I cannot second these opinions enough.
Since this is your first GSD, you should read Ed's free articles about dominant dog issues, pack behavior and aggression.
A dog that growls at 5 months at a family member will almost certainly turn into a biter the older and more confident he gets. Then your great GSD will be a poor shelter dog on deaths row.
AND, if he bites anyone other than your husband or kid, you will also have a lawsuit.
So you should read those articles and start obedience training him soon, like yesterday.
Besides, a 5 month old pup normally does not display protective behavior, they are not mature enough - this behavior is certainly out of pack rank/drive.
Michelle

Sorry, I forgot to finish a thought. I mean to say that if he is growling at 5 months, and the behavior is rewarded and or goes unchecked, he will become a biter as he matures.
Lastly, if he is going to be a pet, you should strongly consider neutering him.
Michelle

My web board is not someplace I want people to post little notes about their personal dogs. Thats not the purpose of this bboard. There are plenty of places that one can go on the Internet where we can tell everyone how nice our dogs are, how seet our dogs are, how well our dogs are doing in training, how smart our dogs are, how pretty our dogs are. THIS IS NOT ONE OF THOSE PLACES. I do not erase old posts. The board members can look at all the training posts from the beginning of the board. These kind of posts take up hard drive space. THEY WILL BE DELETED IN THE FUSTURE. If someone does it I will politly ask them not do do it again. If they do it two times they will not be alowed on the board. If moderators see this - they can send a warning. If they see it again let me know and I will block the person.

Ed

Ed

I apologize for not knowing that we were not able to post “personal” notes about our GSD’s, I did not know that. I feel like a criminal. I am a proud owner of a wonderful GSD and wanted to post that. So all is forgotten… I hope
But like I said, in the past, I have posted some notes about some training issues and all were taken like I didn’t have the patience and everyone was offering to take him and that they would “relish” on a dog like that. If I wanted to give him up, I would have never made the move of posting a note asking for advice. I am a new owner of a GSD and obvious am new to this discussion board. So many people told me to come to this site because of the knowledge and expertise, so after doing so, I was shot down, all times. I love my GSD, I love the breed and I love to read everything that I can find about them (The main reason for coming to this website), but apparently, I am in the wrong.
Again, I apologize

Thank you Kali and Joyce for the kind words.

Hi Allison,

Have just sent you a p.m.

To access this just click on your Profile and you can read my message. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

OK, forget about the brag stuff, nuff' said. You're not wanted in 50 states, the FBI's 10 most wanted list doesn't have room for you, the APB can wait, there isn't a picture of you on the wall of the post office. . .

We don't put people in jail for the first offense here, but for the SECOND, we put a hit out on you. . .so you really don't have to worry about being a criminal. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

So, lets move on. Allison, do you understand why there is concern over your dog's behavior? Honestly, that punky behavior may be a positive thing. It may be something that later will become a strength of character that could help with protection training or other training. BUT, if it isn't controlled you will be making a mistake that could have serious reprocussions in your home.

Here is the basic deal. It sounds to me like dominate behavior, especially considering he is well behaved outside the home and not fearful. That dominate behavior, when expressed within your dogs pack structure (i.e. your family) MUST not be allowed. By discouraging that behavior in the home you are not discouraging that behavior to possible real threats. So you don't have to be concerned with that. It is natural for the dog's pack leader to be in control of who he is aggressive with and who he isn't. You can't let him be aggressive to your family.

Imagine those nights when you and your spouse have the nice dinner, the bottle of wine, some "special" time together. . .and Fido is growling and snarling at hubby, barking like a psycho, and trying to eat him. How romantic is that?? Not to mention possibly dangerous. . .

You can't let that happen, so from this point on you should read the articles on this website about dominate dog behavior and follow the suggestions given. No more aggression within "your pack" is allowed. . .not ever.

That will really help you out as your dog gets older and more powerful. That behavior, if left unchecked might not stop with just your husband. Your kid could be next, then you, as the dog gets older.

Something to think about.

Thanks Robert for the reply
I have read some of Mr. Frawley's articles and the more I read, the more confused I am. It seems that after reading that he should as well be showing some dominance toward other things, i.e.: food, toys... But it is just my husband. My husband seems to be more harsh in disciplining him than myself, and that is what is surprising, that he will back talk him, but not me. My husband is the “strict” one I guess you could say, while I am the lenient one. You would think that this would be happening vice versa… I do understand the consequences if I don’t do something now about it, which I am still reading up on, but at the same time, I am still trying to figure it out. Maybe it’s not for me to figure out the problem, just fix it.
I will keep reading
Thanks!
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Yes,
You are very confused. The reason your dog is not growling at you is because you are not a threat to his pack position, he probably feels very comfortable with the fact that you are under him in the pack where as your hubby is challenging him for the alpha spot. Had you told me you were the primary one training and setting boundaries, he may be not growling at you because he respect you, but probably not since you did not do those things, right??
So, to be successful, you all must be on the same page in terms of training and discipline. You should learn to give a correction, and enforce all the commands you give, or don't give them.
Make the puppy do a command for everything he gets including petting, walking outside, food, treats...
I suggest you reread Eds material, going over it once or even twice is not enough to understand.
Make sure your husband is not dominating him. Being the dominant figure in the house does not mean he has to be dominating. Dominating a young pup to the point of intimidation could result in defensive growling/behavior.

It doesn't matter the pup does not have issues with food/bones, really dominant dogs usually don't. It is the insecure beta type dogs who will take your head off if you try to take their bone.
Again, if these things are not clear to you, re read Ed's materials.
Michelle

Besides everything that was mentioned....at 5 months, 65 lbs is most likely too heavy. Unless of course you have a shepherd from one of those so called "big boned" lines. :rolleyes: