I have a 4 1/2 month old GSD. I recently got Ed's tape on Basic Training. She is a very hard pup. Sometimes she listens to me very well, then there are those other times!!! When I am trying to train her on leash, she starts to bite at the leash. She then preceeds to play Tug-of-War with it. The other day, she actually growled at me. I dropped the leash and turned my back on her. She doesn't do this all the time, just sometimes. I keep it very high, but she bites at it when it is beside her head. Most of the time she won't let you pet her, she just mouths at you. My grand-daughter (5 y.o.) who lives with us, wants to be her friend, but everytime she tries to pet her, she mouths her. I don't think she is really trying to bite her or myself, it is just so frustrating to both of us. She comes from an extensive line of SchH and I wonder if I just won't be able to change this.

Also, every morning, when we awake, she comes out of her crate and "goes nuts over us". My grand daughter actually jumps on top of the couch back to get away from her until she calms down. She acts like she hasn't seen us forever. Is this normal??? Is this just because of her age.

Another thing, I have a question about....She has 2 favorite toys. We throw them for her and she runs after, will return them to us, but she won't give them up only if we tell her to "give" and open her mouth. When we let her have the toys, she lays on them with her paws ontop of them. She doesn't bite at them, she just keeps them in her mouth and "gnaws" at them with the back of her mouth. She acts like she is controlling them. Is this what she is doing??? Should I take them away from her?
Thanks to anyone that can help me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I am sorry, I guess I could have asked these questions in the other topic of "Nipping and Biting problems"

Yes mouthy behavior can be frustrating. You said you have the Leerburg Video keep watching it and learning. You must redirect her improper mouthy behavior and you do this by stopping her when she mouths something inappropriate telling her NO BITE (thats what I use)or something else to distract her, then give her something she can mouth like a toy and praising her using Good Bite, or Good Chew etc... At this age she is probably teething and what helped my pups was almost the same thing that helped my kids. I take a bar towel knot it up real good, get it wet and put it in the freezer when it is slightly frozen I let them chew themselves silly. The excited behavior you are talking about IMO is normal at this age. Everything is new to them and they do get excited easy, I am sure she is just happy to see everyone. I would try to controll it a little because you say the kids have to get up on chairs to protect themselves. I would let her out of her crate try to calm her and if she does not calm within 10 minutes put her back in. You dont want to punish her you just want her to understand that she must calm down. Do you have any intentions of working this dog? If so you should invest in some of the other video's that Leerburg sells. Good luck and enjoy your pup. I am sure others can offer more in depth reply's <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Anna gave some good advice, Suzanne I understand what you mean, I'm working with a mouthing 9 week old female. At this age she is a lot easier to control then your 6 month old pup. My little doll is doing the same thing with the leash, but I notice that this was not the case before I started testing her prey drive with a soft tug.

She use to just drag the leash as if it wasn't there now, she will drag it but if I pick it up, she wants to play Tug of War. I just drop it and let her get disinterested in it and drag it again.

Suzanne so you see that our problem are simliar mines is a little smaller. Mouthing and house manners are things that We as owner/trainers have to establish, the puppy does not know what the rules are.


I'd start doing 5-15 minutes 5-6 days a week of OB training. I work the sit, stay, down, come, No bite, & leave it. Building on each after one has been learned, keep it moving as not to bore the puppy and keep it upbeat. You can use the toys she likes as rewards, but I like to use my voice showing priase.

Oh yeah, you need to take the toys from her, after a while. These are your toys and you decided when she can play with them. Try to do this without alot of drama/struggle don't make a big deal out if it. Start by when she stops playing with the toys put them up. Make a big deal out it when you give them back. Eventually build toward the "leave it" or "give it" and she will give them to you.

We are working on the sit, stay, come and No bite. When I come in to see her she will immeadiately start in on my ankles area, I'll use the "no bite", she stops (sometimes, she still learning 9 weeks), I sit her and I praise or give her something else to bite.

Like you I'm going to have to wait on the walking on leash training until, I get her basic OB down.
Once she understands, you can open the Crate give a stay or sit command, which makes her stay until you release her from the crate, whenever she gets out of control sit her and praise her for sitting.

Our puppies will eventually learn what is acceptable behavior and what is not. But its not their fault now, it on US. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />


Good luck with a spunky little puppy.

Thanks Ann and Don.
Ann, I'm not sure what to work her on. I wanted to train her in the SAR, but I think being over 50 y.o. I won't be able to do it. I love the outdoors, and am in the medical field. Then, I thought I might do the SchH training. I want her to be good at whatever she does. I have never owned a GSD before and never realized how much they can actually learn. I am so excited about having her. I will definately try the frozen towel idea.

Don, it surely sounds like we have the same temperment pups. Wow, what a joy, huh!!! Maybe the chewing/biting will stop. Right now, I keep her toys in the crate with her. I thought that was what you were suppose to do <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Suzanne wrote - Don, it surely sounds like we have the same temperment pups. Wow, what a joy, huh!!! Maybe the chewing/biting will stop. Right now, I keep her toys in the crate with her. I thought that was what you were suppose to do

Don - I hope I didn't give the impression that this activity will stop on its own, for that matter if we don't get a hold of it now it will get worse.
We have to get control of this bad behaviors with a negative/reset/pop of leash and reinforce and encourage good behavior with a postive/praise.

What kind of training program are you involved in Now? Or in the future. It all starts with Ob anything and everything, in dog training. IMO.

Sue, our SAR group has one active member in her 70's. You could still train for water search and cadaver. Wilderness is not the only kind of search there is <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> At our SARTECH class they emphasized how many roles you can fulfill on a search team (for example, containment) that you don't need to be an iron man (or woman).

Sue don't let your age slow you down.If you want to try SAR with her do it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> It's true the OB training lays the foundation for everything else. Maybe you would want to do agility with her. I am getting my new GSD pup in June. My intention is to train her for service and therapy work. I have a Siberian already trained for this but for his own pleasure he also pulls a sled. As she grows you will find the right job for her and it should be something that you both enjoy <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Stephan; Thanks so much!!!! I needed to hear that. I guess there is hope for me yet. I will living before the end of the year in West Virginia. I will try and find an orginization around there. Any tips?? It will be in Monroe County.
Ann: Thanks. I hope I will recognize what she will be good at. Her prey drive is great.
Don: I don't have her in any class yet. My breeder trained her shortly (1 wk) while I was out of town. I have been watching tapes of Leerburg and researching everything I can get my hands on.

Don, I wanted to add...my pup is 4 1/2 mo. old.