I don't know if this is the right catagory for this question (how many times have you all read that!!! Sorry!!) but I have a concern....that may not be one at all!!

I have an 11 week old male puppy from German (DDR)lines with strong drive in his lines. I am planning on doing no more than possible competition tracking, obdience and maybe agility. He is a very laid back puppy but is quite aggessive in his play when he gets going. He just keeps his "Take it as it comes" attitude most of the time.

My only question is that he is attatched to me very stongly...not in a clingy way (also keeping in mind that he has only been here a week) but just in a "I like your company!!" manner. He follows me from room to room or even to the other side of the room to lay down on my foot or right beside me. Teaching the boy to Stay later on is really going to be interesting!!! Anyway, he is confident in all situations and not scared of things...he may watch something before approaching it but not fearful. Should I be encouraging him to go with other people instead of staying so close to me. When someone else takes him out he will play with them and do his business but when in the house or with me at work he comes back to me. As I am typing this he is laying on the floor with his head on my foot. I will be the one training him and working him so I do like the devotion but don't want him to get to be a "one owner" dog. I have an eleven year old daughter who plays with him and my husband tries to encourange him to come see him but the pup is just as content to stay beside me. If he gets him is okay with him and is not really fighting to get way and will allow him to pet him for a few minutes before wanting to come back over to me.

He is great about waiting at the door for the release command and will already sit, down and take food with the Easy command....he is everything I am looking for. Am I making too big of a deal of out this??

Thanks for your input....

Jerri

Sounds like a great dog to me!

Hi Jerri,
He does sound like a great dog! I have a Lab with similar tendencies. He really prefers me over everyone else in my family. I have two daughters and a husband, and another dog and three cats. My Lab does pretty much what your dog does, as far as being in the same room as me. He even lies in the hall outside the bathroom door when I shower.
It has not been problematic for me in the least, because I have my kids and my husband take their turns feeding him (we all take turns feeding the pets), and I have taught my family how to issue commands properly etc etc. He really likes and listens to everyone in the household, but prefers my company above all. I think that is because I am the one who takes him out for tracking! We have a special bond because of that; he really is "my" dog in many ways.
I wouldn't worry about it if I were you, but do make sure that your husband and daughter take part in caring for the dog and that they have positive and appropriate relationships with him. Everything should work out fine as long as you do those things.

Jerri, I think you have a very good dog. In my opinion it is a GSD's nature to bond very strongly to one person. Your dog simply sees you as his pack leader and other members of the family as fellow members of the pack. Like was said before just make sure other family members keep interacting with him. Good luck, Dave

Thanks everybody. I kind of thought along the same lines but all of the other dogs we have owned did not seem to bond with any certain family member. I have to admit I like the attention!!!

We do all take turns with feeding, exercise and all of the other day to day chores. I just wanted to be sure it did not seem like I was missing any early signs of "over-bonding" where he would not be social with other people.

Thanks so much....I am sure more questions will arise with time!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />