How We Picked Our German Shepherd Puppy

If you are anything like my husband and I, you have a special place in your heart and soul for dogs. Being a dog fan, the likely hood of also being fans of The Dog Whisper is probably pretty good.

Several months ago we watched a really good episode on the Dog Whisper on "How To Pick the Right Puppy for Your Family". My husband and I had been wanting to have a family dog for a few years. How ever both our lives were too busy between our career's, travel, and my husband going back to University, and so we felt it wasn't fair to bring a dog into our home until our lives slowed down a bit. I decided to take some time off from my career, which finally allowed us more time to be home, so we began our search for a family dog. In Oct 2011, we added our first addition to our family. Remy who is now 9 months old, is a pure bred German Shepherd and even more recently we decided to get a second dog. Remy's brother who is from a second litter of the same parents of Remy. Rhino is only 12 weeks old, our dogs are exactly 6 months apart. Both our dogs have very different personalities. Remy the older pup is sweet, gentle and very laid back and well mannered with a very easy going high tolerance personality. Rhino on the other hand is fiesty, high energy and non stop action with him. Remy is relaxed confident and so laid back.

Rhino will steal anything he can get his little paws on, we have to watch him like a hawk. Rhino wants to be involved in all the action, and Remy wants to participate in all the hugs and kisses. Both dogs bring us so much joy, and go every where with us. We did a lot of back ground work before we got both our dogs. First off in deciding what type of dogs to get for our family, we made a list of what was most important in a breed. We wanted a good family pet, with high intelligence. We live on a large acreage where we tend to get packs of coyotes and other wild life, so we wanted a good protective guard dog as well. We enjoy the outdoors and we wanted a dog that would enjoy being outdoors with us. We have an active life where we like to go for long walks and jogs every day. We also had interest in working in the Search and Rescue Volunteer program in our city. We live in Canada where we can get wonderful warm summers, but also very cold winters. So we wanted a dog that could handle both extreme climates. Once we were ready to bring a new family member into our household we understood what was required to become responsible dog owners - and were prepared to do it.

So we began the process of choosing a dog breed that would suit our lifestyle, personality and requirements. We realized that this is an important long term decision for our family and anyone we live with. It certainly pays to put in some research to ensure we reached the right decision in getting both our German Shepherds who have brought us so much joy. I think it is important to visualize the type of dog you picture yourself living with for the next 15 years as the dog's breed is just one of the many factors you need to consider. I get so upset when I see add's on public selling sites like Kijji where some one has to get rid of their dog that is now too big for their 1 bedroom condo. Or a family who surrenders their dog to a rescue foundation because their dog is destructive in their home. Which as a responsible dog owner we know that it is not the dog, it is the owner who is at fault when dogs miss behave. I also see time over time people who with little confidence and lack of character get a stronger dominate breed of dog like a Pit Bull, or Rotti or a Doberman or even a German Shepherd and the dog becomes a potential risk to the family and the neighbourhood. Some people simply do not have the experience or Alpha in them to be owners of more dominate dogs and end up getting rid of their dogs because they can't handle the dog. This is not fair to the dog, and often these dogs are bounced around shelters and foster homes. We picked the German Shepherd because first off we love the breed, we love their high working drive, we love how wonderful they are with children, and how protective they are of their home. They make great volunteer dogs, in which we would like to volunteer as a family with the SARS program in our community. They are highly intelligent, and if selected right, from a good breeder, with parents who have good temperments I believe German Shepherds are one of the best family dogs in the world. They are brave, very smart, and incrediably loyal.

Now breed is certainly important and I don't disagree with that. But there are other just as crucial criteria in order to determine what type of dog you will share your life with. Do your research in where you purchase your dog from - always buy from a conscientious and reputable dog breeder if possible. Before we brought both our dogs home we spent time with the litter, it is important to spend time with the litter making sure you know which puppy to choose out of the litter. You want a puppy that suits your family energy in the home. If you are a fast paced athletic on the go family you don't want a laid back low energy dog who tires easily. It is also important to consider the puppies socialization prior to you bringing the dog home. A good breeder will play with the puppies giving them attention and affection ensuring they have human contact daily so that the dog transitions well into your family.

When we brought both our puppies home we put them both through Puppy Classes. Obedience Training is very important no matter how much experience you have with dogs. You want your dog to learn things like household etiquette, leash training and the basic obedience commands l like sit, stay, come, down etc... We all want our dogs to be happy balanced dogs. When applying all the crucial criteria, everything comes together to determine the health, well-being, character and behavior habits of your dog. When choosing a dog breed it's a good idea to talk with people who have first hand experience with the breed you are interested in. Your local veterinarian, dog breeders and obedience trainers are a valuable source of information. Also if you visit any dog shows you can talk with the owners of just about any breed - this will make the picture clearer for you. There are some things that potential dog owners need to consider as well. What size of dog breed do you favor? Size does matter but it doesn't necessarily mean that a big dog needs a big yard and a small dog breed is suited to apartment living. Some large breeds like the docile Greyhound are perfectly suited and easy to manage in a smallish yard. Can you handle a dog that sheds heavily? Almost all dogs shed to some degree but some like Golden Retrievers, Pugs and Dalmations are shedding machines! Unless you are prepared to allocate some dog grooming time each day you may be better off with a breed that sheds minimally. Is it important that your dog is good with children? Do some research to discover which dog breeds are best for children - there's lots of great options.

How important is it for your dog to be well trained? Some breeds are more suited, willing and capable if you plan to get involved in advanced obedience training - does this apply to you? Will your dog be living with other animals and dogs? Many breeds find it difficult to happily coexist with other animals, while there are some dogs that love the company of others. What energy level should your dog have? Do you long for a dog who lounges around on the couch with you or one who continually drops a ball at your feet looking for a game? It's important for the human-dog relationship that you share a similar level of energy to your dog. Please note that energy level comes down to each individual dog rather than by breed. Is affordability an issue for you? Think not only of the initial purchase price but also feeding, grooming and health care - with some dogs the list goes on and on?

Do you want a dog who will guard you and your possessions or one that may just "sound the alarm" and act as a watchdog? Is it likely that your lifestyle, commitments or requirements will change drastically in the next 12-15 years? Choosing a dog breed is an important long term decision - it pays to look ahead for the well being of the dog. Will your dog be left home alone for long periods? Many dog breeds (such as Golden Retrievers and Chihuahuas) suffer badly from separation anxiety if left alone and bored for long periods. If your career demands a lot of your time you'll need to consider your choice of breed carefully - you may even want to reconsider your decision to get a dog at all. Will your dog be an inside dog, an outside dog or a bit of both? Some breeds are simply not suited to being kept outside and it's not fair to enforce this upon them. Will your climate present any problems to your chosen breed? Dogs that were bred for specific purposes and in one part of the world will often find it hard to climatize into other areas. Does the breed you are interested in have any breed specific health problems? Again this is just a matter of doing some research and talking to people who would know. Do you have a secure and large enough property to safely confine your dog? We live on an acreage so we have the luxury of being able to give our dog's lots of space to run and play. But we also take the time to walk our dogs daily for socialization at the dog park. Puppy proofing your home checklist. How much and what kind of exercise are you prepared to give on a daily basis? This is an important one, if you are not prepared to properly exercise your dog the dog's energy will come out in other, destructive ways. Some dogs don't require much exercise at all - they'd rather curl up with you on the couch. Will you be able to get your chosen breed in your area? It's no good falling in love with a certain breed only to find out that you cannot source a puppy in your area. What is your level of experience with dogs? Some dog breeds are not recommended for first time dog owners - they will walk all over you!

What was the breed originally bred for? Many breeds still retain the strong drives and instincts which they were bred for. For this reason if you enjoy having a nice and tidy flower garden you may want to avoid some of the terrier breeds (they love to dig!). Do you suffer from any dog related allergies? Hypoallergenic dog breeds such as Poodles, Bichon Frise and the Bedlington Terrier have a decreased tendency to cause allergic reactions. The above questions are designed to make the process of choosing a dog breed a clear and straight forward process - if answered truthfully! As soon as your new dog arrives home that is the time when your hard work begins. You will be responsible for shaping his/her character and behavior habits and helping him to thrive in our human society.