ESS and GSD

[jc24965]

Not quite a GSD owner but hopefully soon will be.

I would like a male English Springer Spaniel and a female German Shepherd. Was going to get ESS pup first and then GSD pup a few months later. Looking for working breeds from reputable breeders but am finding it most difficult find a GSD puppy due to waiting lists.

Would love to take them both to obedience and agility classes hence the reason for choosing active dogs. I also like to walk a lot. Not really looking for dogs that want to sit at home all day and sleep. I have a cat that does that.

Do you think these breeds would get on well together?

[gsdlover4ever]

I don't see why they wouldn't get on together...

My GSD and my mums westies love each other.

But personally I would get one or the other and then wait until one of them is mature, trained and passed the teenage phase before getting another pup. Also thereis a higher chance that the dogs will bond together rather than bond with you....

[Stuart]

Welcome to the forum JC.

We so love folk who come and ask for advice, far too many people just go out and buy, you have a vision, and I hope you get there, you will certainly get good advice here,... at least on the GSD pup,... and I bet the ESS too

Any two breeds will get on well together, if introduced properly,.. dogs dont see different breeds only other dogs, but training two dogs together can hold many problems.

We look forward to following your quest with you

[jc24965]

Thanks for the replies. Much appreciated,

Have wanted a GSD for so long now (25+ years) but wasn't in a position to do so - until now. Parents had dogs so I grew up with them but husband wasn't an animal lover (especially dogs) so I missed out in not getting one myself. Now divorced and children are ages 11, 13 and 15 and I feel we are all ready for a dog (or dogs). Children are old enough to help with socialising and training and I think it would be great for them. When they leave home in a few years, I'll have my faithful friends to keep me company.

Kids like ESS and I like GSD so I decided we would look at having both. Children are so excited and want them 'now' but they will have to wait a bit longer.

Been reading books, reading forums and studying the internet for weeks now. Won't rush in as I'd prefer to get advice first from the people who have the relevant experience.

I am currently living rented accommodation (temporarily) and won't get dog(s) until I am back in my own house early next year. I will have plenty of space there and a reasonably good sized garden with the bonus of living next to several acres of fields and a large wooded copse. Ideal for dogs.

I also work part time from home so the dogs would have lots of company and wouldn't be alone all that often. If I do have to go out, they would have each other for company (hence another reason for having two dogs).

Normally I would look at rescue animals as I used to be involved with a local cat rescue and fostered cats for a while. However, with a dog I am going to be more fussy (especially with the GSD) and would prefer a puppy from a reputable breeder so that I would be fully aware of its history. As well as the children, I also have a cat, rabbit, guinea pig and hamsters to consider. Seems to make sense to me to get a puppy that would grow up being used to all of them. Looking at GSD rescue sites, most dogs don't seem to have a history so they advise no children (or only older children) and no cats. There is also no guarantee that it would like other dogs or small pets.

I am also worried that, if I adopt via a rescue, I might end up with a dog with social or health problems. This has happened to my sister-in-law and a couple of other friends. I really don't want to take the risk (although not taking in rescue dogs makes me feel a bit guilty!).

I do plan on taking both dogs to training classes and 'possibly' Schutzhund training (for the GSD). I feel therefore it's important to select dogs that are capable of this that have the right temperament.

Any further advice appreciated.

[Stuart]

I do understand your views on a rescue dog, your thoughts towards your children must come first,.. you are right, many rescue dogs will not have history,... but many do, rescue dogs are not just the beaten and the abused, many are there in rescue for things beyond their control,..i.e. owner has dies, or owner has gone abroad,.. these dogs will more often that not have a full history.

All my dogs are rescues, and I am very pleased with each of them, they get on well with the cat and the grand children,.. in fact any body

[LOVEGSD]

Hello and welcome

I dont' see any reason why you can't have an ESS and a GSD, I have a GSD and an EBT with no issues at all.

I would be inclined to get one puppy first, concentrate on the training of this one and then get another puppy once the first one has matured a bit. Two pups are very hard work especially if you are choosing two working lines and you may have issues with them in the future.

[jc24965]

And also the benefits of a rescue dog is that they will already be toilet trained and have some basic training

I will consider it as I do agree with adoption.

I'll keep you posted.

[super D]

Hi ans welcome to the forum xxx

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by jc24965

And also the benefits of a rescue dog is that they will already be toilet trained and have some basic training

I will consider it as I do agree with adoption.

I'll keep you posted.

Another thing about a rescue,..is that you could foster it for a while and see how you get on together,..if you dont think it will work out, you can return it to the rescue, this is how we got Jazz.

The only problem with that is if you do get on and you fall for the dog,.. then you certainly dont want someone getting in there and pipping you at the post

... but what ever you do, we will be very pleased to meet him/her

[zetstaff]

Hello + welcome