Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My husband and I live in an apartment because he's in the Navy.
We currently have a miniature pinscher and are looking into getting a GSD.

Can they handle apartment life?
And how are they with small dogs???

Thanks!

>>My husband and I live in an apartment because he's in the Navy.
>>We currently have a miniature pinscher and are looking into getting a GSD.
>>
>>Can they handle apartment life?
>>And how are they with small dogs???
>>
>>Thanks!

>>>>>>>>>>

That's a huge size difference, which means accidental injuries from broken bones to death are a risk, even if the GSD is totally friendly with the little dog. The little dog here is a terrier, though, and may not be friendly with a GSD. That means if they were the same sex, you could wind up with a killing fight, and you know which would be killed.

As far as apartment life, remember this is a training breed. A German Shepherd is not a dog to have if you are not going to get very serious about dog training, and stay that way for the life of a dog. A serious dog trainer could handle a GSD anywhere. But you have to decide how serious you are about dog training.

You also need to figure out how likely it is that you would have to give up the dog for a move. GSDs do not rehome very well. They suffer greatly from separation anxiety. If you are not sure you can take care of the dog for 10-15 years, that is not a good breed choice.

I recently wrote an article that gives an overview of German Shepherds for an educational site. You can read it at the link below my signature.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

I was 5 months pregnant and lived in a tiny 1 bedroom apt. I was in a bad neighborhood. I got 2 GSD's from the rescue (for 400$!!!!) after the apt, i moved to a duplex, i lived htere for 2 months and went on vacation one weekend, came home and THE FENCE AROUND THE BACK YARD WAS GONE!!! they didnt seem to mind. my son was born in spetember, we moved into a house last febuary and they now have a yard... they stay inside on the bed 80 % of the time. I think they can be good apt. dogs, mine were. we went out of our way to get them a big yard and they dont want to go out if its too hot, too cold, windy, raining, snowing, or anything else other than perfect 70 degrees. as far as other dogs, my mom has 2 basset hounds and we often have to babysit when she goes out of town or she babysits when we go out, we've never had a problem. we have 3 big dogs total. the 3rd is a wolf/husky mix. (not good apt dogs, she stays outside in the rain...*moron*) we've never had more than a cut ear and that was on MY DOG!!. most people will say no, dont do that, they need more room, but my own experience is that, so long as you go outside and play with them ever-so often, they do just fine. my dogs aren't fat they arent skinny, when we go play with them, we wear out before them. we had a puppy and an adult dog so we had both ends of the spectrum for energy levels. one was 9months when we got her, the other was 6 or 7 years. now they're 1 1/2 and around 7 or 8. ones currently laying under my feet, being used as a wonderful footstool, the other is snoring on the bed. its raining so they wont even step foot out the door to potty.
beth