My dog is currently 20 months old. Very rarely has he ever tried to challenge my authority, although he used to do it sometimes with my husband. He hasn't messed with me since he was quite a bit younger. Considering his age, should I expect him to begin challenging me?

I keep reading that GSDs reach maturity at about 2 years of age or so, and I'm wondering if I should expect this to be an issue. He was neutered at 9 months of age. He gets a little bit of an attitude sometimes, mostly to see if he can get away with "sassing" me if you will, and you all know about his nutty behavior around other people, which is a whole other story. He doesn't seem to be very dominant. I'm just wondering if that could all change quickly, or if you think I shouldn't have much of a problem based on his usual behavior with me.

Ahh this thread! Sorry didn't even see it! You know my feeling is if you ever let down your guard and start to become inconsitant in your training or how you handle things with him, he will begin trying to push the envelope, dogs just do this, especially the working breeds in my experience.

They are always waiting to move up in the pack if they can. My dog needs a reminder once and a while but not to often. Some dogs are worse then others, it really depends on temperment and the early training they recieved.

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I agree with Lonny although your dog would have probably shown a few signs by now.

Let me clarify. When I say "signs" I mean something maybe a bit more significant than what he has tried so far.

Ok. He can be a real butthead when he's around people he doesn't know or like, but he's by far the best house dog I've ever had. He is not food or toy possessive. I can do what I want with him. He lets me groom him and cut his nails with no problem. He just gets sassy with me every once in awhile. He stands up, looks me in the eye, starts wagging his tail and barking at me if he doesn't want to do what I'm telling him to do. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Here it is!!! Where the hell is my 10 foot pole anyway. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I get most of my calls for obedience when the dog is between 18-24 months. Most of the time people like to tell me how their 'sweet little angel' suddenly turned on them. After some digging it almost always(mothing is 100%) comes down to a dominance issue that has now started to mature. Depending on the confidence level it will start at different ages.

However, up until this point the dog has been giving signs subtle albeit but signs that it thinks it is dominant.

An example, you feed the dog. The dog is eating. you go about your business. Which takes you back into the vacinity of your dog. The dog lets out a low growl, you don't even hear it. You continue about your way. Finish what you were doing and come back. The dog repeats its procedure. In its mind you were coming to steal its food. It growled scared you away, you regrouped and tried again unsuccessfully. You just lost rounds 1 and 2 and didn't even know they happend.

Once the dog reaches 18 mos it is now mature enough to back up all the tendencies it was feeling from a young pup. If handled incorrectly it will turn into a bite. However, the dog never turned on you, it thought it was the s#it all along.

Just an example.
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It's things like that which make me think I won't have a problem. I can take food out of his mouth while he's eating, and the most he might try to do is pull away.

It was just an example as to how subtle the 'signs' can be. Think about you are brushing the dog, you catch a snag the dog growls. You stop as any human would, because you are hurting the dog. The dogs mind, it growled told you know and you stop. Because 'you know your place'.

Point being, I believe you have a dominance issue. What level, hard to say.

Melissa,

I'll go out on a limb and say based on your description,(and it's limited info) if one would be so bold to say you have a dominance issue, it would be mild at best. Now on the other hand, if there is more to the story...........

Ok, so a dog can have serious nerve/fear aggression issues and still be dominant? I'm asking cause I really don't know. This is my first working line dog.