Ok, this is another topic that came out of the other thread.

It seems that people have a lot of different ideas about what the ideal home situation is for a german shepherd. Obviously we all understand that there are many different types of gsds who have different energy levels, etc. but I thought we could start a conversation based on what all of us do with our own dogs.

Here are some specific questions. Please provide justification for your answers.
Feel free to add addition questions and responses. Since there are a lot of questions, feel free to skip some too!

How much and what type(so) of exercise do you do with you dog each day?

How much and what kinds of training do you do with your dog?

How much time total do you spend with your gsd per day?

Where is your gsd kept while you are at work or away from the house? Is s/he crated or contained?
If loose, is s/he with other animals?
How long are you typically away from home?

How much do you spend on food, toys, training and vet care per year on your gsd?
Food:
Toys:
Training:
Vet Care:

Do you do any sports or formal activities with your gsd? If yes, please explain.

Do you think gsds need to do some sort of organized activity in order to be happy? Why or why not?

Is your gsd an only dog or does s/he live with other dogs?
If yes, how many and how much/how do they interact?
Do you think s/he would be or is happier with other dogs in her/his pack?
Does your gsd live (and get along with) cats?

Do you have a close relationship with your gsd? Why or why not?

Do you think you are providing your dog with what s/he needs in order to live a fulfilling life?

Each dog is different, so..

Stark
- two 40min - 1hr walks per day (usually one with Zefra, one without)
- 1hr of ball play/sniffing at the park
- 30mins of actual training (usually obedience of some sort, although we do drills throughout the day)

Zefra
- two 40min - 1hr walks per day (usually one with Stark, one without)
- 30mins of ball play
- a track or two
- several 10-15min training sessions (obedience/agility/etc.)
- a socialization/distraction walk/time usually lasts about 20 minutes give or take

These things I do on a "off day" when not actually going out and training. We do hikes and play dates with friends dogs as well VERY often during the week.



Both dogs are involved in schutzhund. We train 1-2 days per week depending on my work schedule. We train with a club and with a private trainer. The club is an all day event even if the dogs are only out for a short while, and when working with someone privately, the dogs get a good 30-1hr session broken up over a couple of hours.

Zefra will be starting agility and fly ball soon as well and Stark will be doing herding again in the spring which are usually 1hr sessions once per week.



Well, I usually work 8-9hours per day.. but my sister is home with the dogs most of that time, so... me personally, 15-16hrs per day.



Stark is loose in the house usually (unless Zefra is in heat, then he is locked away in his crate in a bedroom) and Zefra is always in her crate when we are not home.. lol.



Both are crate trained, but Zefra is usually the only one crated.



Yes, we have cats as well. Everyone lives together here.



I am usually gone 8-9hours per day/5 days per week, but my sister lives with me and is home when I am not usually.

How much do you spend on food, toys, training and vet care per year on your gsd?
Food: $500.00 for 2 dogs (raw fed, I buy in bulk - not including suppliments and extras).
Toys: Don't want to think about it... well over my food budget.. LMAO
Training: Don't want to think about it... well over what I pay in rent per year... lol... seriously.
Vet Care: Probably average about $400 per dog for annual stuff/checkup, more if we are doing x-rays, etc.



Yes, both of my dogs are training in schutzhund and will soon be trialing. Zefra is enrolled in agility and soon flyball, she will hopefully compete in both as well. Stark is involved in herding and it is with high hopes that he will do some competitions in the future as well.



No, not so much organized activity, but they do need to be active both physically and mentally alike.



I have 2 dogs, both GSD's; one male and one female.



They are together pretty much all day. Zefra is crated when we are gone, but Stark has free roam of the house and will sleep in the same room as Zefra (when she is not in heat obviously).



I think Stark is happier to have a friend, he is much more a "momma's dog" than a "other dog-dog" but he and Zefra are totally bonded and enjoy eachother's company very much.



Yes, they do.

Stark is fine with the cats, plays with them and sleeps with them. Totally neutral the rest of the time.

Zefra is learning not to chase them at this point but if she does catch up to one, is pretty gentle with them and will only bat at them with her paws, like she wants to play. Just puppy stuff.



I feel like I do, I think Stark is becoming a bit more independent now that Zefra is here and taking up some of my time, but he is happy. I think the less pressure he is feeling now that schH is just a "fun thing" for him and not so serious really helps our bond. I feel like it was strained before because of some things we went through with his reactivity and then the whole "not wanting to work" thing, but we are now understanding one another better and I think our bond is as strong as it has ever been.

With Zefra, we share a special bond. She is crazy and so high energy that not a lot of people can take her.. lol.. I love the little devil. We have so much fun together and she really has taught me to lighten up and have fun!



I do, and I am proud to say that.

I have made sure that I can do the things I want to do and what I think is the best choice to make for my dogs. From nutrition, to vet care to toys and training, I put in a lot of thought when considering things for them. I feel like there are things I still want to do for them (buy a house with a bunch of property) but I think they live a pretty darn good life! They give me so much that I can only try to give them back as much.

How much and what type(so) of exercise do you do with you dog each day?
About 2 hours walking every day plus fetch.

How much and what kinds of training do you do with your dog?
Obedience probably 1/2 hour throughout the day

How much time total do you spend with your gsd per day?
I am home 24/7 so all day and night


Where is your gsd kept while you are at work or away from the house? Is s/he crated or contained?
If I am out (groceries etc), she is inside loose.
If loose, is s/he with other animals?
Yes my two cats
How long are you typically away from home?
Probably maximum of half an hour every second day .

How much do you spend on food, toys, training and vet care per year on your gsd?
Food: Fed RAW and it is expensive here so I would guesstimate $1700.00
Toys: $200-$300 aprox
Training: Currently not in classes but in the last year including a behaviourist around $500.00
Vet Care: Last year was over $5000.00 and then I stopped adding

Do you do any sports or formal activities with your gsd? If yes, please explain.
We were doing agility but have stopped for now (due to her reactivity)and have done numerous OB classes.

Do you think gsds need to do some sort of organized activity in order to be happy? Why or why not?
I'm unsure of this, I think Molly is a pretty happy girl even though we currently are not involved with any organised activity.

Is your gsd an only dog or does s/he live with other dogs? Only dog.
If yes, how many and how much/how do they interact?
Do you think s/he would be or is happier with other dogs in her/his pack? I don't know that she would be 'happier' with another but she does love her playdates with her friends.
Does your gsd live (and get along with) cats? Yes two and one she does chase at times.

Do you have a close relationship with your gsd? Why or why not? Not sure how to answer this, she is my world and if following me around like a limpit stuck to my leg indicates I am her world , then yes!

Do you think you are providing your dog with what s/he needs in order to live a fulfilling life? I 'think' so yes, she gets exercise, love, shelter, friends to play with, swimming at the beach etc.

How much and what type(so) of exercise do you do with you dog each day?
6 mile run with Niko in the AM, 1 hour of ball play at noon, 45 minute walk or run in the PM


How much and what kinds of training do you do with your dog?
Niko has about one session per month with a private trainer to work on his reactivity issues. One day per week he attends a class with Rosa where we do nose work, agility, or soccer. I take him to town one day a week for exposure to town life.


How much time total do you spend with your gsd per day?
Most days I am home with the dogs all day and all night long.

Where is your gsd kept while you are at work or away from the house? Is s/he crated or contained?
Crate


How long are you typically away from home?
At most four to five hours.

How much do you spend on food, toys, training and vet care per year on your gsd?
Food: 2010 - $544, 2011 YTD - $818
Toys: 2010 - $665, 2011 YTD - $78
Training: 2010 - $525, 2011 YTD - $750
Vet Care: 2010 - $2300, 2011 YTD - $400

Do you do any sports or formal activities with your gsd? If yes, please explain.
We do nose work, agilty and soccer, but it's just for fun, we are not working toward any titles.

Do you think gsds need to do some sort of organized activity in order to be happy? Why or why not?
No but I think it does enrich their lives and I think it's always good to keep learning and doing new things, no matter what your species.

Is your gsd an only dog or does s/he live with other dogs?
If yes, how many and how much/how do they interact?
Niko lives with one other dog. Niko is free to be with Rosa when we are in the house together, and he plays with her at lunchtime, but his morning and evening workouts are done alone with one of us. On the weekends they hang out together and follow us around outside when we do our chores.

Do you think s/he would be or is happier with other dogs in her/his pack?
Niko would not be pleased if we added another dog to our pack. But he loves Rosa and they are very happy to have each other. I know he would miss her terribly if she were not with us, and I think he also gains some confidence with her presence.

Does your gsd live (and get along with) cats?
Yes, he lives with two cats and it has been a very long time teaching him to leave them alone, but now he is pretty good about not bothering them.

Do you have a close relationship with your gsd? Why or why not?
I am very close to him. Why? Because it has been necessary for me to know him inside and out and to have a very good bond with him in order to deal with his behavioral/reactivity issues.

Do you think you are providing your dog with what s/he needs in order to live a fulfilling life?
Probably not but I am doing the very best that I can.



Very thought-provoking questions. Thank you for posting this.

Way too many questions!!!!!

Kayos and Havoc take turns walking 2 miles every day and we add several fetch sessions in the yard. I try to spend a few minutes on some kind of training daily with Havoc. Kayos no longer is actively trainingexcept an occassional track and I did enter her in a tracking test week after Thanksgiving just to go play. May not make the draw as she already has her titles.

Ijust started HAvoc in SchH but also do AKC/UKC obedience, agility and tracking.

We are away from home about 10 hours 4 days a week. The dogs are outdoors in adog run but have access to the garage, they have beds in the garage. How I house my dogs when at work really depends on where we live. As we move a lot for our jobs each place is different. We had a pet sitter in Oregon that walked them at lunch everyday and they were in the house while we were gone. No pet sitter here so we do what we have to do.

I don't really keep track of expenses, it would probably terrify me. They will get what they need adn I don't worry about the cost.

Do they get what they need? I don't know, they are not telling me. They are happy, love to play, walk and train. They are devoted to us and to each other. I think we have a wonderful home.

I can't begin to answer all your questions but will come back and try after my coffee

How much and what type(so) of exercise do you do with you dog each day?
30 minute walk in AM, 1 ½ - 2 hour walk in PM w/ fetch. Weekends long hikes/swimming at beach pretty much all day both days.


How much and what kinds of training do you do with your dog?
Recon gets about 20 minutes a day of basic OB work. *I need to get better at this~!*


How much time total do you spend with your gsd per day?
Weekdays I am home at 4:30pm and am there until 6:00 AM the next day. Weekends we are always home.

Where is your gsd kept while you are at work or away from the house? Is s/he crated or contained?
He roams (by roams I mean, sleeps at the door waiting for us to return )


How long are you typically away from home?
8-9 hours a day. We are lucky though, I leave at 6:30 am and fiancé leaves at 8:00. I am home around 4:30 and he is home around 5:00. So really about 8 hours a day Recon is by himself, but it would be more if not for our schedules.

How much do you spend on food, toys, training and vet care per year on your gsd?
Food: Approx $600
Toys: Approx $120
Training: 2011 – No classes. Previous years were close to $400/year
Vet Care: Approx $200-300 (unless big things come up)

Do you do any sports or formal activities with your gsd? If yes, please explain.
not regularly – Recon did Rally in Virginia and obedience classes. Here in San Diego he has gone to Schutzhund 2 times and he’s still warming up to it.

Do you think gsds need to do some sort of organized activity in order to be happy? Why or why not?
I think some dogs do absolutely – In my experience, Recon is just happy being with us. He would go crazy if we didn’t hike/swim/explore on the weekends. But doesn’t need an organized activity.

Is your gsd an only dog or does s/he live with other dogs?
If yes, how many and how much/how do they interact?
Recon is an “only dog” currently  This is changing very soon though.

Do you think s/he would be or is happier with other dogs in her/his pack?
Recon would 100% be happier with another animal. As much as we are his world, he really does love being around other animals.

Does your gsd live (and get along with) cats?
Recon lived with a cat for 6 months (Bengal leopard) and they got along. It took a while, but eventually they were best of buds. However, when Recon goes to someone’s house who has a cat he cannot handle it. He wouldn’t hurt the cat, but he has to chase/obsess over the cat. He’ll whine and follow the cats every move.

Do you have a close relationship with your gsd? Why or why not?
I am very close to him. I would say we are close just from how much we do together. My fiancé and I don’t go to the gym without him coming along  He’ll wait out front (it’s a small close knit gym) and watch us workout. He is always coming to dinner wherever we can sit outside etc.

Do you think you are providing your dog with what s/he needs in order to live a fulfilling life?
Yes – I can do better though. I think I need to really focus on getting Recon into more training because he enjoys classes so much.

Don’t ya just love it when a single thread makes you think so much?

How much and what type(so) of exercise do you do with you dog each day?
I guess I don’t believe in putting time limits on exercise. Some days it’s more some days it’s less. Kind of a daily scenario in our house; in the morning the dogs get some free running (in the fenced portion of our yard) before breakfast and I leave for work. My husband gets home from work about 2 hours before me so he usually takes the dogs outside for group play time. They play catch and run and do yard work. After my husband & I eat dinner we'll usually take 2 of the dogs for a walk. In the summer months we also go swimming and hiking. We still go for walks in the winter but no swimming or hiking. So for us wintertime usually means less exercise than summertime.

How much and what kinds of training do you do with your dog?
We train daily. Again, I don’t really put a time limit on this but try to focus on one thing a day. How much will change depending on the individual dog and the age of the dog. Daily we do obedience with all of the dogs. Sometimes group, sometimes individual.

On top of the obedience;
Sundance currently gets 3 days a week for tracking.
Dalton currently gets 3 days a week with stupid parlor tricks. (He use to do informal tracking but we stopped a few years back when his DLE nose got so bad.)

Where is your gsd kept while you are at work or away from the house? Is s/he crated or contained?
Sundance is crated in our dining room. He's too young IMO to have free roam, yet.
Dalton is roaming around inside the house. He probably just sleeps on the couch all day.

If loose, is s/he with other animals?
Yes

How long are you typically away from home?
6 hours

Do you do any sports or formal activities with your gsd? If yes, please explain.
Yes, Schutzhund with Sundance.

Is your gsd an only dog or does s/he live with other dogs?
Lives with other dogs.

If yes, how many and how much/how do they interact?
2, (we currently own 3 dogs), to me they interact like typical dogs. Each is different.

Do you think s/he would be or is happier with other dogs in her/his pack?
I think they would do fine either way.

Does your gsd live (and get along with) cats?
Yes, 1 cat. Dalton could care less about the cat. Sundance thinks the cat is his little buddy.


I'll try to get to the other questions later that I skipped. If I remember.


No kidding!

But I’ll add one more. How may people are in your household that are dog people too? Meaning, how many help with the feeding, grooming, vetting, playing, training, socializing, exercising, etc.?

What I consider an ideal situation is different from what I believe the bare minimum for a GSD is.

For me, speaking as a foster home, an ideal situation would be owners who have GSD/working dog experience, work from home so are with the dog all day, have a huge fenced in yard, participant in some kind of activity with the dog, whether it be SchH or just simple pet tricks, will socialize the dog as needed, daily exercise, will let the dog sleep in the house (on the bed lol), and just generally integrate the dog as a member of the family on every level.

I think the number of homes that can satisfy all, or even most, of these requirements are rare, so it's unrealistic to wait for that perfect home to come along. Each dog has different needs, as you said, and there are many homes that would be a good, but not ideal, match for each dog, and for me that's good enough. I don't think dogs really miss out on things they haven't experienced. I'm sure my Bodie would love it if I could be home with him all day and go on 5 hour long hikes and play till he collapsed and cook him steaks for dinner, but all he really knows is what he's used to now - sleeping by the window while I'm at work, 1 hour of off leash exercise when I get home, some training or find-it games after, and then chilling around the house with me for the rest of the night. On weekends we'll spend the whole day out exploring new parks, hiking, doing "dog" things, and he always comes along with me on rescue home visits, so it's not the same old thing day in and out. I'd like to think he's a satisfied and fulfilled dog.

At the shelter where I volunteer we do this exercise called "The Perfect Adopter." One person makes a list of all the traits in their ideal adopter, all the volunteers stand up, and each item is read aloud. If a volunteer does not meet the requirements for an item, they will sit down, and at the end we see how many people are still standing. A lot of times, there's no one.

On the other hand, for a GSD especially, I think there's a bare minimum of needs to be met.

Exercise/physical interaction - if the dog is healthy, active and can tolerate it, I think at least an hour a day on leash.

I believe dogs should live inside with their families - outside during the day in a kennel or enclosure is fine - but I would never adopt to a family that made the dog a permanent outside dog or kept the dog separated from the family.

I think socialization is important for GSDs; dogs with more stable temperaments may not need it as much, but the dogs that I've worked with all visibly benefited greatly from going out into the world and experiencing new things.

Training - I'm not picky about whether an owner goes to a formal class or not but I think there should be some level of training going on, even if it's just simple sits and downs taught with a clicker.

And of course vetting - I'm not a fan of yearly vaccinations and unnecessary vet visits, but I want to know that a family will take care of their dog if it's sick or needs treatment, not skimp out due to laziness or being cheap.

I think these are my bare minimum requirements for an active, healthy GSD. But it's a very personal thing, I'm sure plenty of people would disagree with one thing or another. Obviously there are exceptions, older dogs, dogs with health issues, couch potatoes - but since I foster mostly younger, energetic dogs, I wouldn't be too comfortable placing a dog in a family that couldn't meet these minimum needs.

How much and what type(so) of exercise do you do with you dog each day?

Walks, 2, couple miles each time, we walk at approx 3 miles/hr. Off or long lead walking, backyard games

How much and what kinds of training do you do with your dog?

Basic only - don't crap in my house and don't lick my plate until I'm done.
Seriously, house pet training, but we reinforce commands every day.

How much time total do you spend with your gsd per day?

24/7

Where is your gsd kept while you are at work or away from the house? Is s/he crated or contained?
If loose, is s/he with other animals?
How long are you typically away from home?

They are confined to the main floor when we're all gone, seperated by a gate, both have access to water and food, neither are destructive.

How much do you spend on food, toys, training and vet care per year on your gsd?
Food:
Toys:
Training:
Vet Care:

No clue, what they need they get.

Do you do any sports or formal activities with your gsd? If yes, please explain.

Oz likes watching me play baseball... We are going to get Dolly carting! Before Oz's back went out we tried some agility and actual working herding, me on horse, him on ground cutting.

Do you think gsds need to do some sort of organized activity in order to be happy? Why or why not?

Not necessarily, I think as long as the dog is content, not showing signs of boredom, depression their needs are being adequately met.

Is your gsd an only dog or does s/he live with other dogs?
If yes, how many and how much/how do they interact?
Do you think s/he would be or is happier with other dogs in her/his pack?
Does your gsd live (and get along with) cats?

Oz only likes cats if they come into the house as kittens, he and Dolly seem to be getting along, there are issues we're working on.

Do you have a close relationship with your gsd? Why or why not?

Honestly, Oz is a man's dog, he prefers dh, but tolerates me. I think he knows he's with me for life, that where I go, he goes, but he really does like dh, so I guess as long as I have Oz, I have to stay in this marriage.

Do you think you are providing your dog with what s/he needs in order to live a fulfilling life?

I think, but mostly hope so.

How much and what type(so) of exercise do you do with you dog each day? Walking, treadmill (not every day), back yard and indoor play. Saturday and Sunday, walk and swim (Sammy, not me) at a state park for several hours each day. He goes everywhere with me, so in and out of the house and car often.

How much and what kinds of training do you do with your dog? Initially, basic and advanced obedience classes. Earlier this year, one-on-one classes with a trainer. We work on obedience every day.

How much time total do you spend with your gsd per day? 6-7 hrs. Monday-Friday; all day Saturday and Sunday

Where is your gsd kept while you are at work or away from the house? Is s/he crated or contained? Loose in the house

If loose, is s/he with other animals? One other dog and four cats
How long are you typically away from home? 9 hours. Hubby is more flexible and stops by home twice a day to let them out to potty

How much do you spend on food, toys, training and vet care per year on your gsd?
Food: I don't keep track, but I'm estimating about $1,200 per year for food and treats (two dogs; second dog is 25 pounds ).
Toys: $300 (don't keep track of this either)
Training: $300
Vet Care: I don't track this either because I don't think I want to know! Sammy was really sick when we first got him, but that vet bill wasn't huge. Since then, he's been to the vet each year for an annual checkup. If you add in the other five animals in the household, it would probably be staggering. In addition to vet care, we do chiro and acupuncture when needed. Now that I have young dogs, that cost has gone down considerably.

Do you do any sports or formal activities with your gsd? If yes, please explain. No formal activities.

Do you think gsds need to do some sort of organized activity in order to be happy? Why or why not? Absolutely not. They sure don't recognize "organized" over "not organized". In my experience, what makes them happy is being well exercised, well socialized, well loved and being with their family.

Is your gsd an only dog or does s/he live with other dogs? Lives with another dog.

If yes, how many and how much/how do they interact? One 6.5 mo. old puppy. They are inseparable.

Do you think s/he would be or is happier with other dogs in her/his pack? Sammy is definitely happier. When we adopted him, Murphy was 17 and had no interest in really interacting with him. He's a playful dog, so he turned to the cats for entertainment. They are very glad there's a puppy in the house and Sammy now has a playmate!

Does your gsd live (and get along with) cats? Initially, he wanted to chase, but never was aggressive. It took a lot of work, but he lives peacefully with four kitties.

Do you have a close relationship with your gsd? Why or why not? Yes. I don’t know how to explain this one. It’s all about bonding with them, loving them, understanding them. I must admit that it took me quite some time to feel this bond with Sammy. He was a tough puppy behaviorally and had some issues, even at his young age of 9 months. My first GSD Max was the perfect dog in every way, so I think I expected the same from Sammy. I think emotionally I wasn’t quite ready for another, but him coming into our lives happened when it did for a reason. It took me some time to realize that he wasn’t Max and it was very unfair of me to expect him to be. Once I got a different mindset, it made all the difference in the world in our relationship.

Do you think you are providing your dog with what s/he needs in order to live a fulfilling life? Absolutely. He’s a happy, well behaved boy (well, most of the time!). Of course I could do things better with him, but he eats better than I do, he exercises more than I do and he gets more treats/toys than I do. Not a bad life!

And to answer Vinnie’s question: How may people are in your household that are dog people too? Meaning, how many help with the feeding, grooming, vetting, playing, training, socializing, exercising, etc.? Hubby helps with feeding and training and sometimes exercise, but for the most part, I do everything else.

Ahem, I don't actually have a gsd right now but I don't want to write a question about belgian shepherds so I'll just pretend. In temperament, intelligence, biddability and drive he is much like the working line gsd I fostered...just a little bouncier.

How much and what type(so) of exercise do you do with you dog each day?
During the week he gets 2-3 walks per day, totaling 4-5 miles. 10 to 30 minutes of that walking is off leash and during that time he is running, sniffing and playing with his ball and with me (and tracking bunnies and hunting mice in the tall grass). On the weekends he usually gets a little more exercise as we often go for long hikes or longer off-leash walks.

He also travels with me. He has 3-5 weeks of intensive activity in the summer when we go to the cottage and he is pretty much on the go all of the time there. We also go to my cousins' country place in Ontario as often as possible and when there we hike 3-4 hours/day.

He actually gets more exercise in the winter. He has much more energy in the winter and when we have snow we snowshoe off leash every day and he gets a great workout.

How much and what kinds of training do you do with your dog?
Rafi's training is incorporated into his daily routine. I try to teach him something new every few months and we work on something fun every day, even if it's just for 2 minutes. For example, right now I am working on teaching him to understand complex commands like, "Get x toy and take it to x person or to x place." Otherwise we always practice the usual stuff like automatic sits at corners, various leash commands and off-leash commands, nice in the house manners, etc.


Where is your gsd kept while you are at work or away from the house? Is s/he crated or contained?
Rafi is loose in the house. He moves between his bed in the kitchen and his bed in the living room. I crated him initially but he had separation anxiety and barrier anxiety and I counter-conditioned him to a dog bed in the kitchen.

If loose, is s/he with other animals?
If Kailor is here, yes. And yes when Cleo and Chama were here too.

How long are you typically away from home?
6-8 hours

How much time total do you spend with your gsd per day?

Usually all but when I'm at work or doing errands. Lots!

Do you do any sports or formal activities with your gsd? If yes, please explain.
No, I don't have time and I'm not that interested.

Is your gsd an only dog or does s/he live with other dogs?
Lives part time with one other dog.

If yes, how many and how much/how do they interact?
They don't interact much. Rafi gives Kailor kisses and steals toys from her but she pretty much ignores him. Occasionally she initiates a game of chase outside. Rafi takes his cue from the other dog. If the other dog is playful or cuddly he is fine with that (usually).

Do you think s/he would be or is happier with other dogs in her/his pack?
Rafi loves other dogs but I don't really know if he would be happier with a full time buddy. Hopefully some day I'll find out!

Does your gsd live (and get along with) cats?
Not at the moment. Rafi LOVES cats. He thinks they're really special and likes to give them kisses.

Do you have a close relationship with your gsd? Why or why not?

Yes, Rafi thinks the world revolves around me and I am super attached to him too. We have a ton of fun together. He reminds me every day not to take life too seriously and to get out and exercise and play. And he gives unconditional love to everyone he meets. We have a mind meld thing going.

Do you think you are providing your dog with what s/he needs in order to live a fulfilling life? Yes! While Rafi might do well with someone who worked him in a formal way, I provide him with what he needs to be a confident, happy, good canine citizen. He is not an easy dog but I think we are a pretty perfect match (I am not an easy person either!).

Oops, forgot the costs question:

Food: Raw fed and probably $1200 including supplements (maybe more...probably more b/c he gets so many supplements)
Toys: $50-100 (other people buy him lots of toys). He has a huge box and a basket of stuffies and 8 Planet Dog balls.
Vet Care: $200 (except when herding porcupines)

Oh and DP is here part-time and helps with everything. We walk the dogs together every day.

The ideal home situation is one where the owner continually puts the dog's best interests as a top priority, of course.

Grimm gets 4 walks per day, plus 1 hour of free running with me in a nature preserve. (2 hours when it snows)

I am with Grimm 24/7 usually, but when running errands, I may be gone for roughly 4 hours, three days per week.

Grimm is raw fed. I don't know the per year cost.
Grimm's toy closet is scandalously full, new toys bought every 3 months. Unsure of cost.
Grimm's vet care is minimal, unsure of cost. He is young.
Grimm and I have no training budget at the moment, we train a bit daily at home.

I do not believe a GSD needs a competetive activity to thrive. He/she needs to feel NEEDED to thrive.

Grimm is an only dog. He is wonderfully social with other dogs, but reactive in his extreme overenthusiasm to meet. While I thnk he would enjoy another dog in his pack, but I do not think he would be happier. More stimulated, yes-- but not happier.

Grimm loves and does very well with cats. (Like Rafi, he loves to kiss them! )

Grimm is never crated.

My relationship with Grimm is close. I cannot imagine my life without the love, fun, trust, and family of the two of us sharing life and love together.

Grimm's training is: in handicap assiatance work as a Seizure Response dog. He does directed retrieve, hold and carry at heel, brings in the mail, takes out the trash, closes the trash closet door, gets his lead, brush, my keys, my backpack, my meds, my white cane, etc. He can pick up a dime off the floor. We tidy the apartment together, for practice. He feels HUGELY needed, ultra-focused, and fulfilled while working.
Rarely, I will vest him and he will do some public access training. He knows how to ride the bus, train, cabs, Handi-Vans, etc. He carries my purchases from the store. VERY fulfilled GSD.

How much and what type(so) of exercise do you do with you dog each day? It can vary on what type of exercise we do each day. Some days we go to the woods for a 2hr walk off lead. Other days it's a 45min - an hour long walk on lead around the neighborhood.

How much and what kinds of training do you do with your dog? I incorporate obedience into Yukon's life on a daily basis. On walks we do sit stays, down stays, practice the "leave it" command. Off leash walks we do recalls, and the "name game" which Yukon loves! At home, my house chores include obedience such as Wait, Back, Go to your Place etc..

How much time total do you spend with your gsd per day? Being on Disability I'm home all day, every day with Yukon. I take him everywhere with me, except during the summer months then he stays home.

Where is your gsd kept while you are at work or away from the house? Is s/he crated or contained? He is in his crate, that is his sanctuary, he knows no one can bug him when he goes in there.

How long are you typically away from home? I'm rarely away from home. At most, 8hrs.

How much do you spend on food, toys, training and vet care per year on your gsd? I don't know where to begin when it comes to adding up food prices. He's fed grain free kibble with raw meat on the side. Toys: Rarely buy toys. He prefers the Dino Cuz and that is all he will play with. Vet care: Under $200 for yearly exam/shots.

Do you do any sports or formal activities with your gsd? Unfortunately not. I had intended to show him in confirmation but I have a hard time with my anxiety/panic attacks. So all of that has been cancelled out. Bummer!

Do you think gsds need to do some sort of organized activity in order to be happy? Why or why not? Depends on the lines. Yukon is show lines, he is very mellow, and does not really demand to be worked, however, if you skip one day of no mental or physical exercise he will pace, whine and drive one crazy. So in short; Yes GSD's need to be involved with your day to day activities. They are not a "put them in the backyard and play with them later" kind of dog.

Is your gsd an only dog or does s/he live with other dogs? Yes, he is a bachelor.

Do you think s/he would be or is happier with other dogs in her/his pack? Oh sure! Yukon would love to have a room mate to share his adventures with. We hope to add a female Carin Terrier to the family at some point.

Does your gsd live (and get along with) cats? No to living with cats. Get along? I think he would live quite happily with a cat. He gets along with my Guinea Pig extremely well.

Do you think you are providing your dog with what s/he needs in order to live a fulfilling life? Yes. There are perhaps some things that I am unable to do that he would love but, I try my best to make up for that in other ways.

That was a fun questionnaire. Very thought provoking.

How much and what type(so) of exercise do you do with you dog each day?

Well, in the winter it is a lot less. It is cold so right now we are doing fetching in the yard with me and/or a teenaged boy, about 4 times a day. If it isn't too yucky out we walk a mile. Also usually go to the dog park for an hour. In the summer we do a lot more... walk more, swim, dock dive, hiking.

How much and what kinds of training do you do with your dog?

I try to do something at home most evenings for 20 minutes or so. I vary it based on what class we are in or what class is coming up next. Right now we do agility foundation work plus working on fronts and heeling.

How much time total do you spend with your gsd per day?

Um, all day? LOL. She is my buddy. She goes in the car with me and if she can't go in the store she sits in the front seat and waits for me. I only leave her home when I work at the school for an hour or sometimes if I will a going to be in stores for more than 30 minutes. Of course in the summer it is too hot and she can't wait in the car, and has to stay home more.

Where is your gsd kept while you are at work or away from the house? Is s/he crated or contained?

crated BUT usually I can have one of my adult sons take her out and play with her for a bit. I try not to leave her in the crate more than an hour without getting out for a break, but occasionally she is in there longer. Very rare though.

How much do you spend on food, toys, training and vet care per year on your gsd?
Food: Right now about $50/month
Toys: way too much, lol.
Training: I take classes all the time and they usually average $10/class, so I will say $20 a week. Tracking is free. Equiptment is expensive!
Vet Care: not bad. No major issues. I do have insurance for her, about $250/year premium.

Do you do any sports or formal activities with your gsd? If yes, please explain.

Oh yeah!
Dock Diving (DockDogs club) all spring/summer/part of fall
Tracking fall/winter/spring
AKC obedience year round, started just before 5 months in Novice class
Did a nosework class, did a little SAR training with the tracking team, may continue this next spring
Just starting on agility, did one class and taking a second one this winter
Planning to take a treibball class in spring
Planning to get into herding next summer

Do you think gsds need to do some sort of organized activity in order to be happy? Why or why not?

Well, she needs mind stimulation because she is so darn smart. If my kids are sick and we stay home she gets bored and gets everything out of the toybox and off the shelves and counters. If I don't give her a job, she will find one herself (like book shredder or trash eater). I think a less-smart GSD might be fine lying around sleeping and being a foot warmer!

She also needs a lot more exercise than any dog I ever had. She is very athletic and lets me know if I don't exercise her enough.

Is your gsd an only dog or does s/he live with other dogs?

Why, she lives with her big brother, Speedy the Wonderdog, of course!

If yes, how many and how much/how do they interact?

Speedy is in charge. She loves him and acts all 'puppy' with him. He sometimes snarls at her and she respects it but she doesn't get offended. She backs off and keeps wagging. She knows he is just a grouchy old coot sometimes. She is careful not to step on him or be rough with him. But actually our 13 yr old cat, Shady, is alpha. The dogs rank way below her and she is completely confident and bosses them both around.

Do you have a close relationship with your gsd? Why or why not?

Yep, I have five kids, my 'baby' started school and Saber came to be my buddy and help me branch out and do new things. She has done that!

Do you think you are providing your dog with what s/he needs in order to live a fulfilling life?

Yes, but I will never stop trying to do better!

How much and what type(so) of exercise do you do with you dog each day? Minimum ( on my 4 10 hour work days) a three mile walk each day with lots of off leash time. On my three days off in addition to the walk we have several play sessions in the park and yard with our agility equipment

How much and what kinds of training do you do with your dog? I incorporate obedience into Benny's life on a daily basis on walks, in the house. I teach him service tasks like finding keys, opening the fridge, picking up and giving me things I drop, and tricks like playing a toy piano, saying prayers.

How much time total do you spend with your gsd per day? On my 4 work days I am gone 10- 12 hours so he is with me 12-14. On my three days off he is with me almost constantly

Where is your gsd kept while you are at work or away from the house? Is s/he crated or contained? He is in his crate when no one is home, but someone is usually home and he is free.

How long are you typically away from home? 10- 12 hours Mon- Thurs. Friday - Sunday I am mostly with Benny,

How much do you spend on food, toys, training and vet care per year on your gsd? Food; about $3000 ( yikes), toys; not sure, Vet care: Under $200 ( except when he ate wad of napkins, Training about $1000 in the first two years but not now

Do you do any sports or formal activities with your gsd? nothing formal currently

Do you think gsds need to do some sort of organized activity in order to be happy? Why or why not? Not necessarily. but they need lots of mental and physical exercise and to live an active life with their owner.

Is your gsd an only dog or does s/he live with other dogs? He is the pack leader of two other dogs. Benny gets along very well with Annie and Jake.

Do you think s/he would be or is happier with other dogs in her/his pack? As long as he is numero uno!
Does your gsd live (and get along with) cats? He gets along with two but one is a frenemy because she hates him!

Do you think you are providing your dog with what s/he needs in order to live a fulfilling life? Yes. He would be happier if I did not have to leave him for work.

We run four times a week for 3 to 8 miles (and that will be increasing over the next couple of months). On average, I'd say we run 15 miles per week right now. On days we don't run, we take a long walk (45 minutes to an hour), play fetch for as long as she wants (usually no more than 20-30 minutes), do agility jumps, weaves or ball work, or a combination.



Agility training, basic pet obedience and tricks. I train for an hour on class days (once a week) and at least 5 minutes of focused training (usually much more) every day. Every interaction we have throughout the day is a training opportunity for pet obedience (sitting for dinner, at doors, asking politely for petting, etc.).



Not enough - usually only a 3-4 waking hours on the weekdays right now. If I had done this questionnaire 6 months ago, my answer would be probably at least double that amount of time actually interacting, playing, training or exercising.



She is loose in the house when we are not here.



Yes, with one cat.



I am away from the house at school for 9-10 hours Monday through Thursday. DH works from home so is here all day.



Food: ~$500
Toys: $200
Training: ~$600-$750
Vet Care: variable




Yes, we do agility.



No, but I do think most absolutely need some type of mental stimulation and purpose. Some individuals need more than others. For Tara, I think she is happier when we are in classes than just working on things at home.



Only dog.



N/A.



I think she can go either way. Tara loves puppies and is very accepting of dogs that she has known from when they were puppies. She gets along well with most dogs that she meets properly with slow introductions. I don't think she would be any happier with another dog in the house.



Yes, they get along quite well. See: http://germanshepherdhome.net/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/192790/Bath_Time#Post192790



Yes, we are quite in tune with each other. She reads me like a book and vice versa. We are very bonded, but we both have an independent streak and are not joined at the hip. She likes to know where I am but does not need to be in my space 24/7. I am very much her person, she does not have nearly the bond with DH or anyone else.



Six months ago I would have said yes without hesitation. Now, I say I hope so. She doesn't get near the attention she used to get, but I try to make sure to still get in as much exercise and training as my schedule allows.



DH is not a dog person. I do probably 95% of all animal care in our house. He does play with her occasionally and is very good about being consistent in household rules/training. Unless I am away or held up at school, I do all the exercising, feeding, training, vetting, grooming, and socializing. I think he does more with giving Tara attention now than he used to (when he didn't work at home).

How much and what type(so) of exercise do you do with you dog each day?
It varies. Walks, yard play, inside play, weekend hikes/swims, etc.

How much and what kinds of training do you do with your dog?

Beginning we did basic OB, then OB class and now we do OB/commands during the day whenever getting treats/playing, etc. We also do informal tracking.

How much time total do you spend with your gsd per day?

Mornings and evenings and weekends for me. Typically Mike is home on days I work. Basically, whenever we're off, we're with them.

Where is your gsd kept while you are at work or away from the house? Is s/he crated or contained?

In the house, loose

If loose, is s/he with other animals?

Yes, Duncan and the three kitty amigos.

How long are you typically away from home?

Through the week, I'm out 8 hours. But Mike is typically there most days I work and the days he goes to his part-time job they're only left alone for about 2-3 hours.

How much do you spend on food, toys, training and vet care per year on your gsd?
Food: Hmm...guessing about $2100 for both dogs, raw diet
Toys: This number is inconceivable....
Training: Now, none or minimal
Vet Care: $1500

Do you do any sports or formal activities with your gsd? If yes, please explain.

We do tracking, both on line and off leash.

Do you think gsds need to do some sort of organized activity in order to be happy? Why or why not?

Nothing makes Anna happier than having a job...whether it's "find daddy!" in the woods or searching for a toy/treat, she loves to work.

Is your gsd an only dog or does s/he live with other dogs?

Senior mix brother Duncan

If yes, how many and how much/how do they interact?

They're pretty much always together, except for when we go out and do more difficult/longer activities (too much for the senior sometimes). At home, he has his dogbed, she has her areas, but they are typically always in the vicinity of each other.

Do you think s/he would be or is happier with other dogs in her/his pack?

Anna loves other dogs, she loves her older brother. I think she could live without a packmate, but I do think after having one, she might feel lost with just being alone.

Does your gsd live (and get along with) cats?

Simon: No problem from day one
Mia: After about a year, they now play together
Alley: Has decided, this week, after three years of Anna, that she can now emerge from the bedroom and lay on the couch in the living room.

Do you have a close relationship with your gsd? Why or why not?

For sure. She's my buddy, friend and companion. If I could take her everywhere with me I would. She knows when I'm down, sick, tired and she knows when to act like a goofball to cheer me up. I couldn't, and don't want to, imagine life without her.

Do you think you are providing your dog with what s/he needs in order to live a fulfilling life?

I hope so. I always wish there was more I could do to make her life amazing as she's made mine. But when I see that goofy smile I know all she really needs isn't the toys, collars, etc., but love from me. And she's got that.

How much and what type(s) of exercise do you do with you dog each day?

Can vary somwhat. ½ hour on-leash structured walk in morning, with sits, heels, and downs. Then about 15 minutes of walking allowing stopping, smelling, etc. DH is home all day, so afternoons are spent outside ‘helping’ him do yardwork. Frequent ball throwing and Frisbee tossing until the boys decide to quit. ½ hour at night outside with off-leash obedience and general fooling around.

How much and what kinds of training do you do with your dog?

Simple obedience and mind games every day.

How much time total do you spend with your gsd per day?

I leave for work at 8:00 and get home around 5:30. Otherwise, they are by my side.

Where is your gsd kept while you are at work or away from the house? Is s/he crated or contained?

It has only been this summer (they turned 6 years old) when we finally took down their crates. When DH and I are both away, they are alone in the house and nothing has ever been disturbed.

How long are you typically away from home?

See above. DH is home all day.

How much do you spend on food, toys, training and vet care per year on your gsd?

Food: RAW fed – varies

Toys: Very little. My daughter is a PE teacher, so we get all the soccer, volley, and tennis balls we need. Only when their favorite snuggle toys are ruined do they get new ones.

Training: Nothing - it's just me.

Vet Care: Usually about $200.00 per year each. One vet visit, plus occasional titers. Chance always has his thyroid checked, and his meds are about $75.00 per year.

Do you do any sports or formal activities with your gsd? If yes, please explain.

We fool around with agility in the back yard – I have a cheap set I bought on-line – but no formal routines. Beau loves it; Chance is bored, but he is our No. 1 spectator and cheerleader.

Do you think gsds need to do some sort of organized activity in order to be happy? Why or why not?

Hard question. I know if my boys do not do something structured fairly often, they tend to get antsy and can’t quite settle. I think mental stimulation is absolutely essential.

Is your gsd an only dog or does s/he live with other dogs?
If yes, how many and how much/how do they interact?

Mine are brothers – joined at the hip.

Do you think s/he would be or is happier with other dogs in her/his pack?

Since they don’t know any differently, they are very happy. They are also very happy when DD brings her pupper to visit (sometimes for as long as a week), but they are also happy when Bailey goes home.

Does your gsd live (and get along with) cats?

We have 3 Siamese, but there is no interaction. I take full blame for this because I separated them when they were little, and now the cats are intimidated by their size. I would do it completely differently if I had it to do over again.

Do you have a close relationship with your gsd? Why or why not?

Absolutely – they ‘talk’ to us and we talk to them. We make adjustments and sacrifices for them simply because we want to.

Do you think you are providing your dog with what s/he needs in order to live a fulfilling life?

You do the best you can with what you have at the time you are doing it. That’s all anyone can ask for.

How much and what type(so) of exercise do you do with you dog each day?
This is our current routine (has changed since we moved from So Cal): On work days they go for an off leash run or walk (lots of hills) with lots of squirrel chasing for anywhere from 1/2 hour-1 hour (depending on if we walk or run). On the weekends we will go hike to a lake to go swim either here in town or we head south to do that and camp (summer) or go on a different hike/snowshoe. In San Diego, it was leashed walks and runs in the morning and evening most days.

How much and what kinds of training do you do with your dog?

Not much in terms of day to day stuff. Occasionally when walking we work on obedience at a distance, healing under distractions (squirrels), stuff like that.

How much time total do you spend with your gsd per day?
Almost 24/7. They come to work with us.

Where is your gsd kept while you are at work or away from the house? Is s/he crated or contained?
Currently, they are loose in the house (we don't have a fenced yard here, plus, if we did, too many wild animals). We aren't gone more than a couple of hours at a time when we do have to leave them. They used to stay in a small back yard in San Diego and have stayed in my parents back yard before we discovered a few fence panels had started to get loose and come down and now they stay inside at my parents as well). When they were younger (maybe until 3 or so), we would crate them if we weren't going to be gone long. So, yes, they are crate trained but we currently don't have a good set up to keep them up all the time.

If loose, is s/he with other animals?
Just loose with each other

How long are you typically away from home?

No more than 4 hours, but only on occasions. Tahoe is so dog friendly that everyone takes their dogs with them everywhere. The weather is cool enough most of the year that they can stay in the car if need be and since we live in the forest, there are always lots of trees for shade. (And as a side note, I don't keep my dogs in the car if it is too hot out, but since evenings and mornings are cool year round it is easy to get quick errands done before or after work).

How much do you spend on food, toys, training and vet care per year on your gsd? Food: I don't keep track, but between $150-$200 per month for two raw fed dogs and supplements and snacks
Toys: Not much. They don't destroy toys that often, so we have a huge basket full of them that have been around for years.
Training: herding is expensive!!! I don't even want to know
Vet Care: Knock on wood, they have been relatively healthy

Do you do any sports or formal activities with your gsd? If yes, please explain.
Herding. Although right now I have taken some time off. It is getting expensive. I'd like to get back into it again soon. I did a lot of herding with them in SoCal.

Do you think gsds need to do some sort of organized activity in order to be happy? Why or why not?
No...I think mine are happy when they aren't herding too. They love running around in the forest and going swimming.

Is your gsd an only dog or does s/he live with other dogs?

Mine are littermates.

If yes, how many and how much/how do they interact?
They are together all the time, except when we go herding. I crate and rotate so I can work one dog at a time. If one is injured, then I take one on a run and the injured one stays at home. When at home, they don't always have to be together - sometimes, one is downstairs and one is upstairs or they may be in different rooms when upstairs.

Do you think s/he would be or is happier with other dogs in her/his pack?
They don't know any different, so it is hard to tell.

Does your gsd live (and get along with) cats?

No cats. They have met them on occasion and were ok, until the cat ran.

Do you have a close relationship with your gsd? Why or why not?

Yes, because we are together so often. Plus, they are always there for me when hubby is gone doing military stuff.

Do you think you are providing your dog with what s/he needs in order to live a fulfilling life?
I'd like to think so.

How much and what type(so) of exercise do you do with you dog each day?
training. tugging. ball throwing. hikeing.environmental socialization.

How much and what kinds of training do you do with your dog?
i train every day except saturday (ok sometimes even saturday depending on where we are)...we do ob, retrieves, perchwork, scentwork, bitework, tracking, tricks...
How much time total do you spend with your gsd per day?
pretty much all day. they may be out in the backyard, or in thier kennels (i have indoor, outdoor and car), but my yard is small enough that they practically see me where ever i am. when we go to train or i am out and about they are in thier car kennels.
Where is your gsd kept while you are at work or away from the house? Is s/he crated or contained?
- if it is too hot to take them with me...i leave them in thier indoor or outdoor kennels.
Do you do any sports or formal activities with your gsd? i do: rally, ob, nosework, schutzhund (tracking, ob, bitework)
Do you think gsds need to do some sort of organized activity in order to be happy? no. an organized sport is for the HUMAN. they DO NOT CARE about organized activities, titles or ribbons.. if you are happy, they are happy- period.
Is your gsd an only dog or does s/he live with other dogs? yes
If yes, how many and how much/how do they interact?during the day they are loose with each other in the yard at times. when they are together they get along , they play or ignore each other.sometimes they argue. as of yet they have never fought. i do not feed them together or give them chewies together. i try to eliminate any opportunity for fighting as they are both young unnuetered males..
Does your gsd live (and get along with) cats? yes
Do you have a close relationship with your gsd?i assume i do, but i have no idea what he thinks.