Question for German Shepherd owners

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Question for German Shepherd owners

Posted: 1/24/2009 12:33:05 PM EDT

We have one that's four years old - 121 pound neutered male - energetic, demands attention, people friendly, but has always seemed suspicious of other dogs, but the poor fellow is by himself most of the workday, and it is hard to run the energy out of him and keep him from being bored.

So, my question is this: What about another German Shepherd to add to the family? My wife and I cannot predict how he will react to this. Will it give him a playmate/pack-member to bond with? Or will the new dog be seen jealously as competition? I don't know.

Any thoughts?

Posted: 1/24/2009 12:34:28 PM EDT

[#1]

treadmill like ceasar millan

Posted: 1/24/2009 12:36:19 PM EDT

[#2]

Can't say how your dog will react. My 4yr old, almost 5, did very well with our Malinois pup. They have been together for over a year now, and I think it really helps him during the day.

He hates being away from me. I think the pup keeps him from going really nuts when I'm gone. Now the pup drives ME nuts. They both still need attention, and lots of bike rides, but I think he is happier.

ETA: it was 8F this morning, and the wind was blowing. F'in cold, but I still took there for the bike ride, so they didn't drive me nuts all day.

Posted: 1/24/2009 12:36:43 PM EDT

[#3]

My dogs love to play and keep eachother entertained...when I'm home. When I'm gone they sleep and act lazy. This yeilds me two bored dogs at home when I'm gone and two hyper dogs when I'm home.

Another dog may just compound your problem.

Posted: 1/24/2009 12:39:01 PM EDT

[#4]

Our alpha female gets along great with other doggies after they have time to know each other. Some GSD's do well with another smaller dog too; something to consider.

Posted: 1/24/2009 12:55:34 PM EDT

[#5]

Get a female puppy and you should be ok.

Posted: 1/24/2009 1:10:27 PM EDT

[#6]

When he was about six years old I got this guy a playmate to run some energy out of him.

The playmate....

If yours is leary around other dogs, just introduce them slowly. Dogs have a way of figuring out the pecking order amongst themselves. Getting the shepherd a playmate was the best thing I ever did for him. He's 10 now, and you'd never know it. The two of them tear around in the yard like a couple of puppies.

Posted: 1/24/2009 1:19:37 PM EDT

[#7]

Great pictures. Those are some fine looking dogs. Thanks guys.

Posted: 1/24/2009 1:19:39 PM EDT

[#8]

I have a male and a female boxer that have been in love now for about 10 years. When one dies I will probably have to put the other one down since they dont know not being apart. They do everything together whether it is digging, tearing something up, killing a wild animal, or breaking out and running away. get a female

Posted: 1/24/2009 1:24:45 PM EDT

[#9]

Nothing is going to be a good substitute for your attention as far as that dog is going to be concerned.

They're hard work. Worth it, but they demand attention. Another dog in the mix is just going to create another dynamic to the social pecking order.

Posted: 1/24/2009 1:29:11 PM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
Get a female puppy and you should be ok.

same here we got a malinois puppy for a mate for our male.took a couple days for them to get used to each other.a great match.

Posted: 1/24/2009 1:31:38 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
Nothing is going to be a good substitute for your attention as far as that dog is going to be concerned.

They're hard work. Worth it, but they demand attention. Another dog in the mix is just going to create another dynamic to the social pecking order.

This ^^

Posted: 1/24/2009 1:50:49 PM EDT

[#12]

I have a 13 month old female Malinois that I have to keep in the kennel when I am gone because she invents things to do while I am gone i.e. eats a hole through my what was new cali king mattress (I have pics for proof).
I would love to get another pup for her to keep busy with as I have to take her to a friends to play with her dogs. After she has spent a day or two at her friends place she sleeps like a baby for a full day.
Its hard enough to have one dog let alone two especially when trying to find a place to live as most people are dog hatters unless it fits in your girls hand bag (read: makes you gay).

I say go for it.

Just my .02

Posted: 1/24/2009 4:47:31 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
I have a 13 month old female Malinois that I have to keep in the kennel when I am gone because she invents things to do while I am gone i.e. eats a hole through my what was new cali king mattress (I have pics for proof).
I would love to get another pup for her to keep busy with as I have to take her to a friends to play with her dogs. After she has spent a day or two at her friends place she sleeps like a baby for a full day.
Its hard enough to have one dog let alone two especially when trying to find a place to live as most people are dog hatters unless it fits in your girls hand bag (read: makes you gay).

I say go for it.

Just my .02

My mal is hella smart, and a real pain in the ass as far as getting board easily. I will not say that my life has gotten easier by having two dogs. I know my GSD likes having company when I'm gone, but he doesn't behave as well as he used to with out her, in some ways. They are easily distracted to chase things like rabbits and not give up as easy when there is two of them.

They feed on each other's energy. If he gets hyper, she goes nuts, if she's hyper, she makes sure everyone else knows she is.

I love them both, but they are a real challenge. My GSD is still as clingy as he ever was, and always will be. That's just a GSD. My wife, if there were do overs, would say no to another dog. It was her idea.

Posted: 1/24/2009 4:50:27 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Get a female puppy and you should be ok.

same here we got a malinois puppy for a mate for our male.took a couple days for them to get used to each other.a great match.http://i550.photobucket.com/albums/ii413/mcrebell_photo/Picturess097.jpg?t=1232836088

Holy shit! Do we own the same dogs?

I thought they were doing fine driving me batshit crazy. Obviously, they think they need to drive another family crazy too.

Mine are Gustoph and Aliza......Gus and Ally.....
and yours?

Posted: 1/24/2009 4:51:26 PM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
My dogs love to play and keep eachother entertained...when I'm home. When I'm gone they sleep and act lazy. This yeilds me two bored dogs at home when I'm gone and two hyper dogs when I'm home.

Another dog may just compound your problem.

Huge +1!!!!!

We got a second GSD to keep our first one company.... BIG MISTAKE!! now it's 3x the work of one dog.

Posted: 1/24/2009 5:58:19 PM EDT

[#16]

My Male is extremely aggressive towards dogs he does not know, but we got a female pup and raised it up and now they are best friends, you can see his face light up when she comes in the room, and they play great too.

Posted: 1/24/2009 6:04:01 PM EDT

[#17]

We have a 4yr old female GSD named Kayla and about a month ago we rescued an 8month old female GSD puppy named Anka. Anka was the best thing to happen to Kayla. I work from home so I can let the dogs out often and believe me, they run and play hard for about an hour than crash for an hour or two then are back at it again.

There's not much better than a GSD for home protection/alerting to dangers but 2 GSD's are truly a force to be reckoned with.

Posted: 1/24/2009 6:15:00 PM EDT

[#18]

Our Shepard is very protective of our Chocolate Lab. If there is another dog around he will position himself between the threat and the Lab. If they are out in the run, and another dog is around, he will herd her into one of the doghouses and not let her out. It's really cool to see.

Posted: 1/24/2009 6:20:44 PM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Get a female puppy and you should be ok.

same here we got a malinois puppy for a mate for our male.took a couple days for them to get used to each other.a great match.http://i550.photobucket.com/albums/ii413/mcrebell_photo/Picturess097.jpg?t=1232836088

Holy shit! Do we own the same dogs?

I thought they were doing fine driving me batshit crazy. Obviously, they think they need to drive another family crazy too.

Mine are Gustoph and Aliza......Gus and Ally.....
and yours?

males buddy,female bear,grandkids named her

Posted: 1/25/2009 8:59:02 AM EDT

[#20]

Try to find some activities for your dogs. I had the chance to take my old Shepherd bitch to a Herding class! You could actually see the light turn on over her head once she realised she had sheeps to boss around.

Posted: 1/25/2009 12:41:07 PM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:
We have one that's four years old - 121 pound neutered male - energetic, demands attention, people friendly, but has always seemed suspicious of other dogs,

Sounds more like he needs a diet........ reason for him being so fat? If he has energy, he sure isn't using it at that weight!

GSDs have a tendency to be animal aggressive. Just part of it.

A new dog may turn him into a puppy again.

Posted: 1/25/2009 12:48:24 PM EDT

[#22]

I got twins, brother and sister German Shepherds. We're working on getting a retired stud dog from our breeder. Our female does not get along well with other females cause she is such a bitch.

The two are lazy all day, sleep, etc. When I get home there looking for some attention, but its nothing some training can't cure.

Posted: 1/25/2009 12:53:59 PM EDT

[#23]

Like peas and carrots

Posted: 1/25/2009 1:37:58 PM EDT

[#24]

I have had single dogs for most of my life but the last time we adopted a female malamute for our male malamute and it was great! Dogs are pack animals and need companionship at all times for mental health. It really helps them when you are not home.They will play themselves out during the day. It keeps them stimulated mentaly and physically. My dogs loved other so much and it was heartbreaking to watch my female look for him and try to scent him along the fence line in the back yard after I had to take him to the vet to be put down for throat cancer. I will never have a single dog again...being alone for extended periods is cruel to a pack animal such as dogs. As soon as the finances get a little better we will find a male/female pair of pups to keep her company in her old age. They say it helps the older dogs to stay active and young.

Posted: 1/25/2009 1:50:00 PM EDT

[#25]

Some beautiful dog pics here. Talk to a trainer/handler, but I'm told when getting a new pup/dog to introduce them away from the house on neutral territory.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Question for German Shepherd owners

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