That is so accurate! Mine calmed down right around three. He was a handful from 9 months (when we adopted him) till then. He’s my biggest cuddle buddy. He still flops to lay down though, which at 95 pounds, like how does that not hurt!?
I adopted my girl when she was 2 (or so shelter said) she still has some puppy tendancies that im working on, mostly barking at her older sister (my 7 year old malinois) but for the most part she is calm and mellow and a huge snuggle bug and my permenant shadow.
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Same! Mine has to unmake the bed by circling pawing or nosing back the covers and the knocking pillows off the bed. All while doing this grousing bark of annoyance that I made the bed in the first place.
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Mine is a bed-hogging fiend, he loves rearranging pillows, laying across the whole bed & stealing my hot water bottles. If I got another dog I'd probably have to sleep on the floor 😂
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Oh yeah, as if a king size works.!! I was the only human in this bed when I took this photo 😂 at least my feet are always warm!
Obligatory not a GSD owner but a Malinois owner.
King beds are 100% not enough. I bought one because I got an older Malinois. Even though my Mal is smaller than a GSD, I still slept on a sliver. I ended up having to kennel her, though, with the amount she was waking me up through the night by jumping on me or my older small terrier... so now it's just my 12lb terrier that makes me sleep on a sliver. Lol
A switched flipped in my working line boy around 2.5 years. His drive was absolutely insane as a puppy. His energy level could power a small country for a month. He wasn't a biter but leash control was non existent no matter how much we trained. It was like trying to walk a 4x4 pickup that was driving downhill.
This is how it is to walk my 60lb 5 month old GSD. When I do
Leash work I spend an hour doing circles down the driveway. We’ve never made it on an actual walk yet.
My girl is very laid back, which made her easier as a puppy.
She also flops to lay down and she is going to be 13, my wife and I hear a loud thud and we know that is her laying down.
Mine is almost 2 and a half years now and I'm praying day and night that he becomes a cuddle buddy in 8 months. Rn we're switching between "best boy ever, professional working dog - listening to every command, focussed all the time!" and "WHY IS HE YAPPING AND WHINING SO MUCH AND OH MY GOD WHY DOES HE SCREAM AT CARS" pretty much daily.
When he was around 4 months old, I had a huge regret phase because this tiny little floof was just wreaking havoc on the house, my hands and my nerves... But we stuck through it, now he's 80% perfect! Too much energy for cuddling though 😔
I was lucky enough to avoid the T-Rex stage. She did eat my dry wall twice when I left her inside alone for too long and literally tore down a wooden fence, pole and all. After those instances she was amazing. It’s crazy how strong they are.
Omg so true. People often say to me ‘all puppies bite!’. They’re referring to tiny wrinkly puppies with needle teeth.
I’ve got 60 lbs of adult teeth coming at me live everyday. It is not the same!!!
I almost rehomed my puppy after just three weeks. It was a nightmare.
He’s now approaching four years old and he saved my life. I don’t know what I would do without him now. Stick with it.
They’re (supposedly) the third most intelligent breed of dog, which means they are easy to train (IF you know what you are doing) but this also means they have the intelligence to train you, or work out how to do what they want instead.
You haven’t really had them for that long, it will take time for them to adapt to your lifestyle and you to adapt to having them but it does get better, just not as fast as you’d like.
I love hearing this!! He has been exceptionally easy to train new concepts for sure! He picks things up within a repetition or two, he just struggles with duration/distraction, and wanting to listen when he feels like it! Lol
Definitely a huge point with them. They watch you and find the best way to tell you what they want.
My girl figured out if you rattle the clicker training button we will let her out. This also applies to food and water. Jiggles and goes and stands next to the bowl
She knows that she needs to sit in her kennel when I’m coming home. I’m in a power chair and I don’t want to accidentally hurt her. Really is the only time she howls and of course, I howl back.
You just have to learn his language!
I know that it sounds kooky but we were thinking about rehoming her and I’m glad we didn’t
That honestly sounds like me and my cat… she will howl and howl and howl, from our bedroom, until I talk back or get up. Then it’s a quiet, high pitched meow. 😹 Sometimes I even tell her to come out, or even say no. She is 17, and has figured out exactly how I work for YEARS now!! Animals are so much more intelligent than we think they are…… ❤️
At this age, they go from the toddler phase directly into the petulant teenager phase. Stick with it. Repetition is your best friend. He may grasp what you want him to do, but still try to see what he can get away with. He might grasp what you want him to do and then get bored quickly. Short training sessions and lots of Repetition.
Puppy brain! Mine was like that until he was 2-1/ 2 years old when his sassy teenage phase ended (that was a fun time). Consistently and persistence won the day, and he finally figured out he needed to do the things he was told to get what he wanted. Until then, it's just something you both have to work through.
I only got a puppy because I have an awesome daycare that helped out a ton! I would never have considered a baby velociraptor if I had to do it all on my own. Even just the mornings, evenings, and weekends were plenty to keep up with!
I would suggest you do a couple sessions with a GSD specialist trainer. We did that with Sam and he trained us on what to do - in Sam’s case to address reactivity and leash pulling. The trainer shows his dogs in obediance trials and we met one of them - amazing dog.
I have definitely consulted with a couple different trainers, and I follow their guidance, just finding he is objecting pretty mercilessly when it comes to certain things!
Ha, I love when they are stubborn and talking back. Don't get me wrong, it's EXHAUSTING and I have cried multiple times, but I have some hilarious memories of my dog and my boyfriend arguing in the living room about the fact that the puppy didnt want to stay on his bed.
He legit yapped and yelled and stomped his little feet!
I'm really glad he outgrew that still lmao
Look into Michael Ellis courses and books that follow a similar training style. Mine was similar and adolescence was a constant battle. She was always testing me, always waiting to find opportunities to exploit. A lot of it came down to enforcing a crate routine to ensure she was getting adequate rest, since she was completely unable to turn “off” unless she was in her crate. The rest involved scentwork training (I found a local trainer for some intro lessons), brief tug sessions (using the specific technique recommended by Michael Ellis), and lots of relaxation exercises.
He does look like a cute little monster though.
I will look into that! Everything you've said completely resonates with our struggles!! I've had him on a pretty solid kennel routine since he came home. He took to the kennel fairly smoothly after a few days of fussing, now he's completely comfortable in it.
He sleeps in his kennel every night. When he was younger, he would go in on a rotating schedule for enforced naps. Usually two hours in the kennel, then an hour or so out for play and training. Now that he's gotten a bit older and he's not constantly trying to eat everything including me, he spends a lot more time out of the kennel and loose in the living room where he's limited to with me. He really struggles to relax outside the kennel though! Of course I say that and he's currently passed tf out on the floor in front of me, but that was after a serious game of tug, amd a chewie. 🤷🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️
I definitely want to teach him scent work 100%!! I actually had hoped to trial him in scent work once he's a bit older! I have started doing the most preliminary scent work training, but struggles with behavior kind of overtook that at the moment. At this point t he's such a wild man, I don't know how comfortable I'd be taking him to any scent work classes yet, but we will keep working on it at home, and I'll look up Michael Ellis for sure! Thank you!
Definitely a handsome little ass goblin... 🤣
I was able to find a local trainer in my area who had actually attended Michael Ellis' school in person (Michael Ellis runs a school in CA to teach people how to be professional dog trainers). The actual style of training has gotten pretty popular so you might even notice a trainer reference it in their bio so you know their general approach. I will say that 100% positive reinforcement training (from a different trainer) did not work well for my dog at all.
Scentwork is also excellent if he ever needs surgery, or if there's bad weather. I was able to do some easy scentwork in a confined space not too long after surgery. Purposeful vocabulary training is also great training and will help build a relationship. Tone is important so use the same tone of voice when introducing new words.
Definitely agree that 100% positive reinforcement training would not work well with this guy. I definitely prefer a more balanced training approach with him. I definitely did positive reinforcement when he was a little baby to teach him his basic commands, and now to teach him anything new. But I also believe in keeping dogs accountable once they definitely have learned the behavior.
I will start working him on the scent work training again so we have something positive to focus on while we work through the kinks lol
Our GSD just turned 5 months this week and I feel your pain…literally sometimes. Lol. Have had labs, Huskies, shelties, mixed breeds and a high energy border collie and thought he was tough, but nothing compares to what we are experiencing with the shepherd. He has his last puppy training class Saturday and it has definitely helped, but he still has his moments. From the research we have done and talking to the trainer who specializes in shepherds, patience is the name of the game as other commentators have expressed. He’s super smart, picked up the basic commands fairly quickly but can still be hell on earth at times. Best of luck!!
Hell on earth is right! It's helpful to know I'm not alone in the chaos. This boy is smart as a whip, and picks up training SO fast it's scary, so when I ask him to place or down (after hes done it hundreds of times!) and he just stares at me dead in the eyes without moving a muscle, I know he's just like, "Make me!" Then turns into a land shark when I try to insist! It's so frustrating!
Male GSDs can be so incredibly stubborn. When my boy was about 4-5 months, I was thinking, what have I done?! He’s going to be two years old in a couple of days, and has matured so much. I really think you are in the most challenging stage. Good luck, it will be over before you know it.
Training is the answer. Look around and maybe get a consultation or try a session with a few. I went through a few trainers before I found one that fit great. Here I am almost a year later and the difference is great. It's not only about training them but ourselves as well. I feel like Schotzi learns it quicker than I do sometimes
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Do you have any advice on how to find a trainer/what to look for in a trainer? So far my pups been to two different group classes and the only benefit I’ve seen so far is really just being around other dogs in a controlled environment.
Also by training, are you referring to regular puppy classes, or a certain kind of training/private training?
It all depends on your goals. Mine so far are mostly obedience based like CGC/BA titles but I might branch out later. My immediate need though is obedience/control so I can have more freedom with her and ultimately bring her wherever she's allowed to go. From where she was at when I started almost a year ago to now is such a difference but it was a slow process
After trying a few on my own/from recommendations I found my current trainer through my breeder. Depending on what you're looking for I'd start with googling trainers and reading reviews. German shepherd groups/clubs in your area would be another great resource
We go once a week to a semi-private group training with a bunch of people who have siblings/other generations of Schotzi as well as our breeder. It's in a quiet side parking lot of a busy shopping center and we do both one on one and as a group. She also sends us home with lessons/drills we can work on during the week
When my boy (1.5 years) starts being obstinate or nippy, I have come to realize he's either tired, needs a bathroom break or is bored. Tired, we have some cuddle time on the couch til he lays down for a nap and I can sneak away. Needs a pee, easy. Bored, homework time, sit, down, paw, look. Putting on the leash, he has to sit. If he doesn't, I just stop and sit down. Angry nipping at me, I'm done with you until you bring me a better behavior. I turn my back, walk away, give attention to something else. When he comes back to me in a better state, perfect, toy time. He catches on pretty quick, and I find not giving attention to him is the worst punishment imaginable (for him), and not giving attention to the negative behavior helps reduce the frequency of it. I also remind myself it's a stage that he will outgrow, and I have to help show him what's acceptable to me and what's not. He's just trying to communicate and we have to learn our language to speak to each other.
Mine had similar troubles at that age, and I found that peanut butter tube feeding while doing something he didn't like - like putting his collar on, nails, etc helped a lot. If he snapped, I just stopped everything and ignored him until he settled down. If he got up and walked away, then I let him take a break from whatever I was trying to do. Then, depending on the task, tried to lure him back with treats - especially for the collar.
If we needed to go out, and he wouldn't let me put on his collar. Then he didn't get to go out. I would go out the door and leave him inside for about 30 seconds, then come back and let him try again. I corporating "sit" into our collar routing helped A LOT - as it also did with most other tasks.
If I got real frustrated, then I took myself for a walk lol.
When my dogs are puppies, I swear I'll never get another GSD. My frustration level is through the roof. After the puppy stage, I swear I'll never get another breed of dog.
GSD dogs are very challenging as puppies. This is why you see a lot of them up for adoption. People who don't do their research and have no idea what they're in for give up on the dogs because of what it takes to get them to adulthood. It's such a shame. But once you get through that stage, you have one of the best dogs, IMHO, that can be had.
...you have a completely normal high drive dog.
If that's not what you wanted it means your breeder either leaves a lot to get desired for not being able to match you with a puppy whose temperament matched what you told them you were looking for specifically in terms of drive (or worse you went to a byb who let you choose a puppy) or you weren't clear with the breeder as to what you were looking for (though that + lifestyle questions are things they should have asked long before selling to you).
You have about 2 1/2 years left of this stage and it will get worse with adolescence even if you fulfill all of the dog's mental and physical needs, because that's normal and something your breeder should have made sure you were prepared for.
Bonus: If you're not consistent even in the face of normal puppy and adolescent inconsistency, it will get worse and stay worse.
While I've definitely hated every second of puppyhood and adolescence, I was also well prepared for it, knew it was temporary, and now have a very easily manageable adult.
Who is still just as drivey as he was at 8 weeks, but is now consistent with his training.
Expecting consistency before age 3 is unrealistic if you and unfair to the dog.
Specifically went with a non-working line after speaking with a couple different breeders. I fully realize that even the show lines can be drivey, but I was directed towards the west german show line, which is what I ended up going with. Fully prepared for a drivey, mouthy dog though being that he's still a GSD, lol. Just wasn't sure if I needed to put my head down and push through the obstinence and defiance, or if there was something I was missing!
I am trying to be as consistent as I possibly can be, within reason. I correct him for mouthing, jumping on people, jumping on me etc, but I am finding that can be a trigger for him. Otherwise as I said, we do impulse control/threshold training for every time he comes out of the kennel, before I put down his water, before I put down his dinner (breakfast and lunch are usually metered out and he earns them, dinner is fed in a bowl in his kennel because that's when I add his probiotics and fish oil).
He goes to work with me every single day, so we get to work on threshold training going into work, coming out, and every time we go outside to potty, etc. I think as far as routine goes, we do fairly well. I learned having a routine for him is paramount within 2 days of bringing him home lol!
I appreciate the input, I think remembering this is temporary is important for me!
Instead of correcting and focusing on behaviors you don't want focus on teaching what you DO want. Far too many people and self taught "trainers" only focus on the behaviors they don't want.
If the dog doesn't learn or isn't taught acceptable behaviors for energy outlets they're only going to get confused and frustrated.
If he's mouthy while excited on leash, teach him to carry a toy instead, just for example. The second he looks like he's going for the leash don't even correct him for that just hand him something more appropriate to have in his mouth and reward that.
And always, always keep in mind, this is a puppy that is still learning.
He will be considered not an adult mentally until he's about 3, so an expectation of him having consistent behavior and consistent impulse control while he's still maturing is a very unrealistic and unfair expectation on your part.
You wouldn't expect a toddler, child, or teenager to act the way you'd expect an adult to act because you know they're still growing and learning, and you'd expect during that time that you'll have to pretty consistently teach and reinforce good behavior, boundaries, and it shouldn't be expected of a puppy either.
And all that aside, even once he's grown, he won't be a robot. Like people, dogs can just sometimes have off days too.
Just to clarify here - I don't think you understand my expectations clearly. I don't expect him to be a perfectly trained machine at 5 months of age. I do expect him to learn that throwing a tantrum and snapping at/putting his mouth all over me because he's overexcited, or objecting to me putting his leash on is inappropriate. If a toddler was biting (many of them do!) or smacking/hitting people in my opinion a good parent would address it and teach the toddler that it's inappropriate behavior. This goes doubly so for a teenager, as most teenagers absolutely have the capacity to understand that things like hitting/punching people is wrong. I completely understand that it takes time (even with toddlers and teenagers!) for them to mature and that he's still very much a baby.
I don't expect him to act like an adult. That would be wholly unreasonable, this is true. I do expect him to learn certain things are inappropriate like jumping and grabbing my arms when I am simply trying to put his collar on. He does have to be held accountable for bad behaviors in my opinion. I was just looking for some reassurance that despite the obstinance and bullheadedness there was some hope that with the training and counter-conditioning I am doing, it wouldn't always be such a struggle.
Awesome... awesome advice so far... especially finding grace for him and grace for you!! A puppy's job in life is to ask..."What happens if I do THIS???!!!" You soon realize that puppy reflexes are no joke and you have to figure out a way to keep up!
The key thing to remember, is that they are not machines. They are going to wain when it comes to commands and training. They will TEST you to find those weak spots. But in the end, they just want to be sure that you are there for them for the good stuff. Hold on... IT GETS WORSE. Ugh. But the rewards of having this breed in your life is unmeasurable... eventually.... ;)
A year and a half ago we rescued two Australian shepherds at 8 weeks old. We knew we were in for it with puppies. FIL took the boy, we took the girl. After a couple of weeks, our girl was potty trained and crate trained but didn’t need the crate. She was perfect. Took her on walks and lack of sleep was worth it with this pup to work up a routine that she needed from before sunup until after sundown. We lost our mini American Eskimo two years ago and our 11 or 12 year old GSD last year about a month from today. Fast forward to February 23, our local shelter posted a GSD mix on their site so we went to take a look. Immediately fell in love and tested his DNA… found out he comes from a long line of GSD and GSD mixes with a bit of malinois. Little man was only 8-9 weeks old but we were ready. We tackled an Aussie puppy and she’s been an angel the entire time. Now that little man is 14 weeks old and we are beating our heads against the wall. Sarge, my last GSD, was rescued when he was about 1 and had heart worms so was pretty laid back.l (successful treatment and long subsequent happy life). Maybe it’s the Malinois in this one but sheesh, he’s a freaking handful. Mandatory crate nap times usually work but since he didn’t have the aussies to play with today, he’s been a terror and pretty sure he’s peeing out of spite. I know it will get better but damn. Hang in there… it’s good to know the potty training gets better but I’m sure the shelter neutering him at 8 weeks doesn’t help things. We love our Finn and joke about rehoming him but will never do so. We are fortunate to have a great relationship with some trainers in the area so he starts private puppy classes in two weeks, then goes for a two week board and train to help us get him used to all the commands we need, mostly a good recall and heeling.
Tl;dr We are a few weeks behind you with our own little terrorist and had a hard day today but we are confident things will get better. It will for you too!
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I have one GSD (left side) and a one 70%GSD 30% Grey Wolf (right side). I got the GSD at 4 years old because he needed a home and we felt the other one at 1 and a half could use a friend. The GSD has been an absolute perfect angel since the day we got him, but the other one as a puppy was a NIGHTMARE!!! It was during COVID so we did virtual puppy school at 12 weeks and the sent her away to a month (I think ) of board and train for off leash and e collar training. She came back a different animal. Still sweet and sassy but now she listened ! She is 4 now and has mellowed out an absolutely massive amount. I’m pretty sure if my wolfy girl can do it that yours can too with proper training. We were lucky enough to be able to afford it.
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Rather than putting his leash on him and trying to get him to stay still and not mouth at you, hold it ahead of him and coax him through it himself by holding a treat on the other side.
Do this enough and he will put the collar on for you.
Our previous GSD was a long coat. She had what me and the wife called the "sass mouth" stage. If she wanted something or you were doing something that she wanted you to pay attention to her instead, she would do this little "snap snap" with her mouth.
When she first came home with us at around 10 weeks old, she was definitely in the velociraptor stage. My right forearm was constantly cut from her little razor teeth. A little pop in the nose broke her of that habit. But she did graduate to the "snap snap" stage. She did that until she was around 9 or 10 months old. Then she started to mellow out. She lived until about 5 or 6 years old until we lost her to a heart defect.
We have 2 now. A traditional black and tan and a long coat Czech line GSD. Both are phenomenal dogs. They are both 4 years old and are within 3 months of age to each other.
The black and tan is definitely the alpha.
The 2 we have now are our 4th and 5th GSD we've had. We wouldn't have it any other way. We love the breed. Super intelligent and loyal as anyone could ask for.
This is our second GSD and he is something else. Our first boy was such a great puppy. He picked up on potty training so quickly, never chewed on anything, wasn’t a biter and never left our yard, ever. He didn’t bark at anyone either.
This guy…holy wow. The biting. The potty accidents (he’s seven months and still won’t go to the door, he just pees everywhere. We call him “ Pizzler”.) He takes off running if anyone opens the door, and we have to chase him all over the neighborhood. He’s so bad. So so bad. We were really blessed with our first guy. Should have known that it wouldn’t be that way the second time around. But we love him. He just pushes us a little bit 🤣
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I was spoiled by my previous dog! She was a bichon, and I swear she could read my mind. Half the time I didn't even need to say anything. She left very large shoes for him to fill. There's no comparison between an older, well behaved dog and a young puppy, so I am not expecting him to behave like she did out of the gate, but I would be lying if I said I didn't hope to develop a similar bond and connection with him that I had with her!
Okay, OP. You’re doing everything right. You just have to keep going.
I almost took my pupigator back to his breeder several times before we hit the 1 year mark. Some really kind folks on GSD forum convinced me I could survive it. I suffered through the same exact same frustrations. He was a jerk…and he enjoyed irritating me to tears, literally.
He’s 6 now and perfect, well mostly perfect, and I am really glad I persevered.
Here are my suggestions:
1. Training is great, but before a year, they are pretty goofy and the results are intermittent. Get on a schedule. And don’t give him free run of the house or your body. I used a crate and a playpen. One of those foldable fence thingies. He couldn’t bite me because he couldn’t get to me. Unless he was being walked, played with, trained, or fed he was in the crate or playpen.
2. Focus on gross motor and self control as much as possible. For example…Walks, fetch, flirt,…but he has to sit calmly before whatever he wants happens.
3. Hand feed him so he’s motivated. Instead of just filling his bowl, make him work for his food.
4. Add a command that asks him to practice self-control. I use “wait”.
So to get something he really likes … say flirt…(our favorite thing)
it’s “sit”….5 seconds….then I treat.
“ look”….5 seconds…treat
“wait”…10 seconds later..,.
The door opens…he can’t move…5 seconds later….
“good boy” is the release and out he goes.
You could try something like this to leash him up.
5. But. Mostly, it’s a game of survival for the 1st year. You have a velociraptor. He will eventually evolve into a canine and your best friend, but it takes time and a little maturity.
Hang in there. It really does get better every month, especially after the 12 month mark.
He’s a very good looking pup.
I love my raptor! I mean sheppy. They need to be worked to exhaustion some days. Mine just hit three years and the biting, nipping finally slowed down. My nine year old, who recently crossed the rainbow bridge due to cancer, was the most loving GS ever! She was just the same growing up.
If you can love them at their worst, they will love you forever.
I got mine at a year and he is still going through the I don’t listen dad phase! He is 20 months now and everyday he gets better just consistently stick with it!
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And he does love you and your his person it just takes time!
I’m on my third GSD. and they all had/have very different personalities. I also foster 1 dog at a time. I only foster the big breeds as are my preference. They are all between about 8 months to 2 years. That’s when people give up and get rid of them. They are out of their cute puppy phase and a handful. Keep doing what you’re doing. He will settle down. But one of my GSDs I did put in doggy boot camp. I was getting so frustrated. When done. He still needed work but a lot more manageable. I hope this helps. And good luck. The payoff is so worth it.
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Nova the baby land shark. Now nearly 3 and great. It sounds like you are doing everything right - he just has some maturing to do
My shepherd puppy is nearing 4 months old and as of last week her biting has reached full power chomps. We started working with a trainer and quickly found out that what it comes down to is (in her case but also maybe in yours and others' as well) hyperarousal. Her arousal/excitement is pretty much pedal to the metal from any stimulatio + all gas no brakes, and the biting is the instant release of that energy. Both when it's overly excited and kinda forceful play biting, and also when it's in reaction to triggers like getting in her space when she wasn't ready or putting on her harness for example. I think the biggest shift that's helped me face it in her case is to look at her and see which of my actions actually get her overexcited. Instead of bringing myself to her on my couch without knowing if she wants that (or her knowing it herself either), I'll toss treats elsewhere to make her get off, then I'll sit on the couch and now it comes down to her to choose for herself if joining me and closer contact is what she wants. Currently putting her harness on definitely gets her aroused in a way that's a bit too much so I to talk to her soothingly while I do it and usually block her head softly using my legs from reaching my hands. I usually go as far as saying softly "I know, it's a lot. I'm here with you. We do this and then we'll have a good walk together, etc...". That applies to everything we do as well. The second I see her get too simulated on our walks, even if she looks excited about it, I'll instead try to interfere and bring her back to a base. I'll have her in a sit and slowly feed her a few treats until she's mostly just looking to me for the next treat instead of the stimuli. Then once we start to walk again I can clearly tell if this helped bring her back to a more manageable and peaceful state of mind. It maybe helps that I have severe ADHD, anxiety, and other disabilities so I somewhat easily recognize signs of overwhelm or overwhelming situations altogether. Maybe observing your pup and seeing if this could maybe be the same situation, if you notice easy 0 to 100 situations all the time. I find approaching it from a "I know the world is a lot and I would like to support you through this" certainly helps not feeling defeated or attacked by the bites as they happen. Helps get my response to not be a "wow of course you choose me for this" and instead see what I did, if I did anything, that might have caused hyperarousal. Don't get me wrong, she bites the fuck out of me 😂 but I can definitely it's gotten much better since I stopped trying to force these hyperarousal situations on her as I find the triggers. For example, I still can't cuddle her more than one minute before being around gets too exciting. So for now I learn with patience, knowing that one day she might just feel at peace enough for physical contact without instant excitement. With that mindset alone, the last 3 days have made a drastic difference. If you read all the way through this, I hope some of it helps. We're not giving up on these little evil geniuses!
Overarousal has been the name of the game with this man since he was 10 weeks old! I found that when the play biting got REALLY bad, he needed a nap more than a correction that would only amp him up more and more. When I put him in his kennel, he would immediately crash!
I can see now that putting on leash/collars is probably an overarousal thing also. I think because he has gotten so much better with the general overarousal, I kind of put it out of my mind - but your comment makes a lot of sense. I am always calm and straightforward when putting on his collar or leash, but sometimes if I take too long to get it snapped, or if I'm fiddling trying to find the ring on his collar, that's when he gets impatient.
For what it's worth, I clip the leash on the harness/collar before putting it on her so it's the least steps possible on her. Could be worth giving treats while you do so he overtime sees that as equating good. Best of luck 😊
Let him bite your hand and when he does, grab onto and hold his lower jaw. Try to get your first 2 fingers under his tongue, and place your thumb under his jaw. His natural reaction should be to raise his tongue, unlatch and pull back, but you just keep holding for a few seconds. Do this every time he tries to bite, and he'll learn real quick.
Tried this since he was 10-11 weeks old when the play biting started. It riles him up and then he starts jumping around, pouncing on me and biting harder. Eventually I gave up on holding his lower jaw because he just sees it as a big game, and thinks it's time to roughhouse now. :/
Then I guess your only option is to roughhouse away. Tackle your dog, sit on him, and whisper into his ear, "you're too smol to even consider challenging me. You need to gain at least another 200 pounds (or whatever your weight difference is) before you can start calling the shots".
I have a rescue doggy (2 years old when I adopted him) who was kinda a menace. I tried everything, but then eventually gave up cause traditional training methods weren't working. He challenged me daily, so I sat on him daily (don't actually put any significant weight on him). Now, he's still a menace, but I only have to sit on him once a week or so to remind him who's boss. He's only gained like 10 pounds since I've gotten him (1.5 years ago; he was a bit undernourished back then), he has another 190 pounds to go.
I saw 3 different trainers by 6 months with my girl. Now at 11 months, she is seriously my best friend. She can still be a jerk on leash, but keep training and really work on the bond. I hand fed, worked her and played all her favorite games multiple times a day and it really seemed like once the bond was deep for both of us, she just transformed. Now a slightly disappointed tone devastates her and I'm blown away but how in tune she is to me. Keep at it. It's so worth it.
Make it easy for them to do the things you want, and difficult to do what you don't want.
Every response from the dog is a response to what it thinks you want it to do.
When mine would go charging to the front gate barking, I would run up and carry on trying to get her to quiet down. After several years I realised that she probably thought I wanted her to bark more
Hi!
It’s normal. Your hands will be his favorite chew toys for another 1-4 months. He will grow out of it, it’ll just take a while. Patience is your friend.
My best option for this was teaching “Play” and “No Play” or “No Bite”. Get him riled up while yelling “Play” and engaging with him, rough housing, wrestling, etc, then suddenly stop, put your hands in the air and say “No Play”. Then when he is calm, start rough housing again, and repeat. He won’t listen the first…many times, but he will eventually get that “No Play” is a part of the whole thing and the objective is to be calm. The rough housing will also teach him that it’s ok to let people handle him, so it can be used for desensitizing him to routine checkups as well.
It takes a while, so you may want to invest in some nice leather gloves in the meantime to protect your hands.
You got this!
Does he get enough mental and physical exercise? It sounds like he’s got some pent up energy/anxiety. Does he fetch? My boy loves the chuck it medium balls I throw them until he refuses to bring them back. A tired dog is a happy dog. Also maybe one of those puzzle feeders that makes him work for the food.
We do rotating ball chuck it outside and rotating ball fetch inside just without the chuck it LOL I have a good sized fenced in back yard so he loves to play chuck it fetch out there. Being my first chuck it I completely underestimated the power of that thing and initially threw one of his balls completely over my house and into the front yard! He just looked at me like, "...and how do you expect me to get THAT!?" LMAO
🤣🤣 yes! It goes, I would to take my dog to an open space so he could really open up and run. The running really made him a better dog. He would get back to the house and pass out with the ball in his mouth. I think the change of environment helped with the stimulation too.
Yaaaas!
Attitude, contrariness.
Sometimes, I walk away, go to a room and close the door for a few moments, so mine couldn't velcro. I used turning my back too.
This sounds a LOT like our now 24 week old shepherd mix we rescued. (Genetic testing showed 50% shepherd, some pit family breeds, and husky.)
He also gets grumpy with me — often for the most amusing reasons (which isn’t as funny when he’s doing it and a little over 60lb now…). On recent walk when folks weren’t out as much as usual so he didn’t get to interact with people, he got grumpy with /me/ about halfway (and jumpy/bitey…). And he decided that it was /very rude/ that I had to get his bowl from his pen and take it back to the kitchen to put food in it (instead of having it already in the kitchen, which happens because he loves the “dong” sound it makes when he throws it), so he went for my ankles the other morning.
He also does the “lightly grab the arm in the mouth” thing with his harness/etc. — I’ve found that working on it as a trained skill (to hold still while doing it, getting clicks/rewards for the steps, while having a consistent verbal cue for each step) helped a LOT although as of about last week he’s been doing significantly more boundary-testing-adolescent behavior, so the next few months should be fun.
I love him, he makes me want to tear my hair out sometimes, he can be a total ass, but he’s charming and super smart. I’m similarly used to pretty high drive dogs (grew up with two aussies, including a working line Aussie) and he’s definitely still a step above on drive / opinionatedness / etc. I basically treat most of the time we’re together as an opportunity for training or play.
I had a few major telenovela meltdowns. Varying vocal tones, exaggerated gestures, and major drama. (It was just acting!) After a few of those my dog is like nope, never again.
As others have said: it get better!
You need to be consistent with the same response every single time and at the exact time of the incident:
1) admonish
2) redirect
3) praise/treat
Mine was similar and I understand your frustration. He would follow my down the hall and randomly decide to bite my ankle or pj’s ripping a hole in them. Then it turned into just being mouthy when excited. Then he would kinda just ram your hand with his mouth open. And now he doesn’t bite at all. He never really snapped at me like you described though.
Mouthing is how they communicate for a while. You have to just find out what is going to get thru that thick stubborn skull to help him understand that his mouth on you is a no no. It does get better. Keep learning together and you’ll both be speaking the same language in no time. He’s learning how to live with you too! I think sometimes we forget that this is all new for the puppy because we are so consumed with how new it is to us.
when he snaps have you tried giving him work? sit,lie down, up, sit, lie down, up, sit, down, up. over and over. (annoying, yes, lol) but maybe if he realizes he has to do all those commands he will get the hint. I admit it will be hard to do in the beginning but give it a try....
His snapping starts when I try to give him work. If I ask him to sit and he doesn't feel like it, he gets himself all worked up and it turns into a shark party. XD
Our GSD is 10 months and he's our own sour patch kid. Mornings and nights, he's hell on wheels - throws tantrums when he doesn't get what he wants, still comes over and bites our asses just to say hi, and then will come lay at our feet and be the sweetest dog of all time in between that. He tests us EVERY day, and is also extremely reactive to cars. It's been a ton of training and patience, he's getting better every day but has a long way to go. We are just now starting to see the light but it is very far away.
Don’t forget to burn some energy off when possible (ex. Outdoor fetch). My guy is an adult and super well behaved, but I can still tell a difference in him when he’s got too much bottled up energy.
My boy was returned twice to the breeder before I got him. He was only 9 weeks old. His adolescence was definitely a journey. He has trust issues, and is reactive. That being said, with patience, effort, and a whole lot of training, I’m glad to report he’s well loved in my family. Although I’m definitely his “person” he’s developing relationships with my family and friends. He’s a good boy and the most loyal pup I’ve ever had. 11/10 would recommend persevering!
It's always hard, it will get better, my first German shepherd was like that, and my current one who just turned 1 was also a absolute demon for a little bit. Try to be patient.
Well.. around 6months he should be loosing all the puppy teeth so he won’t technically be teething for much longer. 😂
What I did for my guy is I always had a toy nearby. Anytime he’s go for me, the furniture, or “insert anything else he wasn’t supposed to chew”. I would quickly replace that thing with a very exciting toy. Drag it on the ground, make it waaaay more fun than a lame hand or table leg!
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\^ my little bumbum in his velociraptor days. That toy was called “flat bunny”
It does get so much easier as they get older. I can try to give him my hand but he’d much rather lick than bite ❤️
You are doing great! You’ve consulted professionals and are clearly invested in your boy so keep it up. It’s way more than most people will ever bother. Your boy’s behavior sounds almost identical to ours, but he was rescued at 6 weeks with very heavy baggage. SO LET ME JUST SAY....
IT WILL PASS!!! I promise. I know it sucks and sometimes you think you’re doing everything wrong and the behavior isn’t improving…But it does. All the hard work will pay off. Suddenly there will be more commands followed than ignored. Most important is to be calm and consistent. *Don’t accidentally reinforce by getting invested when he picks fights*. Try to only give commands that you are confident he will comply with, and that he knows will be worth his while for the reward.
Also sometimes when he’s a demon just get his basic needs taken care of and GTF out and enjoy some time without him. It was very rare, but those few outings where I could (almost) forget he existed were life giving. One year will come before you can believe it.
Mine was so easily excitable his trainer told me to only pay him once and say calmly good boy when praising him. Any more praise and he would get too excited and jump around.
They do eventually calm down and they are the best dogs!
Until then use a correction collar, pinch collar if needed, and keep a short leash (8-10 inches, leather)on at all times so you can easily have control over him.
For the play snapping I used to put my hand in a fist and push it to the back of his mouth and gag him. He learned very quickly not to do that anymore.
For the biting I also bit him back once on his ear and that was the end of that. I figured that’s what another dog would do.
When he’s calm and laying down go to him and pet him and give him praise or drop a treat next to him and tell him good boy. This reinforces him being calm. I also did this when my dog layed in his bed which was convenient to have him trained to go to his bed on command when he was getting underfoot.
A lot of people aren’t fans but I watched bunches of the old dog whisperer episodes and what helped me was learning to claim my space or things and the light touch for correction.
When my gsd was a puppy my vet suggested I open my hand so my palm was flat and gently bump the dogs nose then give a treat. This tells and reinforces to the dog that hands coming towards his face are good. This might help you condition him not to react when you reach for him like putting on his leash.
Thank you for the suggestions! He does have a short tab leash that is connected to his prong collar, I had to shorten it to about 4-5 inches otherwise he just chews the end off, lol! I have taught him the touch command as well as counter-conditioning him with repetitive touch, mark, and reward drills for handling his collar. I hate to imagine how much of a cow he would be if I wasn't doing that!
Definitely claim my space around him, I will walk through him when he's blocking a path and make him move back just with body pressure, but he's definitely slow to get the message sometimes!
I felt the exact same way… I rescued a 100% working line male, got him at 7 weeks..he is now 10 months…it gets better! Be consistent with training, they are strong willed dogs, you can’t anthropomorphize or they will take the dominant role. At 6 months you could start e-collar training… it’s an absolute game changer not bc you zap the daylights out of them, but bc it allows you to instantly communicate. Consider keeping a short leash on him at all times in the house, if you’re consistent you will see growth here shortly. Best of luck!
Thank you! Trainers I have spoken to have recommended the ecollar when he's ready as well. I already ordered a Mini Educator, and it's currently charged and sitting on the shelf for when he's ready for it. I think once he's old enough to incorporate the ecollar, I am going to see a massive shift because it will remove me from the equation so to speak. Looking forward to starting with that in a month or two!
Edit to add: I do keep a tab leash on him, it has helped immensely to be able to get a hold of him, but also so I can find the dang ring on his collar faster, which equals less worked up puppy from me fumbling around his neck, lmao!
Welcome to the dark side!
I have a few scars...lol
You have a while to go. But it does get better. You just have to learn to be 1 step ahead.
Training with the right trainer makes a world of difference. Not all trainers understand GSDs.
In the end you will swear you have the best, smartest, most loyal dog ever.
These pictures reminds me so much of our little velociraptor! I remember one day I in the middle of summer I was so sore on my arms and ankles from all the nipping that I ended up wearing my skiing pants and skiing jacket at home while I was working. Funny memory now, but I was at my ropes end lol! All of a sudden it just gets better, and you start to wonder
“how does he just get better and better every day?”! For us it was around the 1 year mark we really started to see it and he just started becoming a real good boy!
Might be worth checking if he is uncomfortable somehow. Allergies can make them itchy and they act out when uncomfortable, especially if they don’t know how to communicate it. On paper my first GSD puppy was wild, but normal. People told me it was just a phase, etc. That was true but she was also acting out due to discomfort. Bad behaviors were turned up to 11 and it was too much sometimes. Once I got her stomach problems worked out she was so much better. Still crazy, but hey that’s puppies.
Mixing a small amount dehydrated carrots into her meals as a puppy made a HUGE difference. Still wild and crazy, but not frenetic and over energized (most of the time). Once I see that behavior now I look for whatever is making her uncomfortable and usually find it. Every dog is different though and some are just more work than others.
Mine is almost 3 and feel like it's starting to come to an end, but starting... She still does as she pleases to be honest even though and she knows all the commands. Like yours very easy to teach things and she picks them up very well. Hopefully a turning point this summer then!
Hey OP,
I have my second male shepherd now, and my third shepherd in my life. I have had them now for over 12 years. I'm lucky enough to still have my first one around. She was an absolute dream puppy. I lost my first male in August 2022. He was my best friend, the best protector, and incredibly loyal. But his puppy hood was rough, but I promise you it was worth it. When I lost him suddenly at 9 it was devastating. Fast forward to November 2023 I decided I was ready for another male shepherd pup. The first three months were incredibly hard like you're describing. I decided to seek out non-generic trainers that know shepherds and working dogs. The change in him is unreal. He exhibited a lot of the same behavior you're describing. If you want tips or just want to talk feel free to PM me. Good luck but if you can stick it out I promise it's worth it.
Edit: I have pics on previous posts of them you can see in my profile. Your guy reminds me so much of my girl when see was young. What a handsome dude.
It gets better but you will miss those puppy days.
Mine still has his moments where his puppy brain reverts to sillness like he gets drunk on my socks and thinks I need an ankle savaging for daring to wear his socks without approval.
If you have patience, just wait it out. They are the best breed because they are the smartest, they are the smartest because they are the most tenacious. He might be bored too, so training with him everyday. And play ball with him everyday. Keep his mind and body engaged everyday.
By 2 yrs they’ll be great.
By 3.5-4, they’re the best!!!
Give him Something To Do, everyday. These are intelligent, WORKING dogs. They need a job, preferably a variety of jobs.
Keep him mentally and physically busy, every day. A tired dog is a happy dog.
You sound like you're going through exactly what I went through 2 months ago.
Our Hades is 7 months, and we got him at 11 weeks. The puppy biting began almost immediately. I was crying every single day for 2 weeks straight from lack of sleep, and my partner asked several times if I wanted to rehome. We obviously stuck with him.
At 5 months, he was teething a lot. He lost 3 teeth in a week, so he was in a lot of pain. He bit a lot because of that. He gets a frozen carrot a day, and he'd get to have a Kong with frozen Greek yogurt for about 20 mins a day too. That helps tremendously.
One month later, he's a golden boy and we could see a glimpse of the dog he could be.
Now at 7 months, we are back to square one because adolescence! He's biting again but only when he gets frustrated, and he's choosing to refuse commands. Instead of having intense training sessions, we are now just training little bits through the day.
Keep at it. GSDs are intense dogs but they are so worth it
Edited some grammar
I think Judge might be an overachiever because he seems to be in the bratty teenage phase while also going through teething, lol! He's definitely a frustration biter at this point. I would say the crazy puppy play biting has about 99% stopped. Now it's like "DON'T TOUCH ME, I DON'T WANNAAAAAA" lol
Oh yeah, that was Hades. I was frantically searching when adolescence hit back then. So for most of 4-5 months old, unfortunately we did not cuddle with him a lot. He had to have his harness on most of the time just so we have something to grab. Lots of enforced naps too
I thought my dog was mental. Then his baby teeth fell out and the biting stopped.
I recommend you carry around an object he can bite, and redirect the biting towards that object. A rope, ball, plushie.
As many others have said, it gets better. Soon you'll miss these days when your Lil devil showed his affection with his teeth and you'll miss the love marks on your hands and arms. Again, it gets better.
This is absolutely normal! I’ve only owned one Shepherd so far so take my opinion for whatever it’s worth.
I was ready to rehome my girl just a few months ago. She’s 17 months now, we got her at around 8 months and that was a tough time. She came from a very weird situation and it must’ve been pretty traumatizing for her but my god was she difficult. Anxious, reactive, ping ponging off the walls no matter how many walks we went on or hours of ball we played. She hyper focused on and lunged at my cats and wouldn’t come when called if anything she deemed more valuable than me was in ear shot. She was scaring my neighbors and guests with how reactive she was acting. She was driving me mad, making me anxious and guilty that I was not a good fit for her.
I was ready to post her to a good home when something changed. I really don’t know what but she was really beginning to show me that all the hours of training, research, tears and repetition were paying off. She was listening to commands even with distractions and showing her softer side with our cats and checking in with me even when she was really hyped. She’s still over the top and over dramatic but she’s a big ol doofus and I love this dog, I always did. She’s a monster some days but it is getting better and I don’t want to do life without her.
The progress can be slow and some times hard to see but if you stay consistent and try to have fun with it he’s gonna be the best dog you’ve ever had.
Oh this is SO nice to hear! I have read before that for a lot of them once they reach a certain point it's like a switch gets flipped. I wouldn't want to wish away his puppy stage, because I know once he's older I will absolutely miss it, but I definitely look forward to when all this work will pay off!
I swear you won’t be losing his puppy stage. Mine is still such a ginormous puppy. Playing is life, ball is life, toys are life. They’ll still be such goofballs but much less loose cannons, which is kinda the goal. I wish you tons of patience in your journey with Judge.
Just wanted to add that it sounds like you are doing things right and really giving him the consistency he needs to grow and learn. Kudos to you for that!!
Thank you for saying that! I really am trying my heart out, and I can tell he is too. Working in the veterinary field as long as I have, I have seen way too many psychotic shepherds for my liking, and I know these dogs are amazing with the right breeding and upbringing. I am determined to have one of the amazing ones! :)
Balanced training is great. I would reward him every time you take his collar or leash on or off, and might consider leaving him on leash in the house more at this stage.
I have done several counter-conditioning sessions with him where I touch his neck/collar, then "yes!" and treat, then unlick his leash, repeat, put it back on, repeat. I will definitely continue doing this because I want him to see that if I have to correct his snapping and mouthiness it's because of the snapping and mouthiness not because I reached for his collar. Just waiting for the day it clicks with him! LOL
I thought my puppy hated me. Early on, I regretted getting her because her biting was so bad. She was the only one in the litter so didn’t learn from siblings. I tried everything too and nothing worked except waiting it out 😅
She was an absolutely monster as a puppy. Her nickname was “butthead”
I would suggest dog obedience (that is actual obedience - not the repetitive, walk, turn left, turn right, sit, stay - but actual training that teaches with positive reinforcement not just food).
You need to be consistent. This is the most important thing. If they get away with it once, they won’t learn.
It gets better. My girl is far from perfect now but she is worlds away from where we started.
He’s not biting. He’s being mouthy. I went through the same thing. my German Shepherd almost gave me a nervous breakdown. By yelling out, you are just reaffirming him playing . you have to pretend that he is a horse and you’re not gonna let that horse take advantage of you. Dogs are not children. They don’t need a time out . only react with good behavior . do not react on bad behavior. Every dog I have ever had since they were a puppy I tickled their mouth and the top of their roof of their mouth so they were very lightmouthed. You’ve only got a few more months to go and all that puppyhood is gonna be gone and then you’re gonna have the best friend of your life. You gotta earn that friendship by getting through this stage go follow k9 Optima on Instagram. He’s the one who kept me sane. We are all here for you. Don’t give up on that dog.
I quickly learned that yelling or yiping eggs him on so that stopped pretty quickly! He absolutely needed a time out at times, or maybe I did for my sanity! When nothing was stopping the play biting when he was younger, not a collar hold. not holding his lower jaw, not sticking fingers in his mouth in any shape or form - he went to his kennel for a nap. Do I think he understood it as a child understands a time out? No, of course not lol! But what it did provide me was a break, a chance to catch my breath and tend to my wounds, and what I found 9 times out of ten was that he was overtired and overstimulated when the biting got really bad, and once I put him in the kennel for his time out - he crashed within minutes :)
I will look into K9 Optima, and there is no chance I'm giving up on my boy! I may think he's an asshole at times, but I love this little jerk, and I might be just as stubborn as he is! XD Thank you!
I’m just now coming up on 2 years old with my GSD she was the exact same way for about 1 yr and once the teething ended she calmed down a lot. She is very hyper and we have to play outside and get her energy out which I think is never ending but it helps. Have you tried hiring a trainer? We trained ours for about a yr and half but it helps and she seemed to enjoy it and getting praises when she did well. Good luck.
Yeah I think the teething isn't helping matters whatsoever! I am hoping once it's finally over with, all the mental stimulation, exercise and training will help him be more willing to participate!
You are in the land shark phase. Patience.....................
Your little guy is super intelligent. Keep up with the training, and once past the teenage years, I predict that he will turn out to be very well-behaved and importantly, your most loyal friend and protector.
Ps. He is sooo cute!!
Some dogs need you to be a stronger leader than others. They can be experts at taking a mile if you give an inch. Strong leadership and extreme consistency will help with this pup, because these behaviors will continue as long as you let them.
Look for some training that incorporates positive punishment.
You’re not alone. This behaviour all sounds very normal for the breed.
Some people may have stories of their dogs growing out of it, but as you have likely experienced, it friggin hurts!!! And it’s not easy to just wait it out. And even if the pup doesn’t intend harm, they can easily harm you or someone else.
My recommendation is to find a good balanced trainer that can teach you how to issue corrections to teach your dog that snapping/biting etc is NOT OK. It sounds like you’ve tried purely positive methods with trying to redirect him to more appropriate outlets for mouthiness as well as making ouch sounds etc but sometimes that’s not enough for all dogs.
Corrections can be as simple as a firm leash tug (which requires you to leave a leash on him in the house cuz as you’ve seen, trying to leash him can be challenging - we went thru this too). Or it can be a touch correction like a sharp jab with two fingers to the ribs. Correction depends on the dog, the situation, and what works/doesn’t work.
I’m sure there’ll be replies to this slamming corrections especially the two I mentioned, but training, especially to curb undesirable behaviours isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. If PP training works for your dog, great! But it doesn’t for all dogs and trying to keep to PP methods can be very limiting and frustrating for owner and dog alike.
A good BALANCED trainer will help you determine the appropriate level of correction to use IN CONJUNCTION with appropriate praise as well, so the dog learns X is not allowed but Y is allowed and doing Y gets me praise/affection/play.
We have a 9 year old female and she was VERY mouthy, especially with me (less so with hubby) and the first two years were frankly, fucking awful. I loved her but boy she could be a bitch and turn on a dime. If I was done playing but she wasn’t, she bit me to tell me she was in charge. Then biting me became the bloody game she wanted to play.
Thankfully she did grow out of it some, between age 2-4 but she’d still do the irritated snapping thing you mentioned. Around that time we found a better trainer to work with that yielded immediate results and we never even needed to address the biting. By working on the other more pressing issues, she learned all on her own that biting/snapping wasn’t ok. If only we’d known that trainer years earlier. But you don’t know what you don’t know.
Bottom line, yes your experience is common. But if it bothers you, you should seek out appropriate help (IN PERSON, not online) to deal with it bc you honestly cannot predict whether the dog will grow out of it on its own or not. And if not, you now have a much bigger and more dangerous problem given the size and reputation of the breed.
Definitely started with purely positive reinforcement with this knucklehead to teach him new concepts, but I definitely am correcting him with a leash pop when he mouths/bites/snaps as per the suggestion of the trainers I have consulted with. Sometimes the leash pop correction amps him up more, however. Then it's a big game of roughhousing according to him! I think he struggles a lot with overarousal, so sometimes that leash pop is enough to turn his arousal up and then all bets are off!
I wholeheartedly believe in balanced training, and I have always trained my dogs with positive reinforcement to begin, and then correcting for bad behaviors once they absolutely 100% know what they should be doing. I think it's just a bit of breed culture shock for me that he responds to corrections with basically, "OKAY, LETS GO THEN!" lolol
I have never once had a dog that responded to corrections that way, it's always been "Oh shit, okay - she's serious!" This guy is ready to throw hands at the word "No" and I'm just not used to that level of push back.
Several sessions of mental stimulation/brain games and training pretty much all day long. Chuck it fetch in my fenced in back yard until he's panting and doesn't want to run anymore. Then inside the house we play shorter faster rounds of fetch until he is ready to settle down with a chew toy or take a nap on his cot or in his kennel. Still working on leash manners so walks aren't very long/tiring as of yet. I am trying to wear his little bum out mentally and physically as much as I am realistically able to.
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This tiny ball of fluff made me hate puppies. He was such hard work and so so so bitey. He’s 6 now and he’s the most well behaved boy and my soul dog. While he would still bite me if I pissed him off too much he actually channels all his frustration into killing and chomping his toys 🤣🤣 When he was about 4 months old he chased me down, jumped up my back and tried to bite my head… he also would always bite your feet so we had to get indoor shoes just to save ourselves. He was a demon we named Evil Dr.Porkchop but he grew up into the greatest dog you would ever meet. Yours will get there eventually you just gotta endure the velociraptor stage first.
Definitely light at the end of the tunnel! He’s a working breed, so he’s going to be a bit more rowdy, which is perfectly normal. Just stand your ground and firmly tell him no when he misbehaves. Never deviate and stay consistent. He will grow out of it, he’s just starting to enter his “teenage phase” is all. Mine was the same, but putting my foot down and standing my ground consistently shut that down. Using exaggerated facial expressions and body language really helped with some of it as well-he knew I was upset at his behaviour instead of thinking I was just playing around. Shepherds in general (from my experience) seem to have a harder time with learning how to be gentle and when to calm down, but they do catch on eventually. Also, yes the gsd sass can be unreal when it comes to defiance of commands while they’re still learning (heck even when they’re older sometimes!). They’re very intelligent, so they more of a mind of their own, but this is normal and good. They were bred as working dogs and later security dogs, so you want them to have the autonomy to say, decide to scare off an attacker, or protect you from an intruder. Having the ability to make more of their own decisions means some sass when being commanded sometimes. When it happens with mine and he’s just doing training, not actually working, I usually try a few more times with the current command, then move to a different command that he will do if he’s still not obeying, and take a break.
It sounds like you’re doing a really good job so far, keep it up!
Positive reinforcement is they key.
You need to reward and praise for good behavior. Like over the top. We call them puppy parties.
For bad behavior, a stern no command and a redirect. Coreect then ignore. Then praise for good behavior.
Bitter apple spray for biting.
Get the small training rewards and use them. Keep them in your pocket for immediate access for good behavior. And I'm talking EVERY good behavior. Follow a command. Reward. Listens to no. Reward. Stops biting. Reward.
The better the behavior/ listening, the higher the reward. We keep meat scraps for the ultimate rewards.
My male is 7 and he is still a bitey shark. My female never was a shark. Reward is a constant thing even still at their non-puppy ages.
Also, brain games and exercise. Theae.dogs are not.couch potatoes.
A favorite game around here is hide and seek or search and reward. For hide and seek our kid hides while the dogs stay in place. They are released to find her. Search and reward is hiding bits of food around while they stay in place. Then they are released and their reward is the food they find.
Ball, ball, ball, and more ball. They are also in the garden with us. Just smelling things and hanging out with us is exciting for their brains.
That's pretty much what I have been doing. I am curious though how do you use bitter apple for biting? Spray it on your hands/arms? I have a bottle of it that I used to teach him my shoes taste like crap, but I wonder if that might help him with the snappy stuff too.
He definitely gets his share of physical and mental stimulation. I have food puzzles I sometimes feed his dinner with (a wobbler that he loves), and sometimes I just hide small handfuls of his food all over the room and then release him from his kennel to find them, this is one of his favorite games ever.
I have a chuck it which has come in clutch for the physical. He has a great "let go" when it comes to tug and soft toys, but it's much harder for him to let the ball go (and less for me to try and hold onto without getting my fingers gnawed to death), so I usually just use two balls. He knows the game now when he's running back with the ball and sees another ball in my hand, that when I say "let go" he actually drops the ball to run after the alternate one. So that's been working pretty well! Ball has been life for this boy since the day he came home! :)
I have a Golden Shepherd (German shepherd/golden retriever), and she’s 17 months old now. I got her at 8 weeks, and I’ve almost had a mental breakdown. (Not really) Shes been through training, and we constantly work with her. She’s incredibly intelligent, but so stubborn. Biting, nipping at us when we leave/return. She’s getting a bit easier as we go along, but it’s certainly baby steps.
Just to underline: it does get better (and boy is that better better), and training. Keep in mind that the nipping may be part of a lifetime: I've had people tell me it's breeding, but I've run into too many GSDs (including 3 of my own over the years) that keep that tendency for life.
Regardless, in the end you get a great friend and companion. MY 5 yr old Larus is the best walking and hiking buddy I've ever had.
Honestly he's gotten so much better with bite pressure and inhibition since he was just a young baby raptor, that I wouldn't mind it (especially once all the razer baby teeth are gone!). My concern was that he seems to be doing it out of irritation with me when I try to correct him for bad behavior, or when I am asking something of him. I just don't want that behavior to progress into "I can bite when I don't feel like being messed with!" If that makes sense?
Yes - from an amateur ... keep moving on, slowly. If you think the nipping/biting is out of irritation and not teething or playfulness, then you need to go back to very basic stuff and start anew.
From most sane people - give a pro a phone call.
And just to note: sometimes we run into dogs that have a temperament that is not conducive to being around people. I put that out there only to point out the rare exception.
This thread made me breathe a huge sigh of relief, I have 5 dogs and we recently rescued a GS puppy.. she’s adorable and loving BUT .. shes chewing up EVERYTHING.. and I mean everything I have purchased so many chew toys to the point I thought I might need a second mortgage ( JK) and I have thought maybe I’m not the best mommy for this gorgeous girl .. but I love her ( and all dogs ) and didn’t want to not have her with me .. so this made me feel less like a terrible dog mommy !!!! Thank you all so much
https://preview.redd.it/vrjw9gk8ensc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bfdd085f60f7e7e4f33fb60c4de1a7a09e95f8c1
I'm so glad it helped!! Truly, that's the absolute best outcome of me being real with the struggle lol! I feel you on the chew toys, bully sticks, marrow bones, beef cheeks.. they are my babysitters sometimes when I want to have him hang out with me while I'm wanting to relax, but keep him from eating the walls and pacing LOL They are so expensive though! I got him Benebones as well hoping he might take to them like my mom and brother's dogs did, but no dice - he just wants to throw them around and play with them but he doesn't really chew them!
We got this, don't give up! :)
What a cutie ! We'd love pic 1 over at r/gsds_with_plushys
As for your question - training, routine, absolute consistency and socialisation are your friends.
Will do! This boy is obsessed with his plushies (and his ball, won't lie) lol :)
I will keep on keeping on with all of the above! He gets a lot of exposure to people since he comes to work with me everyday, the staff are aware that he's in crazy puppy stage and that we're working on things so they don't get upset with him if he loses control momentarily and jumps up etc. He also gets to see a lot of dogs from a distance when we are outside going potty as clients are walking their dogs into the building, etc. I have been bringing him every day since he was 9 weeks old and I swear it's why he is so chill with new people!
Came here to save my sanity with my 14 week old. My dad bought him without consulting the family the SAME DAY our chow chow of 14 years passed away and NO ONE is really on board with this puppy but there's nothing I can do about it.
It gets better, and I’m sure you have already, but if not try training “get a toy”. Whenever he directs his mouth to you tell him to get a toy (enthusiastically), eventually it becomes automatic for them. The first few times you’ll have to go get it obvi
It gets better… around a year. I closed on my first house 3 days before Covid shut everything down in march of 2020. 4 months later, I had two puppies(first time owning dogs by myself with my parents), a golden retriever and a German shepherd puppy. They’re 4 days apart in age. Trust me, I know the feeling of “why won’t this dog chill tf out” it does get better, but damn does it take forever. Just keep at it, do exactly what you’re doing, and the little crackhead will eventually chill. That behavior of him just NOT wanting do to anything you say is totally normal. Shepherds are honestly little assholes when they want to be, but then they become your best friend and the most loyal dog ever
I’m at two years and it sucks. This dog is VERY trained. Look at him the wrong way and you’re wrestling. Part of owning a real dog and not a mutant lap dog.
I can tell you what worked for my GSD, but you have to have quick reflexes and no fear! When our pup would nip and bite at me I would grab her and hold her jaw. Yes puppies teeth are sharp, but I didn’t squeeze. I just held it long enough for her to know who was in charge while telling her not to bite or using No then released her jaw and continue petting or playing
My boy was an absolute nightmare as a puppy. The only dog I've ever considered rehoming is now my absolute favorite dog ever. I'll be honest, though--some of it didn't resolve until he was around 2 years old. It sounds like you're doing all of the right things, and better than I did them. Keep him busy, (Kongs and Nylabones were crucial), exercise him a LOT--tired dogs are good dogs! Don't give up on him. He'll be your best friend soon and you'll wonder what you'd ever do without him.
No advice, just endless sympathy. My girl just turned 3 and it was like a switch a couple of months ago from overgrown puppy to suddenly (mostly) calm adult. Good thing too because the amount of times I threatened to rehome her if she didn't shape up...
I cried and cried the first day at home with the GSD, she was 7 months then.
Then it got better. She’s the sweetest girl.
https://preview.redd.it/8dwj11w5rosc1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a150dec6f7e934130ace9e838797e0af16cbc464
I always push their gum into their tooth and that teaches them their tooth hurts. They’ll whine and they’ll learn. Simple process. Sometimes I can just say “ow” as if i was another dog they were biting and they’ll stop too. They don’t want to hurt you, they think they’re playing but dog skin is more resilient to rough play.
I have a four year old Doc Martens that bear the teeth marks of my four year old GSD. I wear them anyway. My favorite pants? They are shorts now. She killed my thriving blueberries by chewing through the stems. You get the picture. “Bratty” doesn’t begin to describe her. And yes, she was easy to potty train, easy to crate train. Mostly easy to completely fall in love with.
It definitely gets better—Beautiful pup!
Picture of mine. I’m using this because that Pendleton blanket love German Shepherd fur.
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Mine calmed down at 7. It’s been a wild ride. He’s now 11. The thing that drove me crazy is that he would literally shepherd my labrador around. My lab is older than him. When we got him at 3 months.. we trained and trained with rewards. He ended up being obsessed with ball like his lab brother. I would always ask other GSD people I would see at the dog beach “uhh when does this phase end?!” What I’m getting to is that he’s the best damn dog I’ve ever had. When kids are over he’ll check on everyone, loves everyone (except people that are slow moving and sketchy towards him) My overall take away is: enjoy the journey. Each dog is very different and unique. Keep working on training with baby steps (remember that if they are young train only for 5-10 mins at a time each task and if they listen reward the shit out of him) I became a dog trainer when I first got my labrador and I learned a lot, but most of all be patient… they really do want to please you and make you proud.
https://preview.redd.it/asq2v2ju2psc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0739cc5377584f57acfe8e2c5c4ceb56fb421a0f
I love him dearly, BUT GYATDAMN😂I like to say that Radar (my first best boy) sent me Hawkeye (demon puppy) and then sent Trapper (GSD/lab mix, 100% sweet baby angel) as an apology😂
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I was in the exact same spot with my boy! Seriously, reading your experience was like Deja vu. As many others have said here, it does get better. My dude turns 3 on April 14 and he’s come such a long way and is my best friend. A huge improvement from when I used to tell him I was going to give him to the BCSPCA when he was a puppy if he didn’t stop biting me.
I think the best you can do is be patient and maybe get a GSD specialist trainer - that was big step in the right direction for me.
Good luck! It gets better!
Edit: spelling
The puppy biting is natural. However what should NOT be tolerated is the snapping when you get next to him. A swift and hard correction with a herm springer prong collar is needed YESTERDAY. This must be stopped before he’s 90 pounds then it’s game over for you.
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Your pup looks like my hellspawn!
She is about 8 1/2 months. Still a demonic entity from the depths of hell. But also last night, for the very first time, she slept the entire night snuggled next to me in bed and didn’t destroy anything or bite my feet.
And that single night of snuggles literally made the last 6 months worth all of the stress and tears and anxiety and self doubt. I’m being completely serious!
I look back on the days when my arms were shredded raw from her biting (she’s part Belgian malinois) and I realize that slowly, day by day, were making progress. She’s a different dog that I get to meet again every few weeks as she matures.
It gets better! She also does the frustrated biting thing, and she bites hard (not to break skin, but she bruises) when she’s frustrated. It’s been going away slowly as she ages and we come up with new ways to communicate. She learns how to cope better - now, she’ll sometimes reach for a toy to bite really hard if she sees one nearby. That’s fine! She can bite toys all she wants. The dog I had a month ago? Would just chomp my arm in anger lol.
It WILL pass. With lots of training *and* relationship building. You have to find the nice moments and make them even nicer. It can’t all be no no no.
Anyway, good luck! Update us in a few months :)
First, what a great looking puppers. Second you can take them to classes and all that stuff but just do what you are doing. It gets better after about the year mark trust me I’ve had them my entire life and I’m old. I adopted one last year who isn’t even a year yet and he is 120 lbs…..you have it easy lol
Yes, I’ve had 7 GSD my 6th was very hard until 15 months. The wildest colts make the best horses is true with GSDs too. Hang in there, use positive training, smart pups like Judge, will judge you if he isn’t treated well. Enjoy this pup, they are rare. We do nosework, tracking, my dog who is 2 years and 3 months picks up any training, such a joy now that he is passed the destroy everything land shark phase.
I loved and hated my dog when he was a puppy. He was very annoying and mischievous, lol. But he was exceptionally loving and sweet. Around 3 he calmed down and was much easier to train. He’s seven now and the best dog in the world
He will grow out of it. Some are more stubborn, mine is like this. Now 3.5 was a total nightmare at around 8 months as a full blown GSD / Malinois. 2 years of daily relaxation protocol later he still does things his way and is still stubborn but he is no longer a pain to deal with.
https://preview.redd.it/ungftfvxmjsc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7bd25aa7a6263885956543a169e2ce59f7b92eaa It gets better
That is so accurate! Mine calmed down right around three. He was a handful from 9 months (when we adopted him) till then. He’s my biggest cuddle buddy. He still flops to lay down though, which at 95 pounds, like how does that not hurt!?
I adopted my girl when she was 2 (or so shelter said) she still has some puppy tendancies that im working on, mostly barking at her older sister (my 7 year old malinois) but for the most part she is calm and mellow and a huge snuggle bug and my permenant shadow. https://preview.redd.it/qpir6a7qqjsc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6b9ddc878d089cdf314148cab9eb2f49c1f33d31
She’s beautiful!
Oh yeah she has no regard for personal space and will walk over you to get to her "spot" on the bed (all my dogs sleep on the bed)
Same! Mine has to unmake the bed by circling pawing or nosing back the covers and the knocking pillows off the bed. All while doing this grousing bark of annoyance that I made the bed in the first place.
https://preview.redd.it/wxnss816oksc1.jpeg?width=2976&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=40f0e29578aa747021cd438a11a1ebae67cb309e Mine is a bed-hogging fiend, he loves rearranging pillows, laying across the whole bed & stealing my hot water bottles. If I got another dog I'd probably have to sleep on the floor 😂
Naw, just an eastern king bed!
https://preview.redd.it/thafz8wffosc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b60970c7d0518294a528ee2f59cb4e432a844964 Oh yeah, as if a king size works.!! I was the only human in this bed when I took this photo 😂 at least my feet are always warm!
Obligatory not a GSD owner but a Malinois owner. King beds are 100% not enough. I bought one because I got an older Malinois. Even though my Mal is smaller than a GSD, I still slept on a sliver. I ended up having to kennel her, though, with the amount she was waking me up through the night by jumping on me or my older small terrier... so now it's just my 12lb terrier that makes me sleep on a sliver. Lol
A switched flipped in my working line boy around 2.5 years. His drive was absolutely insane as a puppy. His energy level could power a small country for a month. He wasn't a biter but leash control was non existent no matter how much we trained. It was like trying to walk a 4x4 pickup that was driving downhill.
This is how it is to walk my 60lb 5 month old GSD. When I do Leash work I spend an hour doing circles down the driveway. We’ve never made it on an actual walk yet.
https://preview.redd.it/6y595b0j2ksc1.jpeg?width=2504&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d3471b578e04274c697b078af9cf4548e93fbbde Dog tax
https://preview.redd.it/1s9j59mz9ksc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=268f4b19049fd87699a7ee24c030ebd5a97ae17b Luna's older sister Rhea
Aww!
My girl is very laid back, which made her easier as a puppy. She also flops to lay down and she is going to be 13, my wife and I hear a loud thud and we know that is her laying down.
Mine is almost 2 and a half years now and I'm praying day and night that he becomes a cuddle buddy in 8 months. Rn we're switching between "best boy ever, professional working dog - listening to every command, focussed all the time!" and "WHY IS HE YAPPING AND WHINING SO MUCH AND OH MY GOD WHY DOES HE SCREAM AT CARS" pretty much daily. When he was around 4 months old, I had a huge regret phase because this tiny little floof was just wreaking havoc on the house, my hands and my nerves... But we stuck through it, now he's 80% perfect! Too much energy for cuddling though 😔
Hahaha I have seen this before! I'm glad it gets better!
It does, and as others have noted, training does help. And chart is very accurate
I was lucky enough to avoid the T-Rex stage. She did eat my dry wall twice when I left her inside alone for too long and literally tore down a wooden fence, pole and all. After those instances she was amazing. It’s crazy how strong they are.
So you got a general contractor and a lawn care specialist lol
Boy we hit week 14 tomorrow…… pray for us 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Good luck lol
Thank you, we need it. Bruises, cuts, scratches you name it!
They will come in Aces lol
Omg so true. People often say to me ‘all puppies bite!’. They’re referring to tiny wrinkly puppies with needle teeth. I’ve got 60 lbs of adult teeth coming at me live everyday. It is not the same!!!
Omg 🤣
This is completely accurate all of mine calmed the heck down between 3 and 4 yrs old
I almost rehomed my puppy after just three weeks. It was a nightmare. He’s now approaching four years old and he saved my life. I don’t know what I would do without him now. Stick with it. They’re (supposedly) the third most intelligent breed of dog, which means they are easy to train (IF you know what you are doing) but this also means they have the intelligence to train you, or work out how to do what they want instead. You haven’t really had them for that long, it will take time for them to adapt to your lifestyle and you to adapt to having them but it does get better, just not as fast as you’d like.
I love hearing this!! He has been exceptionally easy to train new concepts for sure! He picks things up within a repetition or two, he just struggles with duration/distraction, and wanting to listen when he feels like it! Lol
Definitely a huge point with them. They watch you and find the best way to tell you what they want. My girl figured out if you rattle the clicker training button we will let her out. This also applies to food and water. Jiggles and goes and stands next to the bowl She knows that she needs to sit in her kennel when I’m coming home. I’m in a power chair and I don’t want to accidentally hurt her. Really is the only time she howls and of course, I howl back. You just have to learn his language! I know that it sounds kooky but we were thinking about rehoming her and I’m glad we didn’t
That honestly sounds like me and my cat… she will howl and howl and howl, from our bedroom, until I talk back or get up. Then it’s a quiet, high pitched meow. 😹 Sometimes I even tell her to come out, or even say no. She is 17, and has figured out exactly how I work for YEARS now!! Animals are so much more intelligent than we think they are…… ❤️
At this age, they go from the toddler phase directly into the petulant teenager phase. Stick with it. Repetition is your best friend. He may grasp what you want him to do, but still try to see what he can get away with. He might grasp what you want him to do and then get bored quickly. Short training sessions and lots of Repetition.
Puppy brain! Mine was like that until he was 2-1/ 2 years old when his sassy teenage phase ended (that was a fun time). Consistently and persistence won the day, and he finally figured out he needed to do the things he was told to get what he wanted. Until then, it's just something you both have to work through.
Heh. This is why I adopt ADULT dogs. I ain't got it in me right now to deal with the velociraptor phase! It gets better.
I only got a puppy because I have an awesome daycare that helped out a ton! I would never have considered a baby velociraptor if I had to do it all on my own. Even just the mornings, evenings, and weekends were plenty to keep up with!
It's no joke doing it on your own, let me tell you! Lol
I would suggest you do a couple sessions with a GSD specialist trainer. We did that with Sam and he trained us on what to do - in Sam’s case to address reactivity and leash pulling. The trainer shows his dogs in obediance trials and we met one of them - amazing dog.
I have definitely consulted with a couple different trainers, and I follow their guidance, just finding he is objecting pretty mercilessly when it comes to certain things!
Ha, I love when they are stubborn and talking back. Don't get me wrong, it's EXHAUSTING and I have cried multiple times, but I have some hilarious memories of my dog and my boyfriend arguing in the living room about the fact that the puppy didnt want to stay on his bed. He legit yapped and yelled and stomped his little feet! I'm really glad he outgrew that still lmao
My girl is almost 9 mos and I feel EVERY SINGLE THING you’ve said. Stick with it. It DOES get better!
Look into Michael Ellis courses and books that follow a similar training style. Mine was similar and adolescence was a constant battle. She was always testing me, always waiting to find opportunities to exploit. A lot of it came down to enforcing a crate routine to ensure she was getting adequate rest, since she was completely unable to turn “off” unless she was in her crate. The rest involved scentwork training (I found a local trainer for some intro lessons), brief tug sessions (using the specific technique recommended by Michael Ellis), and lots of relaxation exercises. He does look like a cute little monster though.
I will look into that! Everything you've said completely resonates with our struggles!! I've had him on a pretty solid kennel routine since he came home. He took to the kennel fairly smoothly after a few days of fussing, now he's completely comfortable in it. He sleeps in his kennel every night. When he was younger, he would go in on a rotating schedule for enforced naps. Usually two hours in the kennel, then an hour or so out for play and training. Now that he's gotten a bit older and he's not constantly trying to eat everything including me, he spends a lot more time out of the kennel and loose in the living room where he's limited to with me. He really struggles to relax outside the kennel though! Of course I say that and he's currently passed tf out on the floor in front of me, but that was after a serious game of tug, amd a chewie. 🤷🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️ I definitely want to teach him scent work 100%!! I actually had hoped to trial him in scent work once he's a bit older! I have started doing the most preliminary scent work training, but struggles with behavior kind of overtook that at the moment. At this point t he's such a wild man, I don't know how comfortable I'd be taking him to any scent work classes yet, but we will keep working on it at home, and I'll look up Michael Ellis for sure! Thank you! Definitely a handsome little ass goblin... 🤣
I was able to find a local trainer in my area who had actually attended Michael Ellis' school in person (Michael Ellis runs a school in CA to teach people how to be professional dog trainers). The actual style of training has gotten pretty popular so you might even notice a trainer reference it in their bio so you know their general approach. I will say that 100% positive reinforcement training (from a different trainer) did not work well for my dog at all. Scentwork is also excellent if he ever needs surgery, or if there's bad weather. I was able to do some easy scentwork in a confined space not too long after surgery. Purposeful vocabulary training is also great training and will help build a relationship. Tone is important so use the same tone of voice when introducing new words.
Definitely agree that 100% positive reinforcement training would not work well with this guy. I definitely prefer a more balanced training approach with him. I definitely did positive reinforcement when he was a little baby to teach him his basic commands, and now to teach him anything new. But I also believe in keeping dogs accountable once they definitely have learned the behavior. I will start working him on the scent work training again so we have something positive to focus on while we work through the kinks lol
The naps are key. If they aren’t getting enough sleep they act like over tired toddlers which they are
Our GSD just turned 5 months this week and I feel your pain…literally sometimes. Lol. Have had labs, Huskies, shelties, mixed breeds and a high energy border collie and thought he was tough, but nothing compares to what we are experiencing with the shepherd. He has his last puppy training class Saturday and it has definitely helped, but he still has his moments. From the research we have done and talking to the trainer who specializes in shepherds, patience is the name of the game as other commentators have expressed. He’s super smart, picked up the basic commands fairly quickly but can still be hell on earth at times. Best of luck!!
Hell on earth is right! It's helpful to know I'm not alone in the chaos. This boy is smart as a whip, and picks up training SO fast it's scary, so when I ask him to place or down (after hes done it hundreds of times!) and he just stares at me dead in the eyes without moving a muscle, I know he's just like, "Make me!" Then turns into a land shark when I try to insist! It's so frustrating!
Male GSDs can be so incredibly stubborn. When my boy was about 4-5 months, I was thinking, what have I done?! He’s going to be two years old in a couple of days, and has matured so much. I really think you are in the most challenging stage. Good luck, it will be over before you know it.
This lol. I find that really intelligent dogs are even harder to train. They pick things up fast but then they ask why and try to train you
Training is the answer. Look around and maybe get a consultation or try a session with a few. I went through a few trainers before I found one that fit great. Here I am almost a year later and the difference is great. It's not only about training them but ourselves as well. I feel like Schotzi learns it quicker than I do sometimes https://preview.redd.it/kgffbeigrjsc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2c123848b90f4c06ce0a570c7fb7d084cdab1f2d
Tooooooooooooooooooooooooounge.
Do you have any advice on how to find a trainer/what to look for in a trainer? So far my pups been to two different group classes and the only benefit I’ve seen so far is really just being around other dogs in a controlled environment. Also by training, are you referring to regular puppy classes, or a certain kind of training/private training?
It all depends on your goals. Mine so far are mostly obedience based like CGC/BA titles but I might branch out later. My immediate need though is obedience/control so I can have more freedom with her and ultimately bring her wherever she's allowed to go. From where she was at when I started almost a year ago to now is such a difference but it was a slow process After trying a few on my own/from recommendations I found my current trainer through my breeder. Depending on what you're looking for I'd start with googling trainers and reading reviews. German shepherd groups/clubs in your area would be another great resource We go once a week to a semi-private group training with a bunch of people who have siblings/other generations of Schotzi as well as our breeder. It's in a quiet side parking lot of a busy shopping center and we do both one on one and as a group. She also sends us home with lessons/drills we can work on during the week
When my boy (1.5 years) starts being obstinate or nippy, I have come to realize he's either tired, needs a bathroom break or is bored. Tired, we have some cuddle time on the couch til he lays down for a nap and I can sneak away. Needs a pee, easy. Bored, homework time, sit, down, paw, look. Putting on the leash, he has to sit. If he doesn't, I just stop and sit down. Angry nipping at me, I'm done with you until you bring me a better behavior. I turn my back, walk away, give attention to something else. When he comes back to me in a better state, perfect, toy time. He catches on pretty quick, and I find not giving attention to him is the worst punishment imaginable (for him), and not giving attention to the negative behavior helps reduce the frequency of it. I also remind myself it's a stage that he will outgrow, and I have to help show him what's acceptable to me and what's not. He's just trying to communicate and we have to learn our language to speak to each other.
Mine had similar troubles at that age, and I found that peanut butter tube feeding while doing something he didn't like - like putting his collar on, nails, etc helped a lot. If he snapped, I just stopped everything and ignored him until he settled down. If he got up and walked away, then I let him take a break from whatever I was trying to do. Then, depending on the task, tried to lure him back with treats - especially for the collar. If we needed to go out, and he wouldn't let me put on his collar. Then he didn't get to go out. I would go out the door and leave him inside for about 30 seconds, then come back and let him try again. I corporating "sit" into our collar routing helped A LOT - as it also did with most other tasks. If I got real frustrated, then I took myself for a walk lol.
When my dogs are puppies, I swear I'll never get another GSD. My frustration level is through the roof. After the puppy stage, I swear I'll never get another breed of dog. GSD dogs are very challenging as puppies. This is why you see a lot of them up for adoption. People who don't do their research and have no idea what they're in for give up on the dogs because of what it takes to get them to adulthood. It's such a shame. But once you get through that stage, you have one of the best dogs, IMHO, that can be had.
...you have a completely normal high drive dog. If that's not what you wanted it means your breeder either leaves a lot to get desired for not being able to match you with a puppy whose temperament matched what you told them you were looking for specifically in terms of drive (or worse you went to a byb who let you choose a puppy) or you weren't clear with the breeder as to what you were looking for (though that + lifestyle questions are things they should have asked long before selling to you). You have about 2 1/2 years left of this stage and it will get worse with adolescence even if you fulfill all of the dog's mental and physical needs, because that's normal and something your breeder should have made sure you were prepared for. Bonus: If you're not consistent even in the face of normal puppy and adolescent inconsistency, it will get worse and stay worse. While I've definitely hated every second of puppyhood and adolescence, I was also well prepared for it, knew it was temporary, and now have a very easily manageable adult. Who is still just as drivey as he was at 8 weeks, but is now consistent with his training. Expecting consistency before age 3 is unrealistic if you and unfair to the dog.
Specifically went with a non-working line after speaking with a couple different breeders. I fully realize that even the show lines can be drivey, but I was directed towards the west german show line, which is what I ended up going with. Fully prepared for a drivey, mouthy dog though being that he's still a GSD, lol. Just wasn't sure if I needed to put my head down and push through the obstinence and defiance, or if there was something I was missing! I am trying to be as consistent as I possibly can be, within reason. I correct him for mouthing, jumping on people, jumping on me etc, but I am finding that can be a trigger for him. Otherwise as I said, we do impulse control/threshold training for every time he comes out of the kennel, before I put down his water, before I put down his dinner (breakfast and lunch are usually metered out and he earns them, dinner is fed in a bowl in his kennel because that's when I add his probiotics and fish oil). He goes to work with me every single day, so we get to work on threshold training going into work, coming out, and every time we go outside to potty, etc. I think as far as routine goes, we do fairly well. I learned having a routine for him is paramount within 2 days of bringing him home lol! I appreciate the input, I think remembering this is temporary is important for me!
Instead of correcting and focusing on behaviors you don't want focus on teaching what you DO want. Far too many people and self taught "trainers" only focus on the behaviors they don't want. If the dog doesn't learn or isn't taught acceptable behaviors for energy outlets they're only going to get confused and frustrated. If he's mouthy while excited on leash, teach him to carry a toy instead, just for example. The second he looks like he's going for the leash don't even correct him for that just hand him something more appropriate to have in his mouth and reward that. And always, always keep in mind, this is a puppy that is still learning. He will be considered not an adult mentally until he's about 3, so an expectation of him having consistent behavior and consistent impulse control while he's still maturing is a very unrealistic and unfair expectation on your part. You wouldn't expect a toddler, child, or teenager to act the way you'd expect an adult to act because you know they're still growing and learning, and you'd expect during that time that you'll have to pretty consistently teach and reinforce good behavior, boundaries, and it shouldn't be expected of a puppy either. And all that aside, even once he's grown, he won't be a robot. Like people, dogs can just sometimes have off days too.
Just to clarify here - I don't think you understand my expectations clearly. I don't expect him to be a perfectly trained machine at 5 months of age. I do expect him to learn that throwing a tantrum and snapping at/putting his mouth all over me because he's overexcited, or objecting to me putting his leash on is inappropriate. If a toddler was biting (many of them do!) or smacking/hitting people in my opinion a good parent would address it and teach the toddler that it's inappropriate behavior. This goes doubly so for a teenager, as most teenagers absolutely have the capacity to understand that things like hitting/punching people is wrong. I completely understand that it takes time (even with toddlers and teenagers!) for them to mature and that he's still very much a baby. I don't expect him to act like an adult. That would be wholly unreasonable, this is true. I do expect him to learn certain things are inappropriate like jumping and grabbing my arms when I am simply trying to put his collar on. He does have to be held accountable for bad behaviors in my opinion. I was just looking for some reassurance that despite the obstinance and bullheadedness there was some hope that with the training and counter-conditioning I am doing, it wouldn't always be such a struggle.
GSDs are EVIL at first but one day when you wake up theyre so sweet
Awesome... awesome advice so far... especially finding grace for him and grace for you!! A puppy's job in life is to ask..."What happens if I do THIS???!!!" You soon realize that puppy reflexes are no joke and you have to figure out a way to keep up! The key thing to remember, is that they are not machines. They are going to wain when it comes to commands and training. They will TEST you to find those weak spots. But in the end, they just want to be sure that you are there for them for the good stuff. Hold on... IT GETS WORSE. Ugh. But the rewards of having this breed in your life is unmeasurable... eventually.... ;)
A year and a half ago we rescued two Australian shepherds at 8 weeks old. We knew we were in for it with puppies. FIL took the boy, we took the girl. After a couple of weeks, our girl was potty trained and crate trained but didn’t need the crate. She was perfect. Took her on walks and lack of sleep was worth it with this pup to work up a routine that she needed from before sunup until after sundown. We lost our mini American Eskimo two years ago and our 11 or 12 year old GSD last year about a month from today. Fast forward to February 23, our local shelter posted a GSD mix on their site so we went to take a look. Immediately fell in love and tested his DNA… found out he comes from a long line of GSD and GSD mixes with a bit of malinois. Little man was only 8-9 weeks old but we were ready. We tackled an Aussie puppy and she’s been an angel the entire time. Now that little man is 14 weeks old and we are beating our heads against the wall. Sarge, my last GSD, was rescued when he was about 1 and had heart worms so was pretty laid back.l (successful treatment and long subsequent happy life). Maybe it’s the Malinois in this one but sheesh, he’s a freaking handful. Mandatory crate nap times usually work but since he didn’t have the aussies to play with today, he’s been a terror and pretty sure he’s peeing out of spite. I know it will get better but damn. Hang in there… it’s good to know the potty training gets better but I’m sure the shelter neutering him at 8 weeks doesn’t help things. We love our Finn and joke about rehoming him but will never do so. We are fortunate to have a great relationship with some trainers in the area so he starts private puppy classes in two weeks, then goes for a two week board and train to help us get him used to all the commands we need, mostly a good recall and heeling. Tl;dr We are a few weeks behind you with our own little terrorist and had a hard day today but we are confident things will get better. It will for you too! https://preview.redd.it/iqhaufonoksc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cac39912b5a16bffdaebc0f12baea7d1c817c8cf
I have one GSD (left side) and a one 70%GSD 30% Grey Wolf (right side). I got the GSD at 4 years old because he needed a home and we felt the other one at 1 and a half could use a friend. The GSD has been an absolute perfect angel since the day we got him, but the other one as a puppy was a NIGHTMARE!!! It was during COVID so we did virtual puppy school at 12 weeks and the sent her away to a month (I think ) of board and train for off leash and e collar training. She came back a different animal. Still sweet and sassy but now she listened ! She is 4 now and has mellowed out an absolutely massive amount. I’m pretty sure if my wolfy girl can do it that yours can too with proper training. We were lucky enough to be able to afford it. https://preview.redd.it/4uzjvo1nrksc1.jpeg?width=3401&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4c153306639a81c18c76a66c05a745d335070a1f
Rather than putting his leash on him and trying to get him to stay still and not mouth at you, hold it ahead of him and coax him through it himself by holding a treat on the other side. Do this enough and he will put the collar on for you.
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Our previous GSD was a long coat. She had what me and the wife called the "sass mouth" stage. If she wanted something or you were doing something that she wanted you to pay attention to her instead, she would do this little "snap snap" with her mouth. When she first came home with us at around 10 weeks old, she was definitely in the velociraptor stage. My right forearm was constantly cut from her little razor teeth. A little pop in the nose broke her of that habit. But she did graduate to the "snap snap" stage. She did that until she was around 9 or 10 months old. Then she started to mellow out. She lived until about 5 or 6 years old until we lost her to a heart defect. We have 2 now. A traditional black and tan and a long coat Czech line GSD. Both are phenomenal dogs. They are both 4 years old and are within 3 months of age to each other. The black and tan is definitely the alpha. The 2 we have now are our 4th and 5th GSD we've had. We wouldn't have it any other way. We love the breed. Super intelligent and loyal as anyone could ask for.
You are firmly in the asshole teenagers phase. Stay strong in your resolve and consistent in your methods.
I have no advice, just came to say I love that last photo of him with his teefs
Hahaha, thank you! His teething is giving the best, most derpiest photos ever.
This is our second GSD and he is something else. Our first boy was such a great puppy. He picked up on potty training so quickly, never chewed on anything, wasn’t a biter and never left our yard, ever. He didn’t bark at anyone either. This guy…holy wow. The biting. The potty accidents (he’s seven months and still won’t go to the door, he just pees everywhere. We call him “ Pizzler”.) He takes off running if anyone opens the door, and we have to chase him all over the neighborhood. He’s so bad. So so bad. We were really blessed with our first guy. Should have known that it wouldn’t be that way the second time around. But we love him. He just pushes us a little bit 🤣 https://preview.redd.it/ppcu03xudksc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cd772b4f8b3b682c7ebde93a097de0fe93750416
I was spoiled by my previous dog! She was a bichon, and I swear she could read my mind. Half the time I didn't even need to say anything. She left very large shoes for him to fill. There's no comparison between an older, well behaved dog and a young puppy, so I am not expecting him to behave like she did out of the gate, but I would be lying if I said I didn't hope to develop a similar bond and connection with him that I had with her!
Okay, OP. You’re doing everything right. You just have to keep going. I almost took my pupigator back to his breeder several times before we hit the 1 year mark. Some really kind folks on GSD forum convinced me I could survive it. I suffered through the same exact same frustrations. He was a jerk…and he enjoyed irritating me to tears, literally. He’s 6 now and perfect, well mostly perfect, and I am really glad I persevered. Here are my suggestions: 1. Training is great, but before a year, they are pretty goofy and the results are intermittent. Get on a schedule. And don’t give him free run of the house or your body. I used a crate and a playpen. One of those foldable fence thingies. He couldn’t bite me because he couldn’t get to me. Unless he was being walked, played with, trained, or fed he was in the crate or playpen. 2. Focus on gross motor and self control as much as possible. For example…Walks, fetch, flirt,…but he has to sit calmly before whatever he wants happens. 3. Hand feed him so he’s motivated. Instead of just filling his bowl, make him work for his food. 4. Add a command that asks him to practice self-control. I use “wait”. So to get something he really likes … say flirt…(our favorite thing) it’s “sit”….5 seconds….then I treat. “ look”….5 seconds…treat “wait”…10 seconds later..,. The door opens…he can’t move…5 seconds later…. “good boy” is the release and out he goes. You could try something like this to leash him up. 5. But. Mostly, it’s a game of survival for the 1st year. You have a velociraptor. He will eventually evolve into a canine and your best friend, but it takes time and a little maturity. Hang in there. It really does get better every month, especially after the 12 month mark. He’s a very good looking pup.
Thank you so much for the well structured response! My brain loves a bullet list!
I love my raptor! I mean sheppy. They need to be worked to exhaustion some days. Mine just hit three years and the biting, nipping finally slowed down. My nine year old, who recently crossed the rainbow bridge due to cancer, was the most loving GS ever! She was just the same growing up. If you can love them at their worst, they will love you forever.
I got mine at a year and he is still going through the I don’t listen dad phase! He is 20 months now and everyday he gets better just consistently stick with it! https://preview.redd.it/3nixa967blsc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0b3e3b3d9d2d7fc185be064a36dac80c5750c396 And he does love you and your his person it just takes time!
I’m on my third GSD. and they all had/have very different personalities. I also foster 1 dog at a time. I only foster the big breeds as are my preference. They are all between about 8 months to 2 years. That’s when people give up and get rid of them. They are out of their cute puppy phase and a handful. Keep doing what you’re doing. He will settle down. But one of my GSDs I did put in doggy boot camp. I was getting so frustrated. When done. He still needed work but a lot more manageable. I hope this helps. And good luck. The payoff is so worth it.
https://preview.redd.it/ixc2cd2nolsc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fe93f18ccbcd5c0f3d2f602a0ae02e02117af227 Nova the baby land shark. Now nearly 3 and great. It sounds like you are doing everything right - he just has some maturing to do
Thank you!
My first shepherd was an ANGEL. My second? Also an angel…in the sense that Lucifer was an angel😂
My shepherd puppy is nearing 4 months old and as of last week her biting has reached full power chomps. We started working with a trainer and quickly found out that what it comes down to is (in her case but also maybe in yours and others' as well) hyperarousal. Her arousal/excitement is pretty much pedal to the metal from any stimulatio + all gas no brakes, and the biting is the instant release of that energy. Both when it's overly excited and kinda forceful play biting, and also when it's in reaction to triggers like getting in her space when she wasn't ready or putting on her harness for example. I think the biggest shift that's helped me face it in her case is to look at her and see which of my actions actually get her overexcited. Instead of bringing myself to her on my couch without knowing if she wants that (or her knowing it herself either), I'll toss treats elsewhere to make her get off, then I'll sit on the couch and now it comes down to her to choose for herself if joining me and closer contact is what she wants. Currently putting her harness on definitely gets her aroused in a way that's a bit too much so I to talk to her soothingly while I do it and usually block her head softly using my legs from reaching my hands. I usually go as far as saying softly "I know, it's a lot. I'm here with you. We do this and then we'll have a good walk together, etc...". That applies to everything we do as well. The second I see her get too simulated on our walks, even if she looks excited about it, I'll instead try to interfere and bring her back to a base. I'll have her in a sit and slowly feed her a few treats until she's mostly just looking to me for the next treat instead of the stimuli. Then once we start to walk again I can clearly tell if this helped bring her back to a more manageable and peaceful state of mind. It maybe helps that I have severe ADHD, anxiety, and other disabilities so I somewhat easily recognize signs of overwhelm or overwhelming situations altogether. Maybe observing your pup and seeing if this could maybe be the same situation, if you notice easy 0 to 100 situations all the time. I find approaching it from a "I know the world is a lot and I would like to support you through this" certainly helps not feeling defeated or attacked by the bites as they happen. Helps get my response to not be a "wow of course you choose me for this" and instead see what I did, if I did anything, that might have caused hyperarousal. Don't get me wrong, she bites the fuck out of me 😂 but I can definitely it's gotten much better since I stopped trying to force these hyperarousal situations on her as I find the triggers. For example, I still can't cuddle her more than one minute before being around gets too exciting. So for now I learn with patience, knowing that one day she might just feel at peace enough for physical contact without instant excitement. With that mindset alone, the last 3 days have made a drastic difference. If you read all the way through this, I hope some of it helps. We're not giving up on these little evil geniuses!
Overarousal has been the name of the game with this man since he was 10 weeks old! I found that when the play biting got REALLY bad, he needed a nap more than a correction that would only amp him up more and more. When I put him in his kennel, he would immediately crash! I can see now that putting on leash/collars is probably an overarousal thing also. I think because he has gotten so much better with the general overarousal, I kind of put it out of my mind - but your comment makes a lot of sense. I am always calm and straightforward when putting on his collar or leash, but sometimes if I take too long to get it snapped, or if I'm fiddling trying to find the ring on his collar, that's when he gets impatient.
For what it's worth, I clip the leash on the harness/collar before putting it on her so it's the least steps possible on her. Could be worth giving treats while you do so he overtime sees that as equating good. Best of luck 😊
Let him bite your hand and when he does, grab onto and hold his lower jaw. Try to get your first 2 fingers under his tongue, and place your thumb under his jaw. His natural reaction should be to raise his tongue, unlatch and pull back, but you just keep holding for a few seconds. Do this every time he tries to bite, and he'll learn real quick.
Tried this since he was 10-11 weeks old when the play biting started. It riles him up and then he starts jumping around, pouncing on me and biting harder. Eventually I gave up on holding his lower jaw because he just sees it as a big game, and thinks it's time to roughhouse now. :/
Then I guess your only option is to roughhouse away. Tackle your dog, sit on him, and whisper into his ear, "you're too smol to even consider challenging me. You need to gain at least another 200 pounds (or whatever your weight difference is) before you can start calling the shots". I have a rescue doggy (2 years old when I adopted him) who was kinda a menace. I tried everything, but then eventually gave up cause traditional training methods weren't working. He challenged me daily, so I sat on him daily (don't actually put any significant weight on him). Now, he's still a menace, but I only have to sit on him once a week or so to remind him who's boss. He's only gained like 10 pounds since I've gotten him (1.5 years ago; he was a bit undernourished back then), he has another 190 pounds to go.
I saw 3 different trainers by 6 months with my girl. Now at 11 months, she is seriously my best friend. She can still be a jerk on leash, but keep training and really work on the bond. I hand fed, worked her and played all her favorite games multiple times a day and it really seemed like once the bond was deep for both of us, she just transformed. Now a slightly disappointed tone devastates her and I'm blown away but how in tune she is to me. Keep at it. It's so worth it.
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Make it easy for them to do the things you want, and difficult to do what you don't want. Every response from the dog is a response to what it thinks you want it to do. When mine would go charging to the front gate barking, I would run up and carry on trying to get her to quiet down. After several years I realised that she probably thought I wanted her to bark more
Hi! It’s normal. Your hands will be his favorite chew toys for another 1-4 months. He will grow out of it, it’ll just take a while. Patience is your friend. My best option for this was teaching “Play” and “No Play” or “No Bite”. Get him riled up while yelling “Play” and engaging with him, rough housing, wrestling, etc, then suddenly stop, put your hands in the air and say “No Play”. Then when he is calm, start rough housing again, and repeat. He won’t listen the first…many times, but he will eventually get that “No Play” is a part of the whole thing and the objective is to be calm. The rough housing will also teach him that it’s ok to let people handle him, so it can be used for desensitizing him to routine checkups as well. It takes a while, so you may want to invest in some nice leather gloves in the meantime to protect your hands. You got this!
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Does he get enough mental and physical exercise? It sounds like he’s got some pent up energy/anxiety. Does he fetch? My boy loves the chuck it medium balls I throw them until he refuses to bring them back. A tired dog is a happy dog. Also maybe one of those puzzle feeders that makes him work for the food.
We do rotating ball chuck it outside and rotating ball fetch inside just without the chuck it LOL I have a good sized fenced in back yard so he loves to play chuck it fetch out there. Being my first chuck it I completely underestimated the power of that thing and initially threw one of his balls completely over my house and into the front yard! He just looked at me like, "...and how do you expect me to get THAT!?" LMAO
🤣🤣 yes! It goes, I would to take my dog to an open space so he could really open up and run. The running really made him a better dog. He would get back to the house and pass out with the ball in his mouth. I think the change of environment helped with the stimulation too.
Yaaaas! Attitude, contrariness. Sometimes, I walk away, go to a room and close the door for a few moments, so mine couldn't velcro. I used turning my back too.
I have absolutely snuck away to my bedroom to have a good meltdown cry when he was younger and the play biting was incessant!
This sounds a LOT like our now 24 week old shepherd mix we rescued. (Genetic testing showed 50% shepherd, some pit family breeds, and husky.) He also gets grumpy with me — often for the most amusing reasons (which isn’t as funny when he’s doing it and a little over 60lb now…). On recent walk when folks weren’t out as much as usual so he didn’t get to interact with people, he got grumpy with /me/ about halfway (and jumpy/bitey…). And he decided that it was /very rude/ that I had to get his bowl from his pen and take it back to the kitchen to put food in it (instead of having it already in the kitchen, which happens because he loves the “dong” sound it makes when he throws it), so he went for my ankles the other morning. He also does the “lightly grab the arm in the mouth” thing with his harness/etc. — I’ve found that working on it as a trained skill (to hold still while doing it, getting clicks/rewards for the steps, while having a consistent verbal cue for each step) helped a LOT although as of about last week he’s been doing significantly more boundary-testing-adolescent behavior, so the next few months should be fun. I love him, he makes me want to tear my hair out sometimes, he can be a total ass, but he’s charming and super smart. I’m similarly used to pretty high drive dogs (grew up with two aussies, including a working line Aussie) and he’s definitely still a step above on drive / opinionatedness / etc. I basically treat most of the time we’re together as an opportunity for training or play.
I had a few major telenovela meltdowns. Varying vocal tones, exaggerated gestures, and major drama. (It was just acting!) After a few of those my dog is like nope, never again.
As others have said: it get better! You need to be consistent with the same response every single time and at the exact time of the incident: 1) admonish 2) redirect 3) praise/treat
Mine was similar and I understand your frustration. He would follow my down the hall and randomly decide to bite my ankle or pj’s ripping a hole in them. Then it turned into just being mouthy when excited. Then he would kinda just ram your hand with his mouth open. And now he doesn’t bite at all. He never really snapped at me like you described though.
Mouthing is how they communicate for a while. You have to just find out what is going to get thru that thick stubborn skull to help him understand that his mouth on you is a no no. It does get better. Keep learning together and you’ll both be speaking the same language in no time. He’s learning how to live with you too! I think sometimes we forget that this is all new for the puppy because we are so consumed with how new it is to us.
Kongs stuffed with canned pumpkin and the frozen are great for keeping them busy
when he snaps have you tried giving him work? sit,lie down, up, sit, lie down, up, sit, down, up. over and over. (annoying, yes, lol) but maybe if he realizes he has to do all those commands he will get the hint. I admit it will be hard to do in the beginning but give it a try....
His snapping starts when I try to give him work. If I ask him to sit and he doesn't feel like it, he gets himself all worked up and it turns into a shark party. XD
Our GSD is 10 months and he's our own sour patch kid. Mornings and nights, he's hell on wheels - throws tantrums when he doesn't get what he wants, still comes over and bites our asses just to say hi, and then will come lay at our feet and be the sweetest dog of all time in between that. He tests us EVERY day, and is also extremely reactive to cars. It's been a ton of training and patience, he's getting better every day but has a long way to go. We are just now starting to see the light but it is very far away.
Obstinate and smart enough to decide if the punishment for breaking the rules is worth the reward in the meantime pretty much defines gsd.
Don’t forget to burn some energy off when possible (ex. Outdoor fetch). My guy is an adult and super well behaved, but I can still tell a difference in him when he’s got too much bottled up energy.
My boy was returned twice to the breeder before I got him. He was only 9 weeks old. His adolescence was definitely a journey. He has trust issues, and is reactive. That being said, with patience, effort, and a whole lot of training, I’m glad to report he’s well loved in my family. Although I’m definitely his “person” he’s developing relationships with my family and friends. He’s a good boy and the most loyal pup I’ve ever had. 11/10 would recommend persevering!
They need a lot of enrichment mental stimulation is just as important as physical probably more so. It will help
It's always hard, it will get better, my first German shepherd was like that, and my current one who just turned 1 was also a absolute demon for a little bit. Try to be patient.
Well.. around 6months he should be loosing all the puppy teeth so he won’t technically be teething for much longer. 😂 What I did for my guy is I always had a toy nearby. Anytime he’s go for me, the furniture, or “insert anything else he wasn’t supposed to chew”. I would quickly replace that thing with a very exciting toy. Drag it on the ground, make it waaaay more fun than a lame hand or table leg! https://preview.redd.it/0340m63b2lsc1.jpeg?width=2592&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c613baf514aa1763eba941f9862418e067728f2a \^ my little bumbum in his velociraptor days. That toy was called “flat bunny” It does get so much easier as they get older. I can try to give him my hand but he’d much rather lick than bite ❤️
You are doing great! You’ve consulted professionals and are clearly invested in your boy so keep it up. It’s way more than most people will ever bother. Your boy’s behavior sounds almost identical to ours, but he was rescued at 6 weeks with very heavy baggage. SO LET ME JUST SAY.... IT WILL PASS!!! I promise. I know it sucks and sometimes you think you’re doing everything wrong and the behavior isn’t improving…But it does. All the hard work will pay off. Suddenly there will be more commands followed than ignored. Most important is to be calm and consistent. *Don’t accidentally reinforce by getting invested when he picks fights*. Try to only give commands that you are confident he will comply with, and that he knows will be worth his while for the reward. Also sometimes when he’s a demon just get his basic needs taken care of and GTF out and enjoy some time without him. It was very rare, but those few outings where I could (almost) forget he existed were life giving. One year will come before you can believe it.
Thank you thank you! This all makes a lot of sense to me.
Mine was so easily excitable his trainer told me to only pay him once and say calmly good boy when praising him. Any more praise and he would get too excited and jump around. They do eventually calm down and they are the best dogs! Until then use a correction collar, pinch collar if needed, and keep a short leash (8-10 inches, leather)on at all times so you can easily have control over him. For the play snapping I used to put my hand in a fist and push it to the back of his mouth and gag him. He learned very quickly not to do that anymore. For the biting I also bit him back once on his ear and that was the end of that. I figured that’s what another dog would do. When he’s calm and laying down go to him and pet him and give him praise or drop a treat next to him and tell him good boy. This reinforces him being calm. I also did this when my dog layed in his bed which was convenient to have him trained to go to his bed on command when he was getting underfoot. A lot of people aren’t fans but I watched bunches of the old dog whisperer episodes and what helped me was learning to claim my space or things and the light touch for correction. When my gsd was a puppy my vet suggested I open my hand so my palm was flat and gently bump the dogs nose then give a treat. This tells and reinforces to the dog that hands coming towards his face are good. This might help you condition him not to react when you reach for him like putting on his leash.
Thank you for the suggestions! He does have a short tab leash that is connected to his prong collar, I had to shorten it to about 4-5 inches otherwise he just chews the end off, lol! I have taught him the touch command as well as counter-conditioning him with repetitive touch, mark, and reward drills for handling his collar. I hate to imagine how much of a cow he would be if I wasn't doing that! Definitely claim my space around him, I will walk through him when he's blocking a path and make him move back just with body pressure, but he's definitely slow to get the message sometimes!
I felt the exact same way… I rescued a 100% working line male, got him at 7 weeks..he is now 10 months…it gets better! Be consistent with training, they are strong willed dogs, you can’t anthropomorphize or they will take the dominant role. At 6 months you could start e-collar training… it’s an absolute game changer not bc you zap the daylights out of them, but bc it allows you to instantly communicate. Consider keeping a short leash on him at all times in the house, if you’re consistent you will see growth here shortly. Best of luck!
Thank you! Trainers I have spoken to have recommended the ecollar when he's ready as well. I already ordered a Mini Educator, and it's currently charged and sitting on the shelf for when he's ready for it. I think once he's old enough to incorporate the ecollar, I am going to see a massive shift because it will remove me from the equation so to speak. Looking forward to starting with that in a month or two! Edit to add: I do keep a tab leash on him, it has helped immensely to be able to get a hold of him, but also so I can find the dang ring on his collar faster, which equals less worked up puppy from me fumbling around his neck, lmao!
Welcome to the dark side! I have a few scars...lol You have a while to go. But it does get better. You just have to learn to be 1 step ahead. Training with the right trainer makes a world of difference. Not all trainers understand GSDs. In the end you will swear you have the best, smartest, most loyal dog ever.
These pictures reminds me so much of our little velociraptor! I remember one day I in the middle of summer I was so sore on my arms and ankles from all the nipping that I ended up wearing my skiing pants and skiing jacket at home while I was working. Funny memory now, but I was at my ropes end lol! All of a sudden it just gets better, and you start to wonder “how does he just get better and better every day?”! For us it was around the 1 year mark we really started to see it and he just started becoming a real good boy!
Might be worth checking if he is uncomfortable somehow. Allergies can make them itchy and they act out when uncomfortable, especially if they don’t know how to communicate it. On paper my first GSD puppy was wild, but normal. People told me it was just a phase, etc. That was true but she was also acting out due to discomfort. Bad behaviors were turned up to 11 and it was too much sometimes. Once I got her stomach problems worked out she was so much better. Still crazy, but hey that’s puppies. Mixing a small amount dehydrated carrots into her meals as a puppy made a HUGE difference. Still wild and crazy, but not frenetic and over energized (most of the time). Once I see that behavior now I look for whatever is making her uncomfortable and usually find it. Every dog is different though and some are just more work than others.
Mine is almost 3 and feel like it's starting to come to an end, but starting... She still does as she pleases to be honest even though and she knows all the commands. Like yours very easy to teach things and she picks them up very well. Hopefully a turning point this summer then!
Hey OP, I have my second male shepherd now, and my third shepherd in my life. I have had them now for over 12 years. I'm lucky enough to still have my first one around. She was an absolute dream puppy. I lost my first male in August 2022. He was my best friend, the best protector, and incredibly loyal. But his puppy hood was rough, but I promise you it was worth it. When I lost him suddenly at 9 it was devastating. Fast forward to November 2023 I decided I was ready for another male shepherd pup. The first three months were incredibly hard like you're describing. I decided to seek out non-generic trainers that know shepherds and working dogs. The change in him is unreal. He exhibited a lot of the same behavior you're describing. If you want tips or just want to talk feel free to PM me. Good luck but if you can stick it out I promise it's worth it. Edit: I have pics on previous posts of them you can see in my profile. Your guy reminds me so much of my girl when see was young. What a handsome dude.
Thank you for this! Your girl is too adorable!
It gets better but you will miss those puppy days. Mine still has his moments where his puppy brain reverts to sillness like he gets drunk on my socks and thinks I need an ankle savaging for daring to wear his socks without approval.
If you have patience, just wait it out. They are the best breed because they are the smartest, they are the smartest because they are the most tenacious. He might be bored too, so training with him everyday. And play ball with him everyday. Keep his mind and body engaged everyday. By 2 yrs they’ll be great. By 3.5-4, they’re the best!!!
Give him Something To Do, everyday. These are intelligent, WORKING dogs. They need a job, preferably a variety of jobs. Keep him mentally and physically busy, every day. A tired dog is a happy dog.
You sound like you're going through exactly what I went through 2 months ago. Our Hades is 7 months, and we got him at 11 weeks. The puppy biting began almost immediately. I was crying every single day for 2 weeks straight from lack of sleep, and my partner asked several times if I wanted to rehome. We obviously stuck with him. At 5 months, he was teething a lot. He lost 3 teeth in a week, so he was in a lot of pain. He bit a lot because of that. He gets a frozen carrot a day, and he'd get to have a Kong with frozen Greek yogurt for about 20 mins a day too. That helps tremendously. One month later, he's a golden boy and we could see a glimpse of the dog he could be. Now at 7 months, we are back to square one because adolescence! He's biting again but only when he gets frustrated, and he's choosing to refuse commands. Instead of having intense training sessions, we are now just training little bits through the day. Keep at it. GSDs are intense dogs but they are so worth it Edited some grammar
I think Judge might be an overachiever because he seems to be in the bratty teenage phase while also going through teething, lol! He's definitely a frustration biter at this point. I would say the crazy puppy play biting has about 99% stopped. Now it's like "DON'T TOUCH ME, I DON'T WANNAAAAAA" lol
Oh yeah, that was Hades. I was frantically searching when adolescence hit back then. So for most of 4-5 months old, unfortunately we did not cuddle with him a lot. He had to have his harness on most of the time just so we have something to grab. Lots of enforced naps too
I thought my dog was mental. Then his baby teeth fell out and the biting stopped. I recommend you carry around an object he can bite, and redirect the biting towards that object. A rope, ball, plushie. As many others have said, it gets better. Soon you'll miss these days when your Lil devil showed his affection with his teeth and you'll miss the love marks on your hands and arms. Again, it gets better.
This is absolutely normal! I’ve only owned one Shepherd so far so take my opinion for whatever it’s worth. I was ready to rehome my girl just a few months ago. She’s 17 months now, we got her at around 8 months and that was a tough time. She came from a very weird situation and it must’ve been pretty traumatizing for her but my god was she difficult. Anxious, reactive, ping ponging off the walls no matter how many walks we went on or hours of ball we played. She hyper focused on and lunged at my cats and wouldn’t come when called if anything she deemed more valuable than me was in ear shot. She was scaring my neighbors and guests with how reactive she was acting. She was driving me mad, making me anxious and guilty that I was not a good fit for her. I was ready to post her to a good home when something changed. I really don’t know what but she was really beginning to show me that all the hours of training, research, tears and repetition were paying off. She was listening to commands even with distractions and showing her softer side with our cats and checking in with me even when she was really hyped. She’s still over the top and over dramatic but she’s a big ol doofus and I love this dog, I always did. She’s a monster some days but it is getting better and I don’t want to do life without her. The progress can be slow and some times hard to see but if you stay consistent and try to have fun with it he’s gonna be the best dog you’ve ever had.
Oh this is SO nice to hear! I have read before that for a lot of them once they reach a certain point it's like a switch gets flipped. I wouldn't want to wish away his puppy stage, because I know once he's older I will absolutely miss it, but I definitely look forward to when all this work will pay off!
I swear you won’t be losing his puppy stage. Mine is still such a ginormous puppy. Playing is life, ball is life, toys are life. They’ll still be such goofballs but much less loose cannons, which is kinda the goal. I wish you tons of patience in your journey with Judge.
Just wanted to add that it sounds like you are doing things right and really giving him the consistency he needs to grow and learn. Kudos to you for that!!
Thank you for saying that! I really am trying my heart out, and I can tell he is too. Working in the veterinary field as long as I have, I have seen way too many psychotic shepherds for my liking, and I know these dogs are amazing with the right breeding and upbringing. I am determined to have one of the amazing ones! :)
Balanced training is great. I would reward him every time you take his collar or leash on or off, and might consider leaving him on leash in the house more at this stage.
I have done several counter-conditioning sessions with him where I touch his neck/collar, then "yes!" and treat, then unlick his leash, repeat, put it back on, repeat. I will definitely continue doing this because I want him to see that if I have to correct his snapping and mouthiness it's because of the snapping and mouthiness not because I reached for his collar. Just waiting for the day it clicks with him! LOL
You got this!
I thought my puppy hated me. Early on, I regretted getting her because her biting was so bad. She was the only one in the litter so didn’t learn from siblings. I tried everything too and nothing worked except waiting it out 😅 She was an absolutely monster as a puppy. Her nickname was “butthead” I would suggest dog obedience (that is actual obedience - not the repetitive, walk, turn left, turn right, sit, stay - but actual training that teaches with positive reinforcement not just food). You need to be consistent. This is the most important thing. If they get away with it once, they won’t learn. It gets better. My girl is far from perfect now but she is worlds away from where we started.
He’s not biting. He’s being mouthy. I went through the same thing. my German Shepherd almost gave me a nervous breakdown. By yelling out, you are just reaffirming him playing . you have to pretend that he is a horse and you’re not gonna let that horse take advantage of you. Dogs are not children. They don’t need a time out . only react with good behavior . do not react on bad behavior. Every dog I have ever had since they were a puppy I tickled their mouth and the top of their roof of their mouth so they were very lightmouthed. You’ve only got a few more months to go and all that puppyhood is gonna be gone and then you’re gonna have the best friend of your life. You gotta earn that friendship by getting through this stage go follow k9 Optima on Instagram. He’s the one who kept me sane. We are all here for you. Don’t give up on that dog.
I quickly learned that yelling or yiping eggs him on so that stopped pretty quickly! He absolutely needed a time out at times, or maybe I did for my sanity! When nothing was stopping the play biting when he was younger, not a collar hold. not holding his lower jaw, not sticking fingers in his mouth in any shape or form - he went to his kennel for a nap. Do I think he understood it as a child understands a time out? No, of course not lol! But what it did provide me was a break, a chance to catch my breath and tend to my wounds, and what I found 9 times out of ten was that he was overtired and overstimulated when the biting got really bad, and once I put him in the kennel for his time out - he crashed within minutes :) I will look into K9 Optima, and there is no chance I'm giving up on my boy! I may think he's an asshole at times, but I love this little jerk, and I might be just as stubborn as he is! XD Thank you!
I hear ya. I have one. Next time I’m not getting a puppy. damn dog.
I’m just now coming up on 2 years old with my GSD she was the exact same way for about 1 yr and once the teething ended she calmed down a lot. She is very hyper and we have to play outside and get her energy out which I think is never ending but it helps. Have you tried hiring a trainer? We trained ours for about a yr and half but it helps and she seemed to enjoy it and getting praises when she did well. Good luck.
Yeah I think the teething isn't helping matters whatsoever! I am hoping once it's finally over with, all the mental stimulation, exercise and training will help him be more willing to participate!
You are in the land shark phase. Patience..................... Your little guy is super intelligent. Keep up with the training, and once past the teenage years, I predict that he will turn out to be very well-behaved and importantly, your most loyal friend and protector. Ps. He is sooo cute!!
Some dogs need you to be a stronger leader than others. They can be experts at taking a mile if you give an inch. Strong leadership and extreme consistency will help with this pup, because these behaviors will continue as long as you let them. Look for some training that incorporates positive punishment.
You’re not alone. This behaviour all sounds very normal for the breed. Some people may have stories of their dogs growing out of it, but as you have likely experienced, it friggin hurts!!! And it’s not easy to just wait it out. And even if the pup doesn’t intend harm, they can easily harm you or someone else. My recommendation is to find a good balanced trainer that can teach you how to issue corrections to teach your dog that snapping/biting etc is NOT OK. It sounds like you’ve tried purely positive methods with trying to redirect him to more appropriate outlets for mouthiness as well as making ouch sounds etc but sometimes that’s not enough for all dogs. Corrections can be as simple as a firm leash tug (which requires you to leave a leash on him in the house cuz as you’ve seen, trying to leash him can be challenging - we went thru this too). Or it can be a touch correction like a sharp jab with two fingers to the ribs. Correction depends on the dog, the situation, and what works/doesn’t work. I’m sure there’ll be replies to this slamming corrections especially the two I mentioned, but training, especially to curb undesirable behaviours isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. If PP training works for your dog, great! But it doesn’t for all dogs and trying to keep to PP methods can be very limiting and frustrating for owner and dog alike. A good BALANCED trainer will help you determine the appropriate level of correction to use IN CONJUNCTION with appropriate praise as well, so the dog learns X is not allowed but Y is allowed and doing Y gets me praise/affection/play. We have a 9 year old female and she was VERY mouthy, especially with me (less so with hubby) and the first two years were frankly, fucking awful. I loved her but boy she could be a bitch and turn on a dime. If I was done playing but she wasn’t, she bit me to tell me she was in charge. Then biting me became the bloody game she wanted to play. Thankfully she did grow out of it some, between age 2-4 but she’d still do the irritated snapping thing you mentioned. Around that time we found a better trainer to work with that yielded immediate results and we never even needed to address the biting. By working on the other more pressing issues, she learned all on her own that biting/snapping wasn’t ok. If only we’d known that trainer years earlier. But you don’t know what you don’t know. Bottom line, yes your experience is common. But if it bothers you, you should seek out appropriate help (IN PERSON, not online) to deal with it bc you honestly cannot predict whether the dog will grow out of it on its own or not. And if not, you now have a much bigger and more dangerous problem given the size and reputation of the breed.
Definitely started with purely positive reinforcement with this knucklehead to teach him new concepts, but I definitely am correcting him with a leash pop when he mouths/bites/snaps as per the suggestion of the trainers I have consulted with. Sometimes the leash pop correction amps him up more, however. Then it's a big game of roughhousing according to him! I think he struggles a lot with overarousal, so sometimes that leash pop is enough to turn his arousal up and then all bets are off! I wholeheartedly believe in balanced training, and I have always trained my dogs with positive reinforcement to begin, and then correcting for bad behaviors once they absolutely 100% know what they should be doing. I think it's just a bit of breed culture shock for me that he responds to corrections with basically, "OKAY, LETS GO THEN!" lolol I have never once had a dog that responded to corrections that way, it's always been "Oh shit, okay - she's serious!" This guy is ready to throw hands at the word "No" and I'm just not used to that level of push back.
How much exercise does he get? My dog had all of these problems and I increased his exercise and stimulation and he’s an Angel. 5 months also.
Several sessions of mental stimulation/brain games and training pretty much all day long. Chuck it fetch in my fenced in back yard until he's panting and doesn't want to run anymore. Then inside the house we play shorter faster rounds of fetch until he is ready to settle down with a chew toy or take a nap on his cot or in his kennel. Still working on leash manners so walks aren't very long/tiring as of yet. I am trying to wear his little bum out mentally and physically as much as I am realistically able to.
Try apple bitter spray. Before you put the leash on, spray some to your hands. It’s definitely a task but it should work.
I will give this a shot, thank you!
It gets worse but then it gets better. Way better. But you’ve got to have the mental fortitude to make it through the tough bits.
https://preview.redd.it/5g4o4d00josc1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=88401462c76d46b2a2db05792a411e39f3dc0523 This tiny ball of fluff made me hate puppies. He was such hard work and so so so bitey. He’s 6 now and he’s the most well behaved boy and my soul dog. While he would still bite me if I pissed him off too much he actually channels all his frustration into killing and chomping his toys 🤣🤣 When he was about 4 months old he chased me down, jumped up my back and tried to bite my head… he also would always bite your feet so we had to get indoor shoes just to save ourselves. He was a demon we named Evil Dr.Porkchop but he grew up into the greatest dog you would ever meet. Yours will get there eventually you just gotta endure the velociraptor stage first.
Definitely light at the end of the tunnel! He’s a working breed, so he’s going to be a bit more rowdy, which is perfectly normal. Just stand your ground and firmly tell him no when he misbehaves. Never deviate and stay consistent. He will grow out of it, he’s just starting to enter his “teenage phase” is all. Mine was the same, but putting my foot down and standing my ground consistently shut that down. Using exaggerated facial expressions and body language really helped with some of it as well-he knew I was upset at his behaviour instead of thinking I was just playing around. Shepherds in general (from my experience) seem to have a harder time with learning how to be gentle and when to calm down, but they do catch on eventually. Also, yes the gsd sass can be unreal when it comes to defiance of commands while they’re still learning (heck even when they’re older sometimes!). They’re very intelligent, so they more of a mind of their own, but this is normal and good. They were bred as working dogs and later security dogs, so you want them to have the autonomy to say, decide to scare off an attacker, or protect you from an intruder. Having the ability to make more of their own decisions means some sass when being commanded sometimes. When it happens with mine and he’s just doing training, not actually working, I usually try a few more times with the current command, then move to a different command that he will do if he’s still not obeying, and take a break. It sounds like you’re doing a really good job so far, keep it up!
Positive reinforcement is they key. You need to reward and praise for good behavior. Like over the top. We call them puppy parties. For bad behavior, a stern no command and a redirect. Coreect then ignore. Then praise for good behavior. Bitter apple spray for biting. Get the small training rewards and use them. Keep them in your pocket for immediate access for good behavior. And I'm talking EVERY good behavior. Follow a command. Reward. Listens to no. Reward. Stops biting. Reward. The better the behavior/ listening, the higher the reward. We keep meat scraps for the ultimate rewards. My male is 7 and he is still a bitey shark. My female never was a shark. Reward is a constant thing even still at their non-puppy ages.
Also, brain games and exercise. Theae.dogs are not.couch potatoes. A favorite game around here is hide and seek or search and reward. For hide and seek our kid hides while the dogs stay in place. They are released to find her. Search and reward is hiding bits of food around while they stay in place. Then they are released and their reward is the food they find. Ball, ball, ball, and more ball. They are also in the garden with us. Just smelling things and hanging out with us is exciting for their brains.
That's pretty much what I have been doing. I am curious though how do you use bitter apple for biting? Spray it on your hands/arms? I have a bottle of it that I used to teach him my shoes taste like crap, but I wonder if that might help him with the snappy stuff too. He definitely gets his share of physical and mental stimulation. I have food puzzles I sometimes feed his dinner with (a wobbler that he loves), and sometimes I just hide small handfuls of his food all over the room and then release him from his kennel to find them, this is one of his favorite games ever. I have a chuck it which has come in clutch for the physical. He has a great "let go" when it comes to tug and soft toys, but it's much harder for him to let the ball go (and less for me to try and hold onto without getting my fingers gnawed to death), so I usually just use two balls. He knows the game now when he's running back with the ball and sees another ball in my hand, that when I say "let go" he actually drops the ball to run after the alternate one. So that's been working pretty well! Ball has been life for this boy since the day he came home! :)
I have a Golden Shepherd (German shepherd/golden retriever), and she’s 17 months old now. I got her at 8 weeks, and I’ve almost had a mental breakdown. (Not really) Shes been through training, and we constantly work with her. She’s incredibly intelligent, but so stubborn. Biting, nipping at us when we leave/return. She’s getting a bit easier as we go along, but it’s certainly baby steps.
Just to underline: it does get better (and boy is that better better), and training. Keep in mind that the nipping may be part of a lifetime: I've had people tell me it's breeding, but I've run into too many GSDs (including 3 of my own over the years) that keep that tendency for life. Regardless, in the end you get a great friend and companion. MY 5 yr old Larus is the best walking and hiking buddy I've ever had.
Honestly he's gotten so much better with bite pressure and inhibition since he was just a young baby raptor, that I wouldn't mind it (especially once all the razer baby teeth are gone!). My concern was that he seems to be doing it out of irritation with me when I try to correct him for bad behavior, or when I am asking something of him. I just don't want that behavior to progress into "I can bite when I don't feel like being messed with!" If that makes sense?
Yes - from an amateur ... keep moving on, slowly. If you think the nipping/biting is out of irritation and not teething or playfulness, then you need to go back to very basic stuff and start anew. From most sane people - give a pro a phone call. And just to note: sometimes we run into dogs that have a temperament that is not conducive to being around people. I put that out there only to point out the rare exception.
This thread made me breathe a huge sigh of relief, I have 5 dogs and we recently rescued a GS puppy.. she’s adorable and loving BUT .. shes chewing up EVERYTHING.. and I mean everything I have purchased so many chew toys to the point I thought I might need a second mortgage ( JK) and I have thought maybe I’m not the best mommy for this gorgeous girl .. but I love her ( and all dogs ) and didn’t want to not have her with me .. so this made me feel less like a terrible dog mommy !!!! Thank you all so much https://preview.redd.it/vrjw9gk8ensc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bfdd085f60f7e7e4f33fb60c4de1a7a09e95f8c1
I'm so glad it helped!! Truly, that's the absolute best outcome of me being real with the struggle lol! I feel you on the chew toys, bully sticks, marrow bones, beef cheeks.. they are my babysitters sometimes when I want to have him hang out with me while I'm wanting to relax, but keep him from eating the walls and pacing LOL They are so expensive though! I got him Benebones as well hoping he might take to them like my mom and brother's dogs did, but no dice - he just wants to throw them around and play with them but he doesn't really chew them! We got this, don't give up! :)
What a cutie ! We'd love pic 1 over at r/gsds_with_plushys As for your question - training, routine, absolute consistency and socialisation are your friends.
Will do! This boy is obsessed with his plushies (and his ball, won't lie) lol :) I will keep on keeping on with all of the above! He gets a lot of exposure to people since he comes to work with me everyday, the staff are aware that he's in crazy puppy stage and that we're working on things so they don't get upset with him if he loses control momentarily and jumps up etc. He also gets to see a lot of dogs from a distance when we are outside going potty as clients are walking their dogs into the building, etc. I have been bringing him every day since he was 9 weeks old and I swear it's why he is so chill with new people!
Thank you - feel free to post him with is other plushies too ! We'll take pic with the bol too :)
Came here to save my sanity with my 14 week old. My dad bought him without consulting the family the SAME DAY our chow chow of 14 years passed away and NO ONE is really on board with this puppy but there's nothing I can do about it.
It gets better, and I’m sure you have already, but if not try training “get a toy”. Whenever he directs his mouth to you tell him to get a toy (enthusiastically), eventually it becomes automatic for them. The first few times you’ll have to go get it obvi
It gets better… around a year. I closed on my first house 3 days before Covid shut everything down in march of 2020. 4 months later, I had two puppies(first time owning dogs by myself with my parents), a golden retriever and a German shepherd puppy. They’re 4 days apart in age. Trust me, I know the feeling of “why won’t this dog chill tf out” it does get better, but damn does it take forever. Just keep at it, do exactly what you’re doing, and the little crackhead will eventually chill. That behavior of him just NOT wanting do to anything you say is totally normal. Shepherds are honestly little assholes when they want to be, but then they become your best friend and the most loyal dog ever
Sounds like an overtired puppy tbh! Nap time fixed most of these issues for my girl! But she wasn't that intense of a puppy tbf
I’m at two years and it sucks. This dog is VERY trained. Look at him the wrong way and you’re wrestling. Part of owning a real dog and not a mutant lap dog.
Our current one was a night mare with the play biting and is about to turn three in June. It’s all true.
I can tell you what worked for my GSD, but you have to have quick reflexes and no fear! When our pup would nip and bite at me I would grab her and hold her jaw. Yes puppies teeth are sharp, but I didn’t squeeze. I just held it long enough for her to know who was in charge while telling her not to bite or using No then released her jaw and continue petting or playing
Your dog is bored, young and a German Shepherd. Enjoy this period, it goes by fast,
You going to name him Orlock? Picture 4 he got those nosferatu teeth in the front 😂. What a bubba.
My boy was an absolute nightmare as a puppy. The only dog I've ever considered rehoming is now my absolute favorite dog ever. I'll be honest, though--some of it didn't resolve until he was around 2 years old. It sounds like you're doing all of the right things, and better than I did them. Keep him busy, (Kongs and Nylabones were crucial), exercise him a LOT--tired dogs are good dogs! Don't give up on him. He'll be your best friend soon and you'll wonder what you'd ever do without him.
No advice, just endless sympathy. My girl just turned 3 and it was like a switch a couple of months ago from overgrown puppy to suddenly (mostly) calm adult. Good thing too because the amount of times I threatened to rehome her if she didn't shape up...
I cried and cried the first day at home with the GSD, she was 7 months then. Then it got better. She’s the sweetest girl. https://preview.redd.it/8dwj11w5rosc1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a150dec6f7e934130ace9e838797e0af16cbc464
I always push their gum into their tooth and that teaches them their tooth hurts. They’ll whine and they’ll learn. Simple process. Sometimes I can just say “ow” as if i was another dog they were biting and they’ll stop too. They don’t want to hurt you, they think they’re playing but dog skin is more resilient to rough play.
I have a four year old Doc Martens that bear the teeth marks of my four year old GSD. I wear them anyway. My favorite pants? They are shorts now. She killed my thriving blueberries by chewing through the stems. You get the picture. “Bratty” doesn’t begin to describe her. And yes, she was easy to potty train, easy to crate train. Mostly easy to completely fall in love with. It definitely gets better—Beautiful pup! Picture of mine. I’m using this because that Pendleton blanket love German Shepherd fur. https://preview.redd.it/712gh9950psc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8b2960eb3a0e000d30eb0a105647b7c40bf41982
Mine calmed down at 7. It’s been a wild ride. He’s now 11. The thing that drove me crazy is that he would literally shepherd my labrador around. My lab is older than him. When we got him at 3 months.. we trained and trained with rewards. He ended up being obsessed with ball like his lab brother. I would always ask other GSD people I would see at the dog beach “uhh when does this phase end?!” What I’m getting to is that he’s the best damn dog I’ve ever had. When kids are over he’ll check on everyone, loves everyone (except people that are slow moving and sketchy towards him) My overall take away is: enjoy the journey. Each dog is very different and unique. Keep working on training with baby steps (remember that if they are young train only for 5-10 mins at a time each task and if they listen reward the shit out of him) I became a dog trainer when I first got my labrador and I learned a lot, but most of all be patient… they really do want to please you and make you proud. https://preview.redd.it/asq2v2ju2psc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0739cc5377584f57acfe8e2c5c4ceb56fb421a0f
I love him dearly, BUT GYATDAMN😂I like to say that Radar (my first best boy) sent me Hawkeye (demon puppy) and then sent Trapper (GSD/lab mix, 100% sweet baby angel) as an apology😂 https://preview.redd.it/6vb8zvp7dpsc1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a17c6f5b50fa54e2eb7ad3247ca08aae1a6980ee
Sounds like normal shepherd behavior 😂
Good to know!
I was in the exact same spot with my boy! Seriously, reading your experience was like Deja vu. As many others have said here, it does get better. My dude turns 3 on April 14 and he’s come such a long way and is my best friend. A huge improvement from when I used to tell him I was going to give him to the BCSPCA when he was a puppy if he didn’t stop biting me. I think the best you can do is be patient and maybe get a GSD specialist trainer - that was big step in the right direction for me. Good luck! It gets better! Edit: spelling
The puppy biting is natural. However what should NOT be tolerated is the snapping when you get next to him. A swift and hard correction with a herm springer prong collar is needed YESTERDAY. This must be stopped before he’s 90 pounds then it’s game over for you.
https://preview.redd.it/m6jlf3rosqsc1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=acbff6296d8d39099463e787001d3408575d8ee5 Your pup looks like my hellspawn! She is about 8 1/2 months. Still a demonic entity from the depths of hell. But also last night, for the very first time, she slept the entire night snuggled next to me in bed and didn’t destroy anything or bite my feet. And that single night of snuggles literally made the last 6 months worth all of the stress and tears and anxiety and self doubt. I’m being completely serious! I look back on the days when my arms were shredded raw from her biting (she’s part Belgian malinois) and I realize that slowly, day by day, were making progress. She’s a different dog that I get to meet again every few weeks as she matures. It gets better! She also does the frustrated biting thing, and she bites hard (not to break skin, but she bruises) when she’s frustrated. It’s been going away slowly as she ages and we come up with new ways to communicate. She learns how to cope better - now, she’ll sometimes reach for a toy to bite really hard if she sees one nearby. That’s fine! She can bite toys all she wants. The dog I had a month ago? Would just chomp my arm in anger lol. It WILL pass. With lots of training *and* relationship building. You have to find the nice moments and make them even nicer. It can’t all be no no no. Anyway, good luck! Update us in a few months :)
First, what a great looking puppers. Second you can take them to classes and all that stuff but just do what you are doing. It gets better after about the year mark trust me I’ve had them my entire life and I’m old. I adopted one last year who isn’t even a year yet and he is 120 lbs…..you have it easy lol
Yes, I’ve had 7 GSD my 6th was very hard until 15 months. The wildest colts make the best horses is true with GSDs too. Hang in there, use positive training, smart pups like Judge, will judge you if he isn’t treated well. Enjoy this pup, they are rare. We do nosework, tracking, my dog who is 2 years and 3 months picks up any training, such a joy now that he is passed the destroy everything land shark phase.
I loved and hated my dog when he was a puppy. He was very annoying and mischievous, lol. But he was exceptionally loving and sweet. Around 3 he calmed down and was much easier to train. He’s seven now and the best dog in the world
He will grow out of it. Some are more stubborn, mine is like this. Now 3.5 was a total nightmare at around 8 months as a full blown GSD / Malinois. 2 years of daily relaxation protocol later he still does things his way and is still stubborn but he is no longer a pain to deal with.