I'd like to hear what you guys think about the approach I'm taking with 14 week old Heidi my german bloodline GSD. Sorry in advance for the long post.

We got Heidi at 6 weeks old (regret not leaving with her Mama and littermates until 8 weeks). I plan on having her as a pet and protector of the property, no competing, no showing, and likely won't breed her (unsure of that yet). Also, have two other dogs 8 year old male Lab and 12 year old female Lab. Heidi stays in a kennel when unsupervised always.

At about 8 weeks we started the motivational training to teach sit, down, come. She learned quickly what sit and down means. And, doing pretty well on come most of the time. Every day (morning and evening) we would have special time (10 mins max) to go through the sit, down, come training (off leash). She followed me around the yard and enjoyed the training with treats.

We allowed her to be off leash with us and the other dogs and most of the time she was fine. She did try to play with the other dogs and quickly learned that she could not bite the 12 year old (elder wasn't putting up with any of that biting business). The 7 year old (125 pounds, btw) on the other hand was being submissive to this puppy. The mistake I made was allowing pup to play with him...those little dagger teeth hurt him, yet he wouldn't do anything to really keep her from doing it like the elder dog did. What I kept hoping for is that he would teach puppy (like elder did) that it won't be tolerated.

At 13 weeks and my arms, hands and legs being black and blue and scraped, my husband put his foot down and said something has to change. He took over the daily training doing same thing I was doing and said no more community time (hanging out together) until she learns that she can't treat Buddy like a chew toy (and me for that matter). He wanted my injuries time to heal. He was right, something had to change.

So, now they stay separated at all times (although in the same area). We (he mostly) takes her out of her kennel frequently to train and exercise on a 20' line. She does really well with her daily sit, down, come training, and she seems to enjoy it. I just love to see them together. She just seems to want his direction.

What I am afraid of is that the time she did have her own free will and was biting (playing) were we creating a monster. As I write this, I know the biting is normal play and that it should pass. What we do when she tries to bite is say "No Bite" then tug her lead. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. When it doesn't and she continues to be a monster, she goes into her kennel to stay. Should I start doing the "finger down the throat thing" to make it uncomfortable for her? BTW...the distracting with toys rarely works with her.

Heidi is doing really well on the leashed walks on our semi-rural street. I introduced her to walks at about 11 weeks old, at first she was unsure and would sit down and not want to go anywhere and I would tell her to come while walking backwards and treating her when she did come. Now, at 14 weeks, old, she does really well going away from the house checking things out with confidence. As we go along, I have her sit at times, and down at times and she does very well. Going back towards the house she tries to go ahead of me to get home. At this point in training, I'm not forcing her to stay right by my side. But, I also don't want her to pull. So, what I do is stop when she rushes ahead of me and when she reaches the end of her lead she turns around and looks at me. At first I would tell her to come and treat her when she did. Now, when I stop and she reaches the end of the lead, she turns around and just comes back to me. I think that's pretty good. What do you think?

My desire is for all of my dogs to live together in peace and harmony and not be separated. I feel confident that when she gets a bit older, that will happen...but not now.

BTW, I do have Ed's 8to8 DVD, and Basic OB and Dealing with Dominant Dogs DVDs. Haven't watched the Dom DVD all the way yet, but working on it.

Here's some pictures: http://s148.photobucket.com/albums/s29/barhenslee/

Mouthing is totally normal, your puppy sounds totally normal for 14 weeks old, puppies like playing rough and use their mouths. By the sound of your post it seems like you're asking waaay to much from such a young dog, the pup should be bonding with you now and maybe some motivational obedience, that's about it. Why did you get a gsd if you don't like a pup with some drive?

Sticking the finger down the pups throat is a bad idea, redirect with a toy and keep a leash on him when the others are around him,
AL

Thanks for responding Al. Although Heidi is my third GSD in my lifetime (pets only), she is the first female and the first german bloodline. As I understand it (and correct me if I'm wrong), the American GSDs are much more docile. So, this is a new experience for me. Not only that, but it's been about 15 years since I've had a GSD puppy. Over the last 12 years, I've dealt with Lab pups...no comparison.

Like I said, I got her because I wanted a protection dog. And, that's the other challenge I have, I certainly don't want to stifle her drive.

I understand that mouthing and rough play is normal and that there is a fine line between allowing her to play bite and trying to protect my skin (I need a bite suit . I'm getting better at being patient and trying to divert her to something else when she is in those moods. My biggest problem is that she (9 times out of 10) isn't interested in toys. I'm wearing gloves, jacket, jeans to protect my skin when playing with her. BTW, she enjoys her sit, down, come training, and I don't feel like I'm asking too much from her. It seems to me like that is bonding with her.

Would love to hear other opinions.

http://s148.photobucket.com/albums/s29/barhenslee/

Barbara