Hi Everyone!

This is my 1st GSD puppy so please excuse any stupid questions.

I got my puppy at 7 weeks of age from a reputable breeder. She is american line gsd (show dog). I had spent alot time researching the breed before purchasing her.

She is very good with my family and people who visit often (loving and affectionate). With strangers and people she sees once in awhile she barks ALOT. She never acts afraid. She wags her tail and stands tall with her ears up. She doesn't snarl or show her teeth. Most of the time she calms down once she smells them and gets used to them. But if they make a sudden move before she calms down, she growls then she nips them. She also jumps up on them while she is barking.

I have been told I need to socialize her so she will not be agressive. But no matter where I take her she is on constant guard. Especially if my two younger daughters are with me (6 years & 3years). She gets very upset if any strange children or adults go to close to them. She even nipped the vet. He moved his hand very quickly in front of her. I was holding her on the table.

I like the fact that she wants to protect us, but I don't want her to bite someone and hurt them.
Especially if they are not a threat to us.

How can I teach her to stop doing this without confusing her. I want her to protect us from BAD people and be nice to the GOOD people. Any suggestions

Welcome to the board.

I deleted the second post. Please do not post the same thing under multiple headings. It will get answered under one.

I wonder when you say she is biting if she is really biting or if she is just grabbing things with her mouth. Puppies do like to mouth things that move.

If you are really talking about a true bite, you have a lot of work ahead to socialize her. Your thinking that she is being 'protective' at her age is insane... would you expect your six year old to protect you? You shouldn't see any 'protectiveness' until the dog is older. You may well be seeing fear.

And you can just about forget the dog ever protecting you anyway, the american show line dogs have been bred away from it and to the flashy side gait for too long.

I am going through the barking thing with my W German working lines puppy and something in the "Other end of the leash" by Patrica McConnell is helping me...it is the concept of "enough" described below. Now in my case, I think it is just frustration barking as once we meet (If I know them well) the other puppy or dog the world is good and there is also no barking at people.

The concept of "Enough" is to lure her away get her attention with food and reward her for looking at you not them (I dont think she is old enough for a leash correction though some may at this point....but this sounds more like a fearful reaction than anything, particularly if you have not already bent over backwards with appropriate socialization)

In any event I think the world of Patricia McConnel and think that adding "the cautious canine" "the other end of the leash" and "fiesty fido" to your bookshelf would be a good investment.

That said, you may well get some very different advice on a discussion board -- you need to research training and how you are going to train your dog as there are still several schools of thought..and it is very confusing if you dance from one method to another .....but I think EVERYONE agrees that adequate* socialization is critical to the emotional development of the puppy.

Now the nipping -- my observation with my puppy is that ONLY the family members have been human pinchushions (and we are have been doing good at redirecting that) but I have YET to see her nip at a strange person or even a strange dog or puppy.....now if she is playing with another young puppy shw will play bite but that is all and if she sees a cat or rabbit she will air snap (jaws will chatter) but I think that is just prey drive kicking in.......so I dont know what to think about that.....it seems odd to me. What is your breeder's take on that? Most decent breeders care about their puppies and will go out of their way to help you.

*and that DOES not mean anything goes / dogparks / etc. Ed has some good articles on puppy development that I would suggest reading.

Oh I forgot to add the reward is not just stuffing treats at your dog. the reward is for prolonged focus on you (a few seconds)

Madeline
First off as Deanna said, some of it may be the puppy just taking things with its mouth.
Second, as Deanna stated I dought that your seeing protection from a dog that age.
Now, what I think your probably seeing is defence. More than likely brought on by fear.
I have a young bitch that is about 70% defense.I let her bring it out on the protection field, Anywere else, it will not be tolerated, no exceptions, non. She gets a lot of socializing with other people but only on leash. One growl, one snarl, any sign of aggression and she wishes she were with any one but me. I mean very very hard correction You make her scream. If you do it twice, hard enough she will never do it again.
In any other situation I would NEVER correct a dog this hard, But if you allow aggression at this age the dog will later wind up in a bad place. or put down.
This started for my bitch at about 5 month. It took twice, sense then she may look at a stranger and walk away but there is no sign that the stranger see's. Unless as I say, She is on the field or put on alert.

Good luck
Ron

Madeline
You stated you get the dog at 7 weeks. I assumed the dog is now 4 to 5 months old.
If the dog is still under 4 or 5 months then I would not correct so hard.
Ron

It sounds like your dog is going in to defense. When she shows this behavior you as a handeler need to redirect her and put her in another drive. It sounds like she has weak nerves but this is not the end of the world if you handle it and build up her confidence. If you leave it alone it may cause you problems in the future, ie: fear biter.

DD