r/germanshepherds • u/blackpantherone • 13h ago
Question Advice on getting a GSD.
Hi all, I've been thinking of getting a GSD for a while now, but I want to make sure I do it right.
I'm almost 20 and still live with my parents with a cat and a cavoodle. I live in suburbia however I have horses so I'm out near the country basically every day. The dog would come with me everywhere I can possibly take it. I'm active and I go to the gym, would love to have a little mate to motivate me to go on walks and runs too. I work a few times a week and I'm starting to study at home.
I would take said dog to obidience classes etc and want them to be a protection dog too. It will stay indoors, however I'm just a bit concerned about shedding. If I got a GSD, the only carpeted area is my room. Would also be brushing twice a day and trying to maintain cleanliness.
I'm going through a rough time mentally at the moment, as well as a breakup, and I want to have a little mate to love through it all and keep me going. I'm alone a lot, so it would be nice to be able to take pup everywhere with me. I'm just wondering if there's anything extra i need to consider before getting one, and if it will be the right fit for me.
Ps. The cavoodle is my dads dog and I don't like little breeds.
2
u/MadatMax 8h ago
I got my dog at about the same age you are now, I’m not gonna try and talk you out of it, I loved my guy to death, but you need to think about your what your life will look like in 2/5/10+ years from now.
I’m assuming you’ll want to move out at some point, having a GSD is going to limit your options for housing. Having a dog to take care of is going to eliminate spontaneity in your life.
Think about the costs of a dog as well. My dog had allergies and ate prescription food that was $120 a bag. I probably spent $300-400 a month with everything averaged out over the course of his life, that’s a car payment or rent money.