I am thinking of getting a german shepherd puppy. What should I expect in terms of cost? What are the future costs when the dog is older? Please help me. I love to have this dog and it is one of my dreams in life.

Frankly speaking , maintain a GSD is cheaper than rabbit
My current cost for adult GSD is btw RM $80 a month. Adult only eat once a day, 1 cup. Brand Eukanuba Lamb. 15 kg dry food can lasts 2 month. Once a month I feed it HeartGard (a recommend pill for dogs by vet).

As for vaccine, once a year for adult - around $80. For puppy, need check with vet. If not mistaken, during the 2 years of puppyhood, it must be taken vaccine for at least 5-6 times.

Get MKA cert puppy GSD. It will reduce the risk of getting bad genes GSD.

I didn't give treats to my dog anymore (used to do it during obedience training). However, I try feed it once a week (if possible), pig bone (leg part) $2 a piece from pasar. Dog love to chew pig bone but make sure it is cook.

Puppy Cost = Average $150 - $200 (month), Average $5 (a day)
Adult Cost = Average $80 - $150, Average $2.6 (a day)


Own a GSD ultimate challenge is not about the cost but exercise them everyday. Everyday I cycle with my dog and make sure it release its energy. It do the normal routine where it will mark its territory by urine at the park. You need to spend times exercise your GSD everyday if possible.

Try watch Caesar Millan Dog Whisper from Astro 553 , Wed night before you get a dog. I never experience own a dog and my first dog is a GSD. I used Dog Whisper methods.

Dear vincentwee,
Thank you so much for the info.
Now I am more confident in owning a GSD.

show us a sampel foto of ur gsd pilis?!

This post has been edited by Tikietic: Jun 18 2013, 03:23 PM

My GSD


Attached image(s)

eerrr... someting more current?!
wat is the weight of ur gsd?

yea..the pic taken few years ago... i take pic of him and share
last year he is 27kg ..only weight at vet

i suspek ur gsd is srsly underweight.. for a 1-cup-a-day ration.. deswai i ask about ur gsd "current" weight..
den u can conclusively say that it is cheeep to maintain a gsd based on ur food ration alone.

Please help I need more opinions.

http://www.reddit.com/r/puppy101

Look at the right side, under "BEFORE YOU POST A QUESTION". Before you even think about getting a GSD, think about whether you can handle a puppy. Can you socialize it? Can you afford it? Are you going to wake up nightly and let it out to do it's business? Keep in mind that cost isn't just food and vaccination. What if the dog gets sick? Can you spare 2000 ringgit for an emergency vet visit?

Also, have you read up about the GSD as a breed itself? All health problems, including the hip problems plaguing the breed? How about its energy requirements? Can you afford the time to play with it and tire it out? Keep it occupied? the GSD is a working dog, and it will need much more exercise than a little toy dog.

Also, note that male GSDs are supposed to weigh 35–43 kilograms, according to standards. This may vary, but 27 kgs really strikes me as underweight. Even my old Jack Russell ate more than a cup of kibbles a day, and that's a breed that's a quarter the size of a GSD, so take the cost with a pinch of salt. It'll be close to 200 a month if you feed it quality kibbles, and 300 if you go for the top end.

p.s. Please don't feed cooked bones to dogs. Cooked bones are prone to splintering, and if a dog swallows a piece, its gonna pierce its guts and then you're in trouble. Raw bones are always better, and even then only certain pieces.

This post has been edited by dishwasher: Jun 21 2013, 10:00 AM

Thanks for the info.
1. What does "socialize" mean?
2. Could you name the common health problems.
3. Please elaborate on the 'hip problem".
4. What exercise and how long does the GSD need.
5. What do you feed a GSD, the frequency per day?
6. What type of bones and what quantity for GSD?

Awaiting your informative reply.

Don't keep a dog, or any other pets (except pet rock).
You can google up all those questions that you are asking, but you expect people to spoonfeed you the answers.
It shows that you have a low interest level in the dog. It shows that you don't have the drive to learn more.
Soon you'll be asking why your dog is not active like last time, but won't bring it to the vet for whatever reasons.

I thought you would be helpful.
Well I guess not.
Good-bye.

Are there actual owners of a German Sheperd who could provide me more info on what to expect in having a GSD as a pet...really appreciate the info.

Xecton has a point you know... I already provided you a link with information on taking care of puppies. There's a link right there about socialization and why its important, did you read that?

Rather than just being hell bent on getting a GSD, you seriously need to read up about puppies, then you can consider whether you actually have the commitment to take care of one. If you can't even google basic information or read provided links, why would anyone have confidence in your ability to have a pet dog?

I value experience more than theory. The questions are straight forward. If you have an answer please reply.Otherwise, please don't waste your time and mine.

Spoken like a 13 year old growing his first pube.

Your questions were not on in-depth analysis of GSD or advance dog-keeping. They were just basic like what is socializing your dog? How much to feed?
Information that can easily be found on the internet. No personal experience required.
Please consider keeping these guys; cute, cheap and easy.

I don't own a GSD myself ( parents' GSD, not mine), so I can't answer much of your question. I'm a dog owner myself ( love local mutt), and I suppose I could share some very basic info.

Vaccine: for starter, your pup needs 3 to 4 shots, price varies with type of vaccine you choose ( ranging from RM35 - RM65 each shot), followed by annual booster.

Heartworm prevention: can choose between that ONCE A YEAR proheart injection, or ONCE A MONTH heartgard chewables consumptions. Price goes by weight, the heavier your dog is the more it cost.

Dewormer: can get those cheapo RM1/ pill type or can get quality type at RM5 to RM10/pill depending on what brand and where you buy.

Food: it is really up to dog owner to decide, but I recommend getting those better quality food rather than some overpriced crap that is famous due to their marketing technique.
Personally I use to feed Arden Grange, Acana/ Orijen...etc but now switched completely to prey model diet. So it is really up to you to decide though.

Just a thought: Spend more on better quality dog food now rather than spending huge amount of money and heartache for vet bills later on.

Accessories, You will need:
Collar for your dog
Harness ( optional)
Leash
Poop bag ( can use normal plastic bag or buy a poop bag)
Toys
Water/ Food bowl

Others:
Training Treats ( can buy commercial treats or make it yourself)
Hygiene Care ( ie shampoo, disinfectant to clean dog place...etc)
Classes ( puppy classes/ basic obedience training)
Supplement ( if you give good food, shouldn't need it, but as dog age, esp big dog, might need certain supplement for the hip & joints...etc, others are optional ie salmon oil/ fish oil la, brewer yeast la...etc)

Time:
Walks/ exercise, these do not refer to short 2 to 5 minutes walk from your house to place nearby for your dog to poop. Real exercise as in letting the dog run/ play/ physical actions.
Bonding: takes time, no amount of money can do this
Research: constantly updating your knowledge, not only through internet but also discussions and sharing sessions. Research and updates on dog food ( this can be controversial, or sometimes even scandalous, so never trust commercial pet food 100% without updating news from time to time), reading up about dog care/ dog breed special needs..etc there are a lot of info out there, but it takes time to filter out those real genuine scientific proven research from other piles of craps, knowing why and what to look for in your dog food ingredient, if you feeding raw, more to read on why feeding this and not that...blah blah, a lot of readings.


Stop here, continue when home.

Key of owning a dog is to know the very basic needs of keeping a dog, then only into breed specification. Yes, different breed has different needs, but at end of the day, they're still dog, so get through the general knowledge about dogs ( any dogs, any breeds), then only do specify readings on breed, that will enable you to understand GSD better.

This post has been edited by blackright: Jun 23 2013, 02:44 PM

You clearly have an attitude problem. You are rude and disrespectful, yet expect to be spoonfed like a King.

When one is seeking for help, one must be nice to others, not the other way round.

Why would you waste your time. If you want to help, answer my questions. Otherwise, keep minding your own business.