german shephard

[hardworkingwoman]

Hi,
We just got this german shephard female 7 month old. She is unruly, and pees in the house. I have been taking her out every hour which seems to help but she will do it if she can. She jumps on the door, counter tops, nips at your hands and hair. We are working on basic training like heel, sit stay ect. The only way to get her into her cage is to throw a piece of treat in and shut the door behind her. She was tied out in her other life. Does anyone have any ideas where to start?
Thanks hardworkingwoman

[Sarah]

Time, Patience, Persistence and Determination on your part as the Alpha. If she was tied outside all the time she is actually behaving the only way she knows how. Be stern with her regarding things you don't want her to do. Don't hit her and think it's discipline, all you would be doing is feeding
the wrong behaviour. When you clean up her pee, let her smell it, and then take her outside and lay the rag or whatever you used to clean up the pee on the ground where you want her to go pee.

Her nipping is her way of playing with her mom and other pups, it's natural for her. Tell her no, and give her hard toy to chew on.

It sounds as if she is an excited dog, which means she needs to learn to calm down and learn there is a time to play and a time to just relax.

[hardworkingwoman]

Thank you,
I think she is excited because she was tied out. She is doing better. She has only been here a week today. I have not hit her at all. I think she is going to be a really good dog with consistency. I just have to have my husband and son do the same things that I do so she doesn't get confused. I take her for walks out in the field where she can just run and relax which she really likes. She just keeps an eye on me and comes back to check me out then runs off again, but not far. I did have an incident the other day where she went after my goats so now I put her on a leash until we get out of their site. But now I am afraid that she is going to do it again and only worse. I do not trust her in that respect. She is a fast learner I have to say that.

[Sarah]

I don't know what you mean by when you say "she went after the goats". How did she go after them? Shepherds are also or can be herders, so she could have been doing what comes natural for her. She may love to be around your goats.

I had a Rottweiller and with their reputation, you can imagine however, Buddy was a herder and loved being around horses chickens donkeys etc. I didn't allow buddy to know that the animals were there for His food. I taught him they were puppies, just like him. He loved horses and each time he could, he would hang out with our neighbours horse Thunder which was a black Stallion.

What I'm saying to you is don't keep her from knowing the goats, but teach her they are friends, just like she is to you, and you wont have a problem with her. The goats will become part of her pack. What I suggest is keep her on a leash and take her up to the goats and let her smell them, tell her how much they mean to you. Walk her through the goats and don't allow her to focus on them, her focus should always be on what you want it to be. If she is going for a walk in the field then that is her focus. I don't know what kind of collar you have on her, but if you use a choke chain, put it at the top of her neck, and if she focuses on them gently pull it towards you, just enough to change her focus.

It sounds like she is insecure, if she comes back to check on you. She's afraid you are going to leave her. I feel this will be taken care of given the appropriate amount of time.

Sounds like you got a really good dog.

Let me know how she's doing..

[Sheplover]

You've gotten some good advice for your problem. I would enroll in a good obedience class as soon as possible, like next week for sure. You would be amazed at how much help you will get from an experienced trainer and how much both you and your dog will benefit from the classes. She does sound rather hyper so keep very low keyed at all times when you are dealing with her. The peeing inside might just be her way of trying to establish herself in your "pack". If it doesn't improve you can always crate train her like a new pup but it sounds as though she won't need it if you remain consistent. She needs a good solid schedule so she knows what to expect and when, this will help build her confidence. Shepherds are smart and loyal dogs if given the proper love and attention they need. You could try getting one of those leashes that clip around your waist when you go out with her so that you always have control of her and will still have free hands to go about your chores.
But, again I can't repeat enough how important it is to get her into obedience classes as soon as possible. Good luck to both of you, keep up the good work.

[hardworkingwoman]

Thank you again! I have to find classes to take her to, we live in the boonies and I have never even heard of one near here. I will call the vet on that issue. She is in a crate, I have to use one or she would be everywhere I don't want her. I never responded to the goat issue. I had the goats in a round pen and she went under it and it started out as a playing for her but not the goats. 2 are wethers and the other a buck. The buck decided not to take her crap and decided that he was going to head butt her, she then got him running around and tried to get into his butt area. She did this twice so I don't trust her because she seems vicious about it. One of my goats was attacked twice by another dog and almost died twice so he is not to happy to see a dog in his area. I do have her with me on a lease in the house and when I do my chores outside as much as possible. She would just drag me around if I let her. I got one of those training collars but if you don't use it correctly it is useless. Trying to push a wheel barrow full of hay is not to easy when the dog wants to lead so I don't do that. I keep her on the leash inside because she will jump up on the doors, my chair or what ever she thinks that she can. She is getting better but. I have had many shepherds but never one as energetic. Last weekend I let her loose just to see what she would do and she decided to go out of the drive way and down the road, she would not listen and of course we had to go get her. Then there are times that she just lies there on the floor like a good dog. She gets along with our other dog great. If you have any other advise besides the classes which I am seriously going to look into asap. I would appreciate it!! Thanks

[hardworkingwoman]

She is also constantly paising back and forth she follows you every where you go in the house.

[Sarah]

She has a lot of energy within you that needs to be drained. Exercise Exercise Exercise.. This is why she is pacing back and forth. It also seems she is a bit nervous. You must realize that her prior owners mistreated her for so long, it's difficult for her to snap out of her "old Behaviours",

Obedience will be great for her, as well as "agility" training. This will drain her energy where she can become a calm submissive dog. She runs down the driveway and down the road, because she has a lot of pent up energy that is driving not only her, but you crazy.

It sounds like to me, she was trying to herd the goats, not harm them. It is your "fear" that is influencing her bad behaviour. Introduce them slowly. It is up to YOU to ensure the goats and the dog to know that you will protect them any danger and at the same time that you have trust in both of them. Both the goats and the dog, sense your body energy, and if you are fearful, you can trigger the wrong thing to happen.

She needs a job to do as all dogs do.

[Sheplover]

Don't know if you've ever done obedience classes before but if you have and you can't find any classes where you live the next best thing is to set aside a time during the day or evening when you can do the exercises alone, not as good as with a whole class but better than nothing, You have to be as consistent as if this were a real class and make sure you are in control at all times. No goofing off because you're alone. Maybe some of your neighbours who own dogs would like to join you, it would help a lot. As was mentioned, agility is a great way to get rid of that excess energy, if you can find classes for that also. Find her a job to do around the house, imagine you would be training for her to become your service dog, train her to pick up things you drop, fetch things by their name, open doors, lights, etc just anything to keep that mind busy. Is there therapy dog classes in your area, perhaps you could look into that also. I know how frustrating it is not to have classes around but there must be something somewhere, maybe try phoning your local kennel club, (the closest one to your area). Good luck to you.

[Gail]

Remember she is in the working dog class and she really needs a job
I belong to a Schutzhund club and a breeder of german shephards in the club tries to breed for dogs with the energy of your dog
He says he wants dogs that would wreck the house if they were pets
If you search on the internet you might find more training classes in your area than you expect
If you can't find any classes you can find lots of resources to help you train your dog yourself
It sounds like after obedience a herding class might be good if you can find one
Since you live in the boonies if there is no class aren't there any farmers who use dogs to herd animals?
They must have trained their dogs
Maybe they would help you