Dom is now 8 months old. We've worked really hard together on obedience, pack structure, all the good stuff.

I never really saw any behavior that bugged me until now. I've done lots of down-stay training were I go out of sight, etc.. We've worked up to 5 minutes of down and stay with me out of site in different situations and scenarios. So I'm trying to help curb this behavior but is there anything I could be doing differently? I tethered him for a really long time to control his movements and reinforce my control over him. I successfully created a velcro dog. Maybe too velcroey (not a word, but NOW it is!). I try to ignore him, to not focus on him every second that I'm home and he's out of the kennel. I just let him be near me without obsessing over him. I don't want him to be insecure without me, but I still want him to be bonded to me.

Here are some examples of the behavior:

-I can't leave him with the groomer. We tried it, he pooped the crate and had a meltdown. He's been going to the groomer since he was 11 weeks old! He's STILL not ok with it. And she's a really experienced groomer. I'm confident she's handling him in a way that I'd approve of.

-My dog training instructor "borrowed" him to demonstrate a behavior for the class and he freaked out, jumping around and looking for me. All the other GSDs his age happily went with him and barely glimpsed back to their handlers. I do have to admit that mine was the most well-behaved of the group overall with every other exercise.

-He gets carsick when my husband travels with him in the car, but never when I take him (and he does everything the same in the same vehicle)

I'm having a hard time narrowing down exactly where to draw the line between a close bond and separation anxiety.... Am I making to much of this?

We've always kenneled our for at least a couple of hours during the day to hopefully help with a little independence.

I do crate him as well. When he was younger, he was a big crate-weeny so I still make it a point to put him in there about 30 minutes before bedtime. Also, he goes in if I'm cooking, doing laundry, or something else that is easier done without a big snout up my butt. He stays in there overnight, and probably 2 or 3 hours during the day.

Do you mean outdoor kennel? I don't have the means for one.

P.S. I'm so in love with that dog on your sig...

Jessica,

Are you crating him for a few hours a day and then leaving the premesis? Or, can he see you still, he's just in a crate?

If you can't/don't leave the house, at least, you can crate him in some room far away from you. The crating at nite (if he's in the bedroom, that is) doesn't really count, as he's still near you.

leih

I'm also kind of curious...why are you taking a GSD to a groomer?

They don't need clipping...you should be able to brush him and do his ears and nails yourself...so I'm just wondering about this.

leih

Thanks. Yeah, an outdoor kennel. Is your yard fenced and secure?

He is going thru one of the 'puppy fear periods' or is this an on-going thing?

My male is a velcro dog. He is always up my butt. I turn around & fall over him constantly in the house, yet he is fine in his crate in the kitchen or bedroom & out in the yard or in the truck crate, when I am not with him. Like Steve, I start my dogs young out in the yard in the kennell (fenced yard) for short periods of time, to encourage some independence. I keep an eye on them from the kitchen window.

Can you put him in a crate out on the back porch or deck etc( & watch him from the house) for short periods of time. Do it for 1 minute, then 2,3 etc. over time, if he is anxious. Maybe give him a stuffed kong to occupy him.

I can offer no advice what so ever. But I can commiserate!! So what that equates to, is maybe it is a bit of a phase as Anne suggests: a puppy fear period. Maggie is 11 months old and has similar insecurities that seem unrelated and not predictable just like Dom. I do have to say that now that she is almost a year old (this month), she is much more confident in a variety of situations. So there is an end in sight.

 Quote: Jessica Pedicord

-I can't leave him with the groomer. We tried it, he pooped the crate and had a meltdown. He's been going to the groomer since he was 11 weeks old! He's STILL not ok with it. And she's a really experienced groomer. I'm confident she's handling him in a way that I'd approve of.

I certainly don't want to hijack the post, but I took Maggie to the groomer when she was 9 months old. It was my at my vet office (where she loves people and spent 3 months of her young life) She went berzerk!!!! I took her because she was so squirrelly when I tried to brush her (I kept trying to do this as an activity when she was in quarantine, but there were always so many things to work on). She was shedding like mad. The upshot is that they sedated her--it wasn't the brushing that sent her to where the wild things are, it was the bath). I was pretty upset. (In all fairness they did call first for permission, but I was at work and not thinking straight).

I think that totally the age, fear and prior experience played a roll in this unfortunate event. I have since taken TONS of time introducing her to new things and places. She is over dependent on me but has gradually shown more confidence as we tackle new things like: walking by cars that have engines running, minding some commands from my husband without me giving the thumbs up, etc.

I don't know really know what to say. Or quite how to say it.

He is what he is.
At eight months I'm guessing this behavior isn't really that far outside of the norm for him. Yes, as the dog grows and matures they do fall in and out attitudes, but rarely is it real dramatic changes. Usually quite subtle actually, especially at 8 months.

As to your quarry. Give him as much leeway when out and about as you can. And visit all the strange places you can, letting him explore on his own as much as possible and in fact encourage him if he's interested but hesitant about investigating further.
And have him spend time alone, not just in a crate while you're in the house or out in the yard, but 'alone' if that makes any sense.
Which ties into the SA issues. A little at a time you can start letting him know there is going to be times in his life he will be on his own.....whether he likes it or not.

Groomers, strange handlers, etc.
I personally could care less if no one else can handle my dogs, and in fact use commands not commonly used just for that reason.