Question on temperment - Page 1

Being new to shepherds can anyone help me with this question.Is a bitches temperement hereditary? will it be passed on to puppies.I ask as we have a bitch who is great with people but not so with other dogs.

Yes, temperament is hereditary (along with every other thing!) Mom's temperament is of tremendous importance since she will also be the one teaching the puppies and in my opinion as well as the opinion of many others, dog aggression is genetic as well.

alexl, Can you tell us more about your bitch? Is she titled? Titles meaning is she certified of any obedience/Schutzhund training? Does she have good hips and elbows that are certified by OFA or by SV? If your bitch is dog aggressive towards other dogs you need to train her to stop... depending on the age of the dog it can be a long journey a head of you.. If she’s too much dog aggressive then it's probably going to be too difficult to breed her (natural breeding) as she would tear the male apart. Take it from a very close friend of mine "One good correction is better than 100 weak ones" you MUST correct your bitch while she’s being aggressive towards another dog. I do not think temperament is hereditary; however since the puppies are with its mother for 8 weeks... they will learn to behave like mommy... If the puppies see mom being aggressive towards other dogs... the puppies will pick it up... Remember out in the wild... it is a critical moment for the puppies to learn everything there is to need learn to survive to its mother.

Alexi - if you are thinking of breeding with your bitch, just choose very carefully, the sire, and also try to look into the background of your bitch - from her experiences that may have cause her attitude to other dogs, to her forefathers. I have a bitch that did really well in the show ring and she is a super girl to live with at home, no agression but to take her to a show makes her very unreliable with other animals.In town - no problem. So much so, that we have retired her from exhibition. There is no point, its too stressful. However, I have bred her to carefully chosen sires, and watched them beforehand, and I have kept in touch with her off-spring, and am delighted to say, it has not carried through. I didnt buy her until she was 5 months old, and I am not sure if that had any bearing on her agression but with any people, children, strangers or any dogs at home - no problems. So there is hope if it is carefully progressed through before mating her. Will she run with a male dog? I think that is the crunch, because a bitch that will NEVER even run with a male dog is a different item. Mo - Mascani

Our bitch is 2 yrs old and has good hips UK score 11.We try & correct her when she gets aggressive.She lives with our other bitch & they get on great no fighting just play.We are thinking of taking her to a specialist trainer to see if they can help.She has only been like this for a short while no problem up until a couple of months ago.

alexl, Have you tried searching for a local Schutzhund club?

Alexl, Agressiveness can be hereditory but can also be learnt behavior. Pups will copy the behaviour of their mum or any other adult they come into regular contact with and able to watch and learn from. Make sure when you choose a sire that he has the best, correct character towards other dogs, then whilst mum is with pups dont put her into any situation where she shows her pups her aggressiveness towards other dogs. If she gets on with your other bitch, when they are older and already weaned away from mum(say 6wks), let your pups see their mums nice interaction with your other bitch. Your other bitch will probably be good with pups (even when they are not her own), if this is so, put their mum away in the house with a big bone or something, then allow your other bitch to go and play with the pups. This will allow your pups to learn that other strange dogs can be kind and sociable. I always find the Grand-dams, Grt Grand-dams, even Uncles etc, to be better at playing with my litters when they are young than their own mothers. As with most human families, the grannies, aunts and uncles are much more careful and tollerant in play. Mothers tend to play rougher and tollerate less. Nature & Nurture is a wonderful playground. All the Best Sue

In some research on the same question, I found there are different reasons for a dogs aggression to other dogs. It could be fear because of an attack at a young age. It could also be a dominance problem either could be difficult to overcome. I believe that dog to dog aggression is hereditary as well and need not be a problem. As already stated a puppy must be intergrated at a fairly young age to members of their family (pack) but also later on to lots of stranger dogs with alot of reassurance from you or new owner. Make sure none of these strangers shows any aggression to pup or other pack members and teach this youngster that they are safe and that other dogs are not a threat.

I have a bitch who is great with people but aggressive with cats and dogs. She had a litter 5months ago and was aggressive to the pups. I took her away from them except to nurse and I muzzeled her. I put the sire in with the pups and this has worked well. I kept one female pup and so far she is good with all animals and people. My bitch it titled and koerklasse as well. the bitch is 4 yrs old.