Posted on 12/24/2023 10:49:04 AM PST by Houmatt
I have a six-month old puppy. I believe it to be a possible German Shepherd/Rottweiler mix.
My problem is she is filled with energy. She jumps and runs around a lot and me and my spouse can't spend a large chunk of time due to our job schedules.
But she also likes to nip and chew. On everything. Including hands.
Any suggestions on what to do?
Thick leather gloves?
Exchange for a kitty.
I think you are the first person in the world that has a puppy that jumps all around and likes to chew on things. ;)
A chew toy might help with the teething?
hire a dog walker to help tire her out. keep her in a kennel when you cannot watch her.
My views on dog training are not popular.
Spoken by a German Shepherd lover who raised 2 very well-behaved GS loved by all.
Do not be afraid of corporal punishment. But it must be swift and strong, and limited to bad unwanted behavior (which destructive IS bad and indeed is corporal on you and your property and potentially leads to lawsuits - that includes jumping on people and making them fall).
Honest advice. IF the dog will have this same behavior and energy as it gets older, then it may not be fair to the dog or you to keep it. Sometimes a pet has a temperament issue.
Oddly enough we once had a kitten that was crazy and had to give it up. NOT saying your puppy is like that but the cat was just a nervous wreck like I’ve never seen before.
Otherwise, lots of puppies have chewing problems and have to be kept distracted with chew toys and kept under control when you’re not home especially.
And they may outgrow chewing everything, or you train them not to chew anything but their toys.
I personally do not like nipping by any pet, and believe that has to be trained out of them early on and thereafter.
That does happen with cats as well, but I have had dogs including a German Shepherd. My rule is nipping at your master or anyone else is not tolerated.
Just my thoughts.
Get a 2nd puppy for him.
German Shepards are notorious for being nippy/chewy jerks in their adolescence. It ends.
But, you need to work with them. They need training and “work” every day. You have a mix of two dogs that will be dedicated and loyal, but they need almost constant and consistent training for their first year.
Do a local search for a puppy training class. And go.
If you and your husband have time to watch a single TV show…you have time to train your puppy.
Walk the puppy. Lots of walks. 3-5 walks per day (about 2000 steps each walk) around the neighborhood calmed my pup down considerably. He’s a white English Golden. You get to know your neighbors and meet a lot of dogs. It took about a year, but has paid off. As a side benefit, you get in better shape and get some vitamin D being outside.
We had a pup that preferred me to her chew toys. She got over it.
Totally agree with you and too many people do not even attempt to train their dogs. Treat them like their kids, who they also spoil.
In most cases, punishment can be a swift tap or slap on their nose and stern words, and they get the message.
Why did you get a puppy? This is normal behavior for them.
Puppy day cares won't take a dog that isn't comfortable around other dogs. Try taking your dog to a nearby off-leash dog park for an hour over the weekends to get her accustomed to being around other dogs and people. Maybe start out for 15 minutes to see how she behaves, then up it to 30 minutes, then eventually an hour or more if she shows signs of having fun.
A little dog-play is normal, but just be prepared to intervene if your dog isn't acting appropriately at first. Other dog owners will be understanding at first if you show an effort to keep your dog behaved and you explain that you're trying to socialize your dog. If your dog can't or won't socialize, you will eventually be asked to leave.
-PJ
Just like a human baby, she is cutting teeth. Have plenty of chewy toys available and keep things you don’t want chewed put up where she can’t get them. She will eventually stop, but scolding isn’t the answer, because it’s a baby teething.
“I personally do not like nipping by any pet, and believe that has to be trained out of them early on and thereafter...My rule is nipping at your master or anyone else is not tolerated.”
Absolutely right. You have to break them of the mouthing on hands habit early. Strict enforcement and rewards, consistently applied by all people are the key.
Young dogs are like young children - they gain sensory information and learn about the world through their mouths. Even more so with dogs, whose sense of smell and taste are much stronger than humans.
In that sense, the behavior is generally normal.
Dogs are pack animals so they are not used to being alone at all - ESPECIALLY when young. Being alone will definitely contribute to a young dog’s anxiety and extreme behaviors. Avoid leaving them alone for long periods. Leaving items with your scent on them (like a blanket) will help if you are away.
Get the dog some industructable toys it can chew on, which will always be with them (like a security blanket)
You can also establish your dominance when it nips you by putting the dog on its back and holding it down by the neck - in a playful and non-violent manner, of course. That’s the most vulnerable position for a dog. Such play is how they establish their position in the pack hierarchy
I had a friend who would briefly hold the dogs snout shut when it nipped also. He claims it worked well to stop random biting of your hand. I haven’t tried it.
Of course, train and reward good behavior.
As the dog grows, it will become socialized to you and like young humans, behavior will change.
Six months. Teething.
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