puppy questions - Page 1

I just got a 3 month old GSD pup, and realized after I got her home that her ears are much smaller than most puppies at her age. I am not the only one that has noticed, everyone that sees her comments on them and asks if she is purebred. Will they continue to grow or is this common?

Also, she is very dominant with other dogs. It has been awhile since I've had a puppy (my other gsd is almost 8 and he was a 'perfect puppy'- hardly chewed, housetrained within days, and very social with people and dogs), and whenever she sees or meets another dog she barks and growls, and not a puppyish play type of bark. She immediately tries to dominate every dog she meets, no matter what size.  I only let her meet dogs i know, and if they 'put her in her place' she backs off and is fine. But i have a small, young submissive, male mix dog, (she is exactly his size right now) and i worry when she gets a little bigger she could really hurt him.  Is this normal for such a young dog? is this a sign of dog aggression or just dominance?

I have a pup with the same behavior, he mixes with my 80 pound two year old and is so aggressive.   I guess its just more drive than I'm used to.   I'm kinda learning as I go.   Dominance would be my term I guess.    I figure my other dogs will show him the pecking order, maybe he'll change the pecking order.  Time will tell.

from what i have seen showline dogs seem to have larger ears than workingline dogs.  i dont care so much about the size of the ears (unless they look like Dumbo) as much as how wide the ear set is.(distance between them)

without seeing the dog in person i would say dominance.  granted at a young age it can be hard to tell the difference.  either way i take care of now.  i dont allow dog aggression with any of our dogs, and as dominance goes, im the alpha, everyone else is below me.

thats just my way,

john

How would you correct this behavior in a pup of three months..    At the moment I just send the pup to his kennel when he gets out of hand.   jl18

Kelseysmom?    Is your dog show, working, american bred or import?  

The pup I speak of is imported, my first import.   I am suprised at the difference.

she is working lines and german. her parents were imported. I also think I am a little nervous because about 9 years ago i got a working pup that had very high drives. At one year old, he became so protective of me, my own family members he'd known his whole life couldn't approach me, even little kids would get snarled at. And I had spent coutless hours socializing him as a puppy and worked with him constantly. Despite my best efforts to give him a job and outlets for his energy and drive, it became evident he couldn't stay in our family environment, and he went on to be a police dog and excelled at it. I am glad he found his handler, but really don't want to go through that again.

If your Dog Snarls at others when you approach them, then i am afraid your Dog is in charge of you ,

You are certainly not the boss or pack leader where your dog is concerened,

You need to show it you are the boss and if he or she so much as puts out a Squeak with your family or such correct it right away and do it every time,