My pups' pedigree, and her lack of nerve? - Page 1

Hi,
 I haven't really posted here, but thought I'd raise the topic.

I have a 10 month WGSL. You can see her photo and pedigree in the provided link below.

When she was 3.5 months, she was pinned and seriously shaken by an adult GSD. Since then, she's has no nerve around other dogs. She'll pick and play with a few choice pups in pre-arranged playdates, but as soon as a GSD enters the area, she pins her ears back, tail down, and retreats to a safe place.

I avoid dog parks, and runs, but do meet with young dogs with good temperament, and she's fine.... That is until the first sign that another dog has had entered the area.

If it's  GSD, she's literally scared out of her wits.

I mentioned her pedigree, because someone mentioned that her behavior and lack of nerve is more than likely related to her pedigree than her incident.

Here's her pedigree:

She's 7 months in her picture

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/dog.html?id=737543

What a beautiful head and expression she has. I hope some of the experienced will offer you the correct advice to help her overcome her fears of older GSDs.

Ibrahim

What is WGSL? At first I thought it was a working line GSD maybe, but she's definately all show. She's traumatized I'm sure from what happened, you just have to ease her into it. Do you have any friends with a GSD? Can try getting another GSD into the picture (like a friend, or someone at the park), and letting her know it's there, then moving her out of range of the dog until she's comfortable and have her focus on you. Give her treats and praise and toys, let her relax, then slowly start moving inwards. Make sure she's comfortable though. It could take a while before she's within a few feet, but it's worth a shot.

It might help to take her to malls, outdoor restaurants, dog training places where you may see other dogs. Take her along with an adult GSD, a dog that is very good with other dogs. Walk them around side-by-side so she can see how the older dog reacts to other dogs. I think that dogs learn a lot by watching other dogs, so you need to take her with a dog you are sure will be steady and predictable.  I don't think it matters if it's a male or female "teacher". Treats would be good to reward her good behavior as suggest by Macrowe.

She's very pretty, good luck with her. She will probably be just fine with some work.

WGSL = west German showline maybe?

Ah Blizten that makes so much more sense. I'm used to seeing WL and I'm like ok working line....wait, Remo? haha

Very pretty head on  her.  :)
I agree with the person that told you her genetics has a lot to do with her nerve and how quickly she'll get over the incident.

Just to address a few replies.

She's a West German Show Line.

She's well socialized. Very friendly to humans, and other young pups. She's obedience trained, and still in obedience school.
She's non-reactive, meaning, she won't lunge or get agitated at the sight of another dog.

This incident happened 7 months ago, and she's still disturbed at the sight of a GSD.

She's tops in her class in obedience, but if she sees a GSD within her space, she cowers, tucks her tail, and goes between my legs.

I'm concerned that she won't recover from her traumatic experience of 7 months ago.

It is all about Genetic Temperament

Most people in this board don't know about quality show lines and will tell you that being show line is the problem. Unfortunately,what happened to her can be really traumatic and she might never overcome it, that is my experience;this is why you never mixed puppies of different ages or older ones. Good luck

Those characteristics you describe are not typical of the breed......try to do as much as possible in continuing socialization and good things.....but when under stress these things will reappear. Unfortunately, its genetics.