Hello people, im hoping to get some suggestions here as im pulling my hair out with the pup right now.
Bernie is about 20 wks, GSD. Up till now, all has been very good. Now with the latter puppy part, his training appears to be coming unstuck.
Id really appreciate some suggestions of where i could help things along.
1. We walk off leash bush land each morning before i leave for work. He romps and plays with 3 other dogs we meet each morning. Only now, he's wanting to hump them all. Its annoying the other dogs, Bernie is the only puppy. The others are 18 months border collie, 6 yr old pup ball dog, 9 year old pug. The 6 yr old puff ball is the boss of this group. He's getting annoyed that Bernie is humping his mates, and the two are getting into small scraps.
How should i handle this? or do i leave it for the puff ball to tell him off?

2. I have a new car, he cant get into the back seat as easily. And for the 2nd time, this morning, has tried to refuse to get in. Previous car, which he associates with how we get fun places for him to play in, was not a problem. I dont like my new car, nor does he. How do i get him happy to get in again?

3. The recall has just started to fail. On 2 occasions now, he has failed to come when called, because he was busy doing other things. Should i stop letting him off leash. I have a 8 metre long leash i could use, but off leash running is so much more fun for a very energetic pup GSD. And without the fetch game, i seriously doubt i could knacker him out enough!

4. The other is a desexing question. Bernie has no papers, i never intend to mate him. Im from england, where you dont neuter/spay dogs automatically. Here in Australia, they get them done at 16 wks! I want to eventually trial with bernie on obedience, have been training in drive. My question is, does neutering ruin their drive?
Will neutering reduce the 'lipstick' issue he seems to permanently have?
Will neutering at this early age, stunt his growth. This is the english doctra coming in. Ive previously had rotties, and we didnt neuter them, till 2 yrs, so that they would grow to the full structure. Is this a myth though?

5.And lastly. He's turning into a escapologist. He can, open the fridge to get a joint of meat out. He can open a child proof safety gate, he can open doors, i turned the door handles around so the handles had to be 'lifted' rather than 'pressed', took him 10 mins to work that out! The safety gate: you have to squeeze two handles together, and depress a leaver at your feet, then push. He has worked out how to do this. Smart yes, making me smile, NO.
Ive been tackling this one, with letting him know im not happy when he jumps the gait with that 'oh im so bloody clever' grin, and putting him back behind the gate. He's staying there, but only 'just'.

Im beginning to notice the cerebral differences between dumb ass rotties, (still my fave breed however) and GSD's. Bernie makes our previous dogs look like they had serious learning difficulties.

Im looking foward to some suggestions, and thankyou in advance
Bernie n me

They hit a real independent phase at about 4 months, and it lasts until about 8 months. For some dogs it will be until a year and a half.

Tasha was a nightmare at that age, its just getting better now. She would sit down on walks and refuse to move, and act deaf when I called her. One time she actually stopped, looked at me, considered coming and then took off!

We also had issues with getting in the car.

She also would not down for me, at first I wasn't sure if I had taught her the right way. The trainer we worked with confirmed that she knew what I was asking, she just wouldn't do it. I solved that by making her down for pretty much everything for 2 weeks.

I don't know the answers to the rest of your questions, but this stuff will pass. It's probably better if you keep him on leash for now.

I would put the dog on a long line or leash until the recall is reliable (8-9 out of 10 times-9 out of 10 times over time)

He can't hump other dogs if he is on a leash & you don't let him.

Some of the independence is age appropriate even more apparant at around a year or so- 18 months. He is growing up & testing the boundries.

Neutering at a year to 2 years old, if you are not planning on protections work should be fine. The dogs had pretty much defined his personality & behaviors by then.

The lipstick issue is excitement, not sure if neutering will change that as I have only had intact males. My male still does that when he is excited about going out & playing with his ball & doing OB. But doesn't seem to be as much so as when he was under 2 or so. (& he lives with an whole female)

Dont know about the car thing...Is it higher to jump into or awkwerd. If so, maybe it is uncomfortable (hips) or some other reason. Try using a treat to reward when he gets in. Show him the treat & them ask him to get in. ( do you know marker training?)

Have him 'work' for all that he gets, dinner, treats, attention etc. Use his 'smarts' to work for you. Tire him out mentally by teaching him tricks etc. This goes a long way in just plain making them tired, period. It's work to use your brain.

Enjoy your pup.

Ed has several training DVD's that you could watch - i.e. one about being pack leader, marker training, etc. There are also lots of streaming videos that have great training info. Just explore around this site, it's full of instruction for this kind of stuff.

Hi, the entering the car refusal. Well, id bought a nice new plastic backed tartan rug thing to fit over the back seat. That is what the problem was. I replaced it with his old fake fur car rug, and he just jumps in! As the fake fur traps more dirt than the banket, ive swapped back again, and eradicated this issue.
Ive put him on the 8 meter reign till the numpty run off phase is passed. Its reassuring to know, with him on it, he can run free, but be brought in, when he gets too fruity with the other dogs. Also making the recall 100% reliable. I like that. He's not so keen, but you get that.
And the DVD's. Yes, when im well off enough, i'll be grabbing one. Im financially 'prioritising' right now. And a DVD is not top of list.
Thankyou for the advice

Welcome to the world of smart dogs....for the getting into things issues...

they sell clips for the fridge...I found duct tape works in a pinch (my guy conspired with the cat to get the clips off, but a dog alone or a cat along won't be able to work it)

for doors my guy figured out how to use the doorknobs but I found hanging things on them deterred him a bit (jingle bells worked well, and let you know when he was trying for the doors)

for baby gate jumping...I was a bit mean with this one...I'm not sure if I should recommend this but I strung bells of the top of the gate (only applies if he hits the gait when he jumps or is like my guy who climbed first before he started jumping) then for a few weeks sticky-taped the floors on the other side, I also set up kid-jax (like the game of jax with the bouncy ball, but the jax pieces were larger). Every time he jumped the gate he'd stick to the floor or land on the pastic jax.....he figured it our pretty quickly....for the opening of the gate (what my guy tried after he learned jumping it wasn't fun) those climbing clips to hold them shut work well. Make sure you get the screw close ones though or he'll figure out how to open them....when in doubt...lockable doors >_>

 Quote: shelle fenton

Hello people, im hoping to get some suggestions here as im pulling my hair out with the pup right now.

We've all been there. Thankfully, hair regrows.


Bernie is about 20 wks, GSD. Up till now, all has been very good. Now with the latter puppy part, his training appears to be coming unstuck.

This is called "the terrible two's" in humans.

Id really appreciate some suggestions of where i could help things along.

1. We walk off leash bush land each morning before i leave for work. He romps and plays with 3 other dogs we meet each morning. Only now, he's wanting to hump them all. Its annoying the other dogs, Bernie is the only puppy. The others are 18 months border collie, 6 yr old pup ball dog, 9 year old pug. The 6 yr old puff ball is the boss of this group. He's getting annoyed that Bernie is humping his mates, and the two are getting into small scraps.
How should i handle this? or do i leave it for the puff ball to tell him off?

You may want to rethink this... this is creating a pack of dogs. Don't underestimate the puff ball and don't underestimate what your dog could/would do to him at some point. Right now he is a young pup, but the hormones are going to kick in here soon and a switch could be flipped that might result in something you would regret.

2. I have a new car, he cant get into the back seat as easily. And for the 2nd time, this morning, has tried to refuse to get in. Previous car, which he associates with how we get fun places for him to play in, was not a problem. I dont like my new car, nor does he. How do i get him happy to get in again?

Marker training, marker training. Assuming it doesn't HURT him to get in this car.

3. The recall has just started to fail. On 2 occasions now, he has failed to come when called, because he was busy doing other things. Should i stop letting him off leash. I have a 8 metre long leash i could use, but off leash running is so much more fun for a very energetic pup GSD. And without the fetch game, i seriously doubt i could knacker him out enough!

Again, the terrible twos. My dog wasn't off lead (100') until he was much older, and I really, really grew to hate that lead. If he figures out he can dodge you and that "come" doesn't really mean come, bye bye!

4. The other is a desexing question. Bernie has no papers, i never intend to mate him. Im from england, where you dont neuter/spay dogs automatically. Here in Australia, they get them done at 16 wks! I want to eventually trial with bernie on obedience, have been training in drive. My question is, does neutering ruin their drive?
Will neutering reduce the 'lipstick' issue he seems to permanently have?
Will neutering at this early age, stunt his growth. This is the english doctra coming in. Ive previously had rotties, and we didnt neuter them, till 2 yrs, so that they would grow to the full structure. Is this a myth though?

I neutered my GSD at around 6 months and really regret it. Definately would have waited until two years if at all.

5.And lastly. He's turning into a escapologist. He can, open the fridge to get a joint of meat out. He can open a child proof safety gate, he can open doors, i turned the door handles around so the handles had to be 'lifted' rather than 'pressed', took him 10 mins to work that out! The safety gate: you have to squeeze two handles together, and depress a leaver at your feet, then push. He has worked out how to do this. Smart yes, making me smile, NO.
Ive been tackling this one, with letting him know im not happy when he jumps the gait with that 'oh im so bloody clever' grin, and putting him back behind the gate. He's staying there, but only 'just'.

I know he is getting exercise in the AM but this may not be enough. A tired dog is an easier dog to live with. Other than that, how about clasps, bungies, etc... to secure things more tightly. There are also floor mats which deliver a light shock which you could put in front of the gates, etc...

Im beginning to notice the cerebral differences between dumb ass rotties, (still my fave breed however) and GSD's. Bernie makes our previous dogs look like they had serious learning difficulties.



And welcome to the forum!!

Im looking foward to some suggestions, and thankyou in advance
Bernie n me

Shelle, Shelle, Shelle!

Why are you giving a 20 week old puppy so much responsibility? Studies show that dogs have the decision making abilities of a toddler, the math skills of a 5 to 6 yr old, and the social skills of a 14 yr old. http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2009/08/dogs-think.aspx

Are you ready for the ultimate secret to dog training? Here it goes. NEVER give a command, that you cannot, or will not REINFORCE.

If you call your dog to you, and you have no way of making that happen, what are you teaching your dog? You just taught your dog that when you say come, a game of chase is to follow! At minimum, your dog should be dragging a long line outside, and a short line in the house. At least this way, you can step on the line if the fuzz ball changes his mind about following directions, and reel him in like a marlin.

As far as escaping, an industrial crate (like the aluminum ones on this site) is your only real solution. My pit bull resorted to smashing windows out with his head like a billy goat when he wanted to go exploring....

Definitely read Ed's article on Ground Work. I think you will find it's your most valuable resource.

Good luck!

Concerning the leash. I have a 7 month GSD. I work her on a 30 foot leash and she is pretty good. When I take the leash off of her she knows it. At times, when I call her back, she stands there and looks at me. At times she won't even look at me. I know she hears me because I watch her ears and they will focus on me and where I'm at. I have really enforced the "sit" command whenever I work with her. If she won't return to me, I tell her to sit. No matter where she is, how far away, I tell her to sit and she does. At least, so far, she hasn't run away. I'm sure she will go in and out during the next year or so.

Just hang in there and don't give up. The puppy stage is hard but not impossible. As you, I will have questions in the near future.