Which German Shepherd puppy to adopt: 50 days or 7 months old?

I do not recommend to get a puppy that young. Puppies learn needed socialization skills from their mother and littermates. Without it, they can have problems knowing how to communicate appropriately with other dogs and this can cause a lot of problems. The youngest you should ever take a puppy away from it's mother is 8 weeks old. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Pups should not be away from their mother and siblings until at least 8-10weeks of age to ensure they are fully weaned, have received at least one vaccination and have had an appropriate amount of socialisation with their litter mates and mother, early separation increases anxiety and aggression in many cases. HE should be fed a high quality puppy food and fresh water to drink 15-18months to ensure optimal development and to reduce the risk of growth deformities and joint disease. Be sure to deworm him regularly. The age at which he can be left in an outdoor enclosure depends on your local climate - your local vets office would be best placed to advise on local risk factors for both climate, vaccination schedules and parasite prevention (including ticks) - I recommend you call in and have a chat with them before you bring any puppy home

Bruno won't be fully mature physically and emotionally until he is at least 18 months to two years of age. That's because large breed dogs mature slower than the smaller breeds of dogs. But that doesn't mean you can't get a puppy now, and I would recommend having Bruno neutered before getting another dog. Unneutered dogs can and do become very territorial and aggressive when intact dogs enter their home, and that can cause a lot of problems for you to deal with daily. In addition, if you get a female, this can lead to unwanted puppies when she goes into heat. GSDs are a very active breed, and if you have the time and energy to give both dogs all the exercise, attention, and training they need, there is no reason why you can't get another GSD.

Unfortunately, once all permanent teeth have erupted (generally around 6-7 months of age), there is no way to definitively determine a dog's age. The best that you can do is closely examine all teeth for any evidence of tartar or dental staining. While trace amounts of tartar and staining may be present by 18 months of age, more significant tartar accumulation would be highly unlikely. If the seller has any previous vet records or vaccine certificates, these would also help to prove her age. I understand your concern about lifespan as well. As a larger breed, German Shepherds generally live 9-11 years, but in my opinion, the quality of that life and time together is even more important than the quantity. :-)

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You can absolutely have a German Shepherd inside. However, keep in mind that they are high energy dogs so it will be crucial to ensure regular exercise and daily walks. For example, it would be good to at least give him 1 hour of playing/exercise time daily which may include long walks for instance. Generally, when picking up a new pup I just recommend to go with the puppy that appears to be the happiest to see you. Also, it is important to make sure the puppy seems happy and healthy which is why it is recommended to have them evaluated by a veterinarian after picking them up. Good luck! Nothing like a new puppy!

Most dogs do well with a companion in the home. It will take some initial training on your part to get Bruno and a new puppy used to each other. I would recommend not leaving the new pup alone with the older dog until they are used to each other. It is also important to make sure the older dog still gets plenty of attention and exercise when the new puppy comes along. Good luck!

No, 1.5 years old is definitely not too old to be able to train your new dog and establish a routine in your home - I wouldn't worry about this at all :) Adult dogs can be a wonderful choice for adoption, especially if you don't have lots of extra time to deal with housebreaking and socializing a puppy. Dogs can be trained at any age, and generally adapt very well to a new routine and living environment. So if the dog seems like a good fit for you, I would say go for it.