Quote: Betty Waldron

Nick, stop everything.

Feed the pup, potty the pup, and walk the pup for exercise.

That's it.

Spend that time reading the site, watching the dvd's and asking questions that show you are trying to learn.

OH, THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

If this advice is not followed, Nick, you are going to turn this puppy into a screwed-up mess. PLEASE do what this extremely experienced person is saying.

We are all watching the constant do-do-do and (unbelievable) physical corrections in horror, like a train wreck.

Thank you, Betty.

 Quote: nick logan

I feel i did the correct thing. I didn't do it too hard I feel it was fair and he knew what he did was wrong

With all due respect Nick, I honestly do not have much faith in a person who posts about things like itchy collars having adequate judgment on what is fair or not - particularly when it comes with the comment that "he knew what he did was wrong."

I think everyone has been more than diplomatic on this board and suggested you watch some videos and do some research before you start training this puppy. Since I tend to lack tact, I am going to be blunt. I personally feel that unless you chill out BIG TIME you are going to screw this puppy up royally.

At this point I would skip the PPD/Schutzhund type trainers and find a decent puppy class for both you and Gambit to attend. Based on your multitude of postings, it is evident that you need hands on assistance with the basics of puppy training - and that is not a bad thing! I still take my puppies to puppy classes for various reasons. Classes like this will help you get a handle on some of the issues that you constantly post about on this board. Honestly, without seeing you and your dog, all of the advice you get here is just based on our best guesses. Get in a class that will assist you in covering the basics of puppy training.

Please don't take this as criticism from me. I just see a disaster waiting to happen here and I wish that both you and your boy Gambit get the best start in training that you can get.

I raised four GSDs, we all went to puppy class, Drago my fifth is currently in puppy class. Learn the fundimentals before you even think of correcting a dog, and I have no qualms about putting it to a hard head

In addition to getting the advice, please start taking it.

My pup is 8 months old and I still don't correct her I don't feel like she is trained enough for that.(Marker training all the way ) If she is acting like a brat that means she has not been exercised enough

Basically what I mean is if I have been working with my pup for that long with no corrections there is no way you are even close to being able to do that with your pup.

Listen too what everyone is telling they are very experienced
without them I would not be as far as I am with Izzy

 Quote: Nick Logan

I scruffed him slightly he never yelped but he got the idea. I then RIGHT away made up with him praising him and he turned on his back. It was that or full force pissed off puppy bitting me. he was really reactive..

I feel i did the correct thing. I didn't do it too hard I feel it was fair and he knew what he did was wrong

I shouldnt say things like VERY FIRM should I

No, you shouldn't correct a puppy like that for something that he has no clue about. Malinios puppies bite (all high drive puppies bite) it's what they do. It is not wrong to him, it is his instinct, hard wired into him. You need to show him how to use it correctly or you're going to have a very frustrated, messed up puppy - his instincts tell him one thing, but he just gets slapped upside the head for it. You wouldn't slap a baby for crying or pulling your hair would you? Your puppy is a baby. You don't correct him anymore than you correct a 6 month old baby!! And he doesn't understand what a correction is any more than a 6 m/o baby.

Ignore or redirect what you don't want. Praise what you do want. Have fun with your puppy. That's all you should be doing right now.

 Quote: ingrid rosenquist

I think everyone has been more than diplomatic on this board and suggested you watch some videos and do some research before you start training this puppy. Since I tend to lack tact, I am going to be blunt. I personally feel that unless you chill out BIG TIME you are going to screw this puppy up royally.

Both Betty and Ingrid were far more diplomatic than I was getting ready to be... I had to step away from the computer.

There was an entire thread on over-correcting and not correcting and old school methods, etc... Obviously went in one ear and out the other. The pup is gonna pay the price.

There was an enormous amount of discussion on how a mal was NOT the best choice as a family dog in this situation... obviously ignored and now we have a mal, doing what mals do (and which the OP was TOLD over and over they would do) and now the mal pup is getting smacked for being a mal puppy. And NO, NO, NO - the puppy did not know he had done ANYTHING wrong. The pup is gonna pay the price.

It doesn't matter how much money is thrown at the situation (last time there was a discussion on corrections more money got tossed into the "puppy bank") if none of the new information is accepted and put into practice. The pup is gonna pay the price.

 Quote: Barbara Schuler

The pup is gonna pay the price.

Likely the ultimate price - and probably just a day after one of your kids does.

The more I read, the more confused I get.

A puppy class is a wonderful idea!