hi all,

i've got a female GSD, Stella and she's about two years old now. keeping her company at home when i'm at work is Felix, a Sibe Husky who's about a year old.

so far, in my personal experience, teaching and training a GSD is not difficult, as long as you have time and patience. they can be taught to do just about anything, make great companions and watchdogs, and also have wonderful personalities. GSDs also get along with kids and other small pets (like smaller dogs or cats) well, if introduced properly. they also need lots and lots of exercise, and will become quite destructive if bored - they will dig, chew, shred and do lots of things you might not like! you must have some space for them to run around in, so definitely a no-no if you live in an apartment!

when buying a pup, make sure that the parents are in good health, and demand to see them. of course, it is always better to get directly from a reputable breeder to make sure that they are in good health, as GSDs are prone to hip dysplasia, a genetic disease. another benefit of getting one directly from the breeder is that they are also much cheaper than petshops! the petshop in petaling street mentioned by ^MochI^ is famous for selling pups from puppy mills, and recently I've heard some people that bought pups there ended up with huge vet bills because the pups were sick, and eventually died.

getting a good pup for 2-2.5k is pretty reasonable, but the price range can be much lower or higher depending on the quality of the pup. do some research, look at lots and lots of litters before you commit to one, and good luck finding a loyal friend for life!!


Felix and Stella at one of our outings...

ps - It's great there's a bunch of people who love GSDs here! It'll be fun to talk about them lah!

thank you thank you for the compliments

Felix the SH, was actually an abandoned dog, rescued by a friend and rehomed to us. he was a bit difficult to deal with initially, but after awhile became affectionate and obedient.

i would suggest adoption if possible la, because an older dog can be taught new tricks, and will settle in with the new family, as long as you have time and patience. i would love to adopt another one, but just like crazymouse, i already have two 'legal' dogs, and getting another one might land me in hot soup with the authorities!

if you're considering getting a pup, why not take a look at the many adoptions going on? they too deserve a good home...

anyways, honestly, between the GSD and the SH, the GSD is super duper easier to train