hello

i just wanted to say that i have a 15 month old gsd i mean he does not look like a puppy at all but hes the type of dog i can NEVER play fight with cause he gets wayyyy to rough and starts grabbbing arms he still is really mouthy but when i yell OFFF!!!! he will stop its just hes not a cudddly gentle dog like most of the other dogs i meet he would be the WORSTTTTTTT dog in the world for kids because of the way he acts even tho he LOVES EVERYTHING hes just to crazy always nipping and jumping up at strangers faces is this just the way most gsd's are like it will always be a constant struggle to keep the mouthyness undercontrol? its just such a pain someitmes cause i will be petting him then he will all ove a sudden start getting mouthy it never hurts but its just a PAIN in the ass i mean it would be nice to have a dog that knows the meaning of "gentle"

Steve, In order to start any "Gentle" in him...BE gentle with him..and STOP the play fighting...........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Candice, I really hope you're kidding :rolleyes:

Steve, so how much do you want for him? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Nothing more fun than play fighting with my dogs but it's on MY terms. It will only be a few months before your dog starts to get serious with his dominating the game. Sounds like he may be doing it already. If he starts mouthing, Game Over. Crate him for a while. If your going to do sport with him, the rules would be different, but there is still no need for him to be mouthing you so much. You can't let him start the game. Redirect his attention to a tug, rag, etc. Keep one in your back pocket where it will be handy. In time, the game will only be when you say so, and stop when you say so. Make him do a few sits and downs before he is allowed to play fight. He has to earn the right, not demand it.

Years ago I was taught that play fighting in the pack is a way to establish order. I have had friends try to slap box with my dog and then get p/o when the dog went into drive and bit the crap out of them. If you are play fighting with the dog and he plays really hard he obviously thinks he has a chance at the top. I am biased though as well 'cause I think it is a waste of time. what energy and brain cells I have left need to be used for training.

I'm with the using toys and re-directing the biting to a toy rather than my body part before it starts up and when you see he wants to play.

ALSO, how is obedience training going? If you play with your dog all the time with a toy, and exercise your dog so you know he's not needing that, then if he's just coming over to nibble and pester you I'd just put him on a down/stay. That's usually not too much fun for the dog so should stop the behavior (biting/chewing on people = a 5 min down/stay).

Dog's need to learn how to play with our rules, cause otherwise they use theirs. And the way I see my dogs play/wrestle/bite each other in the yard is NOT what I want to be a part of. So they LEARN to play with me in a different way.

OH sorry i meant to say he actually is 18 months now ok what do you mean by in a few months it will turn serious you think he will become handler agressive? somtimes i will be petting him or rubbing his belly and all of a sudden he wil lgrab on to me BUT THIS IS NOTHING like he did when he was a little puppy he was a TOTAL monster and would actually HURT me when he bit me now he does not hurt he just mouths so all in all it HAS gotten better but i wanted to know if ithis is a common shepherd thing and will i always struggle with it? YES i can re direct him thats easy YES i can say OFF and he will stop but wont this trait always be there or what ? i dont have a problem controlling it the thing is i just cant eliminate it all together? and NO i do not ever play fight with my dog i learned when he was a pupppy that hes just not one of those dogs that is fun to play fight with

Steve everybody here but one I agree with. But I would put it this way. Your dog sounds like he is playing with you. Kind of like he would play with a toy. Dogs dont respect toys. Thats why you sense concern. He is going to be at least 60 lbs. When he gets older he sounds like the kind of dog that may try to be the one bringing the food bowl. Unfortunatly dogs dont sit down talk about who should be in charge. That nipping at the face thing is outta control. I dont think this will stop either at least not for a while. You will be a lot happier if you find a way to get his respect. I would say no to the breed thing. Its a personality thing. I have trained a lab that left puncture wounds from playing with its owner. Yes he was playing. Most of the people here listening ( sshhh there everywhere ) to this will like this attribute in your dog. Me included. But the most annoying of these behaviors would last about 10 seconds in most of these homes. You stop him and he stops. While thats good its sounds like he keeps trying it again. He is not getting the message. And if you get his respect you may be able to play with him a little. You dont play on his terms however he plays on yours.

thanks for the reply guys but what would you reccomend? to be honest i know that it would be great to have a GOOD trainer to work but but the sad thing is all the trainers around here are NOT that great! they are like pet smart trainers they just dont seem to know that much i mean one of them told me that i should put my dog on special herbel pills to keep him calm??? and another one told me to let my cat and dog WORK out their problems lol anyways what advice do you have? you say earn his repsect but he sleeps in a crate is not allowed on any couch not allowed to jump up on me etc.. what else can i do? furthermore would you say getting a crap trainer is better then trying to do this on my own ?