is it dangeous to have a dog! UPDATED!

[maldives]

Hi,
My husband bought a german shepherd puppy yesterday. It's the first time we have a dog around.
Is it dangerous for me as a pregnant woman to have it around??
I have noticed something that it has I guess it's lice! It's like a bug it was black?? is there anything alarming i'm soo worried plz help
Update:
My OH came back from the vet and it turned out this GSD is not pure! we've been cheated by the dealer and tbh it's also our fault as we should've learned more about this breed before getting one.
whats funny is that it turned to be a HE not a SHE
any way I would appreciate any advice on where to get the best breed of GSD , if possible in London , if not it's ok at least we would get a decent one.

 

[keli]

Might be fleas.. small black dots, is the dog itching? Don't think dangerous but you def wanna get it sorted asap. I use frontline on my dog can get from pet stores or vets. xx have fun

 

[muppetmummy]

It won't be dangerous to you during pregnancy, though you should keep an eye on the dog once the baby is born and not leave them alone together. There was good thread in 3rd tri recently about introducing dogs to babies.
You just have to make sure the dog doesn't get jealous and knows the baby is above it in the pecking order.

If the black things are fleas they are harmless health wise but you'd need to treat the dog ASAP as once fleas get in your house they can be a pain to get rid off, they get everywhere!

I think Sherlock is good with dogs, I bet she has some good advice

 

[Misslarue]

aawww how cute! Put some pictures up if you can!

Firstly I would take him to the vets. Make sure he's got all his jabs, worming etc. Get some frontline (from vets) asap. They will tell you if he has fleas if you're not sure. I had fleas with my old cats years ago and they mate very quickly Beofre you know it your house will be infested, not to mention the health implications. Your vet may even do free puppy classes
Also I would really recommend you get him insured. It has saved me a fortune over the years with my lab.

 

[lfc_sarah]

Yeah, as long as you get all the injections for him ect then it should be fine

Fleas or whatever are easily got rid of

 

[Sherlock]

Not usually no. And please don't be offended but I have to ask didn't you consider all the pitfalls, pros and cons beforehand? Research the breed? Find out if it was suitable for your way of life and so on? What it would take to bring a puppy along in time and effort?

Tbh if it were me I'd not have gotten a GSD puppy at 28 weeks PG. Well, your OH should not have. I'd have gone for a more manageable size of breed and also something probably more suited to your lifestyle and requirements.

Puppies are hard work, require toilet trainining, exercising and socialising as well as attending classes to train them properly (guard breeds especially its worthwhile). You cannot neglect any of this with that kind of breed of dog. Its bred for guarding etc so really needs a firm decent hand to bring him/her along. Shutting it outside if it gets too much or not walking it etc would be a recipe for disaster. You also need a calm environment for them as anything tense or so on they will pick up on and it can affect them and how they develop with people and react etc.

Also puppies and small children would be a concern. Not saying a pup or dog would harm your child when it arrives, but GSD are a very loyal type of breed and need careful considerate handling to introduce them to children. They need to know their place in the order of things and a baby can unsettle that as the attention you can give it now will probably be far less once you have your baby here. And also as you reach the latter stages of pregnancy you'll be able to do far less with the dog in terms of handling etc.

As lovely as many GSD are I don't think they are suitable dogs for first time dog owners especially when there is going to be a young child around. Even if your OH has owned one before, you have not. Who is going to be the one to care for it mostly if your OH is out at work? Or is he home to put all the time and effort into it and to continue with it after your child is here.

Another thing with GSD is the hip problem. Its inherant in the breed and it will need to be hip scored when its a bit older. If its not got a decent score you can expect problems aplenty and possible large vets bills for treatment. Hopefully you bought from a reputable breeder who had hip score results for both parents that were within acceptable margins as it at least offers a decent hope that pups will fair ok also.

We recently lost both our dogs and after careful thought decided to get a new one before our baby arrives. However, we felt that a puppy would have been too much to take on now and keep up with once the baby was here so opted to go for a 6 month old Whippet. Whippets are lovely natured, sweet and not aggressive with people. Yes they may chase rabbits, but with people they are lovely. They are also a manageable size for me being pregnant and also when the new baby arrives. I won't be having to deal with pushing a buggy and training a dog to walk to heal and not pull me along with it. We considered other breeds also, and I've owned many dogs in my life from Dobermanns to Gordon Setters, Dachsunds to cross breeds and I like to think I know my breeds and what suits us. So we decided on a Whippet and have to say its been lovely so far. We looked at all the options and our lifestyle and what we felt we could cope with for the next 10 plus years.

There are many great breeds of dog out there far more suitable to be around a young family and that will require far less handling and training and are much more suited to a family life. Getting the wrong dog now will probably mean it'll be in a rehoming centre sometime in the future through no fault of its own. So many people get the wrong kind of dog for their lifestyle and personality its not funny. I find it heartbreaking to see so many GSD, Staffies, Rotties etc in rehoming centres. People get them not realising just what effort they require and when they cannot cope with them pack them off for rehoming.

I'm sorry if this seems like a rant, its not meant to be, just my honest opinion as a dog owner myself. I've seen too many dogs fall by the wayside because people simply didn't realise what they were taking on and it breaks my heart. I really do wish you all the best with your dog but think you should seriously consider everything if you've not already and if you have doubts then return the dog to the breeder asap and go find a breed more suitable for you as a family.

Good luck

*ETA* And yes, I do have experience of GSD. My mother has kept them for many years now and I am used to being around them, handling them and having them in my own home and visiting her house also.

 

[Tatum29]

We have a 14 month old German Shepherd Dog, we brought her home when she was an 8 week old fluffball! My son and her are the best of friends and totally inseperable! Congrats on your pup, GSD's are the best! You should take your pup to the vet for the relevant checks, jabs and treatments - you'll be fine and so will baby!

 

[sarafet]

have to say that i agree with sherlock here.

puppies are A LOT of work and it shouldn't be taken lightly. of course it's lovely to have a puppy and it's cute etc, my oh and i have spoken about getting a dog for the past year, but being honest, we don't have the time and commitment to give a dog just now.

first of all you will need to take him to the vets for a check-up, worming, de-fleaing and jags. health-wise for you, having a dog would be ok i imagine, but i would try my hardest to have him properly trained by the time your little one gets here, it will be hard work though

good luck

 

[Misslarue]

Awww Tatum your dog and boy are so sweet together! My grandad had a GS, he resuced her from a man that used to drink in his pub. He used to whack her over the nose with a newspaper and kick her One day he couldn't pay his tab so my grandad said he would take the dog instead
Growing up me, my brothers and cousins had so much fun with her. She was such a great dog.
I have my own black lab now (rescue dog) her and Dan get on so great. He loves her so much and laughs his head off when we're out at the park and shes running around!! Its so funny. Got to get some nice pictures like yours

 

[maldives]

Hi all,
First of all sorry for my late reply I had to go somewhere just after posting .
Thanks all for ur kind replies. and what a GSD u have Tatum soo cute.
Sherlock I really appreciate ur honesty with me. I am happy to know now that I know someone who knows alot about dogs . well I know I sounded stupid but I knew somehow they aren't dangerous but wanted to make sure, she's going to the vet tomorrow to get checked and I'm sure it's fleas she's got as she keeps itching herself up but do these bugs contagious? I mean will i catch them ?
we will se how things will go with this kind of puppy and if things weren't going as planned we might give it to my nephew as a present.
Thanks alot again for ur replies ladies.

 

[keli]

You can't catch fleas but they do bite plus they can get into your sofa and bedding etc as everyone said best get dog de fleaed asap xx

 

[Sherlock]

Hi all,
First of all sorry for my late reply I had to go somewhere just after posting .
Thanks all for ur kind replies. and what a GSD u have Tatum soo cute.
Sherlock I really appreciate ur honesty with me. I am happy to know now that I know someone who knows alot about dogs . well I know I sounded stupid but I knew somehow they aren't dangerous but wanted to make sure, she's going to the vet tomorrow to get checked and I'm sure it's fleas she's got as she keeps itching herself up but do these bugs contagious? I mean will i catch them ?
we will se how things will go with this kind of puppy and if things weren't going as planned we might give it to my nephew as a present.
Thanks alot again for ur replies ladies.

Chances are it is fleas. And yes you may get bitten by them but if you are clean they won't live on your or your clothes. They will however get into your carpets, hide there and lay eggs etc and return to your dog. They won't harm you other than a flea bite. A simple treatment bought from the vets can help clear those up on the dog (unless she has a flea allergy and you will require more treatment for her). I do wonder what kind of breeder you got her from though. If she is flea infested etc its not a good sign at such a young age. Decent breeders keep good conditions for their dogs and flea infested puppies would/should be treated before being sold and allowed to take home. Please tell me she has a pedigree and is Kennel Club registered at least?

May I suggest again if things don't go as planned you return the dog to the breeder or hand to the GSD rescue as passing it on to someone else as a present is IMHO asking for trouble unless that person themselves is knowledgeable with the breed and has time and energy to invest in this dog for the rest of its life (10 years or so). And they are able to afford the vets bills etc for it also in that time. Plus the feed costs. I think in some ways its very unfair you've bought a dog and would then consider passing it on so easily in this way. This is what I mean about researching first and finding the best breed/dog for you *before* bringing it home. They are living things and it distresses them if they are moved around, passed on and so on. Yes they will settle in a new home after a while but its not the dogs fault its been passed on is it? And each move may cause it to develop habits or be treated differently from before so its personality will also change. As to that being for better or worse, who is to say. It will depend on the owner and how much effort they put into taking care of the dog.

I really recommened returning it to the breeder or to a proper rehoming centre where it will be found a home with someone who is checked and who understands what kind of dog they are taking on should you deicde to not keep it. And if you are going to do this, then do so within the next few weeks before it has a chance to get too attached to you.

My mothers most recent GSD is a rescue and she was a bag of nerves when my mother got her as a 2 year old. Its been three years and the dog is still incredibly hard work and nervous but is a long way from the dog of 3 years ago. She has never hurt anyone but her fear makes her seem aggessive if you don't know her. But my mother made the choice to bring her home and will not part with her for any reason as she made that choice and was aware (although due to the times the dog had been rehomed some of her problems did not come to light at the rescue centre, only later when she was at home with my parents) of what she was taking on. She also has poor hips and while they are not so bad, they will later in life cause her lots of problems and vets bills.

Please please do the right thing by the dog sooner rather than later if you are not going to be able to cope with it, train it and continue with this and more once the baby is here. GSD rescue will always take them on, as will rescue centres.

 

[Jade&Evie]

sorry but I don't think I'd be very happy with a dog as a present (then again I don't get presents at all so maybe I'm just being an ungrateful bitch! )

where did you get the puppy from? I thought that nowdays you had to have home checks and all kinds before you were allowed to take the dog home

Pets aren't just for Xmas- my mum had to feed me and look after me til I was about 15 and did it all myself.... her cat lived to 21 before he died so she was looking after him a lot longer than me! Plus there's no NHS for pets so I'd get pet insurance- there can't be anything worse than having to have your animal put to sleep because you can't afford the vets bill.

 

[muppetmummy]

I agree, giving the dog away as a present would be a mistake!
I would be furious if someone bought James a dog, that I'd have to walk, insure, pay for flea and worming treatments, feed, and would prevent me from going on holiday unless I could either find someone to look after it, or pay a fortune in kennel costs.

My OH would love a dog but I've always said no cos I know we'd get fed up with having to walk it 2 or 3 times a day in the dark, rain, snow etc.

I think maybe returning the dog to the breeder might be for the best. IMO puppies are harder work than a baby cos it's a lot more of a hassle cleaning up the poo and mess of an animal than it is your own flesh and blood

 

[Penstraze]

I agree with all sherlock has said and I think you should really take on board her advice as she certainly sounds like she knows what she is talking about. A dog should never be an impulse buy or randomly given as a present but especially at such an important time when your pregnant and your life is going to change so dramtically already!

I have a 2 year old Toller (Nova scotia duck tolling retriever - is a rare breed) I spent months researching breeds before getting him and choose one that I felt best suited my lifestyle, but I wasn't planning to get pregnant yet and had hoped he would be older and perhaps a little calmer before we decided to start a family, they are a high energy breed.
I am very concerned about how he will be when baby comes along and am getting advice from a good Toller behaviourist and my trainer/behaviourist to ensure I do everything right to prepair him from this big change, and this is a dog I know very well have trained for 2 years to a high level - we do free style (doggie dancing)

I would be extreamly worried about the level of training and care a puppy needs at this stage in your pregnancy, Im not trying to have a go whats done is done but as Sherlock says you need to have a big talk with your partner and a long think if you have the time or more importantly he has the time to do all the training walking etc with this pup when you are going to be too busy with baby, also the added cost of vets bills food and insurance and if the answer is no now really is the best time to rehome this pup whilst he is still likely to get a good home and the training and time it needs to develop into a well adjusted family pet!

 

[Tatum29]

As a German Shepherd Dog owner myself, I have to agree with all the advice you've been given - this breed needs proper handling and training and should not be passed from pillar to post.

This was Rena when we got her at 8 weeks old -

...this is her today at almost 15 months (pics taken yesterday with my son after school) -

There was a LOT of hard work done during this time, I cannot stress that enough...to grow into the gentle giant you see in my pics, takes a lot of knowledge, consistency, training (the list goes on) on the part of the handler(s). I can't imagine being able to achieve what we have, if she had come at the same time as a new baby! It would have been too much to take on, my son was already FIVE when we got her!

Good luck, they are a stunning family dog in the right hands - Rena is my son's best friend!!

 

[floppit]

I just wanted to echo what Sherlock has said about giving away the puppy as a present.

Right now we're facing horrible dilemas with our little dog who might not be safe around the baby. He was rehomed 4 times before he was six months old (and BEFORE he came to me). By the time he wound up with me it was because I had already cared for a couple of lost causes and that's what he was labelled. Numerous dog trainers later in 'some' respects I agree the damage that was done can't be put right but he has had a loving home for the last 11 years and in other respects has improved.

What's done is done but please do everything within your power to ensure the next home is either specialist enough to get the right home for the puppy first time or a definate permanent home.

I don't think it would be right to rehome our little dog - largely 'cos his problems are really still around his constant changes in his early life. We've all lived with them for the last 11 years and even more than a decade later they still might cost him his life. I've coped with his eating various sofas etc (we did manage to sort that problem), what's hard is knowing the distress inside him that lies beneath what he was doing. You can't unhurt a dog and I think constant moves in puppyhood is as hurtful to them as violence or neglect. That's just my opinion.

 

[Sherlock]

Tatum, your dog sounds and looks lovely. And you've really been able to put the time and effort in to bringing her up, training her etc. I do agree with you that a new puppy and a new baby are going to be extremely hard work together. Hence my expressing all my concerns in my earlier posts.

A new baby will take priority over a puppy, its only natural and I then feel sorry for the pup as its not fair on the dog. Its done nothing wrong.

 

[Geordie&Bairn]

no you'll be ok
Both my little niece and Nephew have bee around dogs since conceprion and both our cute bouncing lovely sweeties (cna so see the proud Auntie )
I was around my parents dogs over xmas and i was fine as in it didnt harm the baby
apart from i happen to be allergic to animal fur (happend in later life was fine when younger )

its cats litter you have to worry about and animal poo

so you should be fine hun

 

[Tatum29]

Tatum, your dog sounds and looks lovely. And you've really been able to put the time and effort in to bringing her up, training her etc. I do agree with you that a new puppy and a new baby are going to be extremely hard work together. Hence my expressing all my concerns in my earlier posts.

A new baby will take priority over a puppy, its only natural and I then feel sorry for the pup as its not fair on the dog. Its done nothing wrong.

You made some really relevant points in your responses to the original poster, I agree with you. We had the time, resources and knowledge to give our GSD what it needed and she's grown into a fantastic dog - it could be so different for someone who doesn't have that kind of time to devote to them, particularly a large breed like GSD, but any dog really. I highly doubt she'd be the dog she is now, if our time had been divided between her and a newborn baby - that would prove to be a very demanding juggling act that I wouldn't recommend to anyone, let alone a first time dog owner.