Help With 12 Month Gsd Behaviour

[Eitak]

Hi,

I would appreciate some advice.

I have a 12 month old GSD who we purchased from a registered breeder when he was 11 weeks old. I have never owned a GSD before so I am not sure if the things I notice are problems or not. He has always been a very easily aroused/?anxious dog. We took him to puppy school at the vet when we got him but he made such a ridiculous amount of noise and was so hyped up that we stopped after 2 weeks. We then took him to the GSDCV for training instead which was much better as he was more active in the classes but he was still so wound up that the trainer told me to train him myself on the sidelines and all the trainers made comments about his behaviour. I know GSD can be vocal but he took it to another level. He is now a bit better in class but can still be very silly and hard to manage. We also had to train him to be calm enough to even be patted. We spend a lot of time training and playing with him so I was very embarrassed that he was so bad compared to the other puppies.

The problems now:

1. Socialising - he is actually really good with other dogs once he is allowed to play with them (submits when needed, plays nicely if a bit rough with the hip and shouldering). He has played with all types of dogs big and small. BUT when walking he gets super aroused when he sees other dogs and lunges, leaps, barks, hackles up etc. The dog can be on the other side of the street or inside a house and this reaction still occurs. This ruins the rest of the walk as he is hyper alert and won't focus on me at all.

2. ? Dominance with me - I have always been the one to train him, walk him, etc but I feel like he challenges me a lot for dominance. When we are playing or training and he gets frustrated he jumps up at me and won't stop. He has only rarely done this to my husband. He mouths me (it's not a bite at all but he does scratch with his teeth and I'm worried one day he will bite). I have to go inside when this happens as nothing I do stops him.

3. Jumping ALL THE TIME. On the benches and doors. He doesn't jump on me unless he is in that frustrated state but does jump on visitors.

I'm not sure how to tackle these issues. So far I have used my best scolding voice as advised by the gsdcv, turned my back and ignored him, gone inside, used treats to train the behaviors I DO want.

He does lots of good things too! He is crate trained and sleeps inside, has JUST learnt how to walk nicely on the leash, sits, stays, waits, is gentle with kids (but not the cat!)

He will be desexed in 6-12 months if that means anything.

Please help me as I have run out of ideas and I don't know if these behaviours are a huge worry or just my incompetence as a GSD owner.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Animal House]

Hi, and welcome to the forum.

It's really hard to diagnose or give advice over the Internet, it could be anxiety, dominance, boredom, stress etc etc

I think a behaviourist would be a good call, they can come and see what he's doing/your reaction and give you expert advice and show you what to do/not do..., I had one session and it changed everything.

Where abouts are you in Vic? There are a couple of recommended behaviorists on this forum, Nekhbet, Cosmolo, Erny from memory.

[Animal House]

Whoops, double post. :laugh:

Edited February 16, 2014 by **Caz**

[persephone]

welcome :)

Sounds like you have a handful - and will be able to manage better with some personal professional help!

The following Dogzonline members are all in/around melbourne ..are very good at what they do , and will be able to give you some support.

click the following links

HERE

HERE

and

HERE

keep us posted - and I hope that soon there will be more 'good things' to be pleased with :)

[Eitak]

Thanks so much for your replies! He really is a good dog but I think I do need some professional help to make him a good family member.

Do you know if any of those trainers would service the outer northern suburbs? Also, does anyone know how much I could expect to pay? We paid a good amount to make sure we bought a well bred dog, so I am happy to pay to train him properly but there is obviously a limit to what we can afford.

[persephone]

I suggest you have a chat with the people concerned and ask them :)