a pet.

You are being awfully smart about this and I hope you continue. The whole 'puppy' thing is alot harder than an adult dog. And my girl was very much a puppy for the first year, and somewhat of a puppy for most of the second.

And it sounds like you may want to add the additional 'burden' (with time/cost/training/classes) of having this dog and you trained for protection? Just sounds like it would be taking on alot for a full time student.

If I were you I would spend all my time/effort on my studies and school. So you graduate to get a GREAT job, with a GREAT salary and tons of time off so you can then really raise the puppy of your dreams.

How far away does the breeder live? Maybe you can help out at the kennel and with training so you can get the experience you'll need and be doing the kennel a favor.

Great advice Jenn, I have never been to the kennel I am sure its no more than an hour away. I am going to visit in a couple weeks. I have gotten a couple of good references about them and have spoken to them a lot. Thanks to this board I got great advice as to the fact that a good breeder will spend a lot of time talking to you before they let you get a dog. I really understand what you are saying about the dog being a pup for so long, my current dog is such a pup and he is about 15 months now. I am feeling more and more confident that waiting till next year will be better, who knows I might get a head coach job sometime before next fall. This by the way is my second college degree.