I'm curious about something...When people talk about how slow gsd's mature, I think they are talking about growth rates. However, I'm wondering if this applies to mentality also. If so, what kind of instances are we talking about? Are we talking about courage, intelligence, what? Now that Levi is a year old, I'm wondering what kind of attributes he should be displaying for a gsd. I realize that they all probably develop at different rates but is there a norm at all?

What I noticed with a female GSD that I saw (didn't own) every day for 4 years was a marked change around 2.5-3 years. She settled down, seemed more mature, more focused, and a lot less "flighty". It was a dramatic change from how she was before. She also seemed to become more dominant with the other dogs she hung out with. Not provoking fights but definitely letting the other dogs know who was the boss.

Similar to what Sarah has experienced, I've noticed marked changes in maturity (mentally) in our male GSD between 2 and 3 years. (he will be 3 at the end of November) He has become much more serious in his instincts to protect his "territory" (our home and land). He is more watchful when strangers are around as opposed to looking for "play" or other attention opportunities as he did as a pup. He's got a quiet confidence about all this (some combo of genetics and training I think) - but it's definitely a change from "puppy" to "young man."

For whatever it's worth..
Beth

 Quote: sarah morris

What I noticed with a female GSD that I saw (didn't own) every day for 4 years was a marked change around 2.5-3 years. She settled down, seemed more mature, more focused, and a lot less "flighty". It was a dramatic change from how she was before. She also seemed to become more dominant with the other dogs she hung out with. Not provoking fights but definitely letting the other dogs know who was the boss.

I don't have a GSD, but slow maturation (mentally) is common of a lot of large breeds, including mine - a Rhodesian Ridgeback. As Sarah said, I noticed a BIG change around 18-24 months - this was his MOST testosterone induced MALE ATTITUDE adjustment period, in which he stopped being "play with me, play with me" with every dog he met and started developing much more dominant play, and an almost overnight distaste for other intact males that were evenly matched in size with him. His protective nature also intensified and I learned pretty quickly which things he considered "his", or belonging to his pack. He pretty much turned into a total cocky, full of himself ass for a while - What fun!! (As Oscar is just a big pet, this was a lot to work with - not that I don't love him for it...)

Oscar is now a little over 2.5 y/o and I can see him starting to "even out" a bit in attitude. He also listens much better and seems to have more self control, instead of just reacting off the cuff. I'm sure some of the "wisdom" that comes with a young adult dog is influenced by good training, and you're sure to notice your dog listening to you better if you're actually ASKING him to work with you every day (not just letting him out the back door to do what he pleases), but I do think the brain keeps developing - for their whole lives really, just like people.

Levi is still only a baby - I know he's grown A LOT in the last year, but you're just entering his adolecense, so you'll be seeing much more growth (mental and physical) out of him yet. It'll get difficult at times, but enjoy it!! I found it really fascinating to watch my dog grow up (even if there were plenty of "stages" that made me want to kill him!) and it was a serious education in the complexities of canine development. Dogs, and big working dogs in particular, are intense and intelligent personalities, and they grow, learn and change a lot more than we give them credit for.

~Natalya

How cool is that Natalya? I almost got a Rhodesian instead of a GSD. I don't remember what steered me in the other direction but they are truly beautiful dogs!

It's a curious thing because Levi, even though he is so big still seems like such a puppy to me. He is just now starting to bark at things, mostly other dog related incidents like the neighbor dogs, etc. He's just not much of a barker. However, he barks like mad when the neighbors heads can be seen over the wall and such. When people come into my home he doesn't seem to care less. My lab is showing much more protective attributes towards strangers these days than Levi is. I know this is okay at such a young age and I really don't want him to be agressive in his stature. I need a calm, thinking dog especially for PPD. Still, I have always heard they are quite protective and watchful and wondered when this really kicks in. So thanks for the comments. I think 18 months is the golden number. This is the number I have seen most consistently with developed courage, self assuredness, etc. We start full speed ahead Nov. 8th with our new trainer and I am excited to see the development as it comes. It's amazing how dogs, like human children, have similar developmental stages. I think its always good to know what is coming up with kids, i.e. loosing teeth, stools, tantrums, etc., so I am just gearing up for the year ahead. Is there anything else I should be preparing myself for? Any surprises? HMMM??? LOL!

Yeah, mental maturity is what's most commonly referred to when "maturity" is mentioned.

At just before one year old (10 or 11 mos, can't remember), Lear decided to lift his leg to pee. I was so proud :laugh:

At one year old almost to the day, he calmed for literally a few minutes outside the crate, something he could only do before while in the crate. I was truly concerned, it was so out of character. I thought he was sick. I came to understand that he was just growing up.

As he's now 16 mos, he's able to lay down for longer periods of time, sometimes even napping.

As far as characteristics like courage and intelligence, these things can be brought out, but for the most part it's what a pup is born with and how it's directed and channeled as the months go by. One of the most important things for me to see in my dog is confidence. Confidence affects so many areas of a dog's life across the board. Wonderful character traits can be brought out and fully developed when a dog is confident.

So although I don't know when to expect certain things in their character development as a dog matures (I'm sure others here who have years of experience with many different puppies growing into great dogs would know better), I think confidence will bring out the wonderful things a dog has at birth.

We have a great responsibility toward them. I can't imagine everything my dog is capable of, and it's sad that they don't live long enough to show us everything they're capable of. But what they give us when they're here is beyond words, and permanent.

I'm waxing sentimental today.

 Quote: sandy moore

At just before one year old (10 or 11 mos, can't remember), Lear decided to lift his leg to pee. I was so proud :laugh:

I'm waxing sentimental today.

Understatement!

Robbin, different lines mature at different rates too. Caleb's lines in particular (all DDR lines TEND to mature slowly, but his sire was notorious for producing veeerrry slooooow to mature dogs) take forever and a day it seems to "come into their own" as his sire's owner calls it. He was never a friendly puppy, but at about 18mos he was really not very nice at all. Tried to stare down any male nearby and was in general, spoiling for a fight. His disposition toward me, however, was always great and hasn't changed since he was 8 weeks old.

By 2 he was a little easier to control due to increased confidence, and by 3 he was really solid, stable, and totally predictable. It's like the older he got the more confident he got, and he wasn't so "edgy" for lack of a better word. No more small guy syndrome. If someone wants to fight, they'll get their money's worth, but he's not picking fights anymore, thankfully.

He still will not "nap" as Sandy was just lording over me, but the staring contests with every male he came in contact with have lessened. He's a pacer, which I've mentioned previously, and I was hoping he'd get over it w/age, but at 4, I've kind of given up. I compare him to others I've had and the one I still have, and I think he was extremely late to mature, although passersby wouldn't have known it; it was more the little things I noticed that someone else probably wouldn't.

I don't know Levi's exact bloodlines, but my advice would be to not think you truly know Levi until he's about 2.5. And enjoy every stage!

 Quote: jenni williams

 Quote: sandy moore

At just before one year old (10 or 11 mos, can't remember), Lear decided to lift his leg to pee. I was so proud :laugh:

I'm waxing sentimental today.

Understatement!

:laugh: :laugh:

 Quote: jenni williams

He still will not "nap" as Sandy was just lording over me, ...

:laugh: hahaha