GSD or not?

[confusionhunter]

HI folks,
Just looking for some advice on a couple of points for my wife and I from some of you who are dog owners.
I used to be a cat person but I met my wife 3 years ago who had a lovely GSD(german Shepherd Dog) called Gemma. As I got to know her I grew to love her very much. Sadly she passed away over christmas and my wife and I are totally gutted.

Anyway... the house feels empty and we felt we needed animal contact so we decided to enroll in our local dogs trust to do some dog walking. We took some collies for a walk and that was fun. But I was enamoured with a very large GSDx called Tyson. I think he might be full GSD but hes sable and almost has a "main". Not sure if this is a usual long haired GSD trait or not....Will need to look into. So we found ourselves considering him for adoption. We were always intending on getting another shepherd.

Anyway, we saw some other people take him out and he is very energetic and we could tell they were struggling with him. Very boysterous and pulling on the lead and going mad at other dogs. He is such a beautiful dog I enquired about him. Anyway, with our training experience from Gemma .......long story short we spend about 3 hours with him and at the end had him jumping, sitting and although still pulling was far better on the lead. All he needs in consistency. Very smart chap and seems to be a big softy! We aint afraid of hard work and his personality is other wise very good.

BUT, and a big but.... we are not sure we are ready to take him on. It isnt about the hard work and commitmant so much. My wife certainly knows all about that. But going from an elderly sweet old lady to a boysterous adolescent dog will probably be a shock to the system! I think in my wifes mind she always wanted another bitch. Beacause he's so big I would probably have to do most of his training to begin with. When Leigh (my wife) crouches down and hes sitting they are the same size!!!

Its been two months since Gemma died and Im just not sure whether my wife particularly is ready to love another dog.... dunno.....

Has anyone been in this situation before? How did it turn out? How soon is too soon? impossible question to answer but other people must have been in this postion before.

There are so many unknowns with Tyson its difficult to know what to do... What makes it worse hes being transferred to another shelter as 3 people have wanted to take him and said hes "too much". I dont think so at all but thats just me.
Very tricky as its a big commitment..... My theory is "its better to regret something you have done than something you havent" but when another being is involved is isnt that simple.

The other thing for me is that my S4 is a saloon (DOH!) so we'd have to cart him around in the A3 or do the unthinkable and get another car...

Bit of a dilemma really... any thoughts?
Cheers.
Mark.

[simple1]

I lost my GSD after 16 years, she had every possible illness at the end and had to be put to sleep. I could not stand the empty house, no barking when somebody came to the door etc.... and used to go for a walk on my own and watch with envy as others walked their dogs.
After three months I had enough and went to a local breeder and found a puupy long haired gs bitch who has now been with me for ten years, you never forget the old dog, but a house with a puppy in it is mad........and does help the healing process
As for a large dog aand a small wife, my other half used a Halti nose collar, left the dog manageable and happy, rather than choking with chain choke.
Go on you know you want to.....

[confusionhunter]

I know, We spend another 3 hours with Tyson on the Sunday and funnily enought I bought a Halti first thing sunday! However we decided it was too soon for us. Going from a geriatric old lady to a boysterous adolenscent weighing 30% more would have made for an active house!
My wife particularly would have been forever comparing him....not really fair. I think she needs a little more time to recover... fantastic animals though...
This is Tyson and my beloved wife with questionable taste in welly boots..... we really wanted to give him a home but we just aint ready for another dog yet.

When Gemma was deteriorating I made her a cart:

And some more pics of Gem when she was fit and able just cos i can..... She too had every diesase under the sun arthritis, CDRM(causes paralysis), Cancer of the pancreas and was deaf with cateracts.... she almost made 15.

[kcsun]

Mark
You only have one life and you know it makes sense ---------- Trade the S4 for a RS4

kc

[confusionhunter]

well.... wrongly or rightly there was a little thought that I could use a large dog as an excuse to do so!! lol....

[s4woody]

i have 3 dogs..1 staff called sox(white feet) and 2 bassets..henry and hector..if ya want pix i can do pix..

[confusionhunter]

Clio looks great! Yeah why not have some pics..... RS246, DOGS SECTION.....

[Paulm]

I have had 2 GSDs over the years. 1 put to sleep due to bad hips, the other long haired white did not like the kids when they came along so she went to a good home. I miss them both as they were cracking dogs.

I now have 2 Jack Russells and I think they are the best dogs ever. They are so quiet until you want to play then they go mad. They do have little man syndrome and think they rule the world but apart from that they are great. NO HAIR to clean up either and plenty room for them in the Avant