Would you advise for or against this...

[gruntygiggles]

So, you know someone who recently rehomed an 18 month old crossbreed...part pitbul, part staffie, possibly something else as well. Male, due to be neutered end of the month. Very playful, friendly dog, no aggression shown yet in any situation.

This person now wants to rehome a 4 year old male (neutered) Alsatian with unknown history.

There are two adults and two children in the house. Both adults have had dogs before and are good with them, firm when needed.

Your votes and thoughts please.

[Bibio]

maybe its a cash thing or they just dont have enough time as of late to look after them.

either way they are being responsible adults trying to find the dogs a good home, instead of taking them to the pound or even worse a lamppost.

[Swin]

I think I'd start with the "always muzzle" option and keep a careful eye on how the pair interact for a few months, and then make a decision on a longer term future

[gruntygiggles]

No Bibio, they are not trying to get rid of the dogs....they took the first dog from the local shelter and are now thinking about taking the Alsatian home as well. Nothing to do with cash or time....they are taking the dgs on, not giving them away.

[Bibio]

sound of...... penny..... drop.... lol

[gruntygiggles]

sound of...... penny..... drop.... lol

;)

[the_lone_wolf]

How old are the kids? Old enough to break up a Pitbull/Staff - GSD fight? Or at least old enough not to get in the firing line?

Very careful supervision needed if the kids are young, as in constant - If the kids are mature enough to know not to jab a dog with a biro and recognise when the dog is saying enough then perhaps no muzzle required

But as with most things, without seeing the family and the dogs in question it's almost impossible to be definitive...

[gruntygiggles]

Kids are 8 and 11, good but forgetful as kids usually are...lol.

[missyburd]

Both of the last two options I think. Always supervise, not necessarily muzzling though as it would be difficult to gauge the dogs' reactions when muzzles come into play as they tend to change a dog's behaviour (i.e. more subdued) and you want to see how they act normally. Children shouldn't be left unsupervised anyway - depending on ages of course - it's so easy for a child to wind a dog up the wrong way and hence provoke the wrong type of response when an adult's back is turned...

And yes if you're willing to put the work in. We rehomed a 3 year old Alsatian, he's been an absolute diamond but I think if we tried to get another dog in it would have been a completely different story. We didn't know any history and it could have gone rather interestingly if he hadn't have settled in so well from the word go :)

These people are doing a fantastic thing but they must face the consequences and realise it may not be easy. On the plus side it could go great and the dogs take to each other but unfortunately that is a rare occurrence! Especially with the breeds concerned...

[ophic]

depends on the dogs and the owners. Interesting combo though - GSD will think it's dominant, being bigger, and will get a shock.

[Stig]

So, you know someone who recently rehomed an 18 month old crossbreed...part pitbul, part staffie, possibly something else as well. Male, due to be neutered end of the month. Very playful, friendly dog, no aggression shown yet in any situation.

This person now wants to rehome a 4 year old male (neutered) Alsatian with unknown history.

There are two adults and two children in the house. Both adults have had dogs before and are good with them, firm when needed.

Your votes and thoughts please.

I wouldn't have even considered having such a dog in a family with children. The crossbreed I mean.

[the_lone_wolf]

Kids are 8 and 11, good but forgetful as kids usually are...lol.
Hmm, dunno then

Depends on too many variables that I don't know

But something in me doesn't sit well with a 8yo living with a GSD with no history

The other dog may not show any problems now, but the addition of a second, older, bigger dog could alter the situation...

[gruntygiggles]

I wouldn't have even considered having such a dog in a family with children. The crossbreed I mean.


You noticed I added the "yet" as I personally will never trust any dog 100%.

[gruntygiggles]

Hmm, dunno then

Depends on too many variables that I don't know

But something in me doesn't sit well with a 8yo living with a GSD with no history

The other dog may not show any problems now, but the addition of a second, older, bigger dog could alter the situation...

That's the reason for the Poll.

Both dogs alone could be loevly family family pets. They could together too, but my gut instinct is that putting these two dogs together in a house with lots going on could make one or both dogs want to take the leadership position and that's when things can start to go wrong.

But I know the family and know they won't be stupid.

[RavenWire]

I think that they should take their current dog to meet the prospective dog, see how they get on for half an hour or so - will give them an idea of what they are like together. Being males they could have disagreements from time to time, but as long as someone in the family is established as the "top dog" then they should be able to intervene should anything happen.

We've got 2 dogs (Husky and a Malamute) and they get on fine - I know the temperaments are different to most dogs but they know that I'm the boss and as soon as they hear me 99% of the time I get their attention. They are very strong willed but not aggressive so it can be a pain in the backside to get them to do something. In 2.5 years together they've only ever had one disagreement, and it wasn't particularly bad. The Malamute (Shadow) had a done marrow that she was chewing and the Husky (Kia) was sniffing around it a bit to much so she got a nip on the bridge of her nose. It did sound much worse because we heard Shadow snap and Kia scream like a banshee (Shadow was 10 months and Kia 4 months)

Anyway (I'm easily sidetracked :p) get the dogs together and see how they are. One may evn submit to the other which will make things easier

[Jabba]

Where's the "Get a poodle instead" option?

I'm going to vote "recipe for disaster" because of the age of the kids. Would be tough without kids anyway.

[Bluefish]

The question is, is it worth risking it? only they can answer that, i voted no.

[gruntygiggles]

They've decided against it. Nothing wrong with the dog, but was much bigger than he remembered.

Thanks for input guys, none of this was going to be relayed back, I just wondered what others opinions were.

[TazDaz]

I know you've already said what the outcome was, but I'd just like to say that I don't see how a "rule of thumb" could really be applied in this situation. Going on breed alone isn't enough to condemn the dogs to definitely be bad natured if put together imho!

[gruntygiggles]

I know you've already said what the outcome was, but I'd just like to say that I don't see how a "rule of thumb" could really be applied in this situation. Going on breed alone isn't enough to condemn the dogs to definitely be bad natured if put together imho!

There is no rule of thumb evident here as far I'm aware, ust asking for what people thoughts were.

I have four dogs, all different breeds, from puppy and rescue and there is the occasional disagreement, but all get on the majority of the time. I am a big believer in breed NOT being a factor in what a dog is predisposed to do as I said a few posts up.

[missyburd]

Going on breed alone isn't enough to condemn the dogs to definitely be bad natured if put together imho!
Although I have to agree I'd also have to say that you are far more likely to get friction in a household when the dogs are GSDs or staffies than you are say, Labradors.

[barwel1992]

the i have and had GS and both were fine with kids, my one now if a sloppy bugger and the one before was very territorial and would attack if some one broke in, but would protect me from day one when i came home from the hospital.

now the cross breed god knows, my GF has one and he has a very bad temper hes a pointer/staffy/#### (he's gone for me on more than one occasion) he's also untrainable and uncontrollable not to be left alone with kids....

[dizzyblonde]

Although I have to agree I'd also have to say that you are far more likely to get friction in a household when the dogs are GSDs or staffies than you are say, Labradors.


Come on Maria, thats **** n bull as far as Staffs are concerned...what we got here, Staff X and Terrier X, who is the bully, and who is the one we've had to constantly work with and carefully supervise over the years. We've had bloodbath after bloodbath in the early years, and it was never the Staff X that provoked it, it was always the other. Very scary but perseverance was necessary as I have a child in the house.

Its not the Staff is it, its the other. SO unfortunately you can't really go on that particular stereotype.
Can't comment on German Shepherds, as I've never owned one.

[missyburd]

Come on Maria, thats **** n bull as far as Staffs are concerned...what we got here, Staff X and Terrier X, who is the bully, and who is the one we've had to constantly work with and carefully supervise over the years. We've had bloodbath after bloodbath in the early years, and it was never the Staff X that provoked it, it was always the other. Very scary but perseverance was necessary as I have a child in the house.

Its not the Staff is it, its the other. SO unfortunately you can't really go on that particular stereotype.
Can't comment on German Shepherds, as I've never owned one.

It was never the Staff that provoked it no but at times you've had some god awful fights. I never tarred all dogs of one breed with the same brush, obviously every one acts differently depending on environment and history. What I am saying is, is it or is it not more likely for breeds such as Staff and GSDs to have issues with dominance and territory? I never brought your dogs into it did I and besides which, yours are crossbreeds which is all the more harder to "predict" the behaviour of.

[missyburd]

I get what you're saying Lou but I've lived with a GSD and yes, he is an absolute softie in the house and around ducks and rabbits but that means nothing. I know what he is capable of and if I had a kid I would be constantly on the alert.

[dizzyblonde]

It was never the Staff that provoked it no but at times you've had some god awful fights. I never tarred all dogs of one breed with the same brush, obviously every one acts differently depending on environment and history. What I am saying is, is it or is it not more likely for breeds such as Staff and GSDs to have issues with dominance and territory? I never brought your dogs into it did I and besides which, yours are crossbreeds which is all the more harder to "predict" the behaviour of.


I was just using it as an example hun, wasn't meant to sound so harsh, as it relevant seeing as though the OP is asking about homing a cross breed pit/staff etc with German shepherd type cross.
Its not more likely for breeds such as Staffs to have issues with territory etc than any other type dog, at the end of the day unfortunately it is the stereotypical chav that has made these types of breeds into one that willl always have a basis of suspicion over it. I've known many people who have had both pure breed Staffs and crosses that are perfect doggie mannered pets, who have lived in multi pet children household, and as a breed usually are prompted as good with kids, but not these days because of stupid people who shouldn't have dogs.
All dogs should be treat with respect and nurtured to how you wish them to be within your family. I am rather sceptical about what issues come with a dog if its been passed from pillar to post because......
Unfortunately Honeybun came with things already planted in her head at 2 years old, a lot which we've never got rid of, aggression and territory hugging but to name a few, as opposed to Bob 'wimpy wuss' Staff X who we've had since 12 weeks, who we've worked with to suit us. I would have said I've always trusted her around many children, as shes always been a marvellous example in nurseries and schools, but not in a field full of dogs or cats. As you know shes got older and the scales are turning that I couldn't trust her with anything in her old age, so have to make a serious decision now :-(

[gruntygiggles]

Never a nice thing to have to decide upon Lou :-(

The GSD in the OP is a purebreed, registered pure white and apprently stunning. The dog they have now is a real softie, just wants to play, but is very pushy, jumps up all the time and is only young, so not knowing what his early experiences are, there's no way of knowing how he will turn out as he gets older.

I'm glad they decided against it because as it should be, the kids have to come first and I think this mix would have needed a lot of careful watching and work.

[missyburd]

Well I hope the GSD is rehomed to somebody equally as caring as your friends, would LOVE a white rescue GSD! One day.

[gruntygiggles]

So do I. They're beautiful dogs. People might remember the giant of one that belonged to the landlords of the pub at the AR08. It was stunning and huge...lol

[Milky Bar Kid]

I voted no and like Stig, I am in the camp of not having any pitbull cross in a house with children. A pitbull is a Section 1 dog for a reason, they are dangerous dogs, bred to fight.

If the dog was a staffie, then I don't really see an issue as Saffies can be incredibly loving and affectionate little dogs, who, if disciplined and trained in the right manner, are no issue or threat.

If it was a household such as yours GG, then I would maybe say to do what you did with Stig n Holl, and see how they get on, but because they have kids, its a whoooooole different ball game.

[gruntygiggles]

I voted no and like Stig, I am in the camp of not having any pitbull cross in a house with children. A pitbull is a Section 1 dog for a reason, they are dangerous dogs, bred to fight.

If the dog was a staffie, then I don't really see an issue as Saffies can be incredibly loving and affectionate little dogs, who, if disciplined and trained in the right manner, are no issue or threat.

If it was a household such as yours GG, then I would maybe say to do what you did with Stig n Holl, and see how they get on, but because they have kids, its a whoooooole different ball game.

We've already started to get our lot used to not having attention when they want it and to be shut away at times. It's not their house, it's ours and when friends bring their dogs over, we never leave them alone unattended. Our lot come out for a while, then the guest dog will come out for a while. It works and means that when we eventually have our own children, the dogs will already be used to not having all the attention.

It's done wonders for them already.

[the_runt69]

If you want to have both dogs would say
!: make sure they know the kids are above them in the food chain
2: keep your kids away when the the dogs are being fed and if any any snarling bad behaviour at feeding time take the food away until dogs calm down and realise that they will only get fed when You allow it to be the norm

[-Ralph-]

I can't say much about the OP having never owned either breed of dog, but then TBH I'm not sure breed really has as much to do with it as many might think. To me the unknown history would be more of an issue than the breed. 25% nature, 75% nurture and all that.

I can definitely say that you are no less likely to have dominance issues with Labradors. It may be the case that those dominance issues manifest themselves in a less violent way, and in a way that is more acceptable to humans that are not aware of pack mentality.

My labrador will start a fight with another dog regularly, by jumping over the other dog's shoulders and growling around the neck or ears. He has challenged my wife with a snap or a show of the teeth on a few occasions when she has had reason to discipline him, but only ever when I wasn't around. He has only ever been protective towards my son, and they are the best of friends, but is this because the dog sees the child as a pack leader or a lesser pack member? I don't 100% trust him with my child, not to one day snap at him out of jealousy or in an attempt to get ahead in the pack.

I always have to put the family first before the dog, they are greeted to first when I come in from work, we eat before him, etc, etc. Anyone who has met the dog on here will testify that he knows his place, but keeping him there is something we have to be conscious of constantly. Let it slip for a week and he will start taking the p1ss and testing his boundaries. Even if he has had a lot of attention for one day, then after that he will try and get in between me and my son whenever I am paying my son attention and he needs put back in his place. He is a very dominant character.

[Lozzo]

I wouldn't put either of those dogs in a home where there were kids.

[gruntygiggles]

Interesting.

I'm not yet convinced that the dog they have is going to be fine. Stig, our Collie was fine right up til he was about 2 and then her started getting unpredictable. It happened before I got Hollie (the collie cross). She has made Stig worse only because she is a very unbalanced dog, she is actually brain damaged so no amount of rehab will sort her out completely. Because she is so unbalanced, Stig always wants to step up into the leadership role.
Hollie won't allow him to. She, being a rescue has been mollycoddled by all the temporary homes she has had and so thinks that she is top dog. Stig is a dog and a slightly nervous one at that, so they always try and get above each other in the ranking. It's only gone to a fight twice with them and nothing nasty, just a quick scrap, no real damamge and that's dogs. The two puppies are great.

So, in relation to what Ralph has said, I agree completely that the history of the dog is more important than the breed. We've got it here. 1 dog that was treated a bit to harshly by my ex and loved a bit too much by me is now sometimes nervous and defensive. One that was used as bait for fighting dogs and constantly mollycoddled now sees herself more as a human member of the house than a dog and the brain damage shown itself in some bizarre ways, most of which are centred around target fixation. The puppies have been well supervised, well loved, well disciplined and at 2 years old now, are a joy around everyone.

So, time will tell as to wether the dog they have now will turn out ok. In my experience, which extends far beyond our own dogs, it takes time for issues to come to the surface.

[ophic]

I voted no and like Stig, I am in the camp of not having any pitbull cross in a house with children. A pitbull is a Section 1 dog for a reason, they are dangerous dogs, bred to fight.

If the dog was a staffie, then I don't really see an issue as Saffies can be incredibly loving and affectionate little dogs, who, if disciplined and trained in the right manner, are no issue or threat.

If it was a household such as yours GG, then I would maybe say to do what you did with Stig n Holl, and see how they get on, but because they have kids, its a whoooooole different ball game.
Not a whole lot of difference between Pit Bulls and Staffies. Both are considered to be "pit bull type" dogs and both have been used and bred for dog fighting.

[gruntygiggles]

Not a whole lot of difference between Pit Bulls and Staffies. Both are considered to be "pit bull type" dogs and both have been used and bred for dog fighting.

I think the reason people have less fear of Staffies now is that so many are now homed as pets and not for the purpose for which they were bred.

Pit Bulls, Staffies, Bull Terriers, Bull Dogs, Doberman, Rottweilers, GSDs, Akitas and so on and so on are all breeds that in my mind are only more dangerous because the damage they can do when they are triggered is far far worse than more passive breeds. I don't believe they are more likely to be triggered in the first place.

A child pokes a collie in the worng place, the child will more than likely get a good nip and the collie will growl another warning or run away.

Poke a Lab in the wrong place and about the same will happen. Same for almost all passive breeds.

Poke a Jack Russell (exception of ours...lol) and a nasty little bite or a few will follow. It was two JRT's that killed a toddler a couple of years ago...ripped the boy apart.

Poke a fighting breed or guarding breed and when the trigger is pulled, those are dogs that are far more likely to do a lot more damage in a much shorter amount of time. They are dogs more likely to go from being perfectly nice to a full on attack with what most humans would see as no provocation.

Truth is, there is almost always provocation, sometimes it builds for a while and the difficulty for humans is that we look at the triggers through our eyes, not dogs eyes, so we'll never know what all the triggers are.

All above is just my opinion though.

[dizzyblonde]

We've already started to get our lot used to not having attention when they want it and to be shut away at times. It's not their house, it's ours and when friends bring their dogs over, we never leave them alone unattended. Our lot come out for a while, then the guest dog will come out for a while. It works and means that when we eventually have our own children, the dogs will already be used to not having all the attention.

It's done wonders for them already.

We have always done this to ours. Dogs have to have their own space, and know when ours isn't theirs to be in. It shows to them who is boss, and who gets the last say, rather than the other way around. It also helps as I have a tiny house, in which Bob looks like a giant! We lock them away when people come round too, as natural people will greet a dog first. Unless of course its those who they know regular like the Yorkies, as they know what is expected, and usually a small pat then push away comes from them. The dogs bugger off for a wee while then come back after a while for big hugs.

I think the reason people have less fear of Staffies now is that so many are now homed as pets and not for the purpose for which they were bred.

Pit Bulls, Staffies, Bull Terriers, Bull Dogs, Doberman, Rottweilers, GSDs, Akitas and so on and so on are all breeds that in my mind are only more dangerous because the damage they can do when they are triggered is far far worse than more passive breeds. I don't believe they are more likely to be triggered in the first place.

A child pokes a collie in the worng place, the child will more than likely get a good nip and the collie will growl another warning or run away.

Poke a Lab in the wrong place and about the same will happen. Same for almost all passive breeds.

Poke a Jack Russell (exception of ours...lol) and a nasty little bite or a few will follow. It was two JRT's that killed a toddler a couple of years ago...ripped the boy apart.

Poke a fighting breed or guarding breed and when the trigger is pulled, those are dogs that are far more likely to do a lot more damage in a much shorter amount of time. They are dogs more likely to go from being perfectly nice to a full on attack with what most humans would see as no provocation.

Truth is, there is almost always provocation, sometimes it builds for a while and the difficulty for humans is that we look at the triggers through our eyes, not dogs eyes, so we'll never know what all the triggers are.

All above is just my opinion though.

Thats where the nurture thing comes in, its fair to say its much more difficult to reprogramme a dog that has come from somewhere else. Luckily Bob was from puppy and hes such a wuss anyway that he mooches off in a corner if hes given unwanted attention. He hasn't got a nasty bone in his body...hes such a poof, hes afraid of the brush on the vac, bin bags, umbrellas, rocks that are stood on gateposts(yeh thats funny) and he generally gets used as a horse by my son. He has all three cats sticking their claws in his nose, and the youngest being Tibbles plays with him, and can have both teeth and claws embedded in his snout, to which Bob just lets him, its an odd sight to see being cat and dog, but thats his nature.
Honey has always been the mummy sort, and is very much terrier rather than lurcher, and has been my sons best friend for years. BUT as said before has issues. We used to feed her first for a long time whilst trying to establish Bobs place in the pecking order, but we had to go for reverse pyschology eventually as she was so viscious towards Bob. Once she starts on him she refuses to give up, naturally Bob will defend himself and get backed into a corner, but he will cause damage to her badly, but you get him away from her and he cowers away, she still is launching herself. Luckily we haven't had this for around two years now...which ties in with Bob maturing to adult.
Unfortunately Honey is going blind rapidly, her hearing makes up for it, but if shes fast asleep as Tibbles found last week, he crept up for a sniff, and she launched herself at him all teeth bared for a fight, cornered him in the kitchen and shot down the garden in high chase. In the next two months I have to make the decision that shes past her childminding best, and can't be trusted with a new arrival, which is very very heart wrenching.

[missyburd]

Pit Bulls, Staffies, Bull Terriers, Bull Dogs, Doberman, Rottweilers, GSDs, Akitas and so on and so on are all breeds that in my mind are only more dangerous because the damage they can do when they are triggered is far far worse than more passive breeds. I don't believe they are more likely to be triggered in the first place.

.
What I was getting at but far better put :D

Ralph, I merely picked Labs as an example of a breed that is rarely mentioned when it comes to violence issues. YC's lab is a darling and in his whole life has only expressed violent tendencies twice, not bad for a 16year old! I wasn't ruling out the act of dominance at all, every dog will do its best to get to the top of the pack given half a chance! But some breeds are less likely to push it. Everyone handles their pets differently and as a result there will be differing levels of dominance expressed in different households.

[gruntygiggles]

It all comes down to a trust thing. Personally, I would just never ever trust any dog with any child, end of. My sisters collie got backed into a corner by my niece, a dog that, "loves her, he'd never hurt a fly" as my sister said many times. He did a typical collie thing and just nipped...only he missed her eye by less than an inch.

You can never ever say that any dog is perfectly trustworthy with children....if you do, IMO, you need a reality check. You might get lucky, hopefully will, but because dogs can't talk, you never know how they are feeling. The nicest dog in the world might run into a fence post when you're not looking. Kid then pulls the hair in the spot that hurts and before you know it, the dog has retaliated.

When that toddler was killed. He was put in a crib or playpen while the grandmother went to the kitchen to make a drink. Within a minute, the two Jack Russells, both of whom had grown up around, playing with and being perfectly well behaved around children had jumped onto the toddler and mauled him. The grandmother was in the next room, said she ran in as soon as she first heard the screams, but they stopped by the time she got there. She think it was all over within a minute but it was too late for the toddler.

That's two dogs, mature but not old that had never ever shown any aggression or bad behaviour. Somthing in them clicked that day. A baby getting all of the attention, a threat to "their" pack....whatever, the whole family were just shocked at the fact that these dogs were "perfect with kids".

You just never know.

[Quiff Wichard]

it's a dog aint it.. Nope..

[gruntygiggles]

it's a dog aint it.. Nope..


Thanks for the input Stiffy my dear ;-)

[dizzyblonde]

That's two dogs, mature but not old that had never ever shown any aggression or bad behaviour. Somthing in them clicked that day. A baby getting all of the attention, a threat to "their" pack....whatever, the whole family were just shocked at the fact that these dogs were "perfect with kids".

You just never know.

Quite, which is why we're making the decision over Honey over the next few months.
Of course Bob is the harmless doofus of the house, but, hes with a child that came first, and such he knows that Dylan is high up in the pecking order, in fact the dogs are so aware sometimes they take more notice of him ordering them around than me!
We will be taking action and changing things to accomodate a new arrival, as you say you can't predict what the doofus will think to a new addition. Hopefully he'll be the same as having Tibbles arrive after him, but you have to judge every aspect entirely differently.
Honey has to be taken out of the equation, as shes got to the stage where shes an unpredictable old bird that will be even harder to evaluate, even with her track record with children.
A lot of people just don't think how on the ball you have to be with dogs, they just think they'll be fine. Those who who work hard with their dogs can mostly evaluate how they will behave, even down to how their mood is today.
Simplest thing to start off is the use of a baby gate, puts a barrier up straight away and gives the signal, 'this is not your room', unless of course they can polevault over like my two:rolleyes:

Its obvious that me and GG are very careful and work with our multipet households, and are very concious of what goes on in doggy brains sometimes, unfortunately most people aren't. I certainly wouldn't go in with the thought of 'oh it'll be fine, they're great with kids' etc. As GG says you just never quite know, no matter how much you seem to know your dog.

[gruntygiggles]

Quite, which is why we're making the decision over Honey over the next few months.
Of course Bob is the harmless doofus of the house, but, hes with a child that came first, and such he knows that Dylan is high up in the pecking order, in fact the dogs are so aware sometimes they take more notice of him ordering them around than me!
We will be taking action and changing things to accomodate a new arrival, as you say you can't predict what the doofus will think to a new addition. Hopefully he'll be the same as having Tibbles arrive after him, but you have to judge every aspect entirely differently.
Honey has to be taken out of the equation, as shes got to the stage where shes an unpredictable old bird that will be even harder to evaluate, even with her track record with children.
A lot of people just don't think how on the ball you have to be with dogs, they just think they'll be fine. Those who who work hard with their dogs can mostly evaluate how they will behave, even down to how their mood is today.
Simplest thing to start off is the use of a baby gate, puts a barrier up straight away and gives the signal, 'this is not your room', unless of course they can polevault over like my two:rolleyes:

Its obvious that me and GG are very careful and work with our multipet households, and are very concious of what goes on in doggy brains sometimes, unfortunately most people aren't. I certainly wouldn't go in with the thought of 'oh it'll be fine, they're great with kids' etc. As GG says you just never quite know, no matter how much you seem to know your dog.

I know Von Teese would have some wise words in this thread as well.

I don't envy you the decision you have coming up Lou, so big hugs to you.
We'll never stop working with our lot. We can't. Hollie is far too unbalanced. I know if she wasn't here that the effect on the other dogs would be huge and very positive, but I took her on to give her a permanent home and she's gone from being a dog that couldn't be around other dogs without wanting to kill them, to a dog that lives with three others. She still has her issues and I know full well that if another dog didn't back off from her growls and curled lip warnings...she would eventually just have them...but because Dan and I know that, we do our best to never let that situation arise.

I said to the OP that with unknown histories, both male, both nuetered late and both fighting/guarding breed backgrounds that if something were to trigger them, they could do a lot of harm to each other or the kids, other people. Didn't tell them not to get the GSD, just that there was more to think about and I'm glad I did as they hadn't fully considered these things. They are good dog handlers though, deal with our four perfectly when they are here and they are doing a great jb with the dog they have.

[ophic]

Of course Bob is the harmless doofus of the house
just like my house then :smt033

very concious of what goes on in doggy brains sometimes, unfortunately most people aren't.
in our case... notalot :rolleyes:

[gruntygiggles]

in our case... notalot :rolleyes:

Haha, this is where I think breed does have an influence...lol.

The collies and the Jack Russell never miss a thing. Alwats switched on, especially the collies.
The Lab/rottie cross, well....she realises things have happened about 5 minutes after the event! :rolleyes:

[dizzyblonde]

just like my house then :smt033


in our case... notalot :rolleyes:


I think our two dogs actually might share the same brain cell:p
Bobs such a soft git, he won't go anywhere near his bed when Tibbles is asleep in it, he just stands and stares whimpering in hope the cat will move!
Hes so stupid that if the babygate has shut slightly he looks at you like an idiot and Honey sighs and rolls her eyes, then puts her paw through the gap and goes to bed..only then does the penny drop for Bob.

[trumpet]

You can't advise till you know kids and dogs.neighbors staffy played with my collie stright away an took to a new rescued alsation .