www.vetsurgerycentral.com/growth_plate.htm

Our 11 mos old pup (who is a sweet lovable dufus type, not a hardcore GOTTA GO kinda GSP) is already up to roading (in a harness, in front of a UTV - which is important because this is far faster than any human can run) for 3 miles. So, my piece of advice:

Every dog is different. Work your way up over many days and weeks. Watch for signs that feet are getting shredded or joints are sore. If no soreness is apparent, keep going and let the dog tell you what he/she wants to do. Don't assume that because a dog is still a pup that it can't handle quite a bit.

Jean

Just got bad news  .  Puppies born yesterday -- all in good health - which is good, but 6 girls and 3 boys...  I was #4 to place a deposit -- the other 3 want boys too.  I'm so depressed I can't stand it.  Losing my best frined last fall and now this -- I'm done with dog ownership. 

pvstks - Don't get down because you missed the cut on puppies. I was in the same boat when I got Halo. I had lost my best friend (my cocker spaniel) to kidney failure and although I had Belle, she was more my husbands' dog. I had put a deposit down wanting a male and there were only 2 in the litter, and they were spoken for. My breeder eventually talked me into taking a girl and I am so glad I did as she is momma's girl, but I still did not have my boy. At least, not until last July when I finally got Ringo. That too was a waiting game and I almost didn't get him. My husband was battling cancer, but it was in remission when we decided to add our male pup. My breeder was going to breed Halo's mom. Well to make a long story short, it didn't take and everyone was disappointed. The next time the mom was about to come in season the breeder contacted me and I said I still wanted a male pup and she gave me pick. So, I put the deposit down and the waiting game began. The pups were born and white boy was it from day one. That is when the other shoe fell and we found out my husbands cancer was back and the prognosis was terminal. At that point I was going to call my breeder and tell her I couldn't take the pup. My wonderful husband wouldn't let me do that as he said I would need that special boy. He was right, and I got my momma's boy, Ringo, at a time when I really needed him. He saved me during the dark times with his playful puppy exuberance, but he also was the happiest puppy I had ever seen (still is).

Anyway, my message is everything happens for the best and the really special things are worth waiting for. It was not the right time or the right dog for you. (Sounds like a bunch of cliches, but they are true.) So, hang in there and keep looking for your next heart dog. He is out there waiting for you to find him, and when you do you will know it, and it will be perfect.

PS - I ended up with three heart dogs: Belle (my rock, perfect girl, and alpha), Halo (momma's lovey girl), and the boy I always wanted and took me 3 years to get, my happy go lucky Ringo (momma's lovey boy).

I'm sorry it didn't work out for you.  But, I think it is because the dog you are meant to have is out there or soon to be out there.  Don't give up!!!  Life is so much better with a loving dog in it!!!

Bev, armyma & Tessa,

Thanks so much for your support!!!!  Right now my head hurts - I have so many thoughts and emotions going around...  I don't know what to think.  I really like the breeder, the stud is one of the best dogs I've ever seen, but I've never owned a female dog (I've had 5 +4 of my father's).  The options are this:  2 of the male dogs are definately gone, the one person ahead of me on the deposits "prefers" a male, but wants to wait a few weeks to see the personalities.  That's a dilemma, though -- if he does decide to take a female, do I get stuck with the "worst" male???  Would I have been better off taking the best female which I could have right now if I want???  I have no idea what to do with a female dog (I know that sounds stupid).  AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!

Everyone has preferences, I have always preferred females, although it would be nice to have a male and a female. But I only have time and resources for one.

This is what I would do: stay in touch with the breeder, go see the litter, maybe at different stages, talk to the breeder, find out what he sees in the pups. Be open to a female. See what the breeder thinks male vs female. If your gut instinct still says male, or you just don't like any of the females, hold off on it. Don't get too desperate.

A friend of mine has always had male dogs and got his first female a few years ago, and he says he digs the "female vibe".

Go visit with the pups and take a long hard look at the females and the one remaining male.  Let your heart and head guide you, but take the dog you like best regardless of sex.  If that is the male, then you wait patiently.  If it is the female, then you are done and problem solved. 

I was just the opposite from you, I had not had a male dog since I was a small child.  Now that I have both male and female, there really is very little difference.  These are to some degree generalities and there are exceptions, but I would say the females calm down and mature faster than the males.  They are also easier to train at a younger age (maturity playing a big factor here).  Females also do not appear to be as bull headed as the males (meaning my females do not test my authority nearly as much as my boy does).  I have also heard and observed that the males tend to bond more with the human females in the family and the females tend to bond more with the human males in the family.  Again, there are exceptions to the above, but some food for thought.

I would also put a heavy emphasis on what the breeder thinks is the best dog for you as the breeder knows their lines better than anyone.  My breeder strongly ecouraged me to take Halo.  She told me she thought Halo was the best dog in that particular litter.  I now have to agree having seen many of her brothers and sisters as adults.

Good luck in your decision and keep us posted.

Also, each sex, male of female, can produce outstanding or crappy dogs when it comes to performance.

I was at a NAVHDA testing day, and that little 44-lbs black GSP female took the cake that day. Although I loved her from the get-go, to some she may not have looked at all like what she had in her. The guys said she was the smallest of the litter. She got a standing ovation from the judges.

Well, it's not actually that bad -- just that some people who had placed deposits definately wanted males -- others wanted females.

You won't regret it whether you get a male or a female.  These are great dogs.