Say hello to my little friend!

[wolfdogs]

batman! those ears LOL

actually, not unusual for the breed..they grow into them in no time. Keona got like that at around 4 months...her mom had gsd in her...
congrats! gr8 looking pooch!

+1 on the crate training.

[raroZ28]

awesome dog dj. My boy is half GSD. One of my favorite dogs.

[DJ Taso]

Well the cage training is going so so... If I put him in there he wakes up the neighbors. If put him in there next to my bed he still s because even though he can still see me, he can't touch me. Last night he spent the entire night on my bed next to me... even shared my pillow.

Potty training is a different story. Sometimes I take him out to do his business only to do it in the house right after I take him in. He's slowly learning, though. When he wants to do #2 he growls or barks at me and I immeditely get up and take him out. That Nature's Miracle spray is God's gift, I'm tellin' ya!

I also took him to the vet this morning. Everything looked good except he has Kennel Cough. The vet said it's common in puppies and gave me antibiotics for him.

Also, I was going through his papers with the people at the clinic and found out he's 2 1/2 months old not 4 like I thought. He was born 12/16/07.

[raroZ28]

I wouldn't let him sleep in the bed. Not now anyway. Make him suck it up in the cage. My bully was the same way, but he got over it.

[96FirebirdFormula]

Wow nice

my dad just got his 2nd german shepherd over christmas

he got 8 yr old male

and now 5 month old female

[DJ Taso]

Thought I'd post a couple more...





I reall love this guy. He's extremely smart and boy is he active!

1 week shy of 3 months old

[wolfdogs]

Thought I'd post a couple more...





I reall love this guy. He's extremely smart and boy is he active!

1 week shy of 3 months old

AAAHHH!! chewing on the furn, eh?!! LOL!!!! been thar wit dat! LOL cute pics! first snow?

[markd79ta]

Shepherds are incredible dogs. My female is the product of imported shepherds; a pure working line dog. My male is about three generations removed, but still a pretty good bloodline. I hope to breed them...we shall see how it goes.

The biggest thing about these dogs is that they are working dogs that need lots of stuff to do. They get board real easily. You will need to spend lots of time with this pup for the first three years. My female is almost three...she is starting to get settled. My male is two and he is a 100 lbs puppy...he needs lost of work Both were bred for temperament...they are incredible with my kids, and great protectors up here in the mountains of Colorado.

Cute dog...wish you the best.

[wolfdogs]

Shepherds are incredible dogs. My female is the product of imported shepherds; a pure working line dog. My male is about three generations removed, but still a pretty good bloodline. I hope to breed them...we shall see how it goes.

The biggest thing about these dogs is that they are working dogs that need lots of stuff to do. They get board real easily. You will need to spend lots of time with this pup for the first three years. My female is almost three...she is starting to get settled. My male is two and he is a 100 lbs puppy...he needs lost of work Both were bred for temperament...they are incredible with my kids, and great protectors up here in the mountains of Colorado.

Cute dog...wish you the best.

did you know, that most folks think that the northern breeds, ie: malamute and husky, are closest to the wolf.......... they are not......its the German Shepherd thats closest in blood line.

[DJ Taso]

AAAHHH!! chewing on the furn, eh?!! LOL!!!! been thar wit dat! LOL cute pics! first snow?

Oh man, you name it! Furniture, shoes, kitchen door knobs, socks, jackets, anything he can get his teeth on! I've noticed his biting has gotten a lot harder. They said it will get a lot worse cuz his teeth are hurting since they're still growing.

I would say that was his first real experience with snow. There's a ton of forest preserves out by my folks' house and I take him out there for fun & exercise. I let him off his leash and he never leaves my side only to explore but quickly comes back.

The biggest thing about these dogs is that they are working dogs that need lots of stuff to do. They get board real easily. You will need to spend lots of time with this pup for the first three years.

You're right about that. He constantly wants attention and something to do. If I leave him alone for 5 mins he'll tear up whatever he can get his teeth on. I have a ton of chew toys and play fetch with him all the time with tennis balls. I do not discipline him at all since he is still a puppy and I don't want to scar him as he's growing up. I show him nothing but affection because it's very important and will affect him as an adult.

did you know, that most folks think that the northern breeds, ie: malamute and husky, are closest to the wolf.......... they are not......its the German Shepherd thats closest in blood line.

I can definitely see that.

[markd79ta]

I do not discipline him at all since he is still a puppy and I don't want to scar him as he's growing up. I show him nothing but affection because it's very important and will affect him as an adult.

A male German Shepherd will test you and push you for pack position from now until he is two. You definitely need to show him who is boss, or he will develop some really bad habits. It is extremely important that he is socialized a lot especially with kids to curb his aggression and territorial tendencies. Additionally, make sure he doesn't set his position in front of any other people in your household especially kids. There are a number of ways to do this and you can read up on what best works for you. My male that died two years ago was a real nightmare. He was a major alpha dog, and it was a battle of wills for two years. After he conceded, he was an awesome dog. These dogs are incredible, but a ton of work. Sometimes you will need to push on him a little to show him who is boss. I don't know how much you read on developmental discipline and pack roles for German Shepherds, but it is really important. A German Shepherd that simply loves his owner can be a real menace to everybody else if he doesn't know his place.

[DJ Taso]

A male German Shepherd will test you and push you for pack position from now until he is two. You definitely need to show him who is boss, or he will develop some really bad habits. It is extremely important that he is socialized a lot especially with kids to curb his aggression and territorial tendencies. Additionally, make sure he doesn't set his position in front of any other people in your household especially kids. There are a number of ways to do this and you can read up on what best works for you. My male that died two years ago was a real nightmare. He was a major alpha dog, and it was a battle of wills for two years. After he conceded, he was an awesome dog. These dogs are incredible, but a ton of work. Sometimes you will need to push on him a little to show him who is boss. I don't know how much you read on developmental discipline and pack roles for German Shepherds, but it is really important. A German Shepherd that simply loves his owner can be a real menace to everybody else if he doesn't know his place.

Here is a great article worth reading, http://www.crickethollowfarm.com/biteinhib.htm

I don't have any kids but I do make sure my family socializes with him every chance I bring him over. However I do have a 4 month old niece but she is way too young for that.

In the beginning I did discipline him but only when he would bite until I realized he's just a puppy, he doesn't know any better, and I immedietely stopped. I never discipline him when he goes to the bathroom in the house because that is my fault, I let him do that. I've started a program with him and it seems to be working quite well when it comes to house-breaking.

There's some great information I've been reading about GSD's here http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum...s.php?ubb=cfrm, especially the puppy subforum.

So far he's a great dog. I see no signs of temperament or aggression, but when I do see them, I will have to step up and show him who's the boss like you said. Other than that I couldn't ask for a better dog.

[markd79ta]

There's some great information I've been reading about GSD's here http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum...s.php?ubb=cfrm, especially the puppy subforum.

So far he's a great dog. I see no signs of temperament or aggression, but when I do see them, I will have to step up and show him who's the boss like you said. Other than that I couldn't ask for a better dog.

This forum should help a lot! Every dog is different, but their bred instincts are all the same. You will see the first signs of being territorial and aggression with non-pack animals when he is 6-9 months. It typically shows with other dogs if the pup is not socialized with them. GSDs do not play nice with other animals unless they are taught otherwise. My shepherds always socialized with the neighbors as well as their dogs. They typically will be cordial if they are introduced by me; and they remember who is OK and who is not. When I moved to the mountains, the first thing I did was introduce them to my neighbor's and their horses. The first six months with all the dogs were pretty easy(typical puppy stuff), but pretty difficult from 6 to 18 months. My female was by far easier then my males. Also, I kept them intact for breeding, which didn't help. My first male was the most defiant dog I have ever known, but he was also by far the best after I had him trained. I had to physically overpower this dog before he would accept me as the alpha pack leader.

I typically talk a lot about GSDs with new owners because these dogs all too frequently end up in shelters or worse the pound. People buy them as cute puppies only to find out how difficult they are through adolescence. After they hit 6 months, they are a handful, and some people can't handle it. It sounds like you are doing your homework; just don't be afraid to be the boss...the dog will respect you more.

[DJ Taso]

Mark, judging by the pics, do you think his color is going to change? Will his colors recede as he grows?

[markd79ta]

Mark, judging by the pics, do you think his color is going to change? Will his colors recede as he grows?

I can't say much about your pup's markings especially without seeing the parents. My female was mostly black with some reddish-tan markings on her face and feet as a pup. When she grew to an adult she looked like the stereotypical GSD. It was about a year before the markings on all my dogs stabilized. Basically, you won't know until he gets older.