Hi! I'm new here! :)

[mdraper]

Our puppy was born last night! This will be my first gsd but my husband had many growing up , I've been wanting one forever but we waited till dh was out of the army to get one so the dog would have plenty of room to grow and not have to be in a little yard. We will wait a few weeks before picking "our" dog out of the liter but I'm so excited! Any tips for me? Oh, we have 3 other dogs ( 2 older small mutts and a year old heeler/lab mix) I think my biggest worry is how the dogs will get along , hopefully it won't be an issue tho!

[NancSBRN]

First Welcome to the group.

Most Shepherds will get along with other dogs in the family, we have had full grown shepherd intact males accept a nutty beagle pup as if he was their own PET. Now that said not all dog will want some of the attention a shepherd pup may want to give them.

How old will your pup be when you get to bring it home. I assume you had a deposit down on a litter correct?  I hope the breeder is a good one who lets them go at 10 or even 12 weeks when it is the best time for them to leave. Do not bring it home before 8 weeks for sure. There are so many things a Shepherd puppy needs to learn from mom and siblings that getting one to early can be a disaster.

Ask the breeder to get them use to a crate I start getting my pups use to crate at 6 weeks so by the time I send them home at 10 they normally will sleep through the night in one, but you at least want them comfortable in a crate it will make housebreaking so much easier.

Since you have smaller dogs you will want to let them lead the way as for as sorting out things with the pups.  I let my older dogs lead the way, I do watch my older males around the pup as they can be jealous especially with my male pups. I also if I have a more rowdy pup that is older I do not let a very young pup play with them as Shepherds can play pretty hard and shove each other into walls and funature. One a Shepherd pup can hold their own pretty well in play. Are your other dogs male or female?

Never allow the puppy to get to pushy with the older dogs, normaly they will respect which ever dog is the main dog in the pack when they are smaller but can get pushy later on.

I would pick a pup that is middle of the road not the first one to approach especially if it is barking and stiff legged. This is no doubt a very dominate and confident pup. Also avoid the one that hides and you have to dig out from under a bench. A good breeder will deterimine at about 7 weeks by testing which dogs are best for a family, which dogs may go into sport homes, and which dogs they may keep for a while and work on before they are ready to go. Ask if they do testing!!!  

Look at each dog individually also, often the pups will show you more personality if you first meet them together with no more then 3 then  take each one invidually and see which one seem to connect is friendly and outgoing and not to dominate. If you looking for a protection type dog there is miles of difference in personality to a Sport dog. Most German Shepherds could make a  good protection dogs but often what people like in a sport dog is an insane drive and most families do not want this. 

Good luck and I am happy to help with question all I learned about puppies I have learned from my mentor and My Female Mother dogs about GSD Puppies :)  I let her raise them natually meaning she weans them I never take her away from them totally until they leave home she decided when they quit nursing even though they are started at  4 weeks on supplemental feedings :)

Cheers,

Nanc