German shepherd question

[tODDski]

I don't feel like typing forever, because I am a huge fancier of GSDs. Mine are only guard dogs and that's all they do. What you described is a maturing male. GSDs should be aloof, mouthy, and not wanted to be physically dominated (that's what his nature is telling him).

You have a perfect sounding GSD. GSDs impose their will with their mouths. The main thing to be instilling now is discipline. Train, train, train. After a year, it's hard to stress GSDs out, but a year is standard minimally. A GSD is so different from a Lab - one is a sporting dog and the other is a herder.

My boy dog (GSD) is a mature male and the best dog I've ever had. Flawless in temperament and work (protection). However, as much as he herds us for love, there will be no holding on to him. Usually, 30 seconds and he's "gruffing" and at a lean 121lbs, you gotta be aware. Not that he would bite me, but he will buck away. Nock your teeth out buck. I have imposed my will on him, and held him (once or twice a year), but it's sketchy at best and never for more than 2 minutes. Oh
Yeah, for the first three years, he never wanted to be inside. You have a boss GSD. Enjoy and embrace his breeding. Manipulate his need for work to suit you, and always be in control of your discipline and his.

 

[Tleilaxu]

I don't feel like typing forever, because I am a huge fancier of GSDs. Mine are only guard dogs and that's all they do. What you described is a maturing male. GSDs should be aloof, mouthy, and not wanted to be physically dominated (that's what his nature is telling him).

You have a perfect sounding GSD. GSDs impose their will with their mouths. The main thing to be instilling now is discipline. Train, train, train. After a year, it's hard to stress GSDs out, but a year is standard minimally. A GSD is so different from a Lab - one is a sporting dog and the other is a herder.

My boy dog (GSD) is a mature male and the best dog I've ever had. Flawless in temperament and work (protection). However, as much as he herds us for love, there will be no holding on to him. Usually, 30 seconds and he's "gruffing" and at a lean 121lbs, you gotta be aware. Not that he would bite me, but he will buck away. Nock your teeth out buck. I have imposed my will on him, and held him (once or twice a year), but it's sketchy at best and never for more than 2 minutes. Oh
Yeah, for the first three years, he never wanted to be inside. You have a boss GSD. Enjoy and embrace his breeding. Manipulate his need for work to suit you, and always be in control of your discipline and his.

I agree with you, even both of our vets have said his temperment is amazing and that he is a well bred dog, the issue of him not liking me seems to have been resolved as well, since now he follows me around and will initiate some petting or snuggling after the end of the day, and thats cool with me. And when I say "bite" its very gentle, even when excited, its like how an adult would shake hands with a child.

And like you said we do have work ahead of us with discipline and stubborness but thats fine with me as well, now that things seem to finally be progressing it looks like this will be fun, and annoying.

 

[tODDski]

That "bite" or mouthing is what it really is - is herding. Mine always mouths my hands if I ignore him walking past. With mommy he road blocks, blocks again until she acknowledges him. I never thought he bit you - I knew exactly what you meant. I think it's enduring now. Following you around is one of the starts of his herding instinct. Soon it will be fur control - no pun - about interaction on your clothes.

A funny habit know of mine is, if we're working/playing on the laptops for too long he lays his head right across the whole keyboard. He fills my 17 in. keyboard, and the other day he pushed mommy's screen down, so that he could have his head covering her screen and keyboard.

Have a great weekend, T.

 

[Tleilaxu]

That "bite" or mouthing is what it really is - is herding. Mine always mouths my hands if I ignore him walking past. With mommy he road blocks, blocks again until she acknowledges him. I never thought he bit you - I knew exactly what you meant. I think it's enduring now. Following you around is one of the starts of his herding instinct. Soon it will be fur control - no pun - about interaction on your clothes.

A funny habit know of mine is, if we're working/playing on the laptops for too long he lays his head right across the whole keyboard. He fills my 17 in. keyboard, and the other day he pushed mommy's screen down, so that he could have his head covering her screen and keyboard.

Have a great weekend, T.

OMG yours does that too? Mine does that to my mom, and my mom only LOL

My lab steals the TV remote when she thinks its time to play.