I got a 9 week old GSD pup over the weekend. She's a nice little dog. Yesterday I was playing with her, she was pulling on a rope bone and growling and barking away. Today we were doing the same thing and she got even more excited. I guess she is settling in. Anyway, I let her win and she trotted a few steps and laid down with her toy. Then I went to take it from her and she gave my hand a really hard look and then as I got close to the toy she snapped at my hand. She didn't actually make contact but you get the idea.
I think I know what you guys are going to say but I just wanted to be sure, don't want to mess anything up. I am really happy to have a hard lil pup but I just wanted to know if/how I should correct her for this, I don't want to have a dog that's totally out of control as an older puppy.
This is a page with pics...isn't she cute? Anyway, thanks for any advice!

I've heard of a game to play with your puppy in regards to this behahior.The book i read called schutzhund theory and training says to encourge this behavior in a way that is benificial to the dogs pray drive.The book says too reach for the toy and if the dog shows protective behavior toward the toy then it says to scamper away and try again and the repeat until you sucessfully steal the toy away.Then with quick movements bring the toy back to life until the pup gets it again. Then give it a small struggle and let the pup win.Also be sure to always look at the toy when doing this.If you look at the dog it changes the focus of the game.
Hopefully that helps you.
And to those about to criticize this advise please be mercifull i am new at this :rolleyes:

Easier solution: always have a second toy. shake it in front of your pup, let him win, then go and get the first one. this way there is no conflict betweem and your pup, yet he is always a winner

Get ready for a lifetime of keep away. My GSD still does this, but he doesnt growl he just stands over the toy and if you put your hand near it he grabs either the toy or your hand with a big smile on his face. I found its easier to let him have it. I tried the two toy idea, he just wants the original toy. I found pulling the dog away and grabbing the toy works, showing that your going to be the boss. But its a game to him and I know he wont' hurt me.

Think of ways to make your dog feel like he's getting a good 'deal' by handing over the toy.

Have something he wants even more than his toy...like another toy, or maybe a tiny slice of something very tastey... at first, bribe him if necessary (wave it near his face), when he drops the toy, give him the treat and don't take his toy. repeat the process. Try to get the dog to the point that he drops that toy very quickly when he sees this activity with you. Then you can start picking up his toy, as you give him the treat and then giving him his toy right back. If needed, give the treat and his toy right back to him at the same time.
When he gets reliable with his drops, put a cue ("drop it") in there just before you expect the drop.
There is, as always, more little tricks to the process here, but the idea is the same.
Don't let him regress...keep this process very slow if needed. Try not to jump ahead to the point that you find yourself having to snatch the toy or compete with the dog to get at the toy. Do whatever you can to create situations where the dog simply can't fail to do the drop. This is what makes the process slow at times. Even short regressions can extend your training time needlessly. The dog should feel VERY safe in dropping the toy.
Very gradually...and only when the dog is 100% solid on the 'drop it'...start increasing the amount of time you hold his toy. You can give him further treats as the dog waits (even if the initial wait sessions are only a couple seconds!).
I don't know your dog, but this might do the trick. Leash pops and such might get a result, but this sort of runs the risk of getting the dog even more tempermental, weirdly anxious and possessive over his toy.
Good luck with whatever you want to try!

Sometimes the second toy option works sometimes not,
I would take all the toys away, leave them where he can see them but out of reach, he will only get to play when you decide, I would play with it show him put it away and not give it to him, a few times, when you do play use a long line make sure, you have him on it play with him, but use something, he has not played with before, he will be less
possesive over it, let him win it but do not allow him keep it, take it away immediatley,use your release command, if he won't release, don't feed him before you do this, to distract him use a piece of food to make him release it keep doing this, until he gives up the toy,if he shows any aggression like growling, stop the game,
do obedience, then crate him, to establish your leadership role, and no toys, until you have this corrected.
once you have control you can reintroduce some of his own
toys.

I would have just grabbed the toy anyway snapping or no snapping (if teeth breaks my skin, pup gets scolded and shaken)...just to show the dog her threats mean nothing to me. (Hence aggression isn't rewarded). But that's just me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />

i do not believe that is ever okay for a dog to growl at its owner for whatever the reason. That is your tug so you have the right to take it from the pup. Correct her on the growl and take it from her with a little force if needed.then give it back when she submits. If done correctly it wont be a problem in the future

We are talking about a 9 week old puppy here right?

I can't see leash corrections, obedience sessions, or crate time as being the most effective approach.

Personally I would try to use the two toy method and/or the method described by Chris earlier.

If extreme cases where the pup is actually biting I may make a loud & sudden shriek (and possibly scruff him)... then the instant the pup releases the toy I'd reward the pup by returning the toy and playing with him for a moment.

At 9 weeks of age you want to do everything you can to help build his confidence & drives, always try to keep life fun for your puppy. If you can use methods that try to reward the pup for giving the correct behaviour I find this to be the best approach. If you start getting into physical corrections or displays of dominance you run the risk of damaging the pup's confidence.

Also, your approach will be influenced by what you want your puppy "to be when he grows up" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />. Ie: Pet, sport, police, SAR, etc... I handle my working prospects a little differently than family pets.

Don't forget that he's only 9 weeks of age. He may also be in his juvenille fear period, which is something else you may want to consider.

Good luck. Enjoy his puppy days while they last <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

We are talking about a 9 week old puppy here right?

I can't see leash corrections, obedience sessions, or crate time as being the most effective approach.

Personally I would try to use the two toy method and/or the method described by Chris earlier.

If extreme cases where the pup is actually biting I may make a loud & sudden shriek (and possibly scruff him)... then the instant the pup releases the toy I'd reward the pup by returning the toy and playing with him for a moment.

At 9 weeks of age you want to do everything you can to help build his confidence & drives, always try to keep life fun for your puppy. If you can use methods that try to reward the pup for giving the correct behaviour I find this to be the best approach. If you start getting into physical corrections or displays of dominance you run the risk of damaging the pup's confidence.

Also, your approach will be influenced by what you want your puppy "to be when he grows up" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />. Ie: Pet, sport, police, SAR, etc... I handle my working prospects a little differently than family pets.

Don't forget that he's only 9 weeks of age. He may also be in his juvenille fear period, which is something else you may want to consider.

Good luck. Enjoy his puppy days while they last <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I also just want to add the reminder that the crate isn't used as a punishment, because it sounded a little like that in one of the posts. Maybe I read it wrong.