Liz Mara wrote 03/21/2009 11:16 PM 18 month GSD #232536 - 03/21/2009 11:16 PM
Liz Mara Webboard User Reg: 01-18-2009 Posts: 4 Loc: Offline	I adopted an 18 month old GSD. I've had three before. One was purchased at 3 yrs and had lots of training. This new male is an interesting character. His previous owner let him loose on their land in the north woods.Perhaps I've never had a GSD with so much drive. He has some habits from his previous life. He prefers to be outside. Sometimes its hard to pet him. He likes to play keep a way. He loves water (goes in the koi pond)... funny but very wet. With guests he doesn't let them pet him at all, but later he warms up. He is very strong and athletic. I keep him in the crate (not house trained). I've never heard him bark yet. I'm just wondering how to tell if this is a really hard dog or what? He has never shown any aggression. Seems smart, looks at himself in the mirror, tracks sounds with the turn of his head. <img=src"http://www.qeeg.com/images/Ender1close300.jpg" alt="" />
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Connie Sutherland wrote 03/21/2009 11:31 PM Re: 18 month GSD [Re: Liz Mara ] #232540 - 03/21/2009 11:31 PM
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005 Posts: 31571 Loc: North-Central coast of California Offline	What is your definition of "hard"? Are you agreeing with "keep-away"? Or is this really a game (rather than non-compliance with the recall)? What do you mean by "not let them pet him"? Backing off, growling, what? And: Welcome to the board! :-)
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Chris Ciampi wrote 03/22/2009 12:25 AM Re: 18 month GSD [Re: Connie Sutherland ] #232552 - 03/22/2009 12:25 AM
Chris Ciampi Webboard User Reg: 12-30-2008 Posts: 109 Loc: Illinois Offline	Welcome! How long have you had this pup?
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Aaron Myracle wrote 03/22/2009 12:51 AM Re: 18 month GSD [Re: Chris Ciampi ] #232559 - 03/22/2009 12:51 AM
Aaron Myracle Webboard User Reg: 06-06-2008 Posts: 5062 Loc: WA, USA Offline	If you have a pump in the Koi pond, beware. I know a certain German Shepherd who delights in pulling the pump loose and dragging it up onto dry land... which of course burns out the motor. Of course he's smart he's a German Shepherd, isn't he? I wouldn't worry about the stand-offishness. A little aloofness is normal in a good GSD. He'll get used to being in the house, if you give him time and don't make a big deal of it. Not only will tethering make the housetraining go easier, but it will help him adjust with less uncertainty. (doesn't hurt the bonding between the two of you, either.) Try hand feeding him for all his meals.
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Liz Mara wrote 03/22/2009 12:13 PM Re: 18 month GSD [Re: Liz Mara ] #232576 - 03/22/2009 12:13 PM
Liz Mara Webboard User Reg: 01-18-2009 Posts: 4 Loc: Offline	I think his previous owner grabbed him by the collar to get him to comply. He does have a compliance problem. I am thinking its because he had no training at all. He sits and will plotz with food and without during a training session. 'Here' depends on a treat. He is good on a leed. Without a fence or lead he will take off - fast. He has shown no fear, aggression, growling around food, other animals, children. Just aloof at first with strangers. Very, very active. No cowering ... ever. Much calmer outdoors. I am just trying to judge if I am working with a really hard dog with no experience, or a hyper soft dog. I did a have a soft GSD for a short time so I know what that is. I don't think he is soft because he never startles, doesn't back down, seems more stubborn or wanting a treat. Not dominant at all, as of yet. Hard to train though. (I also have a 8 yr old female pit bull. They get along good. But I supervise. He is great with the cats.) Suggestions? Advice? He is definitely "more" dog then I have had. <img=src"http://www.qeeg.com/images/Ender1close300.jpg" alt="" />
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Mary Velazquez wrote 03/22/2009 12:53 PM Re: 18 month GSD [Re: Liz Mara ] #232578 - 03/22/2009 12:53 PM
Mary Velazquez Webboard User Reg: 12-24-2007 Posts: 575 Loc: Texas Offline	Sounds like a typical untrained shepherd I would suggest that you tether him to you throughout the day. since he led his own life before in way, hes not used to looking to a human for leadership or, probably, companionship. I think if you use the leash method of tethering him to you so that your the only thing in his world, hell start to get attached to you and at the same time begin to learn that you are in charge as well as learning everday commands... I wouldnt let him get too attached to another dog right off, I have seen that some dogs who have been left to themselves alot at first tend to bond closely to another dog instead of a human, but again, tethering would take care of that.
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randy allen wrote 03/22/2009 01:55 PM Re: 18 month GSD [Re: Liz Mara ] #232587 - 03/22/2009 01:55 PM
randy allen Webboard User Reg: 08-30-2007 Posts: 3283 Loc: Offline	Liz, You think the previous owner handled him rough(?), why? Does he shy away from handling his collar? You seem to have a fixation on whether or not the dog is 'hard'. What does 'hard' mean to you? Is it important for the training you hope to take him through? How long have you had this dog? Much of the time compliance is a bonding issue as much as training. Depending of course on the attitude you would like to see in the dogs 'compliance' to a command. So have you had the dog long enough for any bonding to take place? Also if the dog has grown up pretty much on is own anyways you can't expect to much too soon. Give him time, perhaps months even. It doesn't sound like you are, but if he doesn't care about people one way or the other I wouldn't force the issue on him at all. Who cares if he doesn't like anyone but you? If anyone has any problems with it, tell them to go get their own dog! He sounds like a good GSD. Any plans for doing any work with him? If my dog isn't learning, I'm doing something wrong. Randy
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Connie Sutherland wrote 03/22/2009 02:00 PM Re: 18 month GSD [Re: Liz Mara ] #232589 - 03/22/2009 02:00 PM
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005 Posts: 31571 Loc: North-Central coast of California Offline	Quote: liz mara I think his previous owner grabbed him by the collar to get him to comply. He does have a compliance problem. I am thinking its because he had no training at all. He sits and will plotz with food and without during a training session. 'Here' depends on a treat. He is good on a leed. Without a fence or lead he will take off - fast. He has shown no fear, aggression, growling around food, other animals, children. Just aloof at first with strangers. Very, very active. No cowering ... ever. Much calmer outdoors. I am just trying to judge if I am working with a really hard dog with no experience, or a hyper soft dog. I did a have a soft GSD for a short time so I know what that is. I don't think he is soft because he never startles, doesn't back down, seems more stubborn or wanting a treat. Not dominant at all, as of yet. Hard to train though. (I also have a 8 yr old female pit bull. They get along good. But I supervise. He is great with the cats.) Suggestions? Advice? He is definitely "more" dog then I have had. Terminology will drown us here unless you define hard and soft. This: I don't think he is soft because he never startles, doesn't back down, seems more stubborn or wanting a treat is not my definition of soft, so we need to know yours. It's not a "right" or "wrong" thing, but if we don't have your definitions, we can't answer properly.
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Connie Sutherland wrote 03/22/2009 02:03 PM Re: 18 month GSD [Re: Connie Sutherland ] #232590 - 03/22/2009 02:03 PM
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005 Posts: 31571 Loc: North-Central coast of California Offline	And yes, your plans for the dog ... ? And a huge ditto to the tethering to you and to not allowing his first relationship in your home form with another dog.
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Liz Mara wrote 03/22/2009 02:25 PM Re: 18 month GSD [Re: Mary Velazquez ] #232593 - 03/22/2009 02:25 PM
Liz Mara Webboard User Reg: 01-18-2009 Posts: 4 Loc: Offline	So anytime he is outside his crate he should be leashed and with a human (my husband or I). HOW LONG? What should I be looking for in his behavior? How did you get the picture at the bottom of your email?
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