Will a German Shepherd Pitbull mix puppy make a good service dog?

Great question! You are absolutely correct that it's about raising the dog correctly. German Shepherds can be excellent, friendly, wonderful family dogs, but you do have to make sure you start training them from the very beginning. They can be very stubborn and do require a lot of training, but if you are committed to socializing it, behavior classes, and being consistent, you can have a wonderful dog. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

This is a great question! Adding a new dog into a household will certainly change the dynamic of things. I would be hesitant bringing any large breed adult dog into a house with a small breed dog without having the dogs meet first. However, since you are considering adopting a puppy, I would have no major hesitation. Each individual dog has a different temperament and reacts to animals, people, and lifestyle changes differently. There is never a guarantee that any housemate dogs will get along as time goes on. Since the puppy would only be able to remember his life with Wilfred, unprovoked attacks seem unlikely. If you go forward with bringing a puppy into your house, make sure Wilfred's lifestyle is relatively uninterrupted. Make sure he has a safe, comfortable space away from the puppy. Be sure to feed them separately - even in a separate room if one is possessive of food. Continue showing Wilfred plenty of love and make sure he has alone time with you.

This may require professional assistance. Have her examined by your veterinarian to rule out medical causes for her behavior. Your veterinarian may dispense medication to help. A certified trainer or veterinary behaviorist should be consulted afterwards to help desensitize or acclimate Misty to other dogs. In severe cases, a combination of medication and behavioral modification is needed to overcome problems.

It is normal for puppies to be a nuisance to older dogs, as they try to mimic the rough-and-tumble play they had with their littermates. It is also normal for the older dog to say "enough is enough . . . leave me alone!" There shouldn't be a problem, and GSDs can certainly get along with small dogs. If you see any signs of true aggression, as opposed to the mock-fighting of play, then it is time to worry. Whether Kal seems aggressive or not, once he is three-four months old, enroll him in a good basic obedience class, so that you can learn to handle him (and he can learn to do as he's told) before he gets too big.

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!

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.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Mike. This can be a hardy breed combination. The biggest problem I tend to see is joint disease (mainly arthritis) due to large size of these dogs. This can occur as the dog ages. Keeping the dog very lean throughout its life will help to protect the joints. The other big issue is that some of these dogs can be aggressive. So I think proper socialization and obedience training starting as pups is important. This helps to form a well adjusted dog. Most of them that j see are very sweet. I hope this information helps!