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Ok, so is socialising him more and visiting the vets likely to help the problem or make it worse?

2nd Fear period??? K9, my 9 month old GSP (who we have only had for a few weeks) was very ill 10 days after he came to us and spent a couple of days/nights at the Vet but thankfully pulled through. I visited the vet today and he is now very scared of the vet (and to some extent the nurse's too) and he hid behind me like a small child would (which he didn't do before the episode of illness). The vet was gentle with him and hand fed him treats and said to pop by every now and again to show him that its an ok place to be. The thing is a few days ago my parents visited and our dog was really weird with my Dad and grabbed (nipped) at my Dad's hand. He didn't make contact at all (looked almost like he thought he had food) and he didn't appear to be aggressive about it (to my unexperienced eyes anyway) so I am wondering is he going to be fearful of men now and if so what is the right thing to do about it?

Thanks again to everyone. The jumping is becoming less of a problem (unless he is really really excited, like when kids get home from school) and we now make him sit for everything (although I think at 9 months he has hit his "selectively deaf" period!). He is beginning to sit without being asked to for somethings so we are definately getting there plus we start obedience classes in a couple of weeks time (I finally found a place that wasn't full until next year!).

thanks Georgie boy

My boy is vaccinated C4. I'm trying to find some obediences classes to go to and I've found quite a few websites of some and they say dogs must be vaccinated to C5. Is there some sort of "booster" that can be given to C4 vaccinated dogs that get them to C5 level?

Thanks for your advice. I read another post somewhere here that used a water spray bottle and the dog got a quick squirt when jumping up. I tried this with the kids last night and this morning we walked out and he saw water bottle in my hand and there was no jumping! hopefully he'll catch on quick.

what are the best methods for stopping our 9 month old GSP jumping up on us? He's only been with us a few weeks and initially this wasn't a problem but now it is (I think he's finally used to us!) He's better about it with me (probably because I have a louder voice and I'm taller and more confident) but the kids are finding it a problem. I have been telling the kids to turn their backs on him and ignore him until he has settled and we have now even started to walk around the garden ignoring him until he lost interested and once he was just standing there quietly we went to him but now he seems to think that if he starts tugging at the kids clothes/shoes etc this might get there attention. I had intended to be at classes with him by now but the he was extremely ill last week and had spent a few days at the vets so now that he is home the classes I wanted to go to only have 3 weeks left and don't start again until February. Another class I looked at was fully booked and another wouldn't take dogs that had C4 vaccinations only C5. What do people recommend for stopping jumping? I was wondering if I just had maybe one or two private lessons I could continue on my own until the classes start again next year. We don't have any other major issues .he walks pretty good on leash due to his breeders showing him so he knows not to pull, and mouthing isn't too bad, I hold him around mouth and say no sternly if he does. Sitting is still a work in progress, he will sit for food but only for a second, so I need to work on this too.

Thanks everyone for your recommendations. Poodlemum, I've had a GSP before so I know what you mean about them and food! We haven't had him long so all I given him so far is his dry food and meaty bones and some raw meat but I'm reading what other people are feeding and will add a few other items to the menu. Here is my "baby" (NOT, he's already 30kg, think I am going to have another big boy like my last GSP :rolleyes: )

Thanks for that. No he doesn't do it all the time, just that one time and it suprised me because it did it so quickly.

Our 9 month old GSP (who we have only recently got) was told "no" very sternly yesterday (I think because he tried to "mouth" one of the kids or was tugging at his shirt) and he immediately dropped and rolled on his back exposing his tummy. Was this him showing me he knows I'm boss or something else? He's been told no before and hasn't done this, and of course when having a rub/being patted he sometimes rolls over for a tummy rub but was surprised when he did this after being told off.

Its been a few years since having a dog so I'm a bit rusty on some things. Our 9 month old GSP is still on puppy food (advance) as this is what we have been given by the breeder (we've only just got him). At what stage can we swap him from the puppy range and what do we swap him to, straight to adult or something else (like "active dogs" etc??) And what is a good dry dog food....is advance good? if not what do you recommend. Also (sorry another question) how often do we give him a big bone? or does it just depend how long one lasts him? Thanks!

Haven't seen that one. I've seen dummies guide to raising pups.......is that any good???

Its been 3 years since I had a dog and 14 years since I did the puppy thing. Our new boy comes home tomorrow but he's already 9 months old. I will take him to obedience classes but does anyone have any recommendations of a good book that covers developmental stages and basic training (toilet, walking on lead etc).

could you or would you crate train a 9 month old that has been with the breeders it's whole life (ie lived outside with lots of other dogs etc) and then come to live in this completely different enviroment (ie mum/dad and 3 kids in the suburbs with no other dogs in family)???