Meghan Rabon, you don't want any FORCED exercise, or overly stressful. For instance I work in agility so don't do anywhere near the 24" jumping with my dog during training until she's over a year old. Because I would be 'making' her, not aware if she was just a bit sore, and may over train if things were going well.

BUT when I go out on the hikes, my pups jump over things all the time. Only when they want to. they can choose to go around, they can choose to scramble over, they can stand there and wait until I catch up to pick them up over it.

And the best 'exercise' isn't just physical, but also mental. So if you can take your pup out to new places, meet new people, new friendly dogs, new sights/smells/tastes etc. the pup doesn't have to actually be going for as much distance.

GSD's were bred to be WORKING dogs. They are supposed to be tough and strong. I feel having a healthy amount of exercise, and a good diet, helps to give your growing pup the best chance to end up with strong bones, joints, balance, etc.

I feel if I am on a walk and my pup is still walking strong, wanting to go, and interested in the surroundings, then she is not tired out. Now when she starts lagging back with me, sitting more on the trail, and not so much sniffing on the trail, she's getting worn out. As they grow the amount of exercise of a healthy pup increases in a huge way. I'd say between 6 and 9 months old I kind of owned the 'Energizer Bunny' of pups and was hard put to REALLY tire her out.

Course maybe my pup comes from stronger GSD stock than some other dogs? I'm not a breeder so maybe some GSD puppies are much more delicate than a normal dog breeds.

I just don't think she'd know when she's tired out...regardless of how far we go, she doesn't get tired. So I'm just afraid she's got so much drive and energy that she wouldn't stop. I'd rather be overly cautious than have problems later on. Also, I don't really think a lack of excercse has anything to do with it, whether I take her out on a really long walk or run around outside, or she doesn't get any extra excercise (which has been happening, since it's been raining a lot <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> ), if I put her in the crate, she has an accident. Otherwise, she's great about no accidents, but she's just made some connection in her head with the crate and pissing.

Also, whenever I did agility with my dogs, I never let them jump over 12" till they were maybe a year old, didn't take them on bike rides till about then, too.

regardless of how far we go, she doesn't get tired. So I'm just afraid she's got so much drive and energy that she wouldn't stop You are saying what I am saying. You have NOT been exercising her enough to get tired. You wrote it, you see it, and I believe you are getting behavioral issues associated with it. It doesn't matter how much 'drive and energy' a pup has, when it's tired, IT'S TIRED!!! Tired so it falls asleep on the car ride home. Tired so they go to their beds when you get home. And tired and WELL BEHAVED even for the next day. I have seen the MOST driven, freakoid Border Collie puppies running around and get tired, so I know this is a physical condition that ANY pup will arrive at.

It sounds to me you have gotten EXACTLY what a high drive 'working' GSD puppy will have. Tons and tons of normal energy. You being able to find out a way to truly tire it out is your challenge. Have you got anyone who herds in your area? Being around and learning to chase/herd the sheep would help if you are unable to figure out something on your own.

I always found that if what I was doing was not working, then I needed to try something else. I would be joining every dog class I could (clicker training? join a search and rescue club?) if you haven't been able to mentally challenge and stimulate your pup enough.

I had to go to dog class, I had to take my dogs out for a hike, I had some behavioral problems with my dogs. I am NOT saying you have done anything 'wrong'. What I am saying is that things need to change or they will not get better. And you don't have to take my recommendations (which worked for my dogs, my friends dogs, and many other dogs I train with). But you have to really change YOUR life and schedule for a while to find something that works for you.

Just thought I'd update on how we're doing.

Djenga has gone about 2-3 weeks with no accidents in her crate. I started putting here in the crate for short periods of time again, first for a half hour and then for 3-4 hours. No accidents, she'd cry but not have an accident. Last night, I put her in for the first time again. The crying kept us up for a bit, BUT, this morning, no accident. Only about 6 hours total, but it's a start.

I had to actually cut down on the excercise. I'd usually take the dogs out for about an hour a day and let them run around and play, and train as well. Well, there's been snow on the ground, and since I don't let Djenga drink as much as she'd like yet, all she wanted to do was eat the snow. She actually had 3 accidents in a row one day, about 30 minutes apart. So that put an end to running around outside for a little while, and less excercise didn't make any difference on her having accidents.

So I think we might be okay now, don't want to speak too soon, but things are going great, I am much happier now!!! Thanks to everyone who helped!