The question is....should we get a buddy to keep Mac company? If so should we get another GSD or will that cause problems? I'm thinking a female since he's a boy...but would love to hear what y'all think.
Should we let him settle completely? or is sooner better?
How do people with multiple GSD's find it?

Let him get settled first Alex & Claire. You need to establish his position in YOUR pack before adding another dimension. When he is secure in the knowledge that you are head honcho and respects your position then consider adding another dog then. At this early stage, 3-4 days you have not given him time to settle in. He is also only a puppy with still some puppy issues/development to go through. Soon he will be cutting those final back teeth of his and you could have some major chewing episodes for a bit. I definitely would not advise adding another dog at this time. Wait and see how his temperament develops as he matures, if he is dominant you make sure you don't get another dominant dog, one more submissive who is happy to bow down to a dominant dog - nothing worse than having two dominant fur bodies in the home. If you have not had multiple dogs before certainly go with the thoughts of opposite sex. Being pack animals they have their own pecking order structure, 90% of the time two males can be like two blokes in a shed and two females can be like two women in the kitchen however with a opposite sex harmony is more likely to rule.

I have two strong personality dogs who are great company for each other. The down sides are...

1/ Rivalry and Jealousy
2/ if you are tired and sore you have to choose which one to walk , and the other will pack the sulks.
3/ You never know who has eaten your shoes
4/ you never know who 'sprayed' your dvd rack
5/ and just who slept in your clothes basket
6/ and which one ate your bicycle
7/ at the doggie bathhouse , they fret for each other and whine when out of each others site- then bite the hot chick when you have your back turned to comfort the other one.
8/ double the dumpage to clean up
9/ double the hair to vaccum
10/ Twice the fleas, Vet Bills, and Smiles!!

Sean, you certainly have a way of putting things. I on the other hand have
No rivalry or jealousy
If I am tired I take them all down to the training area and kick balls around (no smart jokes on that one)
My shoes don't get eaten - only the couch
No spraying
They don't fit in my clothes basket
Don't have a bike
I take them one at a time to the dog bath
Bite - goodness me no... Hogan holds hands with his mouth though but definitely no biting.
3 times the dumpage
have a good vacumme that deals with the dog hair x 3
Fleas !!! what are they
Vet bills - you don't want to know about them

Smiles - you betcha.

I have 12-year-old Chloe (Boxer) and 5-year-old Dudley (#511). Chloe rules! Dudley gives up his "indestructable ball" to her and licks her face - both signs of submission.
1. No rivalry or jealousy (unless Dudley is inadvertently between Chloe and some tiny speck of food on the floor that only a Boxer would notice)
2. Both go on walks together - sometimes with a pushchair as well - yes, I am nuts! Yes, it is very hard work, especially when we encounter another dog off the leash!
3. Eating shoes? Not so far - only a whole 800-900 g of liver treats
4. & 8. Spraying inside? Dudley wouldn't dream of it - unfortunately, have had a few dumps, though - mostly when he's a bit loose from a change in diet - especially the liver treats - black diarrhoea (3 pools of it) not good look for a study/dogs' bedroom
5. No clothes basket, but Heidi's tent is fun to sleep in - two culprits do that!
6. Bicycle not been touched by humans or dogs for far too long
7. Doggie bath-house? Weiti River is good! (in summer, of course). Shower box as last resort in winter.
8. As above - that's hubbie's job, so I don't mind! (got to give him something to do!)
9. Chloe doesn't shed her fur, so only one lot of fur
10. Flea treatment does cost. So far, not too many Vet bills.
...and smiles - every time I see my beautiful fuzzy-faces!

All that said, we won't be getting another dog when Chloe crosses the Rainbow Bridge (dare I say it, even). Walks would be much easier with just one dog and all the food and flea and worm treatment bills need to be considered. But we said we wouldn't get another dog after Jack (elderly Boxer) crossed the Rainbow Bridge - that lasted 7 months before Dudley gave me no option but to adopt him - and that's exactly what happened - I wasn't looking to adopt and I was quite happy just keeping an eye on this website and relishing all the success stories...and then Dudley captured my heart and the rest is history...

You'll know when the time is right!

Alison, Dudley & Chloe-pig

Denise I love it how you say that Hogan holds hands with his mouth, Brick does exactly that he really gently mouths my right arm when I get home from work.

It worries me that one day he is going to scare someone if he does it to a stranger.

I bet you all agree though that the smiles way out weigh the 10 points before that.

My girls make me smile every day

Hi there,

We have waited a while but are now at the point of getting "Bruce" our 16 mnoth old GSD a friend !!! We are off to Australia in October so are waiting until after that and also for "muddy season" being over first. So come early November we are hoping to have a little puppy join our family - female of course !!!! Bruce is so friendly and just LOVES other dogs and playing and I just know he will be over the moon when it happens ...... Don't know how "over the moon" our 11.5 year old cat will be though !!!! Can't wait although I know it will be total chaos for a while.

Bruce has also got a bad hip score and we were having a bit of turmoil over that but since his x-rays etc at 1 yr old he has been really good and hardly needs any medication. Just had his yearly check-up and vaccinations not long ago and vet called him a "magnificent looking boy" and said if he was not showing any signs of stiffness etc... through the winter then that is really good. He is in great shape and health.

That's great news! Personally though, having my little Shelby with "completely stuffed' hips (vet's words) and diagnosed at 1 year old, I'd be inclined to give Bruce supplements now. Shelby will be 8 in December - clinically her hips at totally shot. But I started her on natural products the week she was diagnosed and she's as fit and happy as any other dog. Her impact exercise is very limited though - I won't let either of them jump or run hard etc. - worth thinking about preparing Bruce for his later years.

Hi, our 11 year old gsd has had hip dysplasia since puppy, with arthritis developing over the years. we've only treated him naturally all these years (acupuncture, supplements, herbs, homeopathy, energy healing, swimming, etc.), but recently his legs have become very weak and he has trouble getting up. he had to stop swimming due to yeast on skin from chlorine, so we're looking for something else that might help him, other than NSAId which the vet says we need to give him now. In may Banas wrote that he tried Arthro-Ionx and that it seemed to be working. Could you let me know how well it worked, if it did continue to show good results. Any ideas welcome.