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?
Ditto with one modification find a 1-2 year old Dog at the Pound to help Your Puppy learn and play with.
If that doesn’t work for You then maybe You should not get/have a Puppy. They’re highly needy because they want to play and the Breed doesn’t matter.
It’s what Puppies do. (Right there in the Job Description.)
I was worried we couldn’t keep our lab-chow mix puppy because of her nipping and dominant behavior (e.g., peeing in the house at several months old with no physical problem). Once after she tried to nip me, I hauled off and slapped her face. She looked amazed, like “YOU can do THAT?” After 3 or four times the nipping stopped and as I recall the peeing resolved soon after as well.
German shepherd and eotwiller is quite a combo. I owned shepherds most of my life. They tend totality towards one person and will fiercely defend them at aggressive posture. Most of what you are describing in my AMATEUR experience is being a puppy. But given that combo of breeds I would invest in a professional training sooner rather than later. Two weeks and the puppy will come back quite well behaved.
I have a pasteboard box, 6” x4” x5”. I used that to pop my more stubborn dachshund on the butt a time or two. It certainly doesn’t cause any pain, I know, because I slap my thigh with it, and it doesnt hurt a bit, but it makes a loud popping noise, and she is afraid of it. I only used it on her a couple of times. The other times I slap my leg with it, which makes that loud popping noise, but most times I simply tell her I’m going to get my BOX, and she immediately obeys. (Well, that is, she stops doing whatever undesirable behavior she is doing. I don’t use it to get her to do things I want her to do, only to stop doing things.) She’s entitled to her own personality.
Spot on. Sounds like schutzhund. Gotta hand it to the Germans. They know how to train their national breed.
1) Doesn’t really the dog type...have plenty of chew toys or they will find something to chew on. If they have toys...then are less likely to see your stuff as one. It also gives es them a chance to move from toy to toy.
2) No means no. Don’t confuse them allowing them to play with something (like a sock) and then be surprised when they are chewing on socks.
3) Firm and consistent..always. if it’s a Shephard mix, then it is also highly intelligent.
4) Train like it’s a game. Short intervals, high energy (you), and reward (tiny scraps of cooked meat work well).
5) The structure you create for your puppy will help determine their behavior as an adult. Most dogs that are ill-behav3d are because of their owners.
6) hate to say it, but this may just not be three right dog for your lifestyle..
I’m a man married to a woman. JS
I’m a man married to a woman. JS
“me and my spouse can’t spend a large chunk of time due to our job schedules.”
Found the problem
Post #6 is on the mark. You need to walk the dog daily. Also give her a tough chew toy that can't be conquered in short order. Also, corporal punishment, yes. Do NOT allow the dog to nip, STERNLY SAY "NO" and smack her in the face.
I think it's unusual for a FEMALE puppy to be mouthy or incessantly chew. Hmmmm.., this is usually a male trait.
Remember to issue COMMANDS, not squishy statements or suggestions... DOGS BETTER RESPOND TO FIRM COMMANDS.
Using this same route through your neighborhood, let him set his own pace and mark his territory daily. You should see behaviour improvements in two weeks.
My worst puppy story—went to a breeder about an hour away to get a pure bred Samoyed.
At the time I knew nothing except the breed were beautiful, friendly and fluffy.
I get the puppy in the car.
There is only one problem. I am wearing a beautiful new suede jacket—and immediately the puppy starts leaning on it while I am driving.
It was not until I got home that I realized that she had chewed/teethed her way up and down the sleeve—gently enough that I didn’t pay much attention—but firmly enough to destroy the jacket.
Lesson: Wear old clothes around puppies!
(She was an amazing dog—became the mascot for the local Rotary club—every kid in town knew who she was and wanted to pet her and play with her.)
I suspect your German Shepherd/Rottweiler mix needs something you cannot provide. Time & Energy. A dog the size that one is going to be also needs room to roam & run. Lots of it.
If it were mine, I would try to rehome it to a family with a big yard, kids and time to work with and play with the pup.
I've heard this over and over. DINKs think a dog can be turned on and off like a piece of consumer electronics, so they bring home an energetic puppy and then complain because it's energetic 24/7.
From a German shepherd rescue volunteer:
The best dog in the world to have is a German shepherd adult.
The worst dog in the world to have is a German shepherd puppy.
Buy cheap furniture, hide everything you can’t afford to get torn apart, and delete your social calendar for the two next years.
Never let an animal in the house build a fence.
Can’t resist another Samoyed puppy story.
I had a fence put in just for her—solid concrete foundation and strong wire fence.
It took her two weeks to escape.
She dug a gigantic hole under the fence foundation.
Dog ownership is always interesting.
She’s not the dog for you.
You don’t have time to raise her right.
Yep ... we have one of those.
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