My bitch ate small pieces of wood! - Page 2

 This dog does not need a slap or a scruff shake and shame on those of you who suggested punishment for the behavior a dog displayed probally out of boredom.

Instead of punishing the dog, who will only learn to fear the owner, continue the behavior when the owner is not around and continue to chew if bored, have you never heard of preventive measures??

Use a metal pen and before losing your temper with the dog, ask yourself why is the dog doing this?

What a shame that the first thought to come to mind is let's hit the dog, instead figuring out the why.

She is still a young pup , that is why...correct where you keep her and her activities...she needs more time with you and more activities.

She need a metal pen, metal dishes, stainless steel water container on a ss cow clip attached to pen sides. and some chew aids to last her...she needs time out of her area . several times a day...every day of the week...she needs your touch like brushing her,,,,massaging her, and doing ball work and start tracking her.

Someone said on a thread a few days ago.....many people get a german shepherd and do not know that they need more time spent on them than most dogs, and the reason most people give them up , is because they dont have the proper time to raise them properly...one of the top Ten reasons for not owning a German Shepherd is that they chew up their surroundings when left alone and unattended.

Boredom and need of attention...If you dont have the time to play, talk , train, have fun and spend time with a pup of this magnitude...then dont punish the pup....find him or her a home with someone who will give the pup companionship....they do not like being left in a kennel for long periods of time.

Get a pet sitter., is the other alternative.

Yellowrose of texas i think your right! Oh and i spend a lot of time with her. I only lock her up in her kennel at night and when im not around. Otherwise she is inside the house. I talk her for walks, swimming and i teach her bitework, so i guess she is happy. K9trainer04 she is my first gsd and im trying my best to raise her! Mistakes do happen and im not perfect! I dont understand why people have to be nasty to someone who just wants other people's opinions. I've ordered a new kennel which is made of metal.

 I did not mean to come across as nasty, but I call it as I see it.  My concern was not just the slap you gave but that you considered another member's advice to give the dog a scruff shake instead of a slap next time.  What I'm trying to help you understand is this behavior warrants NO punishment.  And to think in a different way as to the reason the dog is doing this behavior or any behavior before applying physical punishment.  I got my first GSD 4 years ago and I have never used physical corrections on him and he is very well behaved.  He responds to verbal corrections and withdrawing things he likes until he gives me the behavior I want.  He is a big dog, 115 lbs., I don't want him mad at me!!  So he was brought up learning that he could trust me not to hurt him, but calmly without physical pain let him know when he is wrong and always looking within myself to see if I'm at fault for the behavior rather than blaming him.  Good luck, it sounds like you do give her plenty of exercise but she still could be missing being with you in the house at night.  Timber sleeps on his doggie bed on the floor next to my side of the bed.  Would it be possible for you to keep her with you at night, and you could try a kong filled with treats when you have to kennel her while you're out.