Hi folks...been a while since I have posted. Things around here have been crazy but I do believe things are beginning to slow down a bit. When we first brought Levi home at 11 weeks we did what was recommended and just let him settle in and of course bond w/our other dogs. My male lab still gets terribly annoyed by him but is tolerant enough to get up and walk away if the pup gets too annoying, although I do think Levi is pushing his luck more and more each day. That brings me to the current issue. Levi has been the model puppy. No behaviour issues, always played with the toys he was supposed to play with, always would come when called, always would sit when told to..in general just a very mellow pup. This week Levi started his fifth month..and a change has been taking over him. He is getting more destructive around the house where we have had no problems with him up till now. He seems very bored and will walk around the house whining about nothing. I have worked with him before teaching him Sitz and Platz and some foos but took a long break while chaos was occurring around here. So my question would be how much training should I start up with again? I have been told not to take him on walks because he is too young still. Still, that energy needs to go somewhere and I can definitely see the boredom increasing. I would appreciate any ideas the forum has to give to me for Levis age and temperament. Levi comes from German work/show lines and is very good at settling down when required to. He is not a spastic, uncontrollable dog like what I hear from some of the working lines. He is probably more on the sensitive side. One wrong look from me and he will lay down immediately. Although, I can see that priviledge easing out the door. I know he accepts me as his pack leader w/o question because he only does these things for me, not for my husband or any other family member. I do believe that he is coming into his own slowly but surely. I've noticed him getting more protective in the last couple of weeks. Barking at neighbors and unfamiliar sounds, although he is still quite tolerant of friends and family or even strangers coming up and saying hello. He's probably more aloof with the strangers than anything but still no aggression. I have been wondering at what point one would start seeing such behavior from a GSD. I know they can get very protective. I don't think Levi is an exception. I wonder if there is an age at which this trait really starts to display itself. I hope some of the pros around here will be able to guide me from this point forward as I feel chaos or not Levi needs to be worked w/on a much more regular basis, he's so smart and learns most anything almost instantly so I need to know what to concentrate on and how to help develop his protective traits.. Thanks in advance!

are you training for schutzhund,psa,or ring???? Is he just a pet??????

Honestly, I'd like to train for tracking but I know nothing about it. I feel bad that I'm not dedicated to Sch because he comes from a long line of Sch trained ancestry...I don't know what psa or ring is..I guess ring is show stuff??? I'm a complete novice with working dogs however I know he needs something in which he can dedicate himself and I want to be a part of that with him. He is much too smart not to pick something to work with him in..

 Quote: RobbinMann

..I guess ring is show stuff???......

Not around here.

Elsewhere, ring might mean a conformation show. But it refers to the ring sports.

PSA is protection sport association, ring could be french ring mondio ring brazil ring. You might want to look at AKC they have a title for tracking so does schutzhund. you dont have to do the protection work

Hi Robbin! You said "He's probably more aloof with the strangers than anything but still no aggression." I think that's perfect, that's what you want. You don't want aggression with strangers, but ignoring, aloofness. You said he's being tolerant, that's good, and tolerance leads to that aloof quality of a GSD. If he was showing aggression you'd have to correct him. He sounds like he's doing great with that.

Aloofness won't interfere with his protective nature, and it's also the natural way of a GSD.

He should be going on walks by now. Five months isn't too early for walking. Others may have views on how far a walk should be at 5 months for a GSD, I'm thinking 1/4 mile walk isn't wrong. Maybe a little more, or twice a day, 1/4 mile each time. A 1/4 mile happens to be a walk around the block where I live. He sounds like he needs more stimulation in the form of walks, training new commands, practicing ones he already knows, new places to see and go to. Parks, outings in the car to different places and let out to explore (on lead). I found a park where I can close the gates to a baseball field and let him chase balls and just walk around inside an enclosed area. Levi is old enough to be out and about.

Don't be afraid to work with him regularly; he's only going to need more the older he gets.

Training tracking would be good for him now too.

You know...he is very, very fond of playing tug of war. All he ever wants to do is play tug and when we play he will bite down and hang on for dear life. I don't think a vice could break his grip! lol I wonder if this predisposes him to any particular sport or activity. Any ideas anyone?

Sounds like my pup when I'm trying to wrestle the toast out of his wheat allergic mouth. He LOVES Toast, but I don't LOVE what it does to him. What a bite! I'd have an easier time taking a RMB out of his mouth than Toast.

:-)

 Quote: Louanne Manter

Sounds like my pup when I'm trying to wrestle the toast out of his wheat allergic mouth. He LOVES Toast, but I don't LOVE what it does to him. What a bite! I'd have an easier time taking a RMB out of his mouth than Toast.
:-)

That is hilarious

I recently spoke to a trainer friend of mine, whom I respect. He told me that playing tug of war with Levi was not a good thing to do. However, that is his favorite thing to do. I have noticed a definite excitement brewing when he and my male lab get a toy between them. I am guess letting them play this way is not a good idea. So, I have decided to cease and desist. The problem is what do I do with him now? Can I throw balls? At least with balls they can't each grab an end and start tugging it...I thought it was cute playing tug with him, but the trainer tells me it will lead to toy aggression and possibly associating my hand and arm as part of the game..What does one do with a five month old pup that loves tug? I can throw things for him to fetch but he doesn't want to drop them or give them up he wants me to play fight with him. I would appreciate any good game ideas on this subject. Thanks guys!