Should I evan think about another dog

Since you are asking for opinions, I have to tell you that German Shepherds rate very high on my list of dog breed favorites, especially the longhaired GSD's. However, they belong to the herding category so if you have cats you have to teach them from a very early age how to act around your kitty.
That being said, I absolutely love the German Shepherd and will patiently await your decision. BTW, are you thinking about a male or female GSD?

Hmmmmm, I think you should....adopt

Since you are open to adoption I would strongly suggest contacting a GSD Rescue Group in your state. Most are reputable and have thoroughly checked the dogs out for heartworm, etc., plus they can inform you about the dog's temperament. This might be a good compromise. You are wise to take your time, and as you stated consider if you have the energy, physical ability. Adding a dog to your household is a lifelong commitment but in the end it is likewise a lifetime reward.

I suggest a puppy so that it can acclimate to your cats while young. I've only had GSD mixes, but have had other herding dogs. With their size and temperament, you need to teach them about cat etiquette at a young age. I'm absolutely for adopting from rescue groups (I volunteer for one), but certain temperament dogs just need to start their training young and it is harder to find pure bred puppies with rescue groups. I'm a personal fan of mutts.

German Shepherds would have to be in my top three of all time favourite breeds. SUCH beautiful incredible dogs.

BUT they are also amongst the most high maintenance of breeds, so, there is that to consider.

A rescue (depending on it's background) may be just as high maintenance, however there is always the fact that you are saving it from an uncertain fate and a sad past. Tough decision.

However, it sounds to me as though you would like another dog regardless, so I think you should go with your heart, and also think about what would go best with the rest of your babies. GSDs are wonderful with cats.

I love labs for that reason. Once they get beyond that puppy stage, most of them turn into big couch potatoes. They're smart, loyal, loving, and mellow as they get older.

What do you mean by low maintenance? I've been thinking of all kinds of dogs for you, but IMO all purebreds have so many different health problems, depending on the breed. Do you want a low shedding dog, or a laid back dog....explain and I'll think of some for you...

Oops, one more question, HOW big?

I don't want to offend anyone by my breed choices, and I'm not saying they're ALL like this but...
The best mutts, from what I've seen in my professions, are like Shepherd/Lab mixes. They seem to be the friendliest and healthiest. If you don't want hyper, stay away from Border Collie, Boxer, Husky, Setter and Spanial mixes and purebreds of these breeds. For temerament and trainability issues, stay away from Chows, Dalmations, Akitas, Chesapeaks, and Shar-peis, as they can be aggressive and stubborn! Labs and Goldens are nice, but both can be hyper and it takes a few years before they're laid back, if ever. Plus, they have a lot of issues like allergies, thyroid problems ear infections, etc..More laid back dogs include Great Danes (but short life span), Mastiffs (same, and slobbery!) Newfoundlands, (slobber) St. Bernards (slobber!) Dobermans (with guidance) Keeshonds (I find these to be quite nice) Samoyed, Rottweiler (with guidance) Great Pyrenees. It seems like the more laid back breeds are the bigger breeds, so you're gambling there. They don't live very long. I'd go with a medium breed mutt if I were you. I would see if I could find a nice Lab mixed with one or more of these laid back breeds, and go from there. I hope I helped a little!

Yeah, that's the scary thing with bringing in an adult dog, if it will get along with your cats. I got lucky with mine, I hope you do too!

She's a Shepherd and Pit Bull mix... Oh, and Pedro told me to tell you he's a Chihuahua/Papillon mix...

Sharky and all those interested on acquiring a breed that will blend nicely into the home...Here is a good breed selector to take online and a good starting point when acquiring the perfect pup for your lifestyle:

http://www.ckc.ca/Default.aspx?tabid=136

Just a word of warning and you can ask your friend if his male has been tested. GSD have been known to have hip displaysia even with good pedigrees.

This is a very costly problem to fix and very painful for the animal aflicted with it, as the hips are not formed correctly and need to be surgically corrected.

Ask to see the OFA certification of the dog to see if it passed or not. If he doesn't have the certification or at least a vet certification that the dog does not have dysplasia, I would pass on the puppies. I know that there are other breed specific problems that the dogs should be checked for as well, but am not that familiur with the GSD.

Make sure that any dog from a shelter has had it's hips checked as vet costs will be through the roof if there is a problem.

Something to think about - since Gigi is a girl, you'll probably want to get a male, to avoid potential for conflict. Two dogs of the same sex will tend to vie for Alpha status, but you can have an Alpha female and an Alpha male in the same household live quite peacefully together.

There are some potential negatives to having more than one dog - double the boarding and vet expenses, training is more difficult, and if your existing dog has any bad habits (separation anxiety, dog aggression, fears, destructiveness) they may rub off on the new dog too.

You'll need to be consistent with training & stay in charge, because any number of dogs greater than one can become a pack, so they may be more likely to do things they wouldn't consider normally, such as chasing the cats, tearing things up, or running away.

But it can also be very nice to have two dogs - as long as they hit it off well, it can be a joy to see them play together, and they really do enjoy the companionship of an all-the-time buddy when you're away.

Another thing to be sure to do if you get another dog - it's important to make sure to take each dog out away from the other for a while on a regular basis, so they don't become overly dependent on each other and get stressed-out if the other dog has to go to the vet or something.

Spreading yourself too thin is a definite concern - you'll have a lot of pets needing your attention and care, so I'm glad you're thinking about it carefully before you come to a decision.





Personally I'd vote for a shelter dog - I could go on forever about how great my mutts are. They're both Shepherd/Lab/mystery dogs. They're both laid-back in the house and active outside, and gentle with the cats.

You can screen shelter dogs for their response to cats - if the staff will let you take the dog by the cat enclosure or have a supervised meet with a dog-friendly cat, look for a dog who wags his tail and tries to touch noses with the cats or sniff their behinds (sees the cats as potential friends), or who is calm and turns his head away from a staring cat (submissive to cats), but you don't want the dog to be actively afraid of the cats because a frightened dog may bite if pushed too far.

Avoid dogs who stare intently at the cats with a stiff or slowly moving tail, or who bark or lunge at them, or try to chase them (all signs the dog sees the cat as potential prey). Avoid hunting breeds or mixes - terriers and hounds are not a good idea - there are exceptions, of course, but better safe than sorry. Before adoption, you'll also want to make sure the shelter will allow to return the dog if there are any serious problems.

OK, sorry for the long message. Whatever your decision, best wishes!

If you want a dog that is biggish but pretty low maintenance I'd go for a lab. They are BEAUTIFUL dogs, so gorgeous, so loving, so intelligent (yes, highly trainable) and just lovely and loyal. However, they are mental nuts as puppies (not all, but most).

Also, Golden Retrievers are just beautiful, and except for the long hair, all of the above applies.

However LABRADOODLES are fantastic!! I have to say that because I've got two, and you might have some trouble finding one at a shelter, too. They don't shed, they are insanely intelligent, they are loving and joyful and loyal and happy dogs. But they are pretty hyperactive until adulthood so you will have your hands full for a while. But that's pretty much the same with all dogs.

I'd go a lab, if you can. If you can get an ex-Guide Dog lab then even better still!

Not necessarily. Has anyone read Marley and Me? Even though they kept him, the dog was a neurotic, hyper, mess of a dog.