Dog training & general questions when selecting a dog

Question
QUESTION: Hi Charlotte,
We (family of 4, kids are 9 and 12, hubby works in the house, I'm a homemaker & kids are homeschooled) are looking into adopting a lovely german shephard mix and I'm very nervous & excited.  I've only had cats & currently have 2.   I have already briefly spoken to the foster parents of the dog we are looking at and have already typed up 2 pages of questions for them but I was wondering if you know of a great list of questions for potential dog owners that I could readily access to be sure I cover all the right bases.

Also, I saw one of your sponsors listed (TheDogSystem.com), and they offer an audio training tape for about $48.  Is this a good way to "touch on" some good dog-training ideas in preparation for acquiring this dog?  Or do you recommend another way for a "dog newbie" to prepare for a dog's arrival & future success?  (I'm VERY interested in having a well-behaved dog if at all possible because I think they are happiest and so are their people :) I know of 'some' dog training concepts already from watching & listening to my very responsible sister who owns an "Alpha-dog wannabe" golden retriever but I 'know' there's so much more for us to learn and I want to get off on the right foot as much as possible.  Thanks very much, Michelle N.  p.s. I've already established this dog is not interested in cats and is not the alpha-dog type so this is looking very promising for us newbies so far :)
ANSWER: Hi Michelle;
I an not familiar with The Dog system, so I don't know what their training methods are.
I DO NOT give food for rewards!!!
Tell you what, look at raising a dog as a mamber of the family as just like raising the children.
That is the way I have raised all my pets all my life.
I even call myself mommy to them.
I spoil them rottren with love, just like I did my children, but I DON'T spoil them to being undiscliplined little brats.
they are taught what I want from them, and they know if they misbehave the will be scolded, and if they do something really bad, like foghting, they will go to time out.
Just like children, they would rather be beaten than lectured.
Mine live in the house, so they are expected to behave like civilized animals, not like wild indians.
Dogs are easier to raise than children, because they don't outgrow a wardrobe every few months, they WILL listen to you, when they are trained, and they never sak to borrow the car.
Children learn more from raising animals than from anything.
They learn first hand, unconditioned love, understanding and patience, and loyalty.
I always has a dog or cat in bed with me, when I was a child, so I never though of monsters in the closet, and my children didn't, because they had protection in the bed with them.
They didn't need a blanket or stugffed animal for security, because they had a real live, warm snuggly in bed with them.
As with children training is the key.
Petsmart and Petvo stores have weekend obedience classes.
I recommend thos, because I know how most of their trainers teach.
I disagree that dogs don't understand you.
Just like when you move to a foreign country and don't speak the language, after hearing for a time, you start to pick it up.
When you start to train, use the same words for a command everytime. As the dog lives with you, and really knows what is expected iof them, you can vary the things you say a little, and they will know what you mean.
I have used the Tellington-Touch method of animal massage for years as a training tool, for pain relief and a lot of things.
Go to this site and read about the massages and what can be done with them, and I recommend you order a video to learn to do the massages.
It only takes a few minutes to massage for fears, aggression, lots of things, and a German shepherd is likely to have some Arthritis problems etc as they get older.
You can get a great deal of pain relief with a massage, without meds.
Go to this site, and read about it, and you can order a video from there.

   www.lindatellington-jones.com

Go by a Petsmart or Petco store on a weekend when they are having a class, and watch how they train there.
Even Alpha dog types are very easily trained to keep their place in a family of dogs.
I have 4 dogs, one is a little Lhasa that would LOVE to be ruler of the world. He has spent more time in time out, that all the others put together.LOL
I personally think German shepherds are the greatest. My oldest child was a German shepherd, and she was 8 months old when I found out I was pregnant with my first.
She took such good care of me, and when they children were born, she would actually stand on her hind legs and watch me bath etc them, to make sure I was doing it right.
She watched over them like a mother hen. She was one fabulous lady, and that was her name.
The ones we have now were all rescues I took to foster, and couldn't part with. They anr NOT mutts!!!!
We don't use that term to downgrade a person's heritage.
They are purebred Curbstone Setters.LOl
The Sheltie is full blood, but they others' fathers were traveling men.
Go to this site, there is a oot of infoprmation about dogs care. health concerns etc.      www.dogage.com
I have read quite a bit in that site, and it is some very credible information.
It sounds like this may be an older dog ( full grown) and may have already had some training from the fosters.
I wouldn't recommend an audio training tape.
Seeing how to actually do the moves when you give a command, would be much better.
I have never watched their video, so I don't know frankly if it is a good way of training, or a bunch of bunk.
There is not one exact way to do most of it, but there are some books and tapes etc that I have come across, that would only lead to BIG problems, and/or, they are sooo extreme.
Anyone can write a book, but that doesn't mean they know a thing about what they are saying.
The foster family that has had this dog for a few weeks can tell you more than any other source.
That is what we do, keep them in our homes, and see what their faults or pluses are, and how much more training they have had.
Main thing, relax.
It is not difficult.
Like a newborn baby, any temnsions you have, the dog will pick up on.
I would go watch some session of classes at Petsmart or Petco.
I think that will tell you a lot more than an audio tape will.
Meantime, if you have any questions, write me anytime.
Charlotte

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks so much Charlotte,
I got a kick out of your name for the mix-breed dogs (Curbstone Setters) LOL  Yes, this shephard mix is an adult already (they believe he's 2-3 years old).  He's already got some great training from what I could see and they emphasized that he would need some sort of work daily to keep him from getting bored & mischievious, as well as playtime & walking.  With 4 of us humans at home I think we'll keep him pretty busy once he's settled in.  I will be sure to check out the dog information on the website dogage.com that you mentioned, and you'll be happy to know I already ordered the programs for the t-touch massage methods (for my cats and future dog :)  It sounds wonderful!  I also like your suggestion to watch training at PetSmart, I'll definitely do that. Thanks very much :D Michelle N.

Answer
Hi Michelle;
I disagree that German Shepherds need more occupying.
They make good apartment dogs, because they are so easy to train not to bark unnecessarily, and they will get the exercise they need, if they have to just walk round and round a coffee table.
Some good chew toys, like Kong toys or Nyla Bones to help exercise the jaw muscles and satisfying the need to gnaw.
My Gwerman shepherd was a female, and she was to start my German shepherd kennel. She had a really royal bloodline, but had to have an emergency histerectomy after she came into her second season early, to save her life.
She substituted my mother-henning me and my children.
She actually taught my second child to put her toys in the toy box.
I had no luck getting her to do it, but they both minded Lady better than they minded me. Lady made her pick up a toy and take it to the toy box, took it out of her hand and dropped it in, took her bact to get another.
I had been trying for weeks to get Terri to do that, and the little stink just ignored me. It took Lady to days to get her to pick up her toys when she was finished with them, and put them away.
Ldy always put her toys in the toy box after she finished with them.
Maybe that is whay she never got into mischief, she was too busy taking care of me and the children. LOl
Charlotte