I recently bought a 6 week old german shepherd, not knowing that I should buy a pup at 8 weeks... I really need advice on how I should train him, because the only advice I read in books and see on videos is on 8 week+ old puppies...

Basically, since I've had him I've kept him in my room and have been trying to crate train him, but my parents are not backing me up on this. They say I shouldn't leave him in there all the time or I'll make him "mean", and they'll make me take him out, or they'll take him out themselves...

I really have no idea what to do... He was quiet when I picked him out, but the breeder said that was because he was tired from playing... She also said that she would let him sleep with her.

He likes rough housing with the other smaller puppy we have too, but I don't know if this is a good thing, seeing as they're around the same size now, but he'll be 8 times her size when they're older.

I also made the mistake of letting him sleep in my bed the first night, since the breeder said she let him sleep with her, and he was also whining.

He likes playing with toys but only for a small amount of time and then he just lays around all day...

I just really want to know...

If I crate train this young, and make him sleep in the crate at night will he feel neglected and become a bad dog?

and, if I let the puppies rough house now, will he end up killing the smaller dog (9 week old shihtzu) when he becomes even bigger?

I appreciate any advice I can get, thank you.

"If I crate train this young, and make him sleep in the crate at night will he feel neglected and become a bad dog?"
He won't become a bad dog, because he sleeps in the crate at night. Promise!
"if I let the puppies rough house now, will he end up killing the smaller dog (9 week old shihtzu) when he becomes even bigger?" It depends on the situation and a lot of other things. Keep them seperate. Playtime together only with supervision. So much to say here about this. My advise to you; Read, read and read again all the articles on this site. Excellent information and you need a lot of it.

Hi Jeff, If you don't mind me asking. How old are you? If your folks got you a puppy I'm sure they'll spring for one of Ed's "Your Puppy eight weeks to eight months" and the basic obedience vids. when they watch that with you I'm sure they'll understand dog training a little better. or they can always log on and talk to us <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

hey. I'm 16, and I actually bought the dog myself, but I'll have to ask them about getting me the dvd... the only reason I haven't gotten the dvd yet is because I was waiting for him to be 8 weeks, and I didn't know if you could use what ed shows on the dvd on a 6 week old. I also read articles, but again, I didn't know if him being 6 weeks old changes anything.

Well if you order it now he'll be close to eight weeks when it shows up <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> When I got my puppy I kept to a tight schedule, in the crate by ten pm and out for food, water play and poop at six am. I followed Ed's training advice and everything went like clock work. What are your plans for your pupper?

right now I'd just really like to get him house broken...

but my future plans, I'd like him to just be a good dog... I might look into protection training later on.