DEFIANT AND EVIL PUPPY - Page 3

Hang in there. What you describe is exactly how my 7 month old started.  It gets better. When he starts nipping, redirect (can be easier said than done sometimes). If you get to the point you are losing your temper, it time for puppy to spend some time in his crate.  Give him lots of exercise.  A tired puppy is a good puppy. 

 I also hope you are using a crate inbetween the shut down periods...it is important the pup be in a crate immed after obedience to think..

THINK about how good he did.


positive

  NOW brynwulf is correct in one degree. I never ever had a computer till 6 yrs ago..

BUT I had great mentors...schutz club etc.

Hands on...and it is better to find good trainers or breeders and I do not mean PETSMART>

YR

It's great that you are looking for advice.
It would have been easier for you if you would have checked a little more into GSD behaviour before you got your puppy.
Developmentallly, learning bite-inhibition is possible until around the age of 16 weeks. If your puppy hasn't learned that by now, the window has closed.
Seek on hand advice from experienced trainers. Working dogs, no matter how tall, need a very consistent and firm handler. This has nothing to do with the dog wanting to do you harm. Dogs, especially within the first year, learn every minute of the day from how you interact with your puppy, your family, the outside world, other dogs.
Many GSD's and GSD mixed dogs end up in a shelter because their people didn't get informed and are overwhelmed. In most cases people didn't do their homework before they aquired the dog...

One thing many people miss is that pups are like kids in one respect, they need sleep!
As to the "tired dog=good dog" thing, it depends.  On one side, a tired dog could be tired because it is getting adequate stimulation throughout the day and is mentally and physically satiated. On the other side, you could throw a ball endlessly and wear them out but that won't make a "good dog".  When a pup tends toward a "witching hour" then I assume it is from over-exertion beyond what it is physically and mentally ready to recover from. I have a dog daycare at our place. When I first opened I thought that since the people were paying for an entire day of "playtime" then I needed to keep the pack out and about all day long. The dogs would start out the day all sunshine and daisies, but by late afternoon I felt like I was constantly running interference on potential fights and squabbles. I was at my wits end so I contacted a few friends that also had daycares to ask their advice. One of these people has a large facility that keeps over 100 dogs a day (in various groups of 12 or so, not all together!). Anyway, she told me that I needed to crate the dogs and enforce a nap time. If I had younger puppies, I needed to make sure they got multiple naps each day. Sure enough, in days I had a different crew. The afternoon play times were just as peaceful as the mornings, and the dogs went home happy not cranky. The owners even commented to me that while their dogs were obviously well exercised, they weren't flat out exhausted when they got home, just pleasantly tired. I knew when my kids were toddlers, if they got overtired they became holy terrors, I don't know why I didn't make that connection with the dogs. On average adult dogs sleep about  13-14 hours a day (all total) and a young pup(8-14weeks) can sleep up to 18-20 hours a day. My last few pups that I raised (since starting the daycare) were put on a stricter nap schedule and I had such an easy time with them I almost felt guilty LOL. 
As others have mentioned, getting involved in mentally stimulating activities is very helpful as well. I find that tracking is a great way to get a puppys brain working and is a fun activity for them. I have yet to run into a GSD pup who didn't take to it almost immediately.
And like others have said, when all else fails, redirect. If you are really getting frustrated with him, it is kinder to crate him with a kong stuffed with goodies than to take it out on him in anger (even just yelling is not good). 

Find a good schutzhund club or trainer that is experienced with GSDs in your area.

Good luck,

Thanks to everyone and I have to say there is a marked improvement in last few days. I redirect redirect redirect and encourage regular naps in her crate during the day and particularly as the weather has been so warm. The evenings are still the time when she is less inclined to settle and attempt things that she knows are not allowed but again ten minutes chilling in her crate after a play seems to be helping enormously. Thanks v much.

I thought this was going to be about my new puppy. I call her the bleeder. :P I would have said redirect, crate and don't put up with that crap but it sounds like you are making progress! Good luck!