Hypothetical Male/female Ratio Question

[Staranais]

@Poodlefan: The reason for the Lab and the German Shepherd, is that to start off with, a Lab would be good for an inexperienced owner like myself, or so I have read, and the German Shepherd is my dream dog, which I hope to get at a later date.

No reason you couldn't get a GSD as a first dog if you're willing to put the work in - plus, if you put your feelers out a breeder or rescue may have an older GSD with a more placid & soft temperament that would suit you as a brand new owner? Some labs can be quite challenging & energetic too.

I think the advice about adding dogs one at a time, with at least a couple of years between dogs, is a good one.

ETA - if you want to get to know your girlfriend's dogs better, then if she gives permission, you might want to try clicker training them just for tricks. Will be good for your training knowledge, will improve your bond with them, & they will find it fun.

Edited October 19, 2010 by Staranais

[SkySoaringMagpie]

Most multi dog people have things they are and are not prepared to manage or put up with as a result of their previous emotional scars experience. It is a lot of work to run a multi dog household, if we weren't breeding/showing I wouldn't. The more dogs you have, the more vital it is that you and your partner are clearly the leaders of the household. For that reason I would see how you go with her dogs first. You might decide that you want to keep goats or breed chickens instead.

Things I would avoid in a companion only home:

Littermates of any configuration

Dogs of the same sex and a similar age, particularly bitches

More than one bitch if one of the bitches is entire bitch

Same sex pairings of some breeds no matter whether desexed or not.

Entire dogs with entire bitches.

Our rules now are no littermates, and no bitches who are closer than 3-4 years in age to the other bitches. Neither of our breeds have DA heritage behind them, but they can still be sharp.

Something I can't stress enough. Often aggression problems surface on maturity and during adolescence. You might think your reputed to have aggression issues breed is getting on great with the others as a pup, and that all your socialising and training is paying off, but the true test is often at about 18 months to 2 years when the breed characteristics come out in the temperament. Some are fine, some are not. It is easier to manage those dogs in a household without a heap of dogs milling around. 4 dogs counts as a heap. We have five

I would also talk to people who successfully run together the breeds you are thinking of - if you can't find them in real life, you could ask here.

[SkySoaringMagpie]

@Poodlefan: The reason for the Lab and the German Shepherd, is that to start off with, a Lab would be good for an inexperienced owner like myself, or so I have read, and the German Shepherd is my dream dog, which I hope to get at a later date.

i have seen a lot of labs in beginners training classes and they can be very challenging for an inexperienced owner especially as adolescents. They need very firm boundaries around food, jumping up and their overall exuberance. They are also really physically strong. If a GSD is your dream dog I would look around for a really good breeder and go for a well bred even tempered GSD.

[ellz]

i have seen a lot of labs in beginners training classes and they can be very challenging for an inexperienced owner especially as adolescents. They need very firm boundaries around food, jumping up and their overall exuberance. They are also really physically strong.

Many gundog breeds are like this. They are very food driven. This can be both an advantage OR a disadvantage!!!!

If you haven't already, read Marley and me or even at a pinch, watch the movie. CLASSIC story of inexperienced dog owners with a strong-willed dog.

And the amazing thing was that even though I could understand the frustrations of the author, I personally didn't even think the dog was THAT badly behaved compared to some that I have owned or met!

[megan_]

Most multi dog people have things they are and are not prepared to manage or put up with as a result of their .

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I would also talk to people who successfully run together the breeds you are thinking of - if you can't find them in real life, you could ask here.

Great post.

Also, I'd go for breeds that are used to working in packs. Well bred ones will be genetically wired to get on with similar dogs. There was a thread a while back on breeds that tend to get on well with other dogs (eg beagles).

I wouldn't be going for breeds that have a fighting or working alone background.

[poodlefan]

If you are really keen on having a pack of dogs, then I'd look to breeds that have been selectively developed to love and work with other dogs or to have good manners with others.

Scent hounds would be the most obvious choices.

Many gundog breeds were developed to behave well around other dogs but these days I'd still be choosing carefully and following the guidance SSM gave about blending dogs.

Things I would avoid in a companion only home:

Littermates of any configuration

Dogs of the same sex and a similar age, particularly bitches

More than one bitch if one of the bitches is entire bitch

Same sex pairings of some breeds no matter whether desexed or not.

Entire dogs with entire bitches.

There are sharp and amicable dogs in most breeds but breed does matter for these issues.

[LizT]

While "breeds" certainly give an idea of temperament and behaviour (compared to a Cross breed especially) the is still the factor of the 'individual'.

I've know of some labradors and Golden Retrievers to be extremely destructive in their early years and then suddenly they "chill out". And this was with training and socialisation too.

The German Shepherd I have now often brings from me the remark...."thank Dog you landed in this home and not a first time GSD persons or with a person who would "give up' and move a dog on..." He has been quite challenging in his first 5 years, in comparison to other GSD I have owned over the years. Sometimes I joke and say that he is 'ADHD" (a

d**ckhead dog!). But really he just has a BIG personality and we love him to bits.

The fact that you are putting a great deal of thought into this now is very encouraging for the 'future pets'. You're going to make some lucky puppy wonderful pack leaders.