TEMPERAMENT - Page 1

MY GSD IS 4 MONTH OLD NOW AND HAS A REALLY GOOD TEMPERAMENT ,BUT I AM KEEP BEING TOLD HOW MUCH THEY CHANGE(FOR THE WORST) WHEN THEY GET TO 6 MONTHS,CAN SOMEONE PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANY TRUTH IN THIS

Its not that the temperment gets worse.  They just begin to test their boundries.  At 3 months they enjoy following you and being under foot.  A few months later they may begin to explore their surroundings and may not want to come when called.  Dogs are pack animals with a hierarchy.  If you do not establish yourself as the leader they will take that role and quickly begin to run your house.  This is all case by case basis and I am speaking in generalities.  Join a schutzhund club in your area for training advice.  If you let them know that there are areas of training ie. grip work you are not interested in I do not see why they would not want to accomodate you.

Kyle

I was just as concerned about that issue as you are, but I never noticed any major changes either because I could not detect them or because there was no question who the leader is.

You don't have to bully him or anything.  Generally, a couple of obedience/play sessions a day and making him work for food and praise work wonders.  As KYLE said, join a SchH club if you can.  That's definitely the best thing I did for my dog.

Good luck.

There is a book called Surviving Your Dog's Adolesence,  it is WELL worth the reading. It explains to you why it is that Duke all of a sudden becomes  a ButtHead! How is it that what your dog knew yesterday all of a sudden seems to have blown out his arse, that morning. I always suggest this book! Good reading. It isn't so much that temperament changes as it is that the hormones and the Teenage Beavis and Butthead months begin.

i agree with the rest of the guys here he'll be testing to see how long you hold out just remember they are a very intelligent breed they can manipulate their owners if not careful but if yours is a bitch then after he first season she will calm down alot and if yours is a male then he'll calm down aswell