New puppy, I'm exhausted! - Page 1

I need help!

I have a 10 week old German Shepherd boy named Sterling. I feel like I've failed somehow. He bites me, not play nip, like ears back, growl, bites me. He tries to hump me, but I gently push him off and he bites me. I usually grab his muzzle and say "NO" and that makes it worse. I have tried all the "submission" positions. I've held him down facing away from me til he calms down, then he just gets up and bites me, I've ignored him, I've done the coffee can shaker thing, I've tried a squirt bottle (and he LOVES it)

There are so many opinions on the humping matter, he's nervous, he's dominating, it's just puppy play.... it doesn't seem like puppy play when his ears are laid back and he's growling at me. He doesn't do this to my husband. My husband hardly pays any attention to him. I work from home, so I'm home with him all day long. I don't know what to do! I'm not afraid of him yet, but when he's 60+ pounds, with adult teeth and biting at me, I won't be able to live with him.

What do you experienced people think??

He is dominating you. Find an experienced trainer asap before it escalates further. At 10 weeks he should be tethered to you.. use the leash to correct him. Do not give him freedom of the house. He needs plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. 

It's just going to be hard because my husband won't listen to me. I've never had a dog before, so he thinks I don't know what I'm doing. He keeps saying "he's just a puppy, you are expecting too much"

Hello! Sent you a PM.... Will be under the little envelope icon on the top right of your screen here ... :)

Your husband doesn't have an issue, you. I reccomend that you do the training, you feed, you walk until this I under control. There is not much advice to be given as we cannot see what is going on. Mot here will reccomend you seek help.

He IS just a puppy, but if you do not handle it properly, you may wind up with bigger problems.

I am going to do a 6 week puppy training program with some trainers, so hopefully that will help. In another forum, a person recommended hand-feeding him. I understand he IS just a puppy, but if he is learning boundaries, he has to learn that biting, humping, etc is not ok. I just can't seem to distract him, once he gets started! I'm not blaming him, I know it's something I've failed to do right, I just can't seem to reset the clock!

Put him away in a crate when he gets too worked up.  Often trying to "correct" or use "submission positions" just backfires, the pup interprets that as you playing physical right back and just keeps escalating things.  Unless he's completely mental, he wants to be with you and interact with you. If he can't do it appropriately, he can spend some time out in a crate or pen.

Hi there.  I too work from home so from the beginning our then puppy was my responsibility.  With a very mouthy GSD puppy and young children in the home, I took that task seriously.  What helped me, overall, with puppy raising a house dog was to put him on a schedule.  Potty time, meal time, play time, short daily walks that got longer as he got older, short fun training sessions with treats, nap time in crate, bed time at the end of the day.  The predictable daily routine gave him structure as he learned that all good things came from me.  Yes, those puppy teeth hurt a lot!!! I would redirect with a toy.  If during playtime, he got too crazy (you can see it in the eyes!), then I just put him in his crate for a few minutes to calm down (no scolding ever) and then I would let him out for a little petting and treats for sitting on command, etc.  I do remember that between 8 weeks to 12 weeks, I could not walk through the kitchen without him attached to my pant legs with his teeth. By about 13 weeks, he started to get better.  Now he never did the humping on my leg, just lots of biting.  But he had a stuffed animal that would trigger the humping reaction.  Again I was there to redirect his attention to a game of tug or fetch.  One thing, I never encouraged was wrestling games.  I found that wrestling games allowed too much opportunity for teeth on human skin.  Toys, tugs, and balls were for teeth and always encouraged, but not human arms and legs as might be the case if wrestling were to be encouraged. 

I focused on giving him both mental and physical exercise throughout the day, and he learned to keep his focus on me and therefore not be likely to challenge me or dominate me.  Afterall, I controlled his day and his fun.  It was exhausting!  GSD puppies are smart and have lots of energy that has to be spent every day.  I see people with other kinds of puppies, and I think to myself: "they have no idea!"

I hope this helps. I also agree with seeking the help of a good dog trainer in your area. Best of luck! 

 

 

 

I keep hearing that about GSD's having a lot of energy, but Sterling doesn't. He doesn't run around too much, he doesn't play with his toys too much, he kind of just sleeps or lays down. The only time he really goes anywhere, is when someone is walking, then he follows them. Even on the walks, he just lays down, shortly into it! When I try to get him to potty and I KNOW he has to, he will just lay down. I've also heard most puppies will eat themselves to death... not Sterling. He's 10 weeks and he won't even eat 3 cups a day! He also doesn't like peanut butter! He shows zero interest in his Kong. I even hid bacon treats in the peanut butter, and nope! I've tried Jiff and Peter Pan!

Zenit, what kind of mental exercise did you do with him?

I hope Zenit is going to reply to that question,  but meantime:

'mental'  exercises for your pup - well, for any dog - would include

any of those 'games' which make him work out for himself what

he needs to do.  For instance, indoors you can hide little food treats

and/or toys he likes around your house (when he cannot see you do it),

then take him around searching for them.  This keeps both mind and

body busy, is a distraction from other more naughty pursuits like biting !

Hiding food under a set of plastic cups, like Find The Lady.  You can buy

wooden toys with sliding parts that dogs can get rewards from when they

figure out which bit to move.  Outside, keep him busy on walks by taking

someone with you and playing Hide & Seek... will those do for starters ?

I am sure using a bit of imagination you can dream up some others,

depending on locations etc that you've got to work with.  Cut out some of

his main food [and use that as treats if you can] on days when you are

using food rewards, so that he is actually hungry.

 

Take the advice offered about exercises to do with him, and finding a

Trainer to work with.  And do stick with it.  As you said, he is only a little

puppy - you really don't need him to go on biting and humping and generally

disrespecting you when he is full grown.  I aquired my current GSD when he

was already a year and a half old;  he's a big dog,  and it was sheer murder

being held onto by teeth and forelegs for the first couple of months until I got

'on top' of him and convinced him I wasn't 'playing' HIS games.  I nearly gave up

on him;  I suspect had I been inexperienced around Shepherds,  I would have done

that.  They are not all so dominant and downright cheeky by nature, but when you

get one who is, you know about it.  It hurts !!!   He was the worst case I'd ever had

to deal with on a daily basis.

Fortunately I persevered and he turned out a good dog,  he is now 11years  and

mellowing a bit, too !