I'm almost 100% sure I'll be getting a German Shepherd or Shepherd mix from a Rescue! I've got my husband and son (age 12) sold on the idea. The only one who won't be sold is my teenage daughter.

I'm going to be searching for a dog 3 years old or older, who does well with cats, kids, and other dogs.

I live in a small town, with lots of kids running by the house all the time, so I want to be extra careful not to upset or scare anybody.

Our house is about 10 feet away from the neighbor's house, and we have a 40-foot-long fenced-in area between the two houses. Nobody ever goes into the fenced-in area. I've heard Shepherds can jump fences so, in addition to the fence, I'm going to install a dog run.

I have a 12-year-old son, 15-year-old daughter, a cat, and a large (47 lb) male Sheltie. Should I get a female GSD?

Any more suggestions on how I can make this a success???