First of all.....WHAT DID I GET MYSELF INTO????

I have always had German Shepherds and one of these little clowns showed up at my kids school the other week as one of the auction prizes for the schools fund raiser. Well I went home pulled up a bunch of websites and information about the breed and decided hey they sound like a smart...active...family dog that is smaller and less furry than a german shepherd.

Well as of last saturday Minnie has entered our family...named Minnie because one of her patches looks like the Mickey Mouse ears and head...make sense...it did to our kids...4(girl)and 6(boy...the boy cried when he realized he had a new puppy and carries her every where and even does the potty training when home). We won the auction and got her...free hunting training...free bird hunt...free spay if we want and probally will...all for $725.

We had a couple accidents in the house the first day but nothing since. She steals a shoe every once in awhile, but other wise just a smart a$$ puppy being a puppy. I plan on joining the local kennel club just for the social and training aspects of it and the nice indoor facility for when it is to cold to be outside...she gets cold quick.

Well yesterday I find this site and see all the horror stories...someone please reassure me that this only 10% of the dogs!! I am looking for a smart...non-goofy family dog that won't destoy the house. I seen that one owners love seat and thought...oh my did I screw up??!

Sorry so long and for mistakes, but there is a puppy on my lap taking a nap!

Anyone in the Green Bay ready for a puppy play date??

First of all WELCOME!  I'm in Milwaukee area.  But we have placed some GSPs in your area.

I want to scream everytime I hear of a "raffle" dog.  People who end up with the prize, generally have no clue what they are getting into.  And here you are.  If you need anything, please contact me.

Welcome Elmo and Minnie!

I am not as experienced as most on this list but I would recommend crate training right away.  When we leave the house Benelli goes into her crate or she goes into her run outside when it is nice.  She has not been destructive yet well, unless you can call shredding paper and toilet paper destructive.  She can shred a roll of toilet paper in a minute or less.  These are the most loveable dogs that you can have!  Dont shy away.  She will steal your heart!

Post pics when you get a chance!

GSPs are great family dogs.  As flygirl said crate training is a life saver.  Also, make sure your pup gets lot's of exercise and trained for obedience.  GSPs have the most problems when they are left to their own devices.  They are incredibly smart and creative as you saw with the sofa, but if they have a job like obedience, running, biking, hunting, etc, and are properly exercised they do fine.  Gardens on the other hand often suffer when they are puppies.  So, if you have a nice yard and don't want holes in it, then put your pup in a run.  Also, they can be escape artists so you need a good fence that they can't go over or an electronic fence.  GSPs love to be with their people more than anything on earth and are often referred to as velcro dogs because they love to be touching you, and they thrive on love and attention.

I have two females, Belle who is 5, Halo who is 3, and my 5 month old male, Ringo. I can't imagine owning any other breed. 

PS - You can start obedience training now, just keep it short and fun.

Oh, and post pictures.

  >>>>>>>       Well yesterday I find this site and see all the horror stories<<<<<<<<

Oh my you must have MIS READ some of the posts...HORROR STORIES ???????????????

nay nay nay....just regular GSP stories....and as much as WE like to brag about our GSP's being superior.......a PUPPY is a PUPPY...no matter how it LOOKS....they all require commitment,discipline,patience and LOVE

Renee'

PS....did ya get a look at the famous COUCH yet ?

Minnie is 9 weeks old and currently just ran in here and got on my lap.

I am not horribly worried....hell if I went by my one website one of the motorcycles I own should never make it past the end of the driveway, but 20,000 miles later not as much as a hiccup.

And yes I did see the couch....that is when I was wondering if the other website info was a little off.

The kids do a good job of wearing her out.

Elmo,

What cuties!!! 

As for the items running by you, we have the same issue.  I just tell Benelli not yours and then I calmly go get it from her.  She knows and drops it when I tell her that it isn't hers.  If my girls ages 10, 9, and 8 see her with something they tend to run after her to get it then she thinks it is a game. 

Adorable, all three.  My 5 month old boy, Ringo, is a little thief.  Socks, underwear, shoes and his favorite, magazines.  They usually go right to his big bed, so when I am missing something I look there.

All of my other dogs were crate trained for about the first year up until my last one...she was a great dog, but never had enough trust to try leaving her out when I was gone.

I am a Stay at Home Dad, so the crate time is minimal.