Possibly looking for a German Shepherd to adopt

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tRidiot

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Prefer full or "mostly" full blood. Papers aren't a big deal, trainability is. Behavior is the major factor - personality, etc. We'll do some formal training, too, but being housebroken and crate trained already is a YUUUUUUUUGE plus.

We have a pair of cats, too, so that is a factor. Must be able to get along. If you know of a young(ish) dog that is well-behaved and looking for a new home and is a good candidate to be a mostly-indoor companion for a teenage boy, let me know. Son's birthday is next weekend, this is the occasion. Do not want to deal with a dog that is wild and crazy and out of control and jumps on you all the time, etc. i.e., 6 month-old labs need not apply! lol Those creatures are insane!

We're in NE OK, so I don't want to travel to Lawton, really.

Not interested in pit or rott mixes, no offense, don't want to have the arguments, etc., it's just not a road we are going to go down.

<edit> Oh, and we prefer shorter hair to longer.
 

RVCooper

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The local German shepherd rescue group was in a pet supply store a couple weeks ago. They had a couple of gorgeous dogs with them. They shouldn't be too hard to find on the web. This was in Tulsa.
 

tRidiot

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Yes, I am making some contacts online, as well. Currently texting about a 12-week old female in B.A. But who knows how that will turn out. Just putting some feelers out there. We visited both the SPCA and ARF rescue here in Bartlesville yesterday, neither had anything suitable for us in what we were looking for.
 

JD8

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German Shepard Rescue of Tulsa and Oklahoma German Shepard Rescue.

Might wanna hit up @Annie ? I thought she had Giant German Shepards?
 

tRidiot

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I've talked with her about it in the past. She has some connections, but also alot of really EXPENSIVE shepherds out there... we aren't going to pay $1500+ for a dog, so that rules out alot of the breeders.

We don't mind paying a "rehoming fee", but I'm also not going to pay a ton for it. I've seen people asking hundreds of dollars in "rehoming fees" for dogs that are half breeds and such. I just don't get that, it's just opportunism, really. Not up my alley. There are plenty of mixed animals we can get from the Humane Society for a reasonable fee.
 

montesa

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I've talked with her about it in the past. She has some connections, but also alot of really EXPENSIVE shepherds out there... we aren't going to pay $1500+ for a dog, so that rules out alot of the breeders.

We don't mind paying a "rehoming fee", but I'm also not going to pay a ton for it. I've seen people asking hundreds of dollars in "rehoming fees" for dogs that are half breeds and such. I just don't get that, it's just opportunism, really. Not up my alley. There are plenty of mixed animals we can get from the Humane Society for a reasonable fee.


I held this same opinion at one time. I’ve rescued and rehomed quite a few dogs over the years and the costs add up quickly. Between treatment they may need, food, collar, spay or neuter, flea and tick medication and heartworm medication, it adds up. The Humane Society is funded by donations, grants and volunteers to help animals. They incur much larger costs than the fee to adopt represents. I do agree that some people will just get a stray dog and try to “rehome” for a fee for selfish gain but it’s not always the case. Also, mixed dogs often have less inherited diseases or conditions, so that’s something to consider.
 

inactive

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There's several (GSD mix) at the Tulsa shelter presently:

http://petharbor.com/detail.asp?ID=...s=20&shelterlist='TLSA'&atype=&where=type_DOG

http://petharbor.com/detail.asp?ID=...s=20&shelterlist='TLSA'&atype=&where=type_DOG

http://petharbor.com/detail.asp?ID=...s=20&shelterlist='TLSA'&atype=&where=type_DOG

http://petharbor.com/detail.asp?ID=...s=20&shelterlist='TLSA'&atype=&where=type_DOG (this one looks YOUNG, maybe mixed with Doberman?)

http://petharbor.com/detail.asp?ID=...s=20&shelterlist='TLSA'&atype=&where=type_DOG

http://petharbor.com/detail.asp?ID=...s=20&shelterlist='TLSA'&atype=&where=type_DOG

http://petharbor.com/detail.asp?ID=...s=20&shelterlist='TLSA'&atype=&where=type_DOG (okay this is an older Belgian sheepdog but he looks handsome!)

I stopped at like page 3. There's TONS of GSD mix right now.

We've had fine luck with city/county rescues. Some of these are older, but lots of 1 year old and younger in there. Personally we've done that because of the prohibitive costs and background checks other rescues/fosters/etc charge.
 

Parks 788

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OP seems to have a fair amount of wants/needs for the German Shepard they want. I don't blame them. With this you may need to pay more to make sure you are getting a dog/puppies from a breeder or family that meets all your needs. If I have a specific temperament that I want in a specific dog I would gladly pay more for the "right dog". You used $1500 as a number. $100/year is not a lot of money to get the dog you want. Check these guys out.

In Sand Springs.
https://austerlitzshepherds.com/available-dogs/
 

Perplexed

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I held this same opinion at one time. I’ve rescued and rehomed quite a few dogs over the years and the costs add up quickly. Between treatment they may need, food, collar, spay or neuter, flea and tick medication and heartworm medication, it adds up. The Humane Society is funded by donations, grants and volunteers to help animals. They incur much larger costs than the fee to adopt represents. I do agree that some people will just get a stray dog and try to “rehome” for a fee for selfish gain but it’s not always the case. Also, mixed dogs often have less inherited diseases or conditions, so that’s something to consider.

This is Todd’s GF.
First, the majority of rescues work off of emotional manipulation, they garner lots in donations and usually have a host of “fosters” that negate any incurred costs to the rescue. They get the fosters to foot the bills, vets to give reduced or free services and bulk costs on medications.
The huge misnomer about mutts being a less genetic mess is based off a flawed study from over 30 years ago. UCDavis conducted a study a few years back and based off those numbers LABS held the highest number of genetic issues with hip dysphasia and then hemangiosarcoma being the second runner up. The next in line was, in fact, mixed breed dogs where lab was the predominant breed based on phenotype.
An interesting finding was that people who owned purebred dogs were more likely to shell out a lot more in vet care than were mixed breed owners. Another interesting fact from this study was that mixed breed dogs were 60% more likely to be brought into a clinic due to being struck by a car. Does that mean mixed breeds are more prone to running into traffic? Or is it the attitude of the owner?
Purebred dogs will have genetic health testing, OFA performed on all breeding stock and generally will use those dogs in the manner their breeding necessitates. That means hunting breeds are being used in the field, herders are herding goats, sheep and cattle. There is a cost to all of this and heritage breeders put any profit back into their programs.
The cost of a purebred dog is saved over the life of that animal being free from defects. This is where getting to know your breeder and your breed of choice comes in. The breeder will choose the puppy that best fits your lifestyle and if they feel their program doesn’t fit those needs, they will guide you to someone who does. Breeders want the best life for that puppy just as much as you want a healthy, well adjusted and socialized puppy.

For the original question. Shepherds can be very intense dogs, if you are stuck on that then find a breeder and inquire about older dogs or one that just may not fit their program or goals. They will know their dogs best. If you don’t care, then I would go through a shelter that allows a certain leeway about trying out a new dog in your household. And not just getting that dog out the door with no responsibility after the sell. An aged dog may fit your needs the best, based on what your criteria states. I do know of a dog, a shepherd/Aussie looking mix that needs a home. Unfortunately I don’t know the history of the dog as it was at a local restaurant south of Joplin mo. He does seem friendly and the rescue I work with is paying for vet care and neuter.
 

Annie

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I can't remember if we talked about age and temperment in GSDs or not but you will NOT find a GSD under 5 yr with the temperment you've laid out here. They are, like a lot of dogs, basically puppies for the first 5 and start mellowing at 5 and beyond.

Nero is 10, going on 11 and is GREATLY mellow with people and kids and cats. Let him get with another dog that is younger ... Or one that wants to rough house and it's like having a damned rodeo bull inside STILL ...

Good luck to you! I hope you find the Boy a dog. They are fantastic companions.
 

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