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by vomtreuenhaus on 18 January 2012 - 05:01
by EchoEcho on 18 January 2012 - 14:01
by macrowe1 on 18 January 2012 - 14:01
I'm not trying to suggest anything, that's just how it's coming across. You keep stressing that you haven't had to deal with this before, but keep in mind every dog is different, and a LOT of pups go through this stuff. I don't agree that getting the dog at 6 weeks is the problem. is he jealous when you're with the other dogs? Nothing that you've been saying shows a serious obsession, but if it is then ignore him. Like a big "NO" when he gets over-the-top and turn around and ignore him until the behavior stops and then pay attention to him and give a reward, if it gets back out of hands do it again. that's the only thing that I can think of, had to do it with my pup originally to teach her to not jump up (totally against kneeing deep-chested dogs to teach it) when she was a couple months because she would whine and bark and jump on me when she saw me, did that a couple times and she got the picture. I do agree with Echo, you seem to unknowingly reinforce the behavior, and 100% agree with Echo on the "its okay 'ma i got this" situation. as for the nipping, have you tried when he does it a loud "OWWW" and over-dramatic actions like he hurt you? my friend's Golden Retriever pup does it and their trainer told them to do it. he may view you more as a littermate (jumping, nipping, whining, really really wanting to play) and wants to play just like he has with his littermates, and the actions he's doing has worked in the past.
by vomtreuenhaus on 18 January 2012 - 15:01
Only 2 dogs are kenneled during the day, the shepherds. I live with my parents, their dogs are in the house during the day when my sister is home (usually everyday, and weekends etc) becvause they are calm, could care less about the cats, and could care less about moving (their dogs are BEYOND lazy) The shepherds are TOO much for her to handle in the house when I'm not there, she also has no interest in dogs in general so its been hard the times she has had my older female in the house when I'm not there, to teach her how to handle her. My parents do the whole "your dogs, you do the work, you take care of them, etc" Which I completely understand, The only time I ask them for help is if I have to stay late at work, I ask them to feed them. My dad is not a dog person (if it were up to him, we wouldnt have any dogs). So my dogs are my responsibility 100%. I love that they are outside all day enjoying the day. When I get home is usually when I feed them so I dont let them heavily exercise at night. Its usually all in the morning/mid day. Or on my days off, I do things with them all day like I said whether it is going in the field to run, going for traffic walks, etc. And usually do obedience as a bonding thing. And when theyre in the house its more just to relax, or try to!
He literally goes out of his way to put his mouth on me/nip me. At night when i feed him and i leave the kennel door shut to get his food ready, he jumps as high as he can up over the kennel door and grabs my arm or any body part in range. Im honeslty surprised he hasnt gotten my face yet.
I dont think making a huge OUCH/OWE/distress noise when hes got his mouth on me will do good, again maybe im just paranoid...but the last thing I want is to be at training and the helper lets out struggling noises and he releases.
When i try to talk to him and get him to calm down he thinks I'm mad at him and starts acting weird. Like if i hold him to me (the way we craddle when teaching the "out" with young dogs) he eventually thinks hes done something wrong. I guess I really dont know how to get him to be "calm" without thinking im mad at him, if my tone/body language changes slightly he gets "stand off-ish" like, my "normal" to him is super excited and happy and what not, when i "tone it down" he gets weird. So maybe i have unintentionally reinforced the behavior I'm seeing now, how could I go about helping it?
Im excited for tomorrow morning, if anyone wants to know the trainer I'm seeing tomorrow, its Mike Pinksten. Hes a long time friend and I trust what he will say in regards to it.
At this point, I am not leaning toward his insecurities as being "genetic" After talking with you guys and really thinking its putting into perspective that it WAS my unintentional encouragement of the behavior, and hopefully we can correct it and move forward.
I do appreciate everyones advice. :)
by Al Garza on 19 January 2012 - 02:01
by vomtreuenhaus on 19 January 2012 - 13:01
by Ramage on 19 January 2012 - 23:01
Also, keep in mind that some lines mature at a slower rate, mentally. I have a bitch here that did not reach her confidence peak until she reached 20 months of age.
by JRANSOM on 20 January 2012 - 01:01
by Rass on 20 January 2012 - 13:01
Ladies and gentlemen...let me interject here and state something that I repeat daily to people I work with and I mentioned in here last night as well in another thread. ALL the love, care, understanding and patience in the world will NOT and CANNOT change genetics. A dog either has it or it does not, end of. If it has it, it can be developed and brought out, if it does not, all you will do is frustrate and question yourself.
While the young lady asking this question is indeed young and may not have much experience, there is nothing wrong with "washing" a dog out of a program. Having said that, I will also add that when choosing a new candidate, either have someone with a lot of experience guide you or deal with a breeder you trust implicitly. Choose a dog for the particular sport/discipline you want to do and realize that show and real working dogs often dont mix.
Pay attention to this. It is true. The circling and looking to you is insecurity.
Vomtreuenhaus said:
When I let him out of the kennel alone in the morning, i "love all up on him" and let him spaz out all over me, then I grab my tools and clean the kennel...it frustrates me that he will sit outside the kennel and not go "do his thing" ie poop/pee, or go sniff around at the new smells of the morning..or hell, go play with the chickens! (he likes to herd them and gets great joy in it when tehy do what he wants) He will literally sit outside the kennel, his whole body shaking, will occasionally lay down, with a ridiculous amount of anxiety waiting for me to turn around and let him spaz on me again. Trust me, I LOVE the bond he has with me, I just want to see him having more confidence in himself.
If you want to have him be more independent, the bolded part is NOT what you do when you first meet the dog. IGNORE him for 10 minutes. IGNORE the spazzing all over you. Go to work. Do not even LOOK at him. After you clean his keenel, then you pet him a bit and ruffle the back of his head.. and then give him something to do (like heel or whatever). The fact that he will herd the chickens and not try to prey on them indicates (IMO) some of the dog's lack in prey drive. IOW's combined with what hired dog said, you may have a dog who is great in tracking, great in obedience but who may fade in protection.
When you buy a puppy it is ALWAYS a crap shoot. ALWAYS. This means you need to really LOOK at the genetics. This means NO WEAK genetics. No weak Male Tail, Female tail and so forth in the first 3 generations.
Vomtreuenhaus said:
No he really has never done anything in need of serious correction. He responds really well to the "ah ah" noise if he jumps on the counter or something silly that i dont want him doing. Other than that, I've corrected him once for reacting aggresively to another dog (and by that I mean I scruffed him quickly, said no, and released him and he was fine).
More indication of a soft dog. Trust me on this.. Scruffing a dog like this is VERY counterproductive. Fact is any sort of aversive like this before a dog is one year old can really backfire. Especially in a dog this soft.
It is likely his 'aggressive' reaction was more defense than true aggression (prey or combat drive).
Your dog MAY develop as he matures. He may not. I would give him until age 2 and a half.. and if he is not showing confidence by then, he is not going to show it. A GSD needs to have good nerve, good courage, good drives in those areas (NOT defense). If he does not show those things, regardless of the genetics behind him, or the beauty of his conformation, he is not a dog that should be passing on his genes.
Remember.. a puppy is ALWAYS a crap shoot.
by vomtreuenhaus on 20 January 2012 - 15:01
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