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Was his breeder concerned about his weight? I have German Shepherds which are similarly sized and to me that's either a very big pup or he's a bit heavy. If he is heavy, he may be refusing his meals because he doesn't need it. This article is very useful - the growth chart is German Shepherd specific but still might be helpful - average for a 9 month old male GSD is 31kg http://www.gsdcv.org.au/sites/default/files/file/Nutrition in Dogs.pdf

I'm going to disagree with those saying that the diet is boring - my dogs and puppies have eaten only Royal Canin dry food for the bulk of their meals for their entire lives without ever being bored of it. I do mix it up on occasion but would never chose a time that a pup was being fussy to do so, creates a bigger problem of a dog who knows if he refuses food he gets something else. Good luck

This will be the JPS procedure that is pushed by some vets to GSD puppy owners, without proper diagnosis- just because it's a GSD puppy. Owners ceel pressured because of the age cut off for the surgery and have this unnecessary surgery done. There's no evidence this proceedure is beneficial in the long run to dogs other than those showing very bad displaysia at that very young age. If you pup is lame or showing actual signs of HD, you need to see a vet experienced in such matters and have X-rays done - and even then surgery is not usually recommended until a later age

I lost respect and interest when she bred from the dog

You're right, my input isn't valuable - I guess found it distasteful that you blamed the puppy for being a guts, instead of yourself for not ensuring the puppy didn't have access to the coolant. I definitely don't believe in wrapping pups in cotton wool but I definitely believe in harm minimisation - especially if the pup has a predisposition to get in to trouble. For example, I see lots of people allowing dogs to follow ride on mowers around their backyards and paddocks without a care in the world. My high drive dogs would be very much at risk of biting at the mower after chasing it so they're contained elsewhere when the mowing is happening. I have and do make heaps of mistakes with my dogs, but they're rarely the dogs fault

I think silly owner! Fancy working with something known to be toxic to dogs and not keeping a curious pup safely away! Lucky for you both it didn't end badly

I've been using the PAW brand fish oil for my old girl, recommended by my vet too. I give her 12 pumps per day, she's probably not quite 30kg. Found the cheapest place to by is budget pet products (free shipping over $50) Can't help with the dosage of the tablets sorry but thought I'd mention the PAW product seems to be highly recommended

In Victoria there is Puppy Bars, Comfort Pens and Surefind kennels that make such set ups

I don't have a problem at all with polite inquiries asking about price, there's no need to be worried about asking. It's the 'how much do you want?' one line emails and calls that get breeders backs up - and they come in thick and fast when you advertise.

I am a breeder of German Shepherds and the current average price for a pedigree puppy is $2500, give or take a fee hundred dollars

German shepherd bitches of average size don't often weigh more than 30kg - often less (mine are generally between 25-28kg) Pemboke Corgis are a great smaller sized dog with working dog mentality, lots of fun. Be prepared to wait for a good one though

Hello I'm not familiar with the kind of collar you're searching for - do you have a photo? A 6ft lead might be a bit long for all breeds showing but they're easy to come across because they're used for speciality showing too

So everything with 4 feet should move the same? Cats should move the same as giraffes, cows should move the same as mice etc

GSD people are damned if we do and damned if we don't - if we say nothing people believe that all GSD are like the extremes sometimes shown in the media and if I say here's an example of what they really look like, showing none of the extremes, people still aren't convinced. I don't understand it, if you don't like it don't get one - why all the (mostly uneducated) bashing? There is so much 'seems to me' and 'in my opinion' in these threads - everyone is entitled to their opinion but most of it seems to be based from the extremes in the media! Surely not a good argument Yes I am saying horse locomotion is different to dog - how can it not be with 2 structurally different animals? Look up the standard of a horse breed and compare it with that of a dogs, it's bound to be vastly different. Remember too that the dogs of yesteryear were part of a breed in development, so some changes are to be expected. I am not saying the breed is without faults and definitely there are worrying trends that creep in especially overseas. I am saying that there are lots of people who breed for soundness and immoderation and care for the breed long term. My dogs are just like any other dog, they run around, chase rabbits, run with the bike etc The bitch who's photo I have used it 7 years old and totally sound in every way. She is not over angulated, she doesn't have a banana back, she doesn't walk on her hocks. She's won a lot - she is what is being promoted as correct here in Australia.

Doesn't make much sense to me, GSDs never had and shouldn't have the same conformation as horses Rumor is an American style dog and whilst not as extreme as some over there, still isn't typical of the style show dogs in Australia. Photo attached is the top winning bitch in Vic (as well as elsewhere)

I've had a GSD pup who's ears bent backwards and straightened to normal within a few weeks. Some of her puppies have had the same thing - they're quite small ears which pricked young too which seems strange. I'd expect it more with large soft ears

German shepherds are generally a very slow maturing breed, 6 months olds are still very much puppies. Different bloodlines mature differently but mine don't start to grow up and worry about where they are in the pack until about 2 years old. Puppies are around $2000-$2500 give or take a few hundred dollars. Mature dogs prices vary wildly from the same as a puppy to the cost of desexing I think ideally you should look for a dog from a breeder who has run the dog as part of a multi dog pack. Some beeeders have great success with thee dogs getting along and others can not run bitches together. In my experience this is a bloodline thing as well as management and considering your situation it would be a benefit to know the history of dogs getting along. Hope that helps.

42" are plenty big enough for GSDs

I'd fly her - but I know plenty of show people who have travelled across with dogs in canopies on utes or cages in the backs of wagons without any problem

I think I must have the only dog in Australia who doesn't like her Henry Hottie bed. She immediately chose to sleep elsewhere once It came home and I've resorted to squishing it into her crate so it gets used at least occasionally. I found the customer service pretty poor too (tried to convince me I needed to pay extra for shipping despite the website saying it was flat rate and said they couldn't cover the extra due to them being only a small business)

I've never noticed a smell associated with the dead rats in my zapper, but I usually put it out overnight and see the tail hanging out the end in the morning. I've only gone through one or 2 sets of batteries per year and the unit itself lasts several years (they don't like getting wet though) Dry dog food seems to work the best I've found. The instructions suggest it takes a few days for rats to get used to new things in their surrounds and you'll get the first kills within a few days. I've had rats and mice zapped in mine

There are a lot of breeds that can be affected by Achondroplasia - which is the shortened long bones in the legs as is normal in Corgis etc so these Corgi crosses might actually be pure bred dogs with Achondroplasia. I've seen photos of a pedigree GSD with this condition, looks exactly like a GSD on Corgi legs

There are battery operated 'Rat Zappers' that are very effective and safe to use around dogs

I've got one dog on it and she's doing great - weight, coat and energy all good. She is 11 years old, and I haven't had the same success with my younger more energetic dogs. They've all struggled to hold weight on it

The Springer takes care of the shock absorption really well so I just use a double ended lead. I had the pink one made by Elite greyhound out of Apollo strapping and it's been perfect - though I now use a custom made thick leather strap with brass clips so I don't have to worry my girl will snap it when she takes off after a kangaroo! She need to be on a short lead right at the side of the bike for that reason but other dogs on the past have been fine on longer length leads. The harness we use is the Ruffwear webmaster, never rubs and very adjustable. It's a great secure harness for lots of different uses