Quote:

Generally, the people who laugh at it know how to avoid getting bitten, but choose to let the puppy be a maniac because it comes with the territory.

Think that pretty much sums it up. I had one of my male pups hanging off my pant legs this AM and all I could think was "wow, look at that grip, look how calmly he is destroying my clothing.."

Somehow I don't think that would be the "normal" reaction and I really do shudder to think what would of happened if I had squealed and started kicking my leg around...................

That's not my intent at all. The original post here was written by a person who obtained a pup that she clearly couldn't handle. The pup was simply acting like a normal pup. She had no clue what to do with it. I've owned and trained my own dogs for 44 years and I have a lot of experience with a variety of breeds, mostly large breed working/herding dogs (Dobes, GSDs) and field trial bred sporting dogs (English Poiters, Weimaraners, Vizslas, Labs and Goldens including a 3 year old field trial bred Lab who has more energy than any dog I've ever owned and would be a handfull for an inexperienced owner and for the record field trial bred Weims and Vizslas have the energy of a keg of dynamite). Just trying to share some of the things that have worked for me over the years.

How in the world can you raise a puppy and not leg it run or jump???????????? I live on 5 acres of fenced land and my dogs and pups run. I've NEVER had any of my dogs have lameness issues EVER in the 44 years that I've raised dogs.

I also breed Standardbred racehorses and raise foals to become stakes winners. Growing foals need lots of exercise to develop proper muscle and ligament development. Keeping young pups relegated to leashed conditions at all times seems extreme.

I have owned field trial bred English Pointers, Weimaraners, Vizslas, Labradors and Goldens as well as show line Dobermans and West German line GSDs (currently I have an 11 year old Weimaraner, 3 year old Lab, 6 mos. old GSD and 4 mos. old Vizsla). The Weimaraners and Vizslas have an insatiable activity level which may be comparable to a Mal (and my 11 year old Weim is a very protective dog, although he was never trained to be a protection dog. He once pinned a guy against the wall of my house when the guy tried to get in through the sliding glass doors in the back for 1/2 until I got home. They also were originally bred to hunt large game including bears in Germany and he has the courage and fearlessness). He may be a better protection dog than some dogs that were bred or trained for it. The old Weim ran a whole lot during his growth and development years and swam a lot too. He has no hip problems whatsoever and he is in amazing shape for an 11 year old. I also had a number of Goldens and Labs over the years who ran and swam a whole lot while growing up. The field trial bred dogs need a lot of exercise and my current 3 year old Lab has a huge activity level. He's definitely no couch potato. I raised 2 Dobes a number of years ago, again very high energy dogs.

I don't think there is only one right way to raise dogs. I prefer to let my pups run and burn off energy in a safe fenced environment. The lady that started this post unfortunately didn't have any experience raising pups and the pup was exhibiting normal puppy behavior. Just seems that some of you on this post take offense to other people's opinions. We're entitled to our own opinions and we don't have to agree on everything someone else says but there's no need to be snotty either.

Dear Karla:
Quote "Could he have frustrated because there was no pack leadership over there? "EndQuote.
I'd say that's a big YUP. Even a pup can be a bully, if you let it. He knows he can't push you around, so he doesn't. He sounds like a very good pup and it sounds like the people who turned him back to you did him and themselves a very large favor. He can find a home with people who appreciate his good qualities, and they can find a more mellow dog, or maybe a cat, or set up an aquarium... (don't mean to make fun, really, it just seems to me they need a less lively pet)

Christine,

No one is geting "snotty" here - the problem is that despite your claims of experience, multiple posters have pointed out that your posting show an significant lack of experience and education regarding many facets of GSD's.

I'm still in awe of your claim that "The working bloodline GSDs are bred to be sharper" - that statement alone showed how little you actually know about the breed.

Your were given good advice about maybe spending more time here reading and educating yourself.

 Quote: Janice Jarman

Dear Karla:
and they can find a more mellow dog, or maybe a cat, or set up an aquarium... (don't mean to make fun, really, it just seems to me they need a less lively pet)

Well, they are looking at a litter of Golden's.

Christine:
You say Quote"We're entitled to our own opinions and we don't have to agree on everything someone else says but there's no need to be snotty either."EndQuote.
I see no need for this type of comment. In my opinion, snotty is as snotty does, and the main person being snotty, snippy, or better than thou in this thread appears to be you.
Maybe you don't mean to be, but your emails sure do read that way.
Woops, Will addressed this already as a moderator, sorry about that

Edited by Janice Jarman (04/10/2008 10:23 AM)
Edit reason: added a Woops

Goldens would probably be good, but you can get some pretty hyper Goldies, too. My SIL from a previous marriage has a beautiful Golden who seems to never ever get tired. He was sort of a little Goldiegater when he was a pup, too, but not nearly as bad as the Mal I owned years ago.

Edited by Janice Jarman (04/10/2008 10:24 AM)
Edit reason: changed can't to can

 Quote: Christine Garrit

How in the world can you raise a puppy and not leg it run or jump???????????? I live on 5 acres of fenced land and my dogs and pups run.

Christine, I don't think anyone said not to let a puppy run around and play. Tethering a puppy to you in the house doesn't negate or contradict letting him run around in your fenced yard.

Of course they need exercise! Puppy exercise, but exercise nonetheless.

 Quote:

I had one of my male pups hanging off my pant legs this AM and all I could think was "wow, look at that grip, look how calmly he is destroying my clothing.."

LOL Was it fat boy or red boy?