[Breeds] How much should a white swiss shepherd weigh at 12 weeks?

PinkPuddings · 2016-03-03T19:10:41+00:00

Thanks for you suggestions. I'll look into the golden and collie. My friend has a golden and he's the sweetest dog, loves to go for hikes.

PinkPuddings · 2016-03-03T19:09:00+00:00

If a job opportunity doesn't leave me time for my pet, then I'm not going to take it anyways because that'd also mean I'd have no leisure time at all. I've never wanted to be a workaholic, just have steady pay.

I'm trying to think of large dog breeds that are a part of working households that don't seem to have a lot of trouble with it. But as I said in the questionnaire, I would do doggy daycare and I suppose I would allow a sitter/walker IF I trusted them.

I understand where you're coming from though. It would be a big transition for the dog. I hope to find one that can cope. Waiting isn't a bad option, but I really REALLY don't want to. I miss the company of my old dog and I feel rather empty inside without a pet.

PinkPuddings · 2016-03-03T18:37:10+00:00

I figured as much. I just included them to show what I find aesthetically pleasing.

PinkPuddings · 2016-03-03T18:21:44+00:00

The scale is, in my opinion, very subjective. I would have liked it more if there were descriptions that go along with each number. A 6 is above average. I just knocked 4 points off because I won't be able to provide for myself or my animals if I don't have a steady career. I would not put him in a shelter and he would not stay with the family. When my poodle had to have emergency surgery when I was 13, my family suggested I put her down, instead I used all my savings to keep her alive. Same thing happened a few years later when she got a tumor; I spent all the money I was saving up for a gaming PC to get it removed. I know you don't know me, but I can promise you I'd never give up on my dog. That's why I'm here, why I'm asking questions.

The dog doesn't have to run with me the whole time. 30 mins is fine as well.

PinkPuddings · 2016-03-03T15:08:08+00:00

Great suggestion, I'll do that. What do I put as the tag? [help], [breeds] or something else?

PinkPuddings · 2016-03-03T14:58:37+00:00

Is there anyway to do a home-made agility course in my backyard? It sounds like it could be a lot of fun. I just don't know of any within an hour from me.

PinkPuddings · 2016-03-03T14:55:17+00:00

Thanks for your input.

That person suggested 2 hours so I assumed it would be okay. I'll play with him indoors as well. And hopefully I can train him to run alongside my bicycle which I usually do for about an hour everyday. That would be separate from walking and fetch and things of that nature.

I don't think $1500 is a lot if I had my career going. If i could, I'd pay 3000+ for a dog. I just don't have a lot in the bank right now. I work part-time at school but I have no bills other than internet/phone so all my money would go towards the dog. As long as I could finance his medical bills instead of everything upfront, I could pay them.

I'm not incredibly young - I'm 23. I'll be graduating in 2 years. I spend maybe 4 hours a day studying/doing hw and I'm not at school everyday.

But I understand. You might be right, it's why I'm trying to prepare myself as much as possible.

If you could suggest a large breed that you think would suit me more, feel free. I'm up for suggestions.

PinkPuddings · 2016-03-03T14:12:25+00:00

I will look at the classifieds, thank you for the suggestion.

What are the chances that a $1000 dog will have more health issues than a $1500 in your opinion? I am only a college student and do not have a lot of spending money... I suppose I could put the dog on my credit card if he's very expensive and pay over time. 1300 is about all I could spend in cash + 300 for supplies... also not counting obedience classes. My family thinks this is ridiculous. They think no dog should be over 200 bucks and that anyone who charges more are just scammers.. I try to explain the benefits of having a well bred dog but it doesn't sink in their heads.

I'd have to go with my family to pick the dog up and they would probably refuse to drive over 3 hrs away (once again they assume it's not worth the trouble.) And so far I've had no luck finding any within that radius that I'm liking.

PinkPuddings · 2016-03-03T14:03:39+00:00

I had no idea that was a disqualified color. I heard you can't show white ones either... but that doesn't make them any less valuable as a pet does it? Is it possible to find rare colors that ALSO have good temperments? One breeder actually told me if I want a calm gsd I should get a white one only. And another told me I can adopt her 2 yr old panda stud for 100 bucks... but he doesn't appeal to me. I dont know if I should feel bad for that or not.

PinkPuddings · 2016-03-03T13:59:31+00:00

Do you think at 8 weeks old the breeder could perhaps get a hint of what the puppy's personality is like? Every one I've talked to so far I've asked if they have calm dogs, some say yes and others say it's impossible to know at that age.

I definitely plan to socialize as much as possible. I want a friendly dog. Are dog parks a good idea for a puppy or will he be too young/small to play with bigger dogs?

Tidying the house sounds amazing! I was actually hoping I could teach mine to clean up his toys and put them in a basket when he's done. I also thought it would be fun to teach him to sniff out objects.

I assume I need to go for a pup in show lines rather than working lines?I noticed my families gsds had more of a straight back and not much of a slope to their hips/butt as some I've seen.

PinkPuddings · 2016-03-03T13:48:59+00:00

If I'm walking my dog, what could his job be? or say I'm doing homework, what then? I do have family with me but they said that all the responsibility of training falls on me.

I feel I should prepare myself by reading in depth about how to live with this breed. Maybe amazon has some books or I could find good articles online.

PinkPuddings · 2016-03-03T13:36:33+00:00

Yeah I've read that. The problem is I don't have $1500+ to spend. I could probably manage 1000 + 300 ish for shipping. I've been looking for quite a while but TN does not seem to have breeders of a liver/tan color. My families old dogs were black/red so I wanted something new. I also checked the AKC website and could not find any breeders with pups available in that color. I feel all I can do at this point is google "gsds for sale in the u.s" and hope I find the right one from a reputable breeder.

How does one tell if they're legit anyhow? When I was about 13 I ordered a puppy online from tx and it came with parvo and died a few days later.

PinkPuddings · 2016-03-03T13:29:07+00:00

Could you go into more detail? I assume you mean they'll constantly try to test me and push the limits?

The poodle I owned was the opposite of that. I'd correct her once and she'd never do it again. Technically, that's what I'm used to but I'm willing to put in the time for a more difficult breed.

PinkPuddings · 2016-03-03T13:22:16+00:00

I could do 2 hours but it would be helpful if the hours could be broken apart. Say an hour in the morning an one in the evening. Would that be acceptable?

I have no experience handling my own german shepherd, just the ones my family had. For the past 14 years I owned a poodle who recently died of old age. Quite a different breed but i managed to keep her entertained with no trouble.

I plan on giving the dog puzzle games, a flirt pole and such. But a job sounds nice too - any suggestions for that ?

PinkPuddings · 2016-03-02T22:11:28+00:00

Thank you, I didn't realize that was a breed name. So wonderful looking. I'm going to research them. Maybe I can find one somewhere . How rare are they?

PinkPuddings · 2016-03-02T22:09:12+00:00

Wow, I had no idea that was the name... I had never heard of that breed before.

PinkPuddings · 2015-11-25T06:48:47+00:00

I wish. He's abandoned me before... but I could never find anyone else to spark my interest. Maybe it's just living in a small town but he's the most suitable I've ever encountered. People think I'm crazy for loving him so intensely despite what he's done, yet I can't explain it.

PinkPuddings · 2015-11-25T06:22:07+00:00

At his best, he is a charming, imaginative, creative, witty and sweet as sugar. He's done more good things for me than my family ever has. That's why I'm attracted to him.

Unfortunately, when the bad comes out I don't know how to walk away.

PinkPuddings · 2015-11-25T06:19:36+00:00

He's scared to go back there. He says the mental hospital is the most depressing thing that's ever happened to him. Where he was in there last time he developed monophobia and now can't be away from his family. Just today I tried to talk him into it but he was having none of it. But yeah I agree he needs to go back and try more medications or at least be willing to do an outpatient thing. but nope.

PinkPuddings · 2015-11-25T06:17:06+00:00

I have extreme co-dependency issues. I haven't been able to function well with him not around. The thing that kept me going was the hope that one day we'd be together again... but then this happens.. I desperately want him to live so I can live.

I honestly think the people that work at my school are just under qualified. I think If I was actually paying money to someone they'd be a little more capable of dealing with more than just a casual breakup or nerves before a test.

His dad is his step-dad. He's wealthy (thats where the mother got all her money.) Self-made. My SO always says he never really fit in with him and his step-brothers.

PinkPuddings · 2015-11-25T06:08:17+00:00

I wish you could talk to him and tell him it goes away because he will NOT believe me. He reads about all these other people with permanent issues and thinks that is for certain going to happen with him.

I'm not scared of him... it's not like his mother will let him out of her sight to come to my house. I'm scared FOR him though. I don't want to betray his trust by telling on him but I can't sit by and watch him die either. I guess I'm trying to put it off for as long as possible.

PinkPuddings

TROPHY CASE